top 5 amp companies?

[Erman_94]

hey guys, im in the market for an amp to power my rtia7 fronts and csia6 center and to take the burden off the receiver and just let it power my surrounds

i went to the sticky on amp companies and frankly theres a lot of them...so what are the top 5 (in your opinion) based on what you know about them or from personal experience

i know emotiva is a popular choice on this site...but what are the others that rival it in quality and price?


just looking for some opinions so i can go out searching

thanks in advance everybody

[sokrman14]

If you are looking for value

1: Outlaw
2: Rotel
3: Marantz HT line
4: B&K
5: Integra

Performance regardless of Price

1: McIntosh
2: Krell
3: Pass Labs
4: Theta
5: Boulder

Thats My Opinion

[Johnny Vinyl]

Although I understand why you are asking the question, I don't think its a question that can truly be answered. Reason is simple. People have different perceptions and interpretations of what quality and affordability is.

I would set your yourself a budget and go and audition (if you can) several different amps. Every amp, like every speaker, etc., has its own distinct sound and you need the find the sound that suits you. Don't be concerned about which is best.

John

[Erman_94]

Originally Posted by John72953

Although I understand why you are asking the question, I don't think its a question that can truly be answered. Reason is simple. People have different perceptions and interpretations of what quality and affordability is.

I would set your yourself a budget and go and audition (if you can) several different amps. Every amp, like every speaker, etc., has its own distinct sound and you need the find the sound that suits you. Don't be concerned about which is best.

John

thanks sokrman14 for the suggestions

while i understand what you're talking about john, i am very new to amplifiers and am just trying to get a sense of what to look at/for. auditioning is key (of course) but i just wanted a general idea as to what others have found to be quality amps so that it may help me with my auditioning

thanks

[bluRazor]

nad has a 6 channel amp for sale at audio adviser thats marked down to $500. would be perfect for bi-amping your fronts. i have similar speakers & have been eyeing them up for awhile.

[Erman_94]

Originally Posted by blu/razor

nad has a 6 channel amp for sale at audio adviser thats marked down to $500. would be perfect for bi-amping your fronts. i have similar speakers & have been eyeing them up for awhile.

thanks do you have a link?

and also, are there any other brands of amps that you trust/can vouch for?

EDIT: i believe i found it and here are the specs:
Continuous power out into 6 ohms: 80W x 6

my speakers are 8 ohms and im looking for more power than 80W/channel...thanks for the suggestion though

[bluRazor]

no problem. if you're just using the amp for your fronts bi-amping them would give you 160 watts per speaker though.

[Erman_94]

Originally Posted by blu/razor

no problem. if you're just using the amp for your fronts bi-amping them would give you 160 watts per speaker though.

fair assessment, but in comparing watts to price i dont think it matches up too well

$500 for 160w/ch (w/bi-amping)
$599(Emotiva XPA-3) - 200w/ch (w/o bi-amping)

[richteer]

Originally Posted by Erman_94

fair assessment, but in comparing watts to price i dont think it matches up too well

$500 for 160w/ch (w/bi-amping)
$599(Emotiva XPA-3) - 200w/ch (w/o bi-amping)

Don't fall into that trap! There's a lot more to amplifier quality than the number of watts/channel at a certain price point!

[Hammie]

Originally Posted by Erman_94

fair assessment, but in comparing watts to price i dont think it matches up too well

$500 for 160w/ch (w/bi-amping)
$599(Emotiva XPA-3) - 200w/ch (w/o bi-amping)

Remember that watts does not alone make a better amp.

There are 35wpc tube amps that will eat up a 500wpc solid state amp.

Some of the things I've been told to look at besides wattage is:

- THD
- Transformer sizes (Va)
- frequency range
- Signal to noise ratio (S/N)
- 12v trigger capable
- input and output connector types

In the end, it really depends on how it sounds to you.

[rded]

Originally Posted by richteer

Don't fall into that trap! There's a lot more to amplifier quality than the number of watts/channel at a certain price point!

Originally Posted by louhamilton

Remember that watts does not alone make a better amp.

There are 35wpc tube amps that will eat up a 500wpc solid state amp.

Some of the things I've been told to look at besides wattage is:

- THD
- Transformer sizes (Va)
- frequency range
- Signal to noise ratio (S/N)
- 12v trigger capable
- input and output connector types

In the end, it really depends on how it sounds to you.

Haha Looks like you guys got here before I did huh?
To the OP, Rich and Lou are absolutely right. As a matter of Fact, I just auditioned The OCTAVE Integrated tube amp that has 40 watts/ channel theat can rival the sonics of Simaudio's Titan!

I guess the best thing for you to do is to really set your max budget and try and audition as many amps that fall into that price range and know that most high-end dealers can actually offer a considerable discount.

[Big Daddy]

If I were in your position, I would buy a pair of these 800 watt (8 ohms), 220-pound monoblock amplifiers from Edge. They definitely have WAF appeal.

[Hammie]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

If I were in your position, I would buy a pair of these 800 watt (8 ohms), 220-pound monoblock amplifiers from Edge. They definitely have WAF appeal.

Due to their phallic resemblance???

[Twitch9]

Your missing Anthem in both categories IMO one of the better amps and still at a great value.

[Hammie]

Originally Posted by Twitch9

Your missing Anthem in both categories IMO one of the better amps and still at a great value.

Only if they are the Anthem Statement series. I'd love me a D2v and P5. They sounded REALLY nice with the Paradigm Reference speakers I listened to a couple months ago.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Every time I hear the name Anthem I get flashbacks of Sonic Frontiers! Now that was a company who's gear I always loved.

John

[Erman_94]

thanks guys, more suggestions please as the pickings in Canada are slim on certain models...i need as many as i can to begin looking for and auditioning

[sokrman14]

Originally Posted by louhamilton

Only if they are the Anthem Statement series. I'd love me a D2v and P5. They sounded REALLY nice with the Paradigm Reference speakers I listened to a couple months ago.

I can't believe I forgot to list Anthem, I love those guys too!!!

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by Erman_94

thanks guys, more suggestions please as the pickings in Canada are slim on certain models...i need as many as i can to begin looking for and auditioning

I'll agree that pickings might be slim, but c'mon:

Anthem
Bryston
Classe
SimAudio

Canada is a hotbed for great audio, albeit not the cheapest stuff around.

John

PS~ Kinda pulling your leg there...I know what you mean.

[Erman_94]

Originally Posted by John72953

I'll agree that pickings might be slim, but c'mon:

Anthem
Bryston
Classe
SimAudio

Canada is a hotbed for great audio, albeit not the cheapest stuff around.

John

PS~ Kinda pulling your leg there...I know what you mean.

thanks John, ya im beginning to notice that big purchases like this are going to have to be done locally. i was so set on an emotiva amp for $599 but i read a post somewhere on this site and the member said it ended up costing upwards of $900-1000 CAD with it all said and done...so for that price gap im trying to buy locally first

by the way, what stores do you suggest i look at? i doubt the big chain stores like fs and bb carry quality amps

thanks