Topic: time for a new amp

[stlram]

Your not going to get much of an improvement, and in some cases you would be down grading by selling your PSA HCA 2 and buying any of the amps mentioned.

I would keep the amp you have and wait until you can afford an upgrade. But when you can afford an upgrade you might be better off with upgrading your source or speakers before your amp, which IMO is one of the better amps in its class.

I would keep Nuforce in mind as a possible replacement. They are class D monoblocks with a small foot print but you won't find many of these on the used market since they are all they rage these days. Lots of folks are selling their $5,000 to $10,000 monsters to own the $1,800 per pair mono bolcks.

[MattD]

I already sold it. I let a friend borrow it for the year when I was in grad school and he offered to buy it at what they were going for on A'gon. I figured if I have to "re-buy," I can, but I just wanted to try something different. What do you think about the new PS Audio amp, the Trio?

[stlram]

I've never heard one.

[stlram]

Audiogon has a Classe CA 200 and a few McCormicks DNA 1 and .5 for sale. There nice amps and a good value at the asking prices.

[Brian Skalinder]

Audiogon has a Classe CA 200 and a few McCormicks DNA 1 and .5 for sale. There nice amps and a good value at the asking prices.

Matt - FWIW, the amp we used for our listening session a while back was a McCormack DNA-1.

[BobW]

I am staying away from tubes because I know I'd never be satisfied.

A good tube amp is nothing to sneeze at.
Everyone to their own opinion, but I can't help but think that you're not listening to the right tube amps

[Brian Skalinder]

A good tube amp is nothing to sneeze at.
Everyone to their own opinion, but I can't help but think that you're not listening to the right tube amps

I suspect Matt means more along the lines of the fact that there're always more / different / better tubes to buy and try...and knowing so, he'll never be satisfied.  Fortunately, I don't have much spare cash at the moment, because there's always an urge to try out new tubes on my Symphonies preamp.

[Tim]

I am staying away from tubes because I know I'd never be satisfied.

just curious - in what way?

A good tube amp is nothing to sneeze at.
Everyone to their own opinion, but I can't help but think that you're not listening to the right tube amps

I suspect Matt means more along the lines of the fact that there're always more / different / better tubes to buy and try...and knowing so, he'll never be satisfied.  Fortunately, I don't have much spare cash at the moment, because there's always an urge to try out new tubes on my Symphonies preamp.

ahh - if that's the case then I totally understand

[MattD]

Yeah, Brian described it best, probably because he and I have discussed it at one time or another. I really find that I go overboard when I have too many options that are easily interchangable and end up spending too much money as a result.

As it stands, I've had to hold off on getting a new amp for the time being because I can't find a damn biomedical engineering job yet.

[Tim]

Totally understandable

I just wasn't sure if you meant sound wise or what....

[MattD]

Well, I finally got a job (yes, 3 months later). Time to kick this search off yet again!

[Nick's Picks]

stingray!!!!

[Tim]

congrats on the new job