Two channel amplifier recommendation

[rlal]

Hi all,

I am looking for an excellent two channel amp to mate with JBL SDP58 processor. My speakers are Revel F328Be and I have two subwoofer one from HSU and another from Rythmik.
I am using it as 2.2 system. Please let me know your suggestions.
My current AVR is Arcam 850 and I like the warm sound with Revel.


Thanks
rlal

 

[voodooless]

Amps are not EQ devices. If you want warm, use the AVR EQ to to that.

As for the speakers, they are 8R and can take some power, so why not go for this freshly tested one:

Buckeye PURIFI 1ET9040BA Amp Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Buckeye Purifi 1ET9040BA (second generation?) monoblock amplifier. It was kindly drop shipped by a company and costs US $1,295. A single LED adorns the front indicating power on, protection or fault condition. Back panel has all that one would...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Cheaper models with less power are also available with either Hypex or Purifi modules. All are excellent amps, sonically indistinguishable until they run out of power.

 

[Timcognito]

Hi all,

I am looking for an excellent two channel amp to mate with JBL SDP58 processor. My speakers are Revel F328Be and I have two subwoofer one from HSU and another from Rythmik.
I am using it as 2.2 system. Please let me know your suggestions.
My current AVR is Arcam 850 and I like the warm sound with Revel.


Thanks
rlal

Stating a preferred budget is helpful for some good advice to narrow it down.

 

[DVDdoug]

The ONLY thing you'll get from a separate amp is more power. Do you want to go louder?

Or are you going to replace the AVR with the JBL processor? In that case you'll a power amp.

Your AVR is rated for about 130 Watts into 8-Ohms. Your speakers are rated for 300W. My handy-dandy spreadsheet says that's 3.6dB louder... Noticeably louder but not a whole lot louder.

 

[quattro98]

This is an odd choice for a 2.2 system.

SDP-58 | 16-channel Immersive Surround Sound AV Preamplifier

The JBL Synthesis SDP-58 is designed to ensure exceptional performance without compromise and offers an unparalleled feature set that puts it far ahead of the competition. It features full support for Dolby ATMOS, DTS:X, and Auro-3D immersive audio formats. DIRAC Live with Bass Control room EQ...

www.jblsynthesis.com

For amps, there are many class D amps with SOTA modules (Purifi or Hypex NCOREx & Nilai). These are both nice, but there are many choices.

Buckeye Amps

Buckeye Amps utilizes the most advanced audio amplifier technologies available. Authorized seller for Hypex and Purifi Class D amplifiers. Based in the US. Free shipping and worldwide service!

www.buckeyeamp.com

boXem - Arthur 4216/E2

2 channels HiFi power amplifier, Purifi second gen. Eigentakt technology. Designed and proudly built in Luxembourg.

boxem-audio.eu

 

[rlal]

Hi all,

I am looking for an excellent two channel amp to mate with JBL SDP58 processor. My speakers are Revel F328Be and I have two subwoofer one from HSU and another from Rythmik.
I am using it as 2.2 system. Please let me know your suggestions.
My current AVR is Arcam 850 and I like the warm sound with Revel.


Thanks
rlal

Amps are not EQ devices. If you want warm, use the AVR EQ to to that.

As for the speakers, they are 8R and can take some power, so why not go for this freshly tested one:

Buckeye PURIFI 1ET9040BA Amp Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Buckeye Purifi 1ET9040BA (second generation?) monoblock amplifier. It was kindly drop shipped by a company and costs US $1,295. A single LED adorns the front indicating power on, protection or fault condition. Back panel has all that one would...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Cheaper models with less power are also available with either Hypex or Purifi modules. All are excellent amps, sonically indistinguishable until they run out of power.

I do understand that amps are not EQ devices. I am little sensitive to brightness because I was using Harbeth and Salk speakers for long time which were on the warm side.
In general I hear that Class D is little dry or not musical, I just want to know feedback from actual users, is that true or not.

Thank you.

 

[rlal]

Stating a preferred budget is helpful for some good advice to narrow it down.

Around 5K usd brand new or used.

 

[rlal]

The ONLY thing you'll get from a separate amp is more power. Do you want to go louder?

Or are you going to replace the AVR with the JBL processor? In that case you'll a power amp.

Your AVR is rated for about 130 Watts into 8-Ohms. Your speakers are rated for 300W. My handy-dandy spreadsheet says that's 3.6dB louder... Noticeably louder but not a whole lot louder.

All these years I was using different AVRs and now I want to experience how much improvement a separate processor and power amp can bring?
I bought JBL processor and plan is to replace AVR with it and a power amp.
I am unhappy with audio performance with Netflix and Amazon prime, I know it is due to low quality/compression of the source.
Was expecting if pre and power can bring some enhancement over AVR.

