Beefier amp

[admin_exported]

Hi Guys

Decided I need an amp upgrade. Presently have a Cyrus 8 integrated. It sounds OK but I like to listen to my music LOUD (quiet music is for elevators and supermarkets). The Cyrus starts to sound a bit thin and compressed when played loud. The options I'm considering are:

1. Add a Cyrus 8 power and bi-amp

2. Trade in the Cyrus 8 for a beefier integrated like the Kandy K2.

Which of these would be my best bet do you think? Speakers are MA S6's.

Thanks

 

[Anonymous]

Biamping will give you more current delivery and will allow you to go louder before clipping. Overall the result probably won't give you much more volume.

Instead, go for more Watts

You could always buy a Quad 909 (140W) and use the Cyrus as a preamp...

 

[Frank Harvey]

Bi-amping with a power amp of the same power won't increase your output, but adding a more powerful power amp, like an 8 Power or an W Power for example, will give you more current to play with, as well as an increase in quality due to bi-amp/bi-wiring. Alternatively, you could look at the Quad 909 as Igglebert mentions, and also the Audiolab 8000P's or 8000M's if you're on a tighter budget.

 

[Anonymous]

Wow, thanks guys. These are both interesting options that I hadn't thought of. The Quad 909 looks pretty impressive. I didn't realise that Audiolab were still going these days. I can remember them being very well-regarded years ago but I can't find any reviews of the latest ones. Anyone know how good they are ? They seem a steal at the price - maybe too good to be true??

 

[drummerman]

Some AVI's for all-round better sound?

 

[mikeinbrum]

Agree. AVI ADM9.1s are yummy all the way to neighbour bothering levels! And you can get a few quid back by parting with your current setup

 

[chebby]

NAD C375BEE

150watts x 2 (continuous into 8 ohms)

And far higher peak power ability without clipping. (NAD are always very 'conservative' with their power figures.)

£895 but probably a bit less if you shop around.

If that is not enough you can bridge it with a C275BEE power amp and get 400w per channel.

 

[Anonymous]

jgw911:Wow, thanks guys. These are both interesting options that I hadn't thought of. The Quad 909 looks pretty impressive. I didn't realise that Audiolab were still going these days. I can remember them being very well-regarded years ago but I can't find any reviews of the latest ones. Anyone know how good they are ? They seem a steal at the priceÿ - maybe too good to be true??

The company has changed hands a couple of times. The equipment is now made in China .

 

[Anonymous]

The AVI ADM9.1 would certainly be a superb step but given that you have RS6s I know that you'll want the sub to go with it; you've now spent about £2k.

The Quad 909 is an example of a powerful amp that will give you a neutral sound, some would say warm but I'm not convinced by that. The Audiolab kit is quite clinical sounding, cool and clear. Personally I think the Quad is a better match for the MAs.

When it comes to the amps, biamping (parallel) will give you more current to drive the speaker load. Useful if the speakers are tricky. The MA's bass would benefit here. Having a more powerful amp will give you more volts to play with resulting in more volume.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks all. Yes I think the AVIs might be a superb option but I have an MA 5.1 setup not just a pair of speakers so changing entirely to active speakers would be a major change now and quite a pricey one. I'll try and find a stockist for the Quad 909 and maybe the Audiolabs and see if I can audition with my MAs. Will probably want to test this alongside a biamped Cyrus setup too. I think it's not really outright loudness that I want to improve (my current setup is quite capable of generating hearing damage levels) but I'm really looking for better dynamics and control when played loud.

 

[Anonymous]

You could try finding an ex-demo or second hand MusicalFidelity A3.5 that would give 150W at 8Ohms and load of current to your speakers. Moreover, MF suits very well your current RS 6. And if you can stretch your budget (selling your Cyrus first) the newers A5.x with their 250W will move your RS 6 quite a lot.

As my signature shows my A308 dual mono amp giving 150W @ 8Ohm and 300 @ 4Ohms make my RS8 fly. And what's even better is that those MF amps have a HomeCinema input as fixed level inputs so you're home cinema / stereo setup becomes simplier.

But as allways... Try before buying to make sure you like the sound the MFs would give to you.