Amp Suggestions for SDA-1b

[polktiger]

Well my NAD 2200 bit the dust about a month ago. Took it to the repair shop, and the estimate to get this guy working again is $300. I have been too busy to call and find out just what all they are doing. So that $300 may have some unnecessary stuff or it might bring the amp to like new. I was just startled by the estimate. I was thinking $100 or $150. So, put some more money in this oldish amp or get something else.

I was thinking about the Parasound 2125, but have never heard it. Maybe the NAD C-272 or the Adcom GFA-5400 (oops, read some more recently, that adcom may not be common ground)

Any other suggestions I wanted to stay south of $800, and in my area, local stuff is hard to come by on the used market. Heck we only have a couple places that sell "good stuff" new. Of course a friend of mine is the local Mac dealer, and he is bugging me to get a Mac - while tempting I am sure any "deal" he might be willing to make would still be too strong for me to stomach.

Amp would drive the SDAs, SDAs do double duty with HT with the AVR driving the center and rears.

[heiney9]

The biggest concern is finding an amp that is common ground, or and amp that is NOT common ground BUT can have the neg. speaker terminal tied together to create a common ground.

The Adcom 5xxx series of amps CAN have the negative terminals tied together to create a common ground. Not sure if it's nec in the case of the 5400 you will want to check with Adcom, but if that's the case they can be tied together without issue to either the amp or SDA's.

In the case of Adcom the 5500, 5800 and 5802 are NON COMMON ground but the neg speaker terminal's can be tied together to create a common ground.

Good luck as there are many great choices out there.

H9

[Schurkey]

I have just purchased a pair of Aragon Palladium II; I will have an Aragon 4004 Mk II for sale in a week or so. I have been planning to post it on eBay. (but it isn't listed yet...)

I used a 4004 to power my SDA 1Bs from about '91--'92 until about 2003 when I switched to an Aragon 8008BB.

It's a common-ground amp, entirely compatible--and wonderfully powerful as well as having a high-end pedigree. If the 1B is a 4-ohm nominal speaker, you'd have 400 CLEAN watts.

http://reviews.ebay.com/Classic-Aragon-Amps-A-primer_W0QQugidZ10000000001149810?ssPageName=BUYGD :CAT:-1:SEARCH:1

[Refefer]

Do you have any problems buying online, say from sites such as Audiogon? You can stretch that $800 limit pretty far if you're willing to extend it online.

[polktiger]

I am also thinking about the Emotiva LPA-1 since the SDAs are used with HT.

According to my call with them, the amp is common ground, but isolated from the power supply. Does that seem ok for SDA? $450 + ship sure looks appealing.

[Schurkey]

I am also thinking about the Emotiva LPA-1 since the SDAs are used with HT.

According to my call with them, the amp is common ground, but isolated from the power supply. Does that seem ok for SDA? $450 + ship sure looks appealing.
I looked at the Emotiva web site; I didn't see a statement of where the products are made.

First Guess: $500 (delivered!) for a 7-channel amp? Must be made in Communist China, the Land of Total Quality.