Amplifier suggestions please


Hi - I'm reworking a 2 channel system, had some very basic components and now trying to step up a bit.  DAC is currently a Schiit Yggy, I'm on the waiting list for a Freya+ which means I'll be running balanced connections.  Speakers are Philharmonic Audio 3's.  I was using a pair of Emotiva XPA-1L monoblocks (differential/balanced) but want to upgrade.  I could stay in the Schiit catalog and go with a pair of Vidar's but although there are no real bad reviews I feel like they don't quite get raved about like the Yggy does (and the Freya+ to some extent).  I'd like to stay around $2K, definitely under $3K and I prefer new (I've had my fill with trying used).  I know its asking a lot to find a pair of balanced monoblocks in this range so I'm not opposed to a stereo amp (XLR inputs).  I could also be talked into canceling my Freya+ order and switching to a preamp from the amp builder if there is better synergy in that pairing.  I've looked an Van Alstine and Odyssey, what else should I be looking at?

Thanks!
128x128jumper75

Showing 4 responses by yyzsantabarbara

Regarding the OP question. Why not look into a Purifi mono from March Audio. Likely similar to the Benchmark AHB2.

https://www.marchaudio.net.au/p451


@sixsigmaguy Are the 2 AHB2's louder at the same volume level than a single AHB2? What speakers are you using with the mono AHB2's?

I have a single AHB2 and want to do a 30 trial with a second one. My speakers have some unusual power requirements so it is not a simple matter to go mono.
@jumper75  The Benchmark web site has a menu section called APPLICATION NOTES. You will find all the technical details there.

As I mentioned previously the 30 day trial of the AHB2 is a no lose proposition.
@jumper75 I have the single AHB2 and I think it is the best amp I have ever owned because it is so quiet. Do the 30 day trial since you have nothing to lose (if you are in the USA). This amp does NOT require break-in contrary to what reviewers are saying. I have owned this amp 2 times and the second time I got it the amp sounded just like my old (sold) amp which had 100’s of hours on it.

Only Class D I would look at today are Purifi. The March Audio I linked to is in your price range for 2 monos. On the ASR web site they have a strong presence and the new amps are highly rated. The NAD M28 is also another Purifi amp but cost a little more and the specs are not as good as expected from the Purifi prototypes. However, NAD and Purifi have a very close relationship.

In my situation I need a lot of power in 2 Ohms. My single stereo amp is actually rated at that level for something like 292 watts. The mono are not rated at the level and the manual recommends using the monos on 6 and 8 Ohms loads. So I emailed the amp designer, who also posts on A’gon, and also the head of sales.

It seems that the mono AHB2 amps cannot run a long time at 2 Ohms to collect the specs. I think it is 30 minutes on a continuous 2 Ohm load that is needed to publish the specs. The designer and sales guy told me that is not a realistic real world situation and that the mono would work great for me. A musician that owns the same speakers as me posted that the single stereo AHB2 was more than enough power and sounded somehat better than the 2 monos. This is with the speaker that goes below 4 Ohms. In most situations the 2 monos are being described as much better. A lot of posts all over on this.

I will do the 30 day trial of the AHB2 see for myself. I have no concern about speaker damage since the amps have great shutdown control system.

So for my situation I am saying I do not know yet if 2 monos are what I will end up with yet. I will definitely try it first because the AHB2 is such an incredible amp and I think the only ones that are like it are the new Purifi based amps. I also think most other speakers would be a better match than my speakers, but I will still try to make it work because I like the AHB2 sound so much.

In a few more months Purifi will release much more powerful modules that will have tons of power at 2 Ohms. I will try that if I do not go with 2 AHB2’s. The other amp that I am considering, but is not in your criteria, is the $6K CODA #8 Class AB amp. It has the perfect specs for my application and is supposed to sound incredible. However, the Coda is described like sounding similar to other class AB amps to me and nothing like the AHB2. The Puriif amps is described as being very much like the AHB2, very quiet.