kcatthedog
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Post by kcatthedog on Aug 27, 2015 13:51:06 GMT -6
Hey,
I am thinking about going to passive monitors and would need an amp or amps if I did.
I like everything I hear/read about amphion monitors but its amp is quite expensive ( close to 2 grand usd). I have a small room and don't need huge power.
What are people's thought on power amps ? I know Jim does mods so that is on the radar too. Is it the old story that you get what you pay for or is there a sleeper lower cost amp I should be watching out for ?
Thx !
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Post by winetree on Aug 27, 2015 13:52:17 GMT -6
ADCOM GFA545 or GFA 555. Make sure they are a series one.
Jim can even mod them if you want.
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kcatthedog
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Post by kcatthedog on Aug 27, 2015 13:58:02 GMT -6
thx what are the adcom worth ?
is this any good: Emotiva XPA 200 ?
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Post by jcoutu1 on Aug 27, 2015 14:12:23 GMT -6
thx what are the adcom worth ? is this any good: Emotiva XPA 200 ? That's what I'm powering my PMC's with. I haven't many different amps, but it's been totally reliable and sounds good to my ears. The price is right too.
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kcatthedog
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Post by kcatthedog on Aug 27, 2015 14:16:06 GMT -6
funny winetree mentioned the adcom there is one a few hours away and it was recapped 2 years ago.
does any one know how extensive Jim's mods are ?
thx jcoutu1 the emotiva seems well reviewed !
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Post by indiehouse on Aug 27, 2015 14:26:18 GMT -6
I compared the Emotiva to the Amphion100. The Emotiva is a great bang for the buck!
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ericn
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Post by ericn on Aug 27, 2015 14:27:13 GMT -6
Just did a shoot out of Modified gfa555 $350 used vs Krell KMA160s $2000 used guess which one won Blind? Hint it wasn't the really cool looking one!
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Post by tonycamphd on Aug 27, 2015 14:38:09 GMT -6
u could alway go with monoblock Ncore 400 easy diy's, they get crazy great reviews.
Jims mod's are very basic(as Jim goes haha) on the gfa's, it makes a nice diff though, the thing that will kill you is the shipping though.
I'd bet money that just about any good passive monitor with a stand alone amp will smoke the rigs with the amps hanging off the back, think about it.
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kcatthedog
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Post by kcatthedog on Aug 27, 2015 14:43:47 GMT -6
I see a used emotiva for $350 usd which is $460 cdn plus shipping and duties and the used adcom 555 ml1 asking $460 cdn and it has been recapped already ?
thoughts ?
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Post by tonycamphd on Aug 27, 2015 14:43:57 GMT -6
I'm thinking about building pie 7's for big room monitors, using the JW adcom to power them, and using the Ncores for my proAc knocks. ericn don't you have pie's?
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Post by winetree on Aug 27, 2015 14:44:19 GMT -6
funny winetree mentioned the adcom there is one a few hours away and it was recapped 2 years ago. does any one know how extensive Jim's mods are ? thx jcoutu1 the emotiva seems well reviewed ! Yea shipping probably would be expensive. You don't need to have Jim mod them. Mine are stock. I think they sound great. The already recapped would be beneficial.
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kcatthedog
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Post by kcatthedog on Aug 27, 2015 14:46:43 GMT -6
where do you order those kits from Tony ? I only have active for convenience and I must admit the more I use my adams the more I don't like them I sold audiophile stuff for a while so you are preaching to the converted Tony
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Post by Johnkenn on Aug 27, 2015 14:46:45 GMT -6
Keep an eye out for Lexicon Amps. They are rebranded Bryston 3B ST's and 4B ST's. I have the NT212 that is the 3B st... littlesicily had the NT225 which was the 4B st. Mine is plenty loud and I liked it better than the Emotiva XPA-2 and XPA-1L mono blocks.
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kcatthedog
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Post by kcatthedog on Aug 27, 2015 14:48:49 GMT -6
I think I am leaning to the adcom the guy and I have exchanged 3 emails already. Id be driving half way to where he lives if I was getting some amphions too !
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Post by Johnkenn on Aug 27, 2015 14:48:51 GMT -6
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Post by kcatthedog on Aug 27, 2015 14:49:56 GMT -6
thx John proud cannuk here so love the bryston thing !
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Post by kcatthedog on Aug 27, 2015 14:51:34 GMT -6
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Post by tonycamphd on Aug 27, 2015 14:54:21 GMT -6
I see a used emotiva for $350 usd which is $460 cdn plus shipping and duties and the used adcom 555 ml1 asking $460 cdn and it has been recapped already ? thoughts ? I'm sure the emotiva sounds good, it's a little underpowered at 150 per side at 8ohms, i think the adcom 555 is 325 per side(don't hold me to that), if the monitors you get are not high sensitivity, get the adcom for sure, low sensitivity speakers need gobbs of power to give you any punch, but even so, they still sound a bit boring ime. You can learn any speaker, you might as well get something that's fun to listen to, the whole super flat response thing is boring BS imv, it's about being inspired, I'd personally get the adcom, and some high sensitivity monitors that rock!! though the emotiva looks nice inside from the limited times i've seen in there, it could be awesome...
