Warm amp wanted...

[blueboxer]

Well, not in terms of running temperature, but I have always found the NAD, Arcam, and Parasound warmth appealing. I am currently running a Mythos ST system and will be adding a Paradigm system upstairs in the near future. Both rooms are approximately 20x20x10.

I have looked at the Bel Canto offerings and loved their sound in stereo setups, but haven't heard a Bel Canto HT setup or Nuforce setup, but both sound appealing. My concern is that they may be overly bright with the Def Tech setup. There is a Anthem/Arcam dealer nearby so I hope to hear some combinations of the D2 with some of the amps they carry, but would appreciate any feedback or recommendations in the meantime.

[samnor]

parasound hca 1500 or the 2200ii or even the 3500 would be pretty decent.
you cant go wrong with those... other alternatives would be the b&k/nad's.

[phipiper10]

I'd second the B&K.

[Joe08867]

I third the B&K.

[Lietuvis91]

Interesting... so what would be the parasound hca 1500 or 2200ii or 3500 equivalents in the b&K world?

I may try one of their amps next when I start working on amplification for my HT system...

[leroyjr1]

Well, not in terms of running temperature, but I have always found the NAD, Arcam, and Parasound warmth appealing. I am currently running a Mythos ST system and will be adding a Paradigm system upstairs in the near future. Both rooms are approximately 20x20x10.

I have looked at the Bel Canto offerings and loved their sound in stereo setups, but haven't heard a Bel Canto HT setup or Nuforce setup, but both sound appealing. My concern is that they may be overly bright with the Def Tech setup. There is a Anthem/Arcam dealer nearby so I hope to hear some combinations of the D2 with some of the amps they carry, but would appreciate any feedback or recommendations in the meantime.

Everyone's warmth is different but my Rotel and ST setup sounds great. They're still breaking in but so far so good. The place I bought my Mythos from had a Parasound amp connected, but coming from RTI's everything sounds warm to me.

[heiney9]

Pass, Belles, BAT

H9

[leroyjr1]

Also good thing about the mythos setup is you won't need a ton of power they're very efficient.

Im not a big fan of Carver gear but many say the Sunfire is an outstanding warm amp.

[dorokusai]

Used Parasound or B&K to start....Pass and Belles for when you graduate.

[smglbrth]

Used Parasound or B&K to start....Pass and Belles for when you graduate.

...up to a big fat wallet...

[dorokusai]

...up to a big fat wallet...

Like Leroy said, easy to drive so no reason to go full on high end for no reason. Wet your RCA's on some cool, not quite common mans' gear and work your way up.

You could stay in the Adcom, Parasound, NAD, Cambridge, blah blah for a long time and be super happy. They also offer higher end stuff, weird models, special stuff and the cooler stuff is actually older......you just never know.

That's not being a snob, it's being sensible and cost effective. If you don't jump at a solid deal that makes you a little bit wary AND pushes your boundaries, why are you doing this at all?

Don't follow trends, follow ideas and see where you turn up. I not sure what this forum has actually done for me aside from a love of Reel2Reel. The rest is subjective and I can't wait for CES 2011.

[tonyb]

If you don't jump at a solid deal that makes you a little bit wary AND pushes your boundaries, why are you doing this at all?

.

Well said Mark....

[smglbrth]

Ditto, "everything" is subjective...

[blueboxer]

Well, I just pulled the trigger on an Anthem D2, I am looking at an Arcam P-7, Anthem MCA50, and B&K 200.7 as the front runners. I also found a couple Cary Cinema 7B and Audio Refinement Multi-5 for some slightly older, but respected models. A Rotel 1075 definitely looks like a budget friendly start, I can always pair it with my Denon 2809 later if I upgrade to one of the larger amps.

[blueboxer]

No personal experience with the Anthem MCA 50 or Arcam P7? Hoping to make the final decision this weekend. Wish I could find a used Nad M25, but no such luck. I loved the Arcam AVR 600 sound, but realize that is an entirely different animal with G class amps and a new design, but not sure how much different it would be from the Arcam sound of the P7.

[fishbones]

B&K amps rock!!!

[dacoupedeville]

Odyssey...anything

[dorokusai]

I like the B&K 200.7 out of those choices.

[newrival]

I really like the B&K amps for HT. I've owned 2 AV-6000's (one was a mkII) and they were really great. After those I moved up to the ref 200.7 WOW what an amp. and for the going rate is pretty unbeatable. For HT I really like it. It is very dynamic with good bass. Not my cup of tea for stereo, however.

[rdb2001]

I really like the B&K amps for HT. I've owned 2 AV-6000's (one was a mkII) and they were really great. After those I moved up to the ref 200.7 WOW what an amp. and for the going rate is pretty unbeatable. For HT I really like it. It is very dynamic with good bass. Not my cup of tea for stereo, however.

I like my B&K reference amps. I agree about the multi channel versions not being as good for stereo, but I have the 7250 and the 2220 and the 2220 is an amazing stereo amp in my opinion.

[blueboxer]

Man, right when I decided to go ahead and get the Anthem MCA 50 and Arcam P7 to try out and sale one of them after the fact, everyone posts for the B&K. I was looking at some older Classe amps as well on the 'gon, but the standouts for bang for the buck were the other three. Decisions, decisions, decisions. . .

[leroyjr1]

This is the one I'm look at Parasound Halo A52. The A51 is sweet but is very pricey.
125 watts should be enough for the Mythos.

http://www.parasound.com/halo/a52.php

[blueboxer]

I was really interested in that amp as well, there was one for sale on the gon, but it was gone before I had a chance to even think about it. As vain as it sounds, I also hate mismatching black and silver face equipment. I almost picked up an Arcam AV9 to pair up with a parasound halo amp, but the D2 was just too tempting.

[leroyjr1]

I was really interested in that amp as well, there was one for sale on the gon, but it was gone before I had a chance to even think about it. As vain as it sounds, I also hate mismatching black and silver face equipment. I almost picked up an Arcam AV9 to pair up with a parasound halo amp, but the D2 was just too tempting.

Let me know how you like your new amp when you get it. I'm also running a ST setup and looking for a 5 channel amp. Soon as a used a52 pops up I'll get it. The silver is a big turn off also but I shouldn't be able to see it in my cabinet with the tinted front glass. I'm just hoping 125 watts will cut it.

[blueboxer]

Leroy, I ordered an Anthem MCA 50 for a matching system, but I will also be getting the B&K 125.7 or the Arcam P7 and comparing the amps. Hopefully, I won't take too much of a lost on reselling one of the amps. I haven't seen any Halo amps out there on the market, if I do I might grab that one to compare and will let you know.

[blueboxer]

Looks like the polk gods have spoken, the Arcam sold so it is down to the B&K for the demo.

[dorokusai]

Older Parasound will be very similar to B&K but the HALO series is much different on the top end.

[aboroth00]

If you want a warm sound go with tubes.

[aboroth00]

Someething from rogue audio would be nice.

[dorokusai]

If you want a warm sound go with tubes.

I'm pretty sure he would have mentioned tubes by now, if that's what he was looking for. As far as warm goes, even tubes can have some of the same characteristics of SS amps in regards to sonics.