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Best Amp to drive my Apogee Stages?

Greetings all.
I am wondering if I might get some good suggestions from anyone who might be firmiliar with the Apogee Stages. I have owned them for quite awhile, but due to blowing up my Krell (300i)intergrated amplifier more than once now (a $400 bill to fix it each time) I beleive that it is time to buy the right amplifier for the job. I need more power for sure, but my wallet is light these days. This means that I must minimize my purchase to something definitly under $2K and even more like $1200 price range. This seems to limit me quite a bit in my findings, but I am wondering if I might have missed something with my research so far? I have reviewed Krell, Levinson, Pass Labs and Threshold to date. Each have older options in my price range, but I am not certain if any will work better with my speakers?

Any thoughts out there?

Thank you in advance.

-LoveItLoud
loveitloud

Showing 8 responses by sogood51

sogood51
2,157 posts
 
I don't find my Stage particularly hard to drive...100 watts of solid state or tube amps (with a good power supply) is up to the task in my room. I guess if you like to play music at loud levels (90-100 db) you should play it safe and get 200 watts or so?

I've used Krell Ksa-250, Krell Kav-500, Rogue Audio M-120 Magnum, Onkyo M-504, and Outlaw Audio 755....none had a problem driving the Apogee Stage.

I'm surprised you have had amp problems...you must play very loud music?

EDIT: Woops.....LoveItLoud (I should have saw that).

Dave
sogood51
2,157 posts
 
Don_s

I've had plenty of clean power on mine (Krell Ksa-250, 4.5 kva transformer)....they did sound great.

but they sound great with my tube amps also :-)

I guess the baby Krell just couldn't cut the mustard?....probably overheated from being overdriven?...small power supply, and not enough heat sink.

Dave
sogood51
2,157 posts
 
Clavil

The TRL GT-400 are 400 watts each?....I'm 100% sure they can drive the little Stage with ease.

(My Onkyo M-504's don't even get past "warm" driving the Stage)

Dave
sogood51
2,157 posts
 
I have Stage and Duetta Signature...I can run them both to very good SPL's with my Rogue Audio M-120 Magnum tube amps (120 watts each).

I've also used, or heard many solid state amps: BAT VK-500, Krell Ksa-250, Pass Labs 150, Krell Kav-500, Outlaw Audio 755, and Onkyo M-504.

None of these amps has a problem driving the Apogee speakers to sane SPL's.

50 watts will drive the Stage, but not very loud?....although maybe loud enough for some people.

Dave
sogood51
2,157 posts
 
I ran my Stage for a while as a Stage-etta...Stage/Duetta. The Stage reproducing highs and mids, along with upper bass...and the Duetta bass panel handling bass from around 80hz-25hz. (The mix of the two sounded outstanding!).

My Stage are the MiniGrands...but the Duetta Signature bass, is better sounding than the MiniGrand subwoofers.

Sadly, one of my Stage now has the dreaded Apogee bass panal BUZZZZZZZ...so the good one is now working as my center channel speaker.

Dave
sogood51
2,157 posts
 
The latter built Stage, and MiniGrand Stage are pretty much the same...the MiniGrand with a nicer looking cover, AFAIK. (and of course the expensive dedicated crossover, and two subwoofers)

The MiniGrand bass extends to around 25hz with the subwoofers...right there with the Duetta Signature.

Dave
sogood51
2,157 posts
 
Some very good points about amp headroom, and dynamics. Here is a short video (watch the needle nearly peg on the Krell Kas-2 amp).

This is on the Stage bass panel only (80hz-700hz)...several other speakers handle the freq's above and below this range, and have their own dedicated amps.

http://s90.photobucket.com/albums/k280/sogood51/?action=view¤t=Krell_KAS-2.flv

Dave
sogood51
2,157 posts
 
The Music in the video is a Telarc classical cd with explosive dynamics...a shotgun blast to be exact!

Still...I does show what can happen

Dave
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