Klipschguy Posted August 13, 2022 Share Posted August 13, 2022 I am considering a vintage (late 70s through maybe 2010ish) solid state amp to use in a second system. Do you all have any favorites that sound good, are quiet (very important), and durable. High power rating is not necessary (especially at 104dB/1M 1W). No tube amps, please (I like tubes, but not this go around). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emile Posted August 13, 2022 Share Posted August 13, 2022 Yamaha CR series (620/810/820/1010/1020/etc.). Yamaha M series (M45/M60/80/etc.). Kenwood Basic M2A (available pretty cheap and 220wpc). Most Marantz vintage amps. And if you want power, Crown K1/K2. Owned them all, dead quit and had no problems 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CWOReilly Posted August 13, 2022 Share Posted August 13, 2022 3 minutes ago, Emile said: Yamaha CR series (620/810/820/1010/1020/etc.). Yamaha M series (M45/M60/80/etc.). Kenwood Basic M2 (available pretty cheap and 220wpc). Most Marantz vintage amps. And if you want power, Crown K1/K2. Owned them all, dead quit and had no problems Kenwood M2a here! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CWOReilly Posted August 13, 2022 Share Posted August 13, 2022 Kenwood M2a mentioned above. Onkyo M-50x. I have the 504 with LaScala! Also in the house: Carver TFM, HK Citation 16, 22, and a recently acquired Son of Ampzilla! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the real Duke Spinner Posted August 13, 2022 Share Posted August 13, 2022 Marantz... Hands down Kenwood second Sansukki distant third 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emile Posted August 13, 2022 Share Posted August 13, 2022 13 minutes ago, CWOReilly said: Kenwood M2a here! Haha; yes have the M2A ... In my opinion one of the most underrated amps, especially when used with their C2 pre-amp 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimjimbo Posted August 13, 2022 Share Posted August 13, 2022 Mcintosh MC250 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBCODD Posted August 13, 2022 Share Posted August 13, 2022 I’ve got Yamaha C-60 pre and an M-65 power amp which I love. They can be problematic, though. Three common issues are: Solder joint failure on the I/O jacks The same on heat stressed parts (usually transistors. And the most common, the “Dreaded Sony Bond Glue” problem. I’ve had to deal with all three, but keep these as my every day system cause I love the sound. The Crown and QSC I used while T/s and repair activities were pending on the Yammy just did not sound as good to me, so once fixed the Yamaha was back in. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEH Synergy Posted August 13, 2022 Share Posted August 13, 2022 13 minutes ago, jimjimbo said: Mcintosh MC250 What do you like about it in particular? Fully restored I assume? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hanksjim1 Posted August 13, 2022 Share Posted August 13, 2022 While you're searching for the high end classic SS amp, swap in an inexpensive Crown D-45 or D-75 (regular or "A" versions)...they are bulletproof, quiet, cheap and have XLR connections for good grounding...good enough for many studios in the day. I have tried on Khorns and LaScalas with good results. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klipschguy Posted August 13, 2022 Author Share Posted August 13, 2022 My daily driver is a restored, ABSOLUTELY dead quiet, wonderful sounding MC2105 coupled with a modern Mac preamp. I just love the sound of an autotransformer amp. BUT, Mac equipment is more than I feel spending on this second system. I was thinking of an upgraded Adcom 555, BGW Model 100, Crown D75, Hafler, et cetera. I am open to suggestions. Thank you very kindly for each thoughtful response. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klipschguy Posted August 13, 2022 Author Share Posted August 13, 2022 BTW, I have heard the Crown studio amps and BGW tend to have noisy transformers, but otherwise sound quite good. Definite contenders. With this second system, I listen critically to very low levels in the mornings, so the amp needs to be very quiet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hanksjim1 Posted August 13, 2022 Share Posted August 13, 2022 Lots of love for the early B&K ST140 out there...I have not heard one...I am using vintage Luxman and Superphon separates in my second system 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klipschguy Posted August 13, 2022 Author Share Posted August 13, 2022 Yes, I have heard good things about some of the vintage Japanese amps; Luxman has a fine reputation. Thank you all again for these great suggestions. