Alex F.
Second Unit
- Joined
- Aug 29, 1999
- Messages
- 377
Greetings:
While our new home is under construction, and along with it a new home-theater room, I am about to begin looking at power amps. I have settled on a Vandersteen system built around the 3A Signatures. At least for the time being, until SACD and/or DVD-Audio get sorted out and multichannel digital connections become available, I will continue to use our Denon AVP-8000 preamp/processor. An amp's bottom-octave performance is not a concern, as I will be using our Velodyne FSR-18 subwoofer. Also note that the room will be 15 x 21 feet, and that we do not play the system at deafening levels.
Based on past experience and/or published reviews, I have narrowed my power-amp choices to four brands: Pass, Conrad-Johnson, Theta, and Belles. I may not have the time to audition every power amplifier as I would prefer to, so any experiences with specific models (as outlined below) would be greatly appreciated. Comments could help narrow down choices even further.
From Pass, either the X5 amp alone, or an X150 or X250 stereo amp for the mains along with an X3 to drive the center and surrounds. Do the stereo amps provide audibly better performance than the multichannel X5? For solid-state amps, I have generally preferred MOSFETs in the output stage, hence my interest in Nelson Pass' offerings. I currently use Adcom's GFA-5503 and 5400 amps, which are based on a Pass design. They've performed splendidly, but I am hoping for even further refinement.
Conrad-Johnson has their MF-5600 multichannel amp. (I am a fan of and past owner of C-J's tube products--I use tube components in our music room. This gives a good idea of my sonic preferences.) Or I could utilize their MF-2500 or MF-2250 stereo amps for the mains and use an MF-5600 for the other channels (this would leave two unused channels, though they could be useful if 7.1 DVDs become the norm). Again, do the stereo amps provide audible benefits compared with the MF-5600?
Theta's Dreadnaught or new Intrepid look intriguing. The former has received impressive reviews since its introduction. If either one is as smooth, open, grainless, and nonfatiguing as I've read, I am certainly interested.
Finally, in a conversation with David Belles last week, he was rather excited about his new 350A stereo amp, suggesting it be combined with a three-channel 150A or 150A Hot Rod. Belles' use of MOSFETs, plus positive reviews I've read about his products, put these amps on my short list.
I have long felt that if a component can do justice to music, reproducing film soundtracks generally will not be a problem. Thus, a description of an amp's performance on music would be very helpful.
Thank you very much in advance!
While our new home is under construction, and along with it a new home-theater room, I am about to begin looking at power amps. I have settled on a Vandersteen system built around the 3A Signatures. At least for the time being, until SACD and/or DVD-Audio get sorted out and multichannel digital connections become available, I will continue to use our Denon AVP-8000 preamp/processor. An amp's bottom-octave performance is not a concern, as I will be using our Velodyne FSR-18 subwoofer. Also note that the room will be 15 x 21 feet, and that we do not play the system at deafening levels.
Based on past experience and/or published reviews, I have narrowed my power-amp choices to four brands: Pass, Conrad-Johnson, Theta, and Belles. I may not have the time to audition every power amplifier as I would prefer to, so any experiences with specific models (as outlined below) would be greatly appreciated. Comments could help narrow down choices even further.
From Pass, either the X5 amp alone, or an X150 or X250 stereo amp for the mains along with an X3 to drive the center and surrounds. Do the stereo amps provide audibly better performance than the multichannel X5? For solid-state amps, I have generally preferred MOSFETs in the output stage, hence my interest in Nelson Pass' offerings. I currently use Adcom's GFA-5503 and 5400 amps, which are based on a Pass design. They've performed splendidly, but I am hoping for even further refinement.
Conrad-Johnson has their MF-5600 multichannel amp. (I am a fan of and past owner of C-J's tube products--I use tube components in our music room. This gives a good idea of my sonic preferences.) Or I could utilize their MF-2500 or MF-2250 stereo amps for the mains and use an MF-5600 for the other channels (this would leave two unused channels, though they could be useful if 7.1 DVDs become the norm). Again, do the stereo amps provide audible benefits compared with the MF-5600?
Theta's Dreadnaught or new Intrepid look intriguing. The former has received impressive reviews since its introduction. If either one is as smooth, open, grainless, and nonfatiguing as I've read, I am certainly interested.
Finally, in a conversation with David Belles last week, he was rather excited about his new 350A stereo amp, suggesting it be combined with a three-channel 150A or 150A Hot Rod. Belles' use of MOSFETs, plus positive reviews I've read about his products, put these amps on my short list.
I have long felt that if a component can do justice to music, reproducing film soundtracks generally will not be a problem. Thus, a description of an amp's performance on music would be very helpful.
Thank you very much in advance!
