Good amplifier for NS-10s?

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foley
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Good amplifier for NS-10s?

Post by foley » Tue Dec 26, 2006 9:23 am

So my receiver, which was basically a home receiver - I think Technics - is finally biting the dust. I have a project in this week so I am just swapping out with the receiver in my home stereo, but I am wondering if anyone has any suggestions on a permanent replacement? I obviously need accuracy, but I don't have a lot of money to spend. Any thoughts on a studio amplifier that matches well with NS-10s?

Thanks in advance.

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I'm Painting Again
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Post by I'm Painting Again » Tue Dec 26, 2006 10:57 am

I like the bryston SS amps..I use a 4bst..its awesome..you could get a smaller watt one for not too much..like 2bst or a 3bst..stay away from the ones that don't say st or sst though..they are a lot more noisey..

there are tons of decent power amps out there though..

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farview
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Post by farview » Tue Dec 26, 2006 12:55 pm

Find an old Hafler. Sticking a Bryston on NS-10's is like putting a Ferrari engine in a Yugo.

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I'm Painting Again
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Post by I'm Painting Again » Tue Dec 26, 2006 3:24 pm

yeah that was a totally horrible idea forget I mentioned it..

especially because you will not have to ever buy another power amp again unless you can afford a Bentley or a private jet..and it won't pay off at all when you upgrade your speakers..

dsw
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Post by dsw » Tue Dec 26, 2006 3:52 pm

Hafler. Hafler will give you tight bass end and relatively smooth highs and mids.
Don't get Alesis. Worst sounding power amps ever.

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Randy
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Post by Randy » Tue Dec 26, 2006 6:27 pm

If you go with Hafler, avoid the TA 1600. I had one hooked up to my NS-10s and it died a pretty quick death. I had it for about a year. The warranty was like 90 days or something. I had a friend who's a tech look at it and he found out the JFETs were shot. We found a source for them online and it would have cost more than I originally paid for the amp.

I bought a used Kenwood power amp for $80 from a stereo store nearby and I can't believe how much better things sound.
not to worry, just keep tracking....

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Post by mingus2112 » Tue Dec 26, 2006 7:10 pm

dsw wrote:Don't get Alesis. Worst sounding power amps ever.
I've got two RA150 power amps and they don't sound half bad. They sound so much better with my NS10s than anything I've tried. For around $100, they're not a bad deal!
HWJLHC?

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Brian
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Post by Brian » Tue Dec 26, 2006 7:14 pm

Crown XTI 1000.
Mine sounds frikkin great and everything sounds right everywhere else too.
Harumph!

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ns-10 amp

Post by edwhite » Wed Dec 27, 2006 12:26 pm

look out for a Hill Chameleon. Still great sounding amps, and only 1U!

designed and hand built by the legendary Malcolm Hill of Live Aid Fame. (speakers etc..)

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farview
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Post by farview » Wed Dec 27, 2006 2:04 pm

Toolshed of Death wrote:yeah that was a totally horrible idea forget I mentioned it..

especially because you will not have to ever buy another power amp again unless you can afford a Bentley or a private jet..and it won't pay off at all when you upgrade your speakers..
Even used those things won't be under $500. If he need it to replace his home stereo reciever, I'm assuming that the Bryston might be out of his range.

Besides, if he does upgrade his monitors, chances are he will get powered monitors anyway.

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Post by Poppatwang » Wed Dec 27, 2006 2:08 pm

I'm using an old Tandberg 2075 receiver. Yank the pre to amp jumpers so you can plug straight into the power section. They show up on ebay from time to time & sound fabulous.

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Post by bklynpete » Wed Dec 27, 2006 7:26 pm

I've been using a Yamaha amp (I forget the model but I can check and get back to you if you are interested) for my NS10's for sometime now. It certainly is not a Bryston or a McIntosh ( the amps I use on my mains) but the low end is tight and the specs are reasonable for an amp in this price range. They seem to be a good match.

-Pete

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swingdoc
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Post by swingdoc » Wed Dec 27, 2006 10:10 pm

Adcom GFA 845 II

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foley
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Post by foley » Thu Dec 28, 2006 10:18 am

Well, great recommendations as usual. I really appreciate the help.

A friend of mine had a Peavey Power Amp (like 800 watts!) that he is letting me use. Sounds ok for now, but I have to keep it way down, obviously. I'm gonna start watching ebay for some of these choices.

btw - what's wrong with NS-10s? Am I the only one who still loves these speakers?

Cheers!

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Post by Spiderhead69 » Thu Dec 28, 2006 10:57 am

I'm using a Hafler XL-280 amp to power mine.
It's an older amp so finding one might be a little tough.

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