Help build my list of amps to try

jmusica

jmusica

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Tampa
Would like to try out some amps around a Lumin X1 and Scansonic MB3.5 B. Will do my best to describe my constraints and preferences. Just looking for any subjective thoughts or input, if you're game.

  • Budget ~<$10k, new or used.
  • Form factor is important. Has to be less than 18" deep, around 16" is ideal (width/height don't matter as much). Weight <80 max, prefer <60.
  • Prefer a stereo amp in one chassis, but would consider monoblocks.
  • Not looking for an integrated, but would consider if all else is right. Simpler the better. Lumin out to the amp; I have no other input needs.
  • I listen mostly low-mid volumes, sitting about 9 feet from the front plane of the speakers. Mostly jazz, classic rock, classical (baroque, orchestral, piano), alt-country, world/eclectic. Nothing too heavy really, beyond the occasional Sabbath or Rush disc.
  • I like part of @joeinid 's description of the Enleum: "an open, lit from within sound". Also: big soundstage, placement/separation precision and air, speed, a good thwack of a drum hit, vocals like they're in the room. Organic and musical.

On the list for possible rotating in:
Enleum 23r, Bakoon 41/51, NAD M23, T+A Amp 200, Ayre VX-R, Soulution 311, something Gryphon

(yeah, I suspect these may be very different from each other and some may be challenging to find in budget)
 
Class A AmpCamp amps run as bridged monos availble from the DIYAudio store.

A whopping, budget-busting $654 for the pair. Gotta build 'em yourself, though.

ACA-Top-View-Wired.jpg


ACAs.jpg


Designed by Nelson, so there ya go...
 
Those are actually pretty good looking. How do you characterize the sound?
 
jmusica said:
[/LIST]

On the list for possible rotating in:
Enleum 23r, Bakoon 41/51, NAD M22, T+A Amp 200, Ayre VX-R, Soulution 311, something Gryphon

(yeah, I suspect these may be very different from each other and some may be challenging to find in budget)
Click to expand...

Just a quick note - ditch the NAD M22 and replace with the brand new M23. So new it isn't even on the NAD site yet, but one national distributor has it on their site. It uses the excellent Purifi module, as found in the M33 all-in-one.

NAD M23 – ultimativer High-End Stereo Effektverstarker

Peter
 
jmusica said:
Those are actually pretty good looking. How do you characterize the sound?
Click to expand...
Well, they are full Class A monoblocks designed by Nelson Pass, so that should give you a clue. They’re wonderful; not the biggest baddest bottom-end, but they sure make beautiful music. Listen to them in the quasi-nearfield and they’re pretty amazing.
 
Puma Cat said:
Class A AmpCamp amps run as bridged monos availble from the DIYAudio store.

A whopping, budget-busting $654 for the pair. Gotta build 'em yourself, though.

ACA-Top-View-Wired.jpg


ACAs.jpg


Designed by Nelson, so there ya go...
Click to expand...

Are those yours , I would Suggest any one interested to try and give those a listen , they are not for everyone..!


Regards
 
I would suggest adding Bryston to your list of choices, of which the 3B3 or 4B3 would be good options based on your criteria. I think they would provide clarity, detail, and realism considering your inclusion of jazz and classical.
 
Why the M23 when it is practically the same as the NAD C298 (also a Purifi amp) but around $1,500 more expensive. Purifi is actually about to release a somewhat more powerful module, the 7040, which will put out 250 wpc into 8 ohms and stable down to 2 ohms vs. around 200 wpc in the version found in the M33/C298.

Here’s info on the new Purifi module:

Purifi presents Pure Sound amplifier module - Alpha Audio NET
 
a.wayne said:
Are those yours , I would Suggest any one interested to try and give those a listen , they are not for everyone..!


Regards
Click to expand...

Besides that, these amps when configured as monoblocks put out 15 watts at clipping with 3% distortion and he is recommending them for use with speakers that have a sensitivity of 89dB 1w/1m and with a nominal impedance of 5 ohms.
 
mep said:
Besides that, these amps when configured as monoblocks put out 15 watts at clipping with 3% distortion and he is recommending them for use with speakers that have a sensitivity of 89dB 1w/1m and with a nominal impedance of 5 ohms.
Click to expand...
And beside that 90 audiophile dB and physical reality are two separate things.
No feedback = amp "sounds" like the speakers impedance. JMusica would have to decide if that sort of business is to his liking, as the dice rolls.
I'd suggest an amp with some cajones.
YMMV.

cheers,

AJ
 
Hear Here said:
Just a quick note - ditch the NAD M22 and replace with the brand new M23. So new it isn't even on the NAD site yet, but one national distributor has it on their site. It uses the excellent Purifi module, as found in the M33 all-in-one.

NAD M23 – ultimativer High-End Stereo Effektverstarker

Peter
Click to expand...

