Topic: ISO: A decent amp to use in conjunction with an M901 and VR2's.

[ts]

Looking for a reasonably priced amp to use with M901 and hopefully some VR2's(if the B stocks surface again). I thought about going integrated but I already have the 901. I have a couple Adcom amps but I want to try something a little better. Something in the 500 - 750 range would be nice.

Thanks, ts.

[bkirby]

Right now I am running an Adcom GFA-5802 with the VR2s, but have been considering the Marsh A400s. I've read great reviews on this amp and within your price range on Audiogon. I would love to try the Cary V12 or the Manley Snappers as well, but just a little pricey for now. You could also look into some of the McCormack and B&K amps as well. Hope this helps...

[ts]

Right now I am running an Adcom GFA-5802 with the VR2s, but have been considering the Marsh A400s. I've read great reviews on this amp and within your price range on Audiogon. I would love to try the Cary V12 or the Manley Snappers as well, but just a little pricey for now. You could also look into some of the McCormack and B&K amps as well. Hope this helps...

Thanks. Nothing wrong with the Adcoms. I have a GFA 5200 and a 5300. Love them both. I was going to use the 5300 with the VR2's and would probably be happy. My problem with the 5300 was power. Is 80 watts enough for the VR2's?

[nickgregory]

if you decide to go integrated, I have an Arcam AVR-300 (can be had on A-gon for ~$1300-1500) which I have used to bi-amp my VR-2s (2 x 100W per speaker) and the sound is massive...really happy with the unit...

[bkirby]

Right now I am running an Adcom GFA-5802 with the VR2s, but have been considering the Marsh A400s. I've read great reviews on this amp and within your price range on Audiogon. I would love to try the Cary V12 or the Manley Snappers as well, but just a little pricey for now. You could also look into some of the McCormack and B&K amps as well. Hope this helps...

Thanks. Nothing wrong with the Adcoms. I have a GFA 5200 and a 5300. Love them both. I was going to use the 5300 with the VR2's and would probably be happy. My problem with the 5300 was power. Is 80 watts enough for the VR2's?

I have a surround Adcom amp (GFA-7000) that I tried out with the VR2s and I thought I still needed more power (but I like to rattle the windows). Was using the GFA-5500 for a while, but it really started to struggle when pushed near its limits. That's why I went with the GFA-5802 for the time being as it has no problem pushing the VR2s to their limits (although I am very careful on this). Just my $0.02...

Nick's idea of bi-amping with a receiver is interesting as well...

[ts]

Right now I am running an Adcom GFA-5802 with the VR2s, but have been considering the Marsh A400s. I've read great reviews on this amp and within your price range on Audiogon. I would love to try the Cary V12 or the Manley Snappers as well, but just a little pricey for now. You could also look into some of the McCormack and B&K amps as well. Hope this helps...

Thanks. Nothing wrong with the Adcoms. I have a GFA 5200 and a 5300. Love them both. I was going to use the 5300 with the VR2's and would probably be happy. My problem with the 5300 was power. Is 80 watts enough for the VR2's?

I have a surround Adcom amp (GFA-7000) that I tried out with the VR2s and I thought I still needed more power (but I like to rattle the windows). Was using the GFA-5500 for a while, but it really started to struggle when pushed near its limits. That's why I went with the GFA-5802 for the time being as it has no problem pushing the VR2s to their limits (although I am very careful on this). Just my $0.02...

Nick's idea of bi-amping with a receiver is interesting as well...

Yea, I had a GFA 555 I used with ADS L1290's back in the day (I hate that phrase ) and it struggled as well. So it's safe to assume that 80 watts per in an Adcom just ain't gonna cut it??? The Marsh's look nice and in my price range. As far as other options in my range, not too much out there.

[Brian Skalinder]

I wish I still had my McCormack DNA-1 to drive my VR2s. 

[ts]

Looks like the Marsh A400, Odyssey Stratos and the McCormack DNA 1 are all in my price range. I'm in no hurry, still don't have the VR2's. Any others I should consider. Some older stuff like Nak PA-7 or Threshold.

[JasonSobel]

I use a pair of Channel Islands VMB-1 monoblocks between my 901 and VR-1's.  everything sounds great and I love the setup.  but , it's only 40 watts, which may not be enough for you.

I'd recommend a Channel Islands D100 (the 100w model).
(of course, my recommendation assumes that the D100 is similar sounding to the VMB-1 and that the VR-2's are similar sounding to the VR-1's.  both of which are alright assumptions, IMO).  now, for the price, I think they come up in your range used, if you keep an eye on audiogon.

[BC]

Bryston
Parasound
Musical Fidelity
Rotel
NAD

I've got an old-school Adcom GFA555mkii I was using when I had some Martin Logan Aerius, pushes 200 wpc into 8 ohm and typically runs $400-450 on the used market.

[carlbeck]

Mc Cormack DNA-1 or .5 for sure, can't recommend that amp enough. It is cheap & a power house, sounds awesome with most anything & will only get better when you add a pre amp with some tubes. For the money I don't think there is anything better.

[edtyre]

Been using a PSA HCA-2 with my Grace 902 and VS 2100 speakers
I paid 625 on Agon for mine and they come up for sale quite a bit in
that price range.

[Nick's Picks]

the Odyssey Stratos is MUCH more of a bargain than any of the others mentioned.
McCormack?  nope.  Nice amps..but not Odyssey nice.

PSA HCA2 would by my next recommendation.
I've got a nice Cyclops for sale...integrated, only one input.  You could still use the 901, but not its gain structure.  No loss.

yardsale has all the fixins

[ts]

the Odyssey Stratos is MUCH more of a bargain than any of the others mentioned.
McCormack?  nope.  Nice amps..but not Odyssey nice.

PSA HCA2 would by my next recommendation.
I've got a nice Cyclops for sale...integrated, only one input.  You could still use the 901, but not its gain structure.  No loss.

yardsale has all the fixins

I saw your amp in the yard, but didn't think it was right for me. I do like the Stratos.

[Nick's Picks]

I can't imagine anyone being disapointed w/anything from the Odyssey line.

[pjdavep]

I've been using a Sunfire 300x2 with my VR-2's and really like it.  It does produce a little static/hum, but I think that's because one of the RCA jacks is broken.  I plan on attempting to fix that myself.

Anyway, with the 300 watts, I get a lot of 'slam' to the music and the amp can handle everything I throw at it.  I don't have a good pre-amp and have never tried my M901 in the chain at home, but as-is I get pretty nice imaging from the Denon rcvr to the Sunfire.  There are several Sunfire 300x2 amps on eBay right now...and one of them (ending soonest) looks to include a set of Kimber 8TC speaker cables, which would add at least $150+ to the auction value.

Later,
  pjdavep