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the real Duke Spinner Posted August 14, 2022 Share Posted August 14, 2022 1 hour ago, hanksjim1 said: While you're searching for the high end classic SS amp, swap in an inexpensive Crown D-45 or D-75 (regular or "A" versions)...they are bulletproof, quiet, cheap and have XLR connections for good grounding...good enough for many studios in the day. I have tried on Khorns and LaScalas with good results. Make sure they are the "A" models Much improvement there 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hanksjim1 Posted August 14, 2022 Share Posted August 14, 2022 If you haven't read them yet...lot's of posts with forum mystery and intrigue about a little modified D-45 nicknamed "The Duke" owned and passed on by several members (not sure it's current whereabouts) I find them very entertaining, Here's one: 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KT88 Posted August 14, 2022 Share Posted August 14, 2022 I don't know how common it is in the States but I am an absolute fan of Quad 306 with pre amp Quad 34. Incredibly low noise and full of sonic texture thanks to the current dumping circuitry of the power amp. A high quality small class A amplifier is simply amplified by the power transistors but no errors are added to it. I recommend the pre amp because Qaud has unusual voltage values, 0.5V at the pre amp output and 0.35V at the power amp input. 50 clean and sonorous watt similar to a hot class A amp, no matter if tube or transistor. I had these units end of the 80's until the mid 90's. After that until half a year ago only Mcintosh C22CE with MC275 Mk5. Now again Quad 306. Incredibly good, especially with horn speakers. https://www.kenrockwell.com/audio/quad/34-preamplifier.htm http://www.stereo-amplifier.net/review/9-quad-306 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickyboy6100 Posted August 14, 2022 Share Posted August 14, 2022 3 hours ago, hanksjim1 said: Lots of love for the early B&K ST140 out there...I have not heard one...I am using vintage Luxman and Superphon separates in my second system I started with the ST140. Still one of my favorite amps. B&K 4420 and 2220 are my current amps. I really like the M series Yamaha stuff too, but like mentioned earlier, they had issues with the glue used on the boards. M-85 was by far the best amp with my Chorus II. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Islander Posted August 14, 2022 Share Posted August 14, 2022 If you can find a Yamaha MX-D1, grab it! They came out in 2005 and very few owners sell them. I bought one new and was very happy with it, then a Forum member in Seattle tempted me with a second one, at the same time as the other components necessary to build JubScalas became available, so I hopped on the ferry and picked it up. I’m listening to both of them right now, driving the bi-amped JubScalas. The MX-D1 was a statement product from Yamaha, like the GT from Ford. No expense was spared, and since there was just the one model, it was designed to be able to power any speakers, no matter how sensitive or insensitive they might be. To that end, it makes a clean 500 watts per channel, with a S/N ratio of 120 dB and crosstalk value of 100 dB. Those numbers were confirmed in the Stereophile review when they came out in 2005. The distortion figures are also very low, and since it was designed for home use, unlike pro amps that have their lowest distortion numbers at near full power, where they usually operate, the MX-D1 has its lowest distortion numbers between 6 and 10 watts, around 0.003% THD. Being a Class D amp, it’s cool-running, in spite of having small heat sinks. The shape is very much like a 17” wide bathroom scale, only 3” tall and around 15” deep, finished in Piano Black. It’s dual-mono, with a separate power supply for each channel. The amp I bought new has been in daily use since 2007, and the one I bought used has been running with it since 2008. Both of them still sound great. They have both RCA and XLR inputs, which comes in handy, because they’re being fed from the E-V Dx38 audio processor/crossover, which has only XLR connections. To me, it seems like the right choice to drive Heritage speakers, because it/they will be with me for the foreseeable future. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimjimbo Posted August 14, 2022 Share Posted August 14, 2022 14 hours ago, Westcoastdrums said: What do you like about it in particular? Fully restored I assume? Yes, fully restored. I have two, and they are really good with just about any preamp, but also on their own with their adjustable gain pots. The MC250 was Mac's early SS amp, and was voiced to have bit of a tube character, but with quality SS power behind it. Very smooth character. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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