 

[rlal]

This is an odd choice for a 2.2 system.

SDP-58 | 16-channel Immersive Surround Sound AV Preamplifier

The JBL Synthesis SDP-58 is designed to ensure exceptional performance without compromise and offers an unparalleled feature set that puts it far ahead of the competition. It features full support for Dolby ATMOS, DTS:X, and Auro-3D immersive audio formats. DIRAC Live with Bass Control room EQ...

www.jblsynthesis.com

For amps, there are many class D amps with SOTA modules (Purifi or Hypex NCOREx & Nilai). These are both nice, but there are many choices.

Buckeye Amps

Buckeye Amps utilizes the most advanced audio amplifier technologies available. Authorized seller for Hypex and Purifi Class D amplifiers. Based in the US. Free shipping and worldwide service!

www.buckeyeamp.com

boXem - Arthur 4216/E2

2 channels HiFi power amplifier, Purifi second gen. Eigentakt technology. Designed and proudly built in Luxembourg.

boxem-audio.eu

I do have two surround speakers but I want to get a good two channel power with out compromise and then get a decent amp for surrounds.
Focus at this point of time is to get an excellent power amp which can later replace my Luxman 590Mk2 integrated later by adding a good preamp and communize the power amp for stereo and HT.

 

[tineared]

I do have two surround speakers but I want to get a good two channel power with out compromise and then get a decent amp for surrounds.
Focus at this point of time is to get an excellent power amp which can later replace my Luxman 590Mk2 integrated later by adding a good preamp and communize the power amp for stereo and HT.

The original response was a good one. The Purifi 9040BA is a state of the art amplifier. They are monoblocks so you will need to buy a pair. You can pay much more money for an amp, but you can't buy a better one.
It will not have a dry sound because it has no sound. That will come from your speakers and any equalization from your processor.
If you intend to listen at extremely loud levels (>115dB), you may want a more powerful amp which offers over 1000 watts.

 

[RexrothPigeon]

In general I hear that Class D is little dry or not musical, I just want to know feedback from actual users, is that true or not.

it is not true. The job of an amplifier is to reproduce the source audio accurately. It's a solved problem, and any well engineered amp should have no trouble doing it. This means that your criteria for selecting an amp should be:
- power to drive your speakers at the levels you listen
- features you want/need
- price
- appearance
etc.

 

[Chrispy]

A different amp won't change a poor streaming service's delivery (go blu ray if you want better). A different processor/amp not likely to be an audible difference except in it's room correction/eq capabilities.

 

[OldHvyMec]

You could go with a pair of monoblocks.

Amir just reviewed the Buckeye ET9040BA With XLR, you could put the MB a lot closer to the speakers and run a lot shorter speaker cables with longer XLRs. You just need an electrical supply for the pair.

You will have a very nice pair of amps for any future changes if you ever decide to go to a stereo preamp.
I was using a McIntosh MX121 for quite a few years in a Home theater setup. I like it for the simple reason that all Macs (I own) have tone control and the fact that I've used McIntosh gear for well over 45 years.

I suspect the 1ET9040BA is very transparent. One of the reasons I like NCore products they don't boil my ears. I guess your ears are much like mine. I'm sensitive to many AB SS amps and hot or tipped-up tweeters with no L-Pad, EQ, or tone controls. Fatigue sets in pretty quickly. I don't get that from the NCore NC500oem MB I use or the valve amps I use for the monitor section on my preferred speakers. I don't care what anyone says, if I get to squrming while listening to my favorite genre of music, it's usually the same thing. Great SS power amps, like Krell, SST, Parasound, and I'm sure there are a few hundred more, they wear me out in under an hour, especially if the volume is UP.

I got to listen to a pair of Atmasphere class D GaN MB for 3 months. Wonderful amps. If they weren't so expensive I would have picked up a pair, but I'm up to my neck in equipment already. I push them pretty hard, and they did run out of gas on a pair of VMPS RMX Elixirs, which I expected, but I assure you they will still BLAST pretty good. Less distortion than most valve amps, too. Very controlled distortion no matter the passage, like many older valve amps, unless they are massive VTL, ARs or Macs. I'm sure there are a few dozen I haven't heard. If I wanted solid-state sound, I'd use a solid-state amp. Pass and First Watt are easier on my ears, too.

To be honest, valve amps are suited more to my taste, in (almost) every single way, HEAT being one problem in the warmer season. They do keep the house perfectly warm in the winter, where the wife listens to music, and she likes the signature sound of Cary. V12Rs definitely have a sound using the EL34s Rubys they came with or GL KT66 for a little more roll-off above 15KHz.

