Archived from groups: rec.audio.high-end (More info?)

I'm looking for a new 2-channel amp in the $500 range. It will be used to
listen to all kinds of music, but not for home theater. It needs to be able
to drive a 4 Ohm load comfortably, as I'm also planning on picking up some
entry level Magnepans.

I'm looking at the B&K 125.2 - a bit out of my stated price range, but a
local store has the discontinued model (not the Mk2) and I'm hoping to talk
them down some.

I'd appreciate any comments on the B&K as well as options that anyone feels
are preferable for the price.

Thanks,

Bill

Archived from groups: rec.audio.high-end (More info?)

Cosworth wrote:
> I'm looking for a new 2-channel amp in the $500 range. It will be used to
> listen to all kinds of music, but not for home theater. It needs to be able
> to drive a 4 Ohm load comfortably, as I'm also planning on picking up some
> entry level Magnepans.
>
> I'm looking at the B&K 125.2 - a bit out of my stated price range, but a
> local store has the discontinued model (not the Mk2) and I'm hoping to talk
> them down some.
>
> I'd appreciate any comments on the B&K as well as options that anyone feels
> are preferable for the price.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Bill

At that price range, you may want to consider a receiver, if you want to
buy new. The Harman Kardon 3480 stereo receiver is only $299 online, and
it delivers 150W/ch into 4 ohm loads. Power outout is very similar to
the B&K, but at less than half the price. Just think of it as a power
amp, and they throw in a free preamp-tuner (with remote control) .

If you are willing to buy used, then there are some good options. Check
out the Aragon 4004 Mk2. I have seen them on eBay for not much more than
$500, and it definitely can drive 4 ohms. In fact, the spec is 400W/ch
into 4 ohms loads.

Archived from groups: rec.audio.high-end (More info?)

"Cosworth" <billbalmer@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:cu2scg01q2b@news1.newsguy.com...
> I'm looking for a new 2-channel amp in the $500 range. It will be used to
> listen to all kinds of music, but not for home theater. It needs to be
> able
> to drive a 4 Ohm load comfortably, as I'm also planning on picking up some
> entry level Magnepans.
>
> I'm looking at the B&K 125.2 - a bit out of my stated price range, but a
> local store has the discontinued model (not the Mk2) and I'm hoping to
> talk
> them down some.
>
> I'd appreciate any comments on the B&K as well as options that anyone
> feels
> are preferable for the price.
>
> Thanks,
>
As I suggested in a previous post, using a pair of Alesis RA 500 power amps
bridged for mono would give you tons of power, but I also thought of another
advantage. It is unlikely that if you ever have any problems with these
amps requiring repair, that both would go bad at once. You could still have
music playing or HT sound while one was in the shop. I don't expect that
would likely happen anytime before ten years or so as is typical for amps.

A second thought would be to use 2 of their RA 300 amps which when bridged
would be capable of, you guessed it 300 watts of mono power into 4 ohms for
around.$280.00 per amp. Just go to your search engine and type in Alesis
power amps and you will find many on line dealers in pro audio with Alesis
products.

Archived from groups: rec.audio.high-end (More info?)

"Cosworth" <billbalmer@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:cu2scg01q2b@news1.newsguy.com...
> I'm looking for a new 2-channel amp in the $500 range. It will be used to
> listen to all kinds of music, but not for home theater. It needs to be
> able
> to drive a 4 Ohm load comfortably, as I'm also planning on picking up some
> entry level Magnepans.
>
> I'm looking at the B&K 125.2 - a bit out of my stated price range, but a
> local store has the discontinued model (not the Mk2) and I'm hoping to
> talk
> them down some.
>
> I'd appreciate any comments on the B&K as well as options that anyone
> feels
> are preferable for the price.
>
> Thanks,
>
Try a pro audio shop and pick up an Alesis RA 500, it will put out 250 wpc
into 4 ohms. Chances are you will have money left over and from your
$500.00 budget. If you are willing to spend a little extra, buy 2 of them
and bridge each one to mono. You will then have 2 mono block amps able to
deliver 500 watts. This should surely be able to meet your need for
amplifier power no matter what kind of conventional speaker you choose.

Typical prices for these amps is around $375.00.

Archived from groups: rec.audio.high-end (More info?)

"Michael McKelvy" <deskst49@peoplepc.com> wrote in message
news:cu92r202a2@news2.newsguy.com...
> "Cosworth" <billbalmer@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
> news:cu2scg01q2b@news1.newsguy.com...
>> I'm looking for a new 2-channel amp in the $500 range. It will be used
>> to
>> listen to all kinds of music, but not for home theater. It needs to be
>> able
>> to drive a 4 Ohm load comfortably, as I'm also planning on picking up
>> some
>> entry level Magnepans.
>>

>>
> As I suggested in a previous post, using a pair of Alesis RA 500 power
> amps
> bridged for mono would give you tons of power, but I also thought of
> another
> advantage. It is unlikely that if you ever have any problems with these
> amps requiring repair, that both would go bad at once. You could still
> have
> music playing or HT sound while one was in the shop. I don't expect that
> would likely happen anytime before ten years or so as is typical for amps.
>
> A second thought would be to use 2 of their RA 300 amps which when bridged
> would be capable of, you guessed it 300 watts of mono power into 4 ohms
> for
> around.$280.00 per amp. Just go to your search engine and type in Alesis
> power amps and you will find many on line dealers in pro audio with Alesis
> products.
>
Good to know, these amps present interesting low cost possibilities. Not
being able to see the backs of these amps anywhere, what gives as to the
input jacks (balanaced, unbalanced, one or the other, or both) and speaker
wire binding posts? It does disturb me a bit that these are not described,
but perhaps this is customary with "pro" components, and everyone in the
market for them know the answers.

