[Nabs]

I have the upgrade bug. I listen to 40% music and use my amp for 60% movies.

I am looking for a more detailed, clear but exciting when necessary sound stage.

My plan was to initially buy power amps and use the avr300 as a pre-amp, then later switch the avr300 for a HD processor (maybe when more hi-end choices around). I was hoping the amps would last me for some years.

I am not concerned whether it is a multichannel amp or multiple amps. If multi amps I could focus on the front 3 channels and spend more that way initially and use the avr300 for the rears.

I would be grateful for your shortlist for amps to audition,

[cammy]

hi nabs!

i have a yamaha z7 being powered by a parasound new classic 5125 amp.

sounds great with music and movies alike.

quite a few of these amps were listed on e-bay recently brand new with a year's warranty.

i might be wrong but i dont think any of them were sold.

[Nabs]

Sounds interesting. Actually I do not mind paying for a hi-end amp if that is what I choose, I really wish an amp that will last me for the longer term.

[Welwynnick]

There's a relative glut of cheap Arcam P7's on the market at the moment, which would make a great value choice.

Nick

[Mark.Yudkin]

I second the suggestion of a P7 (get them before they've all gone).

[analogueaddict]

Hello,

I'd take a serious look at the Bryston 5B-ST or SST, this is a superb 3 channel amp which is conservatively rated at 150W/ch (they usually measure more like 165 or 170W/ch all channels driven), come with a 20yr transferable warranty, and sound incredibly transparent, detailed and fast without being forward or hard. Certainly not the cheapest 3 channel amp out there (£1,300 - £2,000 used) but I have used Bryston amps in my Hi-Fi and home theater system for the last 11 years and feel no need to look elsewhere even today.

I should mention that at the badaweb site there is a 9B-ST THX (a modular 5 channel amp with 3 channels installed) currently available for £1,650, might be worth checking to see if you can buy another 2 channels for this at a later date and at what price.

The other option (albeit in a very different direction) would be to check out the NuForce monoblock amps, I would suggest the 8.5 v2's if you can find them used (I understand they have now been discontinued) but they are compact, cool running and sound very good, but I wonder if they might be a little incisive with your Mission speakers?

Regards,

Dave

[Nabs]

thanks for the suggestions, I had been toying with the Bryston and the Arcam P7. The feeling I was getting with the Arcam was that there are better amps out there (seems to be debated often on the forums), which was why I was wondering whether the mono route would be a better way to go, however was thinking of others on the shortlist to test. After reading the Hi-end what hifi mag this year I wondered about the plinius power amps (though there do not appear to be many around to test) or even something completely different e.g. the pathos amps, but I am unsure of whether these would be suitable incharacterwith my missions.

[saguk1234]

How about a Rotel 1575 class d amp? 5 x 250w 8 ohms or 5 x 500w 4 ohms.