New amp for new speakers

[Blackdawn]

Hi, Am after a new amp. Have just received some Klipsch RB-81 speakers and am after an amp with more power. Although they are sensitive they are 8 ohms instead of 6 for the Lektors and the Denon is finding it hard! Can anyone suggest a good buy. I have a short list - Yamaha AS700, Nad 352/355 some kind of Arcam? Be good if the amp was around 100w into 8ohms. Would the Yamaha be a good match or too safe? I don't want bright sounding amp with the RB-81's.

-Specs - Sensitivity 97dB

Power Handling 150w RMS/ 600w peak

Norminal Impedance - 8 ohms

Thanks 🙂

FREQUENCY RESPONSE 46Hz-23kHz +/-3dB POWER HANDLING 150W RMS / 600W Peak SENSITIVITY 97dB @ 2.83V / 1m NOMINAL IMPEDANCE 8 ohms compatible

FREQUENCY RESPONSE 46Hz-23kHz +/-3dB POWER HANDLING 150W RMS / 600W Peak SENSITIVITY 97dB @ 2.83V / 1m NOMINAL IMPEDANCE 8 ohms compatible

FREQUENCY RESPONSE 46Hz-23kHz +/-3dB POWER HANDLING 150W RMS / 600W Peak SENSITIVITY 97dB @ 2.83V / 1m NOMINAL IMPEDANCE 8 ohms compatible

 

[d_a_n1979]

Lovely speakers; I'm jealous

Whats your budget? Have you budgted for decent stands and also what music do you generally listen to?

For power wise the NAD C355BEE or even a 2nd hand NAD C352 integrated would drive the speakers with ease. Another decent 2nd hand amp with bags of power and a superb sound would be the Arcam Alpha 10 integrated or you could possibly look at the younger but still very good Arcam DiVA A85 amp.

The Yamaha has plenty of power but it could be a little too smooth with the Klipschs

 

[Blackdawn]

Thanks for reply! Well I'd probably get some Super dreads eventually as the RB-81's would need good stands!

The Nad's look like a good option. Even the old Nad C370? But a little worried the bass may get too much with NAD's lol I'm looking at prices around £300-400ish or less.

Except for Matthewpiano (have read his review on site and its good) has anyone else tried the Yamaha AS-700 because I don't want an amp that is too bright with my CA340 but not too boomy either so thought it could be perfect!

 

[Anonymous]

Have you got it the wrong way round? 8Ohm speakers should present less of a load to the amplifier than 6Ohm speakers.

 

[the record spot]

You could probably seek out a less powerful amp with speakers of that sensitivity (97db?! Man, a 10 watter could drive those with ease - speaking of which, I see Puresound have the A10 at £599...valves, but apparently rather good!).

There's a bunch of good amps out there - there's a Sansui AU-317 Mk2 on Ebay right now which would be good, the seller offers a 7-day money back guarantee (minus the P&P) and it's a fine amp. £90 delivered (£75 if you happen to live next door and can collect!). For £160 another seller has the Sansui AU-417 amp. Put it this way, you won't go wrong with any of the Sansui -17 series amps. Barring perhaps the entry level model, the 117, the rest are just superb sonically and capable of holding their own against contemporary efforts.

Big warning, the range started in the late 1970s through to 1980, so you need to bear that in mind. The simpler amps (217, 317) are extremely good and give you a good 80% of the bigger models in the range. So, my recommendation goes to them. For the money, as they're so underrated, you're quids in. I got my 217 for £33 all in, including serviced and I won't be parted with it.

Alternatives: NAD, ever reliable, but the older models seem to attract more praise than the latest bunch. The 306 seems to disappear for good money quickly, so keep an eye out for that.

The Yamaha A-S700 is a fine amp and is more neutral than bright, so less character imposing than anything else. Heard it last weekend and bass was well controlled, plentiful but not bloomy.

 

[Blackdawn]

http://community.whathifi.com/forums/t/432754.aspx

Quote -

WRONG. The HIGHER the Ohm rating is, the more resistive the speaker is.

Bodfish:and the more current it will (try) to draw from the amp. CORRECT. Ohm's Law V=IR states for a given voltage V applied across a resistance, or impedance, R, a current I will be drawn. If V is increased, and R is constant, then the current will increase proportionally. The fly in the ointment is that R is not constant for a speaker, varying according to frequency.

