What power amp with TAG AV32R 96 5.1

[Sab]

This can probably belong in either the Tag Mclaren or Arcam forum.

I will be acquiring a TAG AV32R 96 5.1 processor next week but I do not know what power amp to use.

The power amp must be as good as my Arcam FMJ A32 for stereo.
I have seen lot of people on this forum having Rotel power amps - how good are they for stereo?

My budget is £1000. I could buy second hand.

Perhaps another Arcam power amp would be better than a THX Ultra certified power amp for stereo?

 

[John Dawson]

You can and IMO should keep the A32 in processor mode for front channel duties. It can be set up to run in fixed gain mode when using the TAG whilst reverting to normal variable gain mode on other (analogue) inputs, e.g. your CD player. Then get a matching P35/3 for the other 3 channels. It retails for more or less the price you have set yourself in your budget.

If that is a little bit expensive you won't lose much with an P85/3 or P90/3 which are more or less the same animals in Arcam's DiVA clothing.

If you want to put the TAG in another system, then an Arcam P90 and P90/3 will provide you with 5 excellent sounding channels for about £1300.

HTH.

John Dawson (Arcam)

 

[Laingy]

I bought a 5X100 R for 1300 second hand, a great amp, and a huge step up from the Rotel (I had a 1075 and it clipped at very low levels). You can turn the amp up as loud as you want (with no clipping) and I gues thats what a power amp is for.

 

[alexs2]

Originally posted by Laingy
I bought a 5X100 R for 1300 second hand, a great amp, and a huge step up from the Rotel (I had a 1075 and it clipped at very low levels). You can turn the amp up as loud as you want (with no clipping) and I gues thats what a power amp is for.

Must say I'm surprised by that,but a lot depends also on the speakers...I tried one of the TAG 5x100 W power amps with my B&Ws and was very happy to have a set of Krells at home....the Tag simply ran out of power very early on into the B&Ws....the easiest way to choose an amp or speakers is to try a few at home in your own system,if this is possible.
I certainly would agree that in the right system,and with a reasonably gentle load,the Tag can be a very nice power amp though.

 

[Nic Rhodes]

I have always thought the Tag amp rather good at what it does, however not everyone agrees. I certainly think it is a step up from the rotel, however like many things, technology moves on and the latest Arcam stuff is pretty damn good if you are buying new. As a second hand purchase the Tag takes some beating and I'm sticking with mine, albeit now for surround duties but it has served me well, sounds good and is well built. Bryston, Parasound and Musical fidelity are other amps that have impressed recently

 

[lowrider]

Stay tuned, I will have a report on Bel Canto soon...

 

[JohnSwindon]

Might be worth checking out the Roksan 5 channel amp. This should be within your budget. But I would have thought a 2nd hand Tag power amp would take some beating within the price.

 

[JohnSwindon]

Might be worth checking out the Roksan 5 channel amp. This should be within your budget. But I would have thought a 2nd hand Tag power amp would take some beating within the price.

 

[mutley]

Look at the bargain Parasound 1205 that http://www.crtprojectors.co.uk/specials.htm are doing!

I got one and it's fantastic.