Secondhand power amps for my system

[clockworks]

I'm going to start work stripping and rebuilding my dining room as a home cinema, so I've got a few months to sort out the sound system.

I'm currently using a Denon 3802 and Quad L-ites, with a Linn LK100 for left and right, and a Naim 110 bi-amping the centre. I was considering upgrading the receiver, but I reckon I can get better sound by sorting out the power amps.
I want to get 3 matching stereo power amps, to bi-amp the front 3 speakers, probably using one the existing amps for the rears.

Do I get 2 more 110s or 2 more LK100s, or 3 of something completely different? Budget is the cost of a decent receiver (1 to 1.5K).

[337GUS]

How about the Naim NAPV 175 3 channel amp?

Or sell the lot and get a Naim n-Vi?

I have a Naim 32.5/110 and fire it up now and again with some Neat standmounts for a bit of a trip down memory lane, sound great with vinyl.

Gus

[clockworks]

The n-Vi is a little out of my price range, at least as a one-time purchase. It looks to be a very good unit, but one-box solutions have their drawbacks. If it breaks, you lose the whole system. Upgrading can be tricky, as well. HD-DVD is a case in point. I suppose Naim could offer a transport upgrade in the future?

How do more modern Naim amps compare with the 110? I'm happy with the sound of the 110 - I've had it about 20 years. I think it may be reaching it's limits with the Quad centre, which is a fairly inefficient speaker. More headroom would be nice.

My problem is, there aren't any Naim dealers local to me - the nearest is 120 miles away, in Exeter.

[337GUS]

Hi

The new Naim amps do sound different, for want of a better description I suppose I would call them more refined.

Have you had the 110 serviced? Cost is £165 plus carriage.

Alternatively you could have it refurbed and upgraded to a 140 for £230 plus carriage and buy 2 more 140's (they seem to go around the £350 mark), this would give you more power to drive the Quad.

Gus

[clockworks]

No, I've never had the amp serviced. I didn't think you needed to touch a solid state amp until it went wrong?
I'm watching eBay for Naim kit, maybe another 110, and a 140 for the centre. Or, do the 110 and 140 sound different?

What other manufacturers offer similar sound, for less cash? My dealer likes Quad amps. I owned a 405 for a few years. IIRC, it was a bit "lifeless". Are later Quads better?

[jon1]

clockworks
you will get a better sound if you take the denon off the front speakers.
that's the way I started never looked back
jon.

[clockworks]

Originally Posted by jon 2

clockworks
you will get a better sound if you take the denon off the front speakers.
that's the way I started never looked back
jon.

I already have!
I've been using separate power amps for the front three speakers for years - Linn LK100 for left and right, Naim 110 for centre.

My question was about upgrading the power amps.

[alexs2]

Interesting question with the mixture of amps you already have....the Naim and Linn sound isn't too dissimilar,and obviously works well for you currently.

An alternative,if you're willing to either keep the LK100s or perhaps better sell them and put the money towards another amp,would be to add a pair of Linn Klouts,which although superceded now,were excellent power amps,and capable of far more than their paper spec suggested.

Good examples can be had for well under your budget,and 2 should be possible if you sold the LK100s......I've used/tried most of the older Linn amps,and found the LK100s run out of steam fairly early,whereas the Klout is a completely different animal....you would find a single Klout to be far better than biamped LK100s.

[337GUS]

Originally Posted by clockworks

No, I've never had the amp serviced. I didn't think you needed to touch a solid state amp until it went wrong?
I'm watching eBay for Naim kit, maybe another 110, and a 140 for the centre. Or, do the 110 and 140 sound different?

What other manufacturers offer similar sound, for less cash? My dealer likes Quad amps. I owned a 405 for a few years. IIRC, it was a bit "lifeless". Are later Quads better?

I think the capacitors can degrade so a service may well improve the sound a good bit. Ask Naim themselves what is involved and what the likely improvements are, they are very good when it comes to looking after their old kit.

Don't think anything sounds quite like Naim

Densen, Dynavector and Rega are liked by the same guys who buy Naim, I like the Rega Exon in particular. Don't know Linn well so can't comment really.

The 140 replaced the 110 and is basically just a more powerful version iirc.

Gus

[rowlandhills]

Personally, I'd look at selling the amps you've got and getting a Linn AV5125. This is a 5 channel amp, each channel with 125W of power. It's commonly regarded as between the performance of the LK85 and the LK140 for each channel (some people argue that it's better than the LK140). It's definately better than the LK100.

They're selling for about £800 second hand (eBay etc.)

Alternatively, for a real jump, there's a Chakra 3200 on eBay at the moment for £1250 (buy it now of £1650) which is a 3 channel 200WPC amp. Most Linn fans regard the Chakra 200 series are the real successor to the Klout, and the best Linn power amp short of the Klimax series which are silly money. I'd say that the 3200 would beat pretty much any biamped combination for your front three.