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Need a New Center Channel amp (1 Viewer)

Shorty Boy76

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Pastor Tree
Anyone know where I can get a decent 300 watt mono amp ( brigded to produce 300w is good too) for under 700 bucks? I have an Audiosource Amp 100 pushing the center channel now and it doesn't seem to do the center justice. Plus the signal has a delay, and it take a second to come on after my reciever is turned on. Any suggestions are appreciated.
 

deviate2112

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Mike Cottle
Check out some of the Emotiva amps, great build quality and very decent prices. I own a couple and have not been disappointed...also give them a call, they are having a secret demo sale...but you have to call to see what they have. http://shop.emotiva.com/collections/amplifiers/products/xpa100 http://emotiva.com/
 

Type A

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+1 for Emotiva. Cant speak for their current line but the discontinued UPA1 was a great performer. I personal owned two, at $300 each, and I thought they were worth every penny. They have a great return policy and some of the best prices around, in your budget Im not sure you can do better than Emotiva. BTW for an extra $100 you can bridge a Emotiva XPA2. Now thats some serious power (and very likely massive overkill).
 

Shorty Boy76

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Thanks guys, I currently have 2 Audiosource Amp 310's pushing a set of NS-C333 (Yamaha) and Insignia B2 1111's. The center is a NS-C444. Would like to get the matching towers but my house is not big enough for that. The center just needs a little more gonads to keep up with the mains.
 

schan1269

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Why not another 310? http://www.ebay.com/itm/AudioSource-DHAMP310-2-Channel-Power-Amplifier-AMP-310-150-Watt-Stereo-500-/170988956386?pt=US_Home_Audio_Amplifiers_Preamps&hash=item27cfbc6ae2
 

Shorty Boy76

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Rack space for one, and the manual says it pulls about 1200 w from the wall. With my Receiver, 2-310's, a Amp 100, PS3, DVD, and Fios all on one Power Center (HTS-1000) I was/am concerned about the power being pulled from the wall. The Mono Emotiva @ 250 looks to be a good fit. @ 6Ohms it could very well hit the 300 w range I'm looking for. Plus it doesn't pull another 1200w from the wall, lol.
 

Phil A

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If you don't mind used, you can pick up a Marantz MA700 - http://www.amazon.com/MARANTZ-MA-700-Monoblock-Power-Amplifier/dp/B004EW9C9K Places like Audiogon, US Audio Mart or Craigslist would be places to look. I have a Marantz MA500 on a rear center that I eventually may part with but it does not have the power you are seeking 130W into 8 and 175W into 4 ohms.
 

Phil A

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Here's a MA500u, which is basically what I have for $160 - http://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649042220-marantz_ma500u_monoblock_power_amplifier/ They are quite good for the money. The bad thing about used is that you can't always get what you want when you want.. There's also places like accessories4less.com I had a space limitation in the bedroom system and picked up a Bryston 3BST. It's hard finding amps with a small footprint.
 

schan1269

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You are only worried about how much power stuff is pulling off the wall....if you turn it up loud enough. An amp just sitting there "on" isn't pulling its entire juice allowance...if you aren't listening to anything. If you ever run one source(be it BD/SACD/DVD-A) to the point you are trying to go deaf...I don't think you'd begin to reach "peak".
 

Shorty Boy76

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Pastor Tree
Thanks a lot, I might consider another 310 then. If I do tho, then I will have to do something with the rack. I've seen a Niles 2125 for about 600 bucks and is 300w bridged. Looks to be a good fit accept for the 5.5 inch height. I will definitly have to do more research. Thanks again.
 

schan1269

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Yeah, just this morning I was "jamming" to some Bruno Mars(Unorthodox Jukebox)...on the same circuit... SVS 13Ultra Onkyo SR707 Kenwood M2A Oppo 970(miniscule compared to the rest) While running a Kirby Vacuum...
 

schan1269

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It is my first HDMI SACD player(the entire reason I bought it). Have no real frame of reference cause the 707 doesn't have multi-channel input...and it has been 2 years since I've been able to listen to SACD/DVD-A on the DCM TF. Which are currently unhooked reviewing the SVS Ultra. But it works. I'm still trying to figure out if the picture it produces is as good as the Pioneer DV420. But the 420 does 1080P upscale....the 970 does 720P...so it isn't fair. So I may end up keeping both in the system(I own a lot of foreign PAL and other non-USA).
 

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