Class D Buckeye or Van Alstine M750, & a Bi-amping Question

[Vinyl Rules!]

I’m planning on purchasing a pair of Monitor Audio’s new Platinum 300 3G speakers. They present a four ohm load, efficiency is rated at 88dB, and Monitor Audio recommends amps offering 200 - 800 wpc. I’m considering some new, more powerful amps and on my shortlist are Van Alstine DVA M750’s rated at 1,000 watts into a four ohm load, and several different Buckeye class D amps rated at 500 watts into a four ohm load. If I chose the class D amps I would consider bi-amping the Monitor audio’s.

When I emailed Monitor Audio’s US distributor (Kevro International in Canada) for their thoughts, they recommended using a single 1,000 wpc amp on these speakers rather than bi-amping with two Buckeye 500 wpc amps.

So I’m soliciting thoughts on this, and if choose the 500 wpc class D amps, should I consider Buckeye Purifi or Buckeye Hypex? I do not yet understand the difference between Purifi and Hypex.

TIA

 

[warnerwh]

You should trust Monitor Audio. They are being honest with you. Unless you do active biamping you are just throwing your money away. I doubt you'd ever be able to notice the difference between 500wpc and 1000wpc. At max power you're looking at only 3db difference in loudness.

 

[JSmith]

I do not yet understand the difference between Purifi and Hypex.

There's not much between them, with the Purifi based amps testing slightly better on paper.

If you're worried the 500W amp is not enough, then why not get 2 monoblock amps? TBH though a stereo 500W would be more than adequate unless you plan on listening at deafening levels regularly.


JSmith

 

[tonycollinet]

There's not much between them, with the Purifi based amps testing slightly better on paper.

If you're worried the 500W amp is not enough, then why not get 2 monoblock amps? TBH though a stereo 500W would be more than adequate unless you plan on listening at deafening levels regularly.


JSmith

Agreed - 88dB/4 ohms will be 85dB at 1 W

at 500W, that would give around 115dB peaks. Even with high dynamic (20dB) music that would allow an ear bleeding 95dB average level : A level you shouldn't be listening to for more than 30 minutes.

Regarding the choice between hypex and purify - as has been pointed out, purify is "top of the range" when it comes to measurements - but hypex is so good anyway you are unlikely to hear the difference.

If I was buying an amp now it would be Hypex NC502MP based.

 

[KimbaWLion]

I realize I am late to this party, but Van Alstine amps are awesome! I have owned for awhile in the 80s and his monoblocks get great reviews. They are not cheap
BUT they will last you a life time and Van Alstine has excellent customer support. I am sure the Buckeyes are good and they do cost a LOT less. depends if you want a Class AB vs. D and that comes down to taste at the end of the day.