[MrSiki99]

I am looking for a good power amp under $150(used or new price doesnt matter)to go with my Axiom M2ti's. If anyone has some suggestions please post em'

 

[00940]

under 150, i'd only consider vintage stuff or build yourself a gainclone.

For the first option : www.audiokarma.org

Second : www.diyaudio.com

 

[BoyElroy]

I'd like to second the gainclone recommendation as well as add a link to the good old AKSA amp kits .

Also, as 00940 mentions, you can also check out some of the 1970's and 80's vintage receivers with amp/preamp bypass inputs. The Pioneers/Marantz's/Harman Kardons from that time had very nice amp output stages with all discrete components and overbuilt power supplies. Feeding directly into the amp input stage will cut out all unnecessary switches and the generally crap preamp sections on these receivers.

The result? If you have a good preamp or even if you use the line out from your pc, most of these old receivers will put out a really clean and surprisingly robust sound.

I've been working on a couple of old 1974-ish Harman Kardon 330b's/930's and the sound quality out of these amps is very enjoyable, almost tube-like and have to be heard to be believed.

You can buy an HK330b for about $20-$40 on ebay. Avoid the 330C and 430 as these do not have amp/preamp bypass input/outputss.

As an added plus, the headphone jacks on most of these older receivers are looped from the main speaker outs and generally have quite good sound quality as well.

 

[hempcamp]

[Edited because I'm an idiot.]

--Chris

 

[MrSiki99]

So you are saying the Rega Ear can drive speakers?

 

[eyeteeth]

Quote:

Originally posted by MrSiki99 So you are saying the Rega Ear can drive speakers?

Yes he is. The small portable ones.

 

[dd3mon]

Quote:

Originally posted by eyeteeth Yes he is. The small portable ones.

Ones that strap to your head?

 

[esldude]

Sherwood recievers, and amps from the early 80's are overlooked. They used fully discrete mosfets. I have used them on very expensive electrostatic loudspeakers. While not perfect, they do a good job, can handle the load, and sound better than average. Find one at a good price, and you have bargain. Have one I purchased in 1983. Has been loaned to relative, etc. and still works perfectly, and sounds pretty decent.

 

[eyeteeth]

Quote:

Originally posted by dd3mon Ones that strap to your head?

Those are the ones.

 

[hempcamp]

Quote:

Originally posted by MrSiki99 So you are saying the Rega Ear can drive speakers?

Heh heh...

sorry, misread the thread title, responded too quickly

--Chris