ken@bmcg.UUCP (08/10/84)
Does anyone own or has anyone listened to any mid-priced amplifiers that they would recommend? What do you like/dislike about amps such as: Hafler 220 PS Audio Elite (integrated amp) or IIc SUMO Andromeda, Nine, or Nine+ Robertson 4010 Acoustat TNT120 Bryston, Naim, NAD, Crown, etc, etc I am interested in suggestions and ideas on a mid-priced amplifier--less than $1000 range. I'll be driving Magnepan MG I's and would like to attain fairly loud playback levels (MG 1's are not very efficient, approx. 84 db with 1 watt). Please don't start up another debate of tube vs. bi-polar vs. mos-fet. I'm not very interested in lab test results but would like the amp to approach the following levels of performance: 1) Good 3-dimensional stage presentation at all volume levels with good focus (no wandering musicians) and lots of detail. 2) Extended frequency range with tight (not muddy) bass, and clean (not harsh) treble. (sorry about all of the subjective terms) What electronics are you Magnepan owners using? What are other people in net.audio amplifying with? I hope this article will encourage the posting of informative personal evaluations and opinions of not only amplifiers but all other audio gear. We consumers should not rely totaly on manufacturer's literature, biased salespeople, or magazine reviews for our purchases. Besides doing our own listening and evaluations, it is invaluable to get feedback from people who have lived with the equipment we are considering. Thanks a million, Ken Middaugh Burroughs San Diego, CA ..!sdcsvax!bmcg!ken
pmr@drutx.UUCP (Rastocny) (08/15/84)
Of all the amps you listed, I like the Acoustat combination the best with the Magnepans. The 120's drawbacks are a sterile-sounding upper midrange and a weak bottom end, but it has good depth, a large soundstage, and good dynamics. The TNT-200 is quite good for a few (hundred) dollars more, has a more neutral sonic signature than the 120, and a deeper soundstage. The 120 is a good buy and the 200 is a great buy. Don't, I repeat, DON'T buy the Acoustat preamp. It's the pits. Yours for higher fidelity, Phil Rastocny AT&T-ISL ihnp4!drutx!pmr
spc@uicsl.UUCP (08/18/84)
#R:bmcg:-120900:uicsl:26800001:000:901 uicsl!spc Aug 17 16:52:00 1984 I am currently using the Hafler 200/101 pair to drive a pair of Magnepan MGIIB's. Unmodified this is not a spectacular combination. However, Musical Concepts sells modification kits for the Hafler electronics. These modifications the replacement of most of the caps and resistors with high quality types. (pp,ps caps;1% tolerance resistors). Many values are altered. The change these mods make to the Hafler equipment is nothing sort of amazing. The sound had a much more alive quality. Soundstaging and tonal balance is much improved. The M220C kit for the Hafler 220 is priced at $175. The combination of these mods on the Hafler electronics is hard to beat. You should be fairly good with a soldering iron to install the mods. If you built the kits yourself, this should be no problem. Steve Castillo University of Illinois Electromagnetics Laboratory !uicslvax!mnt!spc