Or save a little $$$ and get the C 298... same amp that is in the M33 but in a basic black box. I'm just checked out the M23. You are paying a lot for the casing and the M series premium. The C 298 has many more usable features such as being able to bridge it and a pass-through function to run subs directly off it (with a gain control).

This past year the C 298 won about every award that an amplifier can win. It is the first Class D amp that sounds as good as any other tech I have tried. None of the other Class Ds ever worked out for me. Obviously, I would also consider the T+A Series 200. A lot more $$$ but I do like T+A. I think the Purifier amps are proving themselves with companies like NAD and T+A licensing the tech!

I too am sick of huge heavy amps. To me 50-60 pounds is very much my upper limit, which eliminates McIntosh :(.
 
RDSChicago said:
Why the M23 when it is practically the same as the NAD C298 (also a Purifi amp) but around $1,500 more expensive. Purifi is actually about to release a somewhat more powerful module, the 7040, which will put out 250 wpc into 8 ohms and stable down to 2 ohms vs. around 200 wpc in the version found in the M33/C298.

Here’s info on the new Purifi module:

Purifi presents Pure Sound amplifier module - Alpha Audio NET
Click to expand...

Thanks for the update on a new Purifi module.

The NAD C range is simply not as good as their Master Series - and it's not just the casework.

It may have nominally the same Purifi module, but the one used in the M33 and M23 are built under license by NAD, so one has to presume that they do this with surerior components to achieve the sound quality they do. Whether the module in the C series is an OEM from Purifi or the bespoke version, I have no idea. The socketry at the back panel is obviously better in the M series and probably the internal wiring too. Whether the power supply to the amp module is common to M and C series, again I don't know, but I suspect that theae are the areas where NAD can economise in the C series and still offer "good" though perhaps not the "exceptional" sound quality they achieve with the M serios. Whichever way you look at it, the M series offers exceptional value too, when compared with other amps costing far more.
 
Randy Myers said:
Or save a little $$$ and get the C298... same amp that is in the M33 but in a basic black box. I'm just checked out the M23. You are paying a lot for the casing and the M series premium. The C298 has many more usable features such as being able to bridge it and a pass through function to run subs directly off it (with a gain control).

This past year the C298 won about every award that an amplifier can win. It is the first Class D amp that sounds as good as any other tech I have tried. None of the other Class Ds ever worked out for me. Obviously, I would also consider the T+A Series 200. A lot more $$$ but I do like T+A. I think the Purifier amps are proving themselves with companies like NAD and T+A licensing the tech!

I too am sick of huge heavy amps. To me 50-60 pounds is very much my upper limit, which eliminates McIntosh :(.
Click to expand...

Randy - I've just read your post, but my post #16 should answer your questions of M23 vs C298. You mention bridging. Take a look at the M23 back panel and you'll see that it is designed to be bridged, probably in conjunction with the M33 or M12 plus 2 x M23. As far as Awards are concerned, take a look at the M33's trophy cabinet! 3 from Stereophile alone - Best Amp, Best Component of the Year and Editor's choice.
 
Yes, exactly, the M33, which was out first has won all kinds of awards. Then C 298 came out later and could be used with the M33. It is built the same as the M series according to NAD and several reviews that I have read, only the C 298 is only an amplifier while the M33 does a whole lot more.

By saying that the C 298 won about every award an amplifier could did not insinuate that the M33 had not. It did win tons a year or two before the C 298 came out. Therefore, the models that NAD offer where they license the Purifier technology are all fantastic. All NAD's do not use these amps though for the remainder of their lineup, only the M33, M28, C 298 currently, and it appears that the M23 will be also when it is released to the US market. I searched and there is absolutely no information about the M23 available. I believe the ad you linked is the only info anywhere at this time.

I agree, simply using a Purifier model is not the same as NAD and T+A are doing. They are licensing the tech and building their own amps from what I understand. The sound quality in the M33 and C 298 are both exceptional. This is exactly what every single review out there is saying. I also can attest for how wonderful the C 298 sounds.

"Redefining the State of the Art with Purifi Technology
NAD has introduced some of the most innovative amplifier technology in its nearly 50 year history, starting with the 3020 on through such cutting edge models as the 2200, the 208, and the M2. Now we are making the amazing new Eigentakt™ (self-clocking) technology, recently introduced to the world in the EISA Award winning Masters M33, available to a wider audience with the very affordable C 298. We are thrilled to provide this unprecedented level of performance. In short, a perfect companion for the C 658 BluOS Streaming DAC pre-amp."

The C 298 won the most recent EISA award for amplifiers and it also recently won The Absolute Sounds Product of the Year Award, among other awards that have been bestowed to NAD for this amplifier.
 
Great discussion, thanks for all the information.

I’ll add the C298 to the list. I’m not opposed to trying both out - M23 and C298
 
jmusica said:
Great discussion, thanks for all the information.

I’ll add the C298 to the list. I’m not opposed to trying both out - M23 and C298
Click to expand...

Nice... I doubt you can hear a difference between the two, however I would certainly be interested if you do get a chance to compare them.
 
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