Hypex or Purifi - What's the difference? and help me choose an Amp

[perceptionist]

Purifi is much more powerful at 40HZ and 2 ohm, at which your speakers need power the most.

 

[Imakeller]

I know you said no monoblocks, but for a stereo system I suggest two Buckeye Purifi 1ET9040BA amps. Those amps will handle whatever you throw at them beautifully.

And absolutely get two quality subwoofers. Maybe two Power Sound Audio S2411M (dual opposed sealed 12’s) to keep costs down, or step up to two PSA S21-IPALs, S3613, or S3012s if you’re feeling spicy. At least two subs is not always required by speaker capabilities, but it’s almost always acoustically a good idea to get the best sound in a room (with proper placements).

@kemmler3D nailed it IMHO by suggesting used Revel Salon2 speakers and something with Dirac ART. You don’t necessarily have to spend big bucks on your ART capable preamp/AVP/AVR. A modest current Denon AVR in preamp mode with the external Buckeye monoblocks will do the job just fine. You do want to spend on your speakers as needed to get to the highest performance level you can, particularly with stereo listening. A pair of nice Revel Salon2’s on the secondary market would be a top choice. Another good choice for your situation could be newer Klipsch La Scalas.

With this kind of budget you can track down a pair of Revel Salon 2s and with either the Hypex or Purifi, and have a system that is arguably beyond reproach. Add a couple subs and a processor that supports Dirac ART (possible within total budget if you go used) and you will have something pretty state of the art.

 

[Dave TR3A]

Another good choice for your situation could be newer Klipsch La Scalas.

+1 on that.

 

[Audiolab800]

Long time lurker, first time poster, newbie to the 'new world' of audiophile listening ... so be gentle!

First of all, I want to give a big THANK YOU to Amir and all the posters on this forum !!! I have learned so much from all of you. One day, I hope to give back.

Mainly based on info here, I just bought an RME AD1-2 DAC FS, DCA NoireX and Focal Radiance cans (try both, sell one), and a Topping LA 90 discrete with Ascend Luna V2 RAAL speakers for my office - for private and nearfield listening while working. With the exception of the Luna's, all were bought used.

I hope you can help me with more 'serious' purchases! I have been studying up, but I really don't know what I'm doing in this new world. (You can skip the rest of the preface, and jump right to the questions, highlighted in crimson below, if you like)

Short History - I've been listening to records (and all the technologies post-vinyl), and music my whole life. I can't live without it! 15 years ago, I started to get serious (-ish) and bought a vinyl/tube system (I wanted old-school 'warmth') with a Musical Hall MMF-7.1 TT (stock cartridge), Jolida JD9-II PS, Mystere A21 IA, Paradigm Signature 1 bookshelves and REL T0 for my small living room. I also got a Woo WA 22 HA, and a pair of Audeze LCD-3 cans. I did some tube rolling. (I set up a full house Russound system as well with ceiling speakers, etc, for digital). And this served me fine. I enjoyed (and am still enjoying) the heck out of it.

Life goes on, we moved, and this system now lives in the medium-sized living room of our main house, along with my record collection. That room also has a TOTL sonos HT set up (w/ 75" TV), and a sonos PORT so I can stream to the HT speakers and/or the Sig 1's. This has WAF, so it's probably not going to change or get updated, other than the WiiM ultra Amp I just got, so I can stream better quality signals to the Sig 1s.

We are lucky, and we have a big barn/library/guest house as well. When not being used by guests, this will now serve as my 'reference-on-a-budget-ish' listening area as well as the party room when we have guests over. I'll talk about speakers, room size and set-up in a different post, but suffice to say it is a big room - 23' x 32' x 23' high. Vaulted wood ceiling, wood floor, wood book shelves and 1000's of books + some big and small windows. I have a Rivo + Streamer + LPS coming, and will need some help on DAC and speakers choices in a different post(s). Based on what I'm learning, it seems that digital, DACs etc, have progressed to the point that digital sounds much more analogue than 15 years ago and I don't really need to fuss with a TT to get great sound (not to mention simplicity of listening to various songs from various artists without leaving my couch). So this room is likely to be digital only.

But this post is about what Amp to get. Like many of you here, I think, I am Mr. Analysis-Paralysis. And I am Mr. Junior-Engineer. Based on all the research I've done ( most of it here - thank you again), I am planning on getting a Class D amp (2-channel, not mono blocks). I will likely put in Ascend ELX towers in here as speakers (and maybe a SW or 2, although I'd prefer not to) ... I'm still thinking about that,

So on to my questions: I have been reading about both Hypex and Purifi technologies, and I guess I'd really like to understand why would I go with one or the other? Also, they both have a number of products - what's the difference in products within their respective ranges?

Here are the amps I am considering:
BoXem Arthur 4216 E2
Buckeye (about 5 different ones)
Apollon (about 10 different ones !!)

So my first 2 questions directly relate to my next questions: Which Amp to get? I think you can clearly see the direction I am leaning .. are there any other manufacturers with reasonable priced amps I should add to the list?

Once I narrow down my list, I am half-considering putting together a poll to help me with my final choice. And of course I will share out the results of my sound experience from the big library room once it's all set up. I will likely need some advice on REW / Dirac / EQ at some point, but I get ahead of myself ...

Thank you all in advance for any and all advice you can share.

- Goran

All the proposed amps should be OK in my book, I had a phone call with the owner of Boxem audio and was pleased with his open communication we had. I'll go with a Boxem in the near future as a set and forget Amp choice. My aim are monoblocks though...

 

[Goran-P]

Thank you all for the thoughtful responses. I particularly like lmakeller's idea of subs(s) - that's a price point I can live with ! And thanks to Audiolab800 and the others who suggested Boxems. Monoblocks are not totally out of the picture, but it depends on speaker choice and $$$. However, biggest hurdle for mono's is the WAF issue. The most ideal is if I could stack the Rivo+, a short (thin?) DAC and a short stereo amp on top of each other, and put all that in a bottom bookshelf. But those Buckeye's Imakeller suggested are only 3.5 high! (Most mono's I've seen are like 10" subs) But do you guys really think I need that? Will I really notice a difference?

BTW - check out my other post in speakers for some pics of my space.