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I've found that my Dali Lektor 2's have a nominal Impedance of 6 and the RB-81's have a nominal impedance of 8. With my Denon 250SE the Lektor's went louder for less turn of the vol knob so I'm assuming the RB-81, being 8 Ohm are harder to drive than the 6 Ohms Lektor 2's.

Also although the RB-81's are sensitive they are not as easy to drive as the Lektor 2's hence why I'm thinking about a higher powered amp e.g. Nad C370.

 

[Blackdawn]

Thanks for the reply Record Spot the Yamaha seems good. Did you find you agreed with the WHF review? Lacking in top and bottom ends? Also was it a bit safe? How come you didn't get one?!

 

[the record spot]

Shop setting mate, but reviews are a guide, and the setting, partnering equipment and music were all different. The amp probably isn't lacking I doubt, so in a real world, non-sterile setting, it could well be a good fit with the right gear. I didn't go for it at the time as I lack to try and hear stuff at home, plus there's no return option if I buy in person from the shop. Online purchases give you this right.

I'd recommend it, but depends on your tastes, set-up at home, layout, etc, etc, too many variables!

 

[Blackdawn]

So the Yamaha AS-700 didn't grab you RS? I think you would have gone for it if it was great instead of average. Am I wrong?

Does anyone have any other recomendations for an amp to go with the RB-81's? I like the Denon but need it at 10-11 o' clock to get any decent volume.

What about the CA 650A or Harmon Kardon 980?

Thanks 🙂

 

[d_a_n1979]

Something along the lines of the Rotel RA04SE or the NAD C326BEE would drive the Klipsch's well; at that price though you'd have to look at the NAD C355BEE as well.

I've only demo'd the Yamaha AS1000 and AS2000; both very powerful amps but they're fairly smooth and not as punchy in the low end

 

[Gerrardasnails]

Blackdawn:
Thanks for reply! Well I'd probably get some Super dreads eventually as the RB-81's would need good stands!

The Nad's look like a good option. Even the old Nad C370? But a little worried the bass may get too much with NAD's lol I'm looking at prices around £300-400ish or less.

Except for Matthewpiano (have read his review on site and its good) has anyone else tried the Yamaha AS-700 because I don't want an amp that is too bright with my CA340 but not too boomy either so thought it could be perfect!

Before you change, can you let us know how they sound powered by your Denon? My Dad has the same amp and we are looking at some new speakers for him.

 

[csq2]

Cambridge Audio 650A is cheap and has tons of power. (75W/ch)

 

[Anonymous]

try the astintrew 2000plus MATE I HAVE ONE RUNNING MY atcS ITS A WONDERFULL AMP

 

[Blackdawn]

Gerrardasnails:Blackdawn:

Thanks for reply! Well I'd probably get some Super dreads eventually as the RB-81's would need good stands!

The Nad's look like a good option. Even the old Nad C370? But a little worried the bass may get too much with NAD's lol I'm looking at prices around £300-400ish or less.

Except for Matthewpiano (have read his review on site and its good) has anyone else tried the Yamaha AS-700 because I don't want an amp that is too bright with my CA340 but not too boomy either so thought it could be perfect!

Before you change, can you let us know how they sound powered by your Denon? My Dad has the same amp and we are looking at some new speakers for him.

Gerrardasnails - I've had another short listen to the Denon with the RB-81's and the sound is quite good (although I've not heard a hi-end kit). The Denon can power them okay actually (for my small flat) so may stick with this amp for a while and probably get a NAD sometime as an upgrade in the future. Initially I wasn't sure and I think it depends a lot on the recording. Some sound much louder than other CD's at the same vol. on the amp. I guess thats the difference in sound engineering between albums. The combo should be fine for a small -medium sized room but I'd look for a more powerfull amp than the Denon if you want to listen at a louder volume. I like the sound they make with pop and dance music also I noticed an improvement in the high frequency when swapping from the Lektor 2's to the Klipsch's. It must be due to the horn. If you like a lot of bass in a standmount then the RB-81's are great. I still like the Lektor 2's with this amp as well but again I've not anything to compare against as its my first proper Hi-Fi!

I reckon the Denon would sound good with some Second-hand speakers off ebay such as some MS10i's. What's wrong with the KEF IQ? What about some old Mission 700's or something like that off Ebay? Just a few ideas....

 

[Anonymous]

97db is very sensitive, personally you wouldn't need alot of power to drive those fine speakers you have

Instead id look for a decent amp that has a good dynamic range

🙂