Mono Blocks on a Budget, is it possible?


I’m really struggling with the direction to take my system. I have the following:

Legacy Classics speakers
Aurender N100H media player
Schiit Freya tube pre-amp
Schiit Yggdrasil DAC
Schiit Vidar x2 (in mono block mode)

I will be replacing speakers at some point but the rest of the system I love... except the Vidars. Before them, I had NAD 356BEE that was used for the amp. Very clean and I loved it, except it was only 80 Watts. I decided to upgrade to the Vidars. They cost twice as much From a good manufacturer like Schiit so they must be better right? Not really. They are more noisy than the NAD amp and I’m finding myself less in love with them that I though I would be. I was planning the Vidar purchase for about a year and now that I got them I don’t know which direction to take in replacing them. I want to get cleaner mono amps but don’t want to spend more than $3k MAX for both. The Vidars are 400 Watts into 8ohm, are there any options out there for me that are close to the Vidar specs? I’m open to used but mostly I want the amps to sound almost completely clean with practically no distortion. 
xerotrace

Showing 3 responses by dhawks3001

PCconnexion has the Burson Timekeeper on sale for $845 each (original MSRP $2600 each). A/AB operation, 240 watts @ 8ohm, unbelievably clean & pure. I am using them with Dynaudio Special 40s and it's like having a personal concert in my listening room every night.
P.S.: I use the Bursons in a 3rd system. My main uses a 1988 Sumo Andromeda with Martin Logan electrostatics, while my studio system has a Melody integrated (NOS tubes) hooked to highly modified Klipsch RF-7s (Audience Crossovers by Dean). I listen to the Burson system more than the other two.
I have 2 Burson Timekeepers bridged in Mono. Matched with the Dynaudio Special 40 speakers they are beautiful. Clean, pure & transparent. Read the reviews, they are not exaggerating in their praise. Burson is known for their desire to simplify the signal path, i.e., fewer components equals truer sound.