Whatever you choose, the Buckeye is a pretty solid choice money-wise. I have to admit, it's not the most impressive case I've ever seen, personally coming from a Nord, McIntosh, and Cary (preference of looks) background.

In any case, enjoy.

Regards

 

[jhaider]

This is an odd choice for a 2.2 system.

SDP-58 | 16-channel Immersive Surround Sound AV Preamplifier

The JBL Synthesis SDP-58 is designed to ensure exceptional performance without compromise and offers an unparalleled feature set that puts it far ahead of the competition. It features full support for Dolby ATMOS, DTS:X, and Auro-3D immersive audio formats. DIRAC Live with Bass Control room EQ...

www.jblsynthesis.com

Not necessarily. In our old house we used an Arcam AV41 for the formal living room system and I used a JBL SDP-55 for my desktop. Reason in both cases was they were the cheapest boxes with (a) DLBC (b) AirPlay2 built in for streaming and volume control direct in iOS/macOS.

As for amp, Revel 328 are pretty sensitive but power can’t hurt. At $5k I’d be tempted by the McIntosh with two bridged Hypex NC500 modules. Mi500? Won’t sound different from anything else, but all the power and blue meters too. It’s very deep — but so is SDP-58 so clearly not an issue.

 

[voodooless]

In general I hear that Class D is little dry or not musical

Don’t be classist. Amp classes have no signature sound. That is all marketing nonsense. These amps will sound like any other well made amp and that includes your current AVR.

I want to experience how much improvement a separate processor and power amp can bring?

Unless you really need the power, there will be no difference. Both devices already support Dirac Live (Bass Control). So you’ll gain nothing there either.

Was expecting if pre and power can bring some enhancement over AVR.

And AVP is just an AVR with the amps stripped out and the price raised… I don’t see how that could improve anything.

The only AVPs that would be an improvement over these are the onces with improved room correction, like Dirac ART. Marantz AV20 would fit that.

 

[rlal]

The original response was a good one. The Purifi 9040BA is a state of the art amplifier. They are monoblocks so you will need to buy a pair. You can pay much more money for an amp, but you can't buy a better one.
It will not have a dry sound because it has no sound. That will come from your speakers and any equalization from your processor.
If you intend to listen at extremely loud levels (>115dB), you may want a more powerful amp which offers over 1000 watts.

Thanks for the suggestions and I liked your statement " You can pay much more money for an amp, but you can't buy a better one."
Due to some reason I had this in my mind and never had an opportunity to listen to good class D like Purifi. I know it is used by some boutique manufacturers.
I don't listen above 100dB and hence this model should be fine.

 

[rlal]

A different amp won't change a poor streaming service's delivery (go blu ray if you want better). A different processor/amp not likely to be an audible difference except in it's room correction/eq capabilities.

Okay. Unfortunately some of my regional movies from my country are not released in 4K or blue ray any more due to widespread use of streaming platform and may be due to lack of demand. I was expecting different chassis between processor and power amp will help a bit.

 

[Chrispy]

Okay. Unfortunately some of my regional movies from my country are not released in 4K or blue ray any more due to widespread use of streaming platform and may be due to lack of demand. I was expecting different chassis between processor and power amp will help a bit.

Your country being? Your avatar/info says US. I'm in the US and have seen a drop off generally in titles available on blurays (whatever resolution) and a decrease in quality from streamers. With separates you may have some advantages, but won't help with video quality, perhaps with sound if your separates use more powerful amps and you could use the power in your listening. With your new processor you may find Dirac better than ARC.

 

[voodooless]

I don't listen above 100dB and hence this model should be fine.

Given 91 dB efficiency and some listening distance, you'll need less than 100W to reach this in-room. Even your current amp should be able to reach this level.

 

[rlal]

Not necessarily. In our old house we used an Arcam AV41 for the formal living room system and I used a JBL SDP-55 for my desktop. Reason in both cases was they were the cheapest boxes with (a) DLBC (b) AirPlay2 built in for streaming and volume control direct in iOS/macOS.

As for amp, Revel 328 are pretty sensitive but power can’t hurt. At $5k I’d be tempted by the McIntosh with two bridged Hypex NC500 modules. Mi500? Won’t sound different from anything else, but all the power and blue meters too. It’s very deep — but so is SDP-58 so clearly not an issue.

SDP58 have Dirac live and bass control but no ART, I think it is okay.
I didnt get your amp suggestions. You are recommending which model? Sorry for my ignorance I am not sure what you meant by Mi500.