What 135W or a bit more amplifier do you like?

[rmihai]

What 135W or a bit more amplifier do you like?

My budget is limited to US$1,100.

Thank you

 

[Iostream]

Amplifier for what exactly? There are several good amps in that range, but what depends on what you will be amplifying... The 200W x 2 Rotel RB-1080 is a great amp at around 1K.

 

[rmihai]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iostream Amplifier for what exactly? There are several good amps in that range, but what depends on what you will be amplifying... The 200W x 2 Rotel RB-1080 is a great amp at around 1K.

For music. Between my phono stage and speakers I need a simple POWER amp. I was thinking to that Rotel, but I would like to keep the power as close as posible to 135W pc.

What will be those "several good amps"?

 

[Iostream]

In that price range, you will likely find B&K and Rotel are the most common, and Rotel does make a 130W version of that amp as well. Outlaw and Anthem make something in your price range, though I was not as fond of them when last I listened. You might be able to find some of the old Marantz monoblocks. FWIW, I use a rotel to drive my B&W N804s and absolutely love the sound.

 

[rmihai]

What Marantz monoblocks are you talking about?

 

[Iostream]

Looks like you can get the Aragon 2002 for that price as well, but this is also 200x2. I have not heard the new Aragon stuff, though I was quite fond of the older stuff before Klipsch bought them. And I think Parasound makes something in your price range...

 

[rmihai]

I forgot to specify - I am looking ONLY for USED.

 

[replytoken]

Portal Panache Demo?

 

[meat01]

Why 135 watts? I would save a crap load of money and get the Adcom in the for sale forum for $150. It's not a grand and it ain't 135 watts, but it is used and it sounds great and is a deal.

 

[Tachikoma]

urm... maybe the UcD180?

I see a lot of good reviews about the UcD Class-D amps at diyaudio.org.

 

[Drag0n]

Bryston.

The Bryston 3BST is 120w X2 @ 8 ohms,over 500 damping factor,and compared alot to Mark Levinsons. It also has a 20 year transferrable warranty. I see them alot on EBAY under $1000. Usually around $600 or so.
I love mine,and it has a reasonably small foot print front to back,and easy to move about. I dont think theres better for the money.
:Bryston Smiley: lol

 

[agile_one]

A big second to Drag0n's recommendation of the Bryston 3B ST.

In addition to the attributes he pointed out, it can be run in mono for a whopping 400 Watts, and accepts either balanced or single ended inputs.

 

[courierdriver]

I can also recommend the Bryston, as my brother-in-law had one (he has since gone to the 4B ST, to better drive his large floorstanders).

May I also suggest a Celeste 4150 SE (150w/ch), if you are looking at used gear? I owned this amp until October of last year, and I liked it a bit more than the Bryston, for it's almost tube-like mids and highs. Bass drive and definition was great too. A very detailed and fast, well-built amp. Like the Bryston, it also can also be run in mono, and has both single-ended and balanced inputs.

I sold mine on Ebay for a bit over $800-US. If you can find one, I'd say get it. It seems to be able to drive almost anything (I once heard it with an older pair of Mirage OM6's, with dips to below 4-ohms, and 86db-efficiency). I used it with my Totem Model 1's, at 87db, with 4-ohm average. I've never been able to get it to run out of steam, even at sometimes insanely loud levels.

 

[Whitebread]

Why the 135w restriction?

 

[dwc]

Odyssey Stratos. I don't own one, but nonetheless I like them.