Good morning to all,

I've sold, packed and shipped my Yamaha M-80. I'd like to head in a new direction using seperate monoblocks for the LCR and leave the receiver pulling the rears. Absolute top of the budget is 1K US and that friends, is stretching it.

I've no issue with Ebay, used or other to source the bad boys but would like to move on this in the next month. Having to return to a 6-channel receiver has me ready to puke with each passing day...it truely sucks despite the 130W claimed output.

My mains are Boston Acoustic VR-3 floorstanders and they're efficient at 93db.

http://www.bostonacoustics.com/Manuals/VRMan.pdf

To give you an idea of what I'm considering...

http://www.norh.com/products/leamp2/index.html

Any and all comments are gratefully appreciated. Hopefully, my other posts show that I'm serious (or ludicrous) when it comes to actually buying and reporting back.

Kind regards,
Dutch

how much does it weigh, from what I have been paying attention to what has been said about amplifiers, is that the heavier the amp, usually the better the amp. but it does look cool. i am all about the cool factor,

btw, audiogon is a great place to find something good and sometimes fairly inexpensive per watt.

elroy

Looking for a new amp can be great fun. After hearing the H/K 870 and seeing it on the scope during a square wave -*test*-('"), I was very impressed with the sound quality despite the "consumer grade" build quality. This amp is undoubtedly better than many of my collectable vintage amps and will surprise many "super" amps. This has peaked my interest in H/K and I am currently on the hunt for a Citation 16. Good luck with your search.

H/K vintage gear was always pretty coveted...love the minimalist look too. Regarding the nOrh LeAmp II build is around 22lbs. It was easy to Google reviews on the original Le Amp but nothing on the new(er) version.

Please continue the conversation...the nOrh isn't a done deal although at it's price it would make a fine experiment.

BTW, I've been living on Audiogon and have actually bought a nice Marantz 6000OSE CD player based on the kind advice I received here from Clint E.

http://www.sound-thinking.org/index.php?showtopic=4370&st=15

Unfortunately, the Audiogon mono amps I do find either 1) are simply NIB or 2) gone within an hour if they AIB.

Must visit the power gods soon or may lose much respect for self having sold my longest lasting amp to date.

Dutch

This is it for the current model...

http://www.audioreview.com/mfr/norh/amplif...18_1583crx.aspx

Now this one is labeled for nOrh's Multiamp but most posts are for their original LeAmp.

http://www.audioreview.com/mfr/norh/amplif...rx.aspx#review0

This is starting to actually be interesting

Thoughts?

ah rats, i see that you would be wanting three mono amps, not just two. for the center you could wouldnt necessarily need to use a matched amp. if you had the HT receiver driving the center, any of the following pairs would be great for the L&R.

at just under $1000 (not including shipping), you could have these babies ...
http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cl.pl?ampstran&1216331209

i like these better, but mostly for the lesser cost ...
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1214094919

then there are a pair of Norh mono blocks in the same price range as the B&K's (but the B&K's are 150wpc) ...
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1213789838

and then we have these (i would counter his asking price, they've been listed for over a month)...
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1213715587


.... or there are a set of four Marantz mono amps for well under your $1000 limit ...
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1216962443

at just under $1000 (not including shipping), you could have these babies ...
http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cl.pl?ampstran&1216331209

These were interesting however PSE is an unknown to me; maybe a counter offer is in order.

i like these better, but mostly for the lesser cost ...
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1214094919

You're telepathic...I saw these and they are the front runner.

then there are a pair of Norh mono blocks in the same price range as the B&K's (but the B&K's are 150wpc) ...
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1213789838

Emailed the seller but he won't budge on the price and won't take Paypal. I was polite and let him know that double the power is available from nOrh for $600 a pair shipped. No go on his end...I suspect he likes them to much to part.

and then we have these (i would counter his asking price, they've been listed for over a month)...
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1213715587

Denon...apologies however I will never go through another failed Denon component again. I know their line of amps is exceptional but they got me not just once on an AVR unit but then a DVD player as well.

.... or there are a set of four Marantz mono amps for well under your $1000 limit ...
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1216962443 [/B][/I]

No doubt the easiest way to solve the problem and the shape of these would work the best in the cabinet...I guess it feels like the Walmart way out though. Perhaps something a bit more esoteric...that's maybe what appeals to me about both the B&K and the nOrh monoblocks.

My son is having fun with me while I post and at his insistence...

Thanks Dingus...please keep em' coming.

thats pretty much it from the ss stuff on AG.

the pricier PSE's have a solid reputation and would be the highest quality of the amps listed so far.

edit: hold the fort, my mind said PS Audio when i read the ad, so never mind my comments as i know nothing of PSE. i could be right about the quality, but i dont know that.

PS vs. PSE...that's my hang-up also. Haven't tried the Google solution but that tells me they're not getting my attention where it counts.

PSE is an excellent company- I have a pre amp of theirs.

From research, it seems that Vandersteen used these PSE monos in design/tuning of his speakers.

If I had not picked up the B&K, I'd have grabbed a IV PSE amp or the uncommon but fantastic PSE Vs.

To each his own, but I'd love to add some PSE power to my collection.



Oh- PS Audio stuff is good too, as I have a DAC from them. Nice amps as well.

Any thoughts on this...I assume the chassis can be removed as my set-up requires the amps to be split for shorter cable runs.

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampsmult&1216341334

Dutch

PSE is some of the finer affordable amplifiers to come out of the 90's. They are sweet and musical, yet have lots of power. Heard them many times with Vandersteens, martin Logans, and Celestions. The V are very nice. Personally I would take a PSE over a PS Audio any day.

Regards
Mister Pig

p.s. but not over my Rowland Model 5

Not a monoblock, but almost... : A great hi-fi amp, unbeatable price range.

Behringer A500

Clint strikes again! I was checking this out last week and was very intrigued indeed. Since you've provided a naked view what strikes (anyone) you as good value to engineering? The asking price is so low I'm just concerned with the white van feeling. If I go this very flexible route it would surely be in bridged mode...I mean who could possibly argue with 500 watts?

Pretty amazing, isn't it?
One thing is sure, high end amps are quite overprized!!!