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Post by tonycamphd on Aug 27, 2015 14:59:50 GMT -6
I've read pages and pages of reviews on the hypex Ncore400, they may just be the greatest amps ever! haha, and they are class D! It's hard to believe, but I do, the audiophool dudes even went nutz on them claiming superiority over amps that cost 10's of 1000's, our bud Danduerloo uses these and swears by them, i've heard from others including JK that Dans monitoring rig sounds insane, i will be getting these at some point for sure. www.hypex.nl/product/2012-11-23-13-41-35/nc400.html
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ericn
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Post by ericn on Aug 27, 2015 15:08:44 GMT -6
I'm thinking about building pie 7's for big room monitors, using the JW adcom to power them, and using the Ncores for my proAc knocks. ericn don't you have pie's? No Not a huge eminence fan for critical listening, bang for the buck Pa work ya bu nothing Im going to record or mix on. I do have some TAD 16in woofers that Im witing of my cabinet guy will call him Bryan because thats his name to build some cabinets and wood horns for. Brians Day Job keeps him building cabinets for Induction dynamics. I have a plans fora kind of supper Quested VS3110 almost done (volt 10in ATC mid and at this point the top Morel tweet beamed with Ncore plate amp) . OH I am consulting on a possible Electrostatic hybrid near field ! Other current speakers in house. Vandersteen 2ci Colored as hell but constant top to bottom! Magnepan MG3.5r Just wow! Revox Picilo sub sat (on the TV really the crest 2401 is a bit much for these) Quested 302s they sound geat with GFA555 or Quested AMPS BUT a Original BRYSTON 4B takes them down another Octave or more! Quested F11a's Zaph SR71s come and go! Really what I want is 302s with a ATC or Volt Mid and a bit more clarity than the Morel 308.
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Post by tonycamphd on Aug 27, 2015 15:12:00 GMT -6
I'm thinking about building pie 7's for big room monitors, using the JW adcom to power them, and using the Ncores for my proAc knocks. ericn don't you have pie's? No Not a huge eminence fan for critical listening, bang for the buck Pa work ya bu nothing Im going to record or mix on. I do have some TAD 16in woofers that Im witing of my cabinet guy will call him Bryan because thats his name to build some cabinets and wood horns for. Brians Day Job keeps him building cabinets for Induction dynamics. I have a plans fora kind of supper Quested VS3110 almost done (volt 10in ATC mid and at this point the top Morel tweet beamed with Ncore plate amp) . OH I am consulting on a possible Electrostatic hybrid near field ! Other current speakers in house. Vandersteen 2ci Colored as hell but constant top to bottom! Magnepan MG3.5r Just wow! Revox Picilo sub sat (on the TV really the crest 2401 is a bit much for these) Quested 302s they sound geat with GFA555 or Quested AMPS BUT a Original BRYSTON 4B takes them down another Octave or more! Quested F11a's Zaph SR71s come and go! Really what I want is 302s with a ATC or Volt Mid and a bit more clarity than the Morel 308. of course i'd go with the JBL 15's bro, comeon man! 8)
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Post by jcoutu1 on Aug 27, 2015 15:13:27 GMT -6
I see a used emotiva for $350 usd which is $460 cdn plus shipping and duties and the used adcom 555 ml1 asking $460 cdn and it has been recapped already ? thoughts ? I'm sure the emotiva sounds good, it's a little underpowered at 150 per side at 8ohms, i think the adcom 555 is 325 per side(don't hold me to that), if the monitors you get are not high sensitivity, get the adcom for sure, low sensitivity speakers need gobbs of power to give you any punch, but even so, they still sound a bit boring ime. You can learn any speaker, you might as well get something that's fun to listen to, the whole super flat response thing is boring BS imv, it's about being inspired, I'd personally get the adcom, and some high sensitivity monitors that rock!! though the emotiva looks nice inside from the limited times i've seen in there, it could be awesome... How loud are you guys monitoring? I can't imagine cranking more than the 150 watts that I'm running through my speakers. Seems like an more would be way overboard, at least for me.
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Post by Johnkenn on Aug 27, 2015 15:15:44 GMT -6
I've read pages and pages of reviews on the hypex Ncore400, they may just be the greatest amps ever! haha, and they are class D! It's hard to believe, but I do, the audiophool dudes even went nutz on them claiming superiority over amps that cost 10's of 1000's, our bud Danduerloo uses these and swears by them, i've heard from others including JK that Dans monitoring rig sounds insane, i will be getting these at some point for sure. www.hypex.nl/product/2012-11-23-13-41-35/nc400.htmlWell, I thought it had a smoother top and bigger bottom...but it also was $2000.
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Post by tonycamphd on Aug 27, 2015 15:16:00 GMT -6
I'm sure the emotiva sounds good, it's a little underpowered at 150 per side at 8ohms, i think the adcom 555 is 325 per side(don't hold me to that), if the monitors you get are not high sensitivity, get the adcom for sure, low sensitivity speakers need gobbs of power to give you any punch, but even so, they still sound a bit boring ime. You can learn any speaker, you might as well get something that's fun to listen to, the whole super flat response thing is boring BS imv, it's about being inspired, I'd personally get the adcom, and some high sensitivity monitors that rock!! though the emotiva looks nice inside from the limited times i've seen in there, it could be awesome... How loud are you guys monitoring? I can't imagine cranking more than the 150 watts that I'm running through my speakers. Seems like an more would be way overboard, at least for me. power is about headroom for me, moving voice coils with authority and distortion free, i never go more than about 87db spl for a bit if i'm amped up and over excited! I average listen about 80db spl, what some would consider quite low.
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Post by Johnkenn on Aug 27, 2015 15:16:57 GMT -6
2B would make me nervous. But I was thinking about buying Sal's NT225 and borrowed and couldn't really tell a difference between it and the 212 I have.
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