Archived from groups: rec.audio.high-end (More info?)

Norman M. Schwartz <nmsz@optonline.net> wrote:
> "Michael McKelvy" <deskst49@peoplepc.com> wrote in message
> news:cu92r202a2@news2.newsguy.com...
>> "Cosworth" <billbalmer@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
>> news:cu2scg01q2b@news1.newsguy.com...
>>> I'm looking for a new 2-channel amp in the $500 range. It will
>>> be used to listen to all kinds of music, but not for home theater.
>>> It needs to be able to drive a 4 Ohm load comfortably, as I'm also
>>> planning on picking up some entry level Magnepans.

>> As I suggested in a previous post, using a pair of Alesis RA 500 power
>> amps bridged for mono would give you tons of power,

>> A second thought would be to use 2 of their RA 300 amps which when bridged
>> would be capable of, you guessed it 300 watts of mono power into 4 ohms
>> for around.$280.00 per amp.

http://www.alesis.com/products/raamps/index.html
http://www.alesis.com/downloads/manuals/index.html

> Good to know, these amps present interesting low cost possibilities. Not
> being able to see the backs of these amps anywhere,

See page 13 of its manual:
http://www.alesis.com/downloads/ma [...] Manual.pdf

> what gives as to the input jacks (balanaced, unbalanced, one or
> the other, or both)

It has both connectors. If I understand what you are asking, the answer is
"one or the other":

"Only one input jack of a channel should be used at a
time: don't use the 1/4"/XLR input jack and phono
input jack simultaneously."

> and speaker wire binding posts?

It accepts bare wire or banana plugs (see page 19 of the manual).

--
http://www.mat.uc.pt/~rps/

..pt is Portugal| `Whom the gods love die young'-Menander (342-292 BC)
Europe | Villeneuve 50-82, Toivonen 56-86, Senna 60-94

Archived from groups: rec.audio.high-end (More info?)

"Norman M. Schwartz" <nmsz@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:cubnbe02kqk@news4.newsguy.com...
> "Michael McKelvy" <deskst49@peoplepc.com> wrote in message
> news:cu92r202a2@news2.newsguy.com...
>> "Cosworth" <billbalmer@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
>> news:cu2scg01q2b@news1.newsguy.com...
>>> I'm looking for a new 2-channel amp in the $500 range. It will be used
>>> to
>>> listen to all kinds of music, but not for home theater. It needs to be
>>> able
>>> to drive a 4 Ohm load comfortably, as I'm also planning on picking up
>>> some
>>> entry level Magnepans.
>>>
>
>>>
>> As I suggested in a previous post, using a pair of Alesis RA 500 power
>> amps
>> bridged for mono would give you tons of power, but I also thought of
>> another
>> advantage. It is unlikely that if you ever have any problems with these
>> amps requiring repair, that both would go bad at once. You could still
>> have
>> music playing or HT sound while one was in the shop. I don't expect that
>> would likely happen anytime before ten years or so as is typical for
>> amps.
>>
>> A second thought would be to use 2 of their RA 300 amps which when
>> bridged
>> would be capable of, you guessed it 300 watts of mono power into 4 ohms
>> for
>> around.$280.00 per amp. Just go to your search engine and type in Alesis
>> power amps and you will find many on line dealers in pro audio with
>> Alesis
>> products.
>>
> Good to know, these amps present interesting low cost possibilities. Not
> being able to see the backs of these amps anywhere, what gives as to the
> input jacks (balanaced, unbalanced, one or the other, or both) and speaker
> wire binding posts? It does disturb me a bit that these are not described,
> but perhaps this is customary with "pro" components, and everyone in the
> market for them know the answers.

http://www.zzounds.com/item--ALERA500 lists the following:

Inputs 1/4" TRS and RCA
Outputs 1/4" and push clip.

I believe you might be able to get an idea of the back from this website
http://alesis.com/downloads/ftp/ftp_images.htm by downloading the manual.

Archived from groups: rec.audio.high-end (More info?)

Cosworth wrote:
> I'm looking for a new 2-channel amp in the $500 range. It will be
used to
> listen to all kinds of music, but not for home theater. It needs to
be able
> to drive a 4 Ohm load comfortably, as I'm also planning on picking up
some
> entry level Magnepans.
>
> I'm looking at the B&K 125.2 - a bit out of my stated price range,
but a
> local store has the discontinued model (not the Mk2) and I'm hoping
to talk
> them down some.
>
> I'd appreciate any comments on the B&K as well as options that anyone
feels
> are preferable for the price.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Bill

On e-bay and similar sites a great number of used amps can be found.
Not many new amps are even available at $500, but used Denon, Sony, and
Yamaha power amps are plentiful.

Archived from groups: rec.audio.high-end (More info?)

An adcom 545 or 555 will be good at driving 2-4 ohm loads


"Norman M. Schwartz" <nmsz@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:cubnbe02kqk@news4.newsguy.com...
> "Michael McKelvy" <deskst49@peoplepc.com> wrote in message
> news:cu92r202a2@news2.newsguy.com...
>> "Cosworth" <billbalmer@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
>> news:cu2scg01q2b@news1.newsguy.com...
>>> I'm looking for a new 2-channel amp in the $500 range. It will be used
>>> to
>>> listen to all kinds of music, but not for home theater. It needs to be
>>> able
>>> to drive a 4 Ohm load comfortably, as I'm also planning on picking up
>>> some
>>> entry level Magnepans.
>>>
>
>>>
>> As I suggested in a previous post, using a pair of Alesis RA 500 power
>> amps
>> bridged for mono would give you tons of power, but I also thought of
>> another
>> advantage. It is unlikely that if you ever have any problems with these
>> amps requiring repair, that both would go bad at once. You could still
>> have
>> music playing or HT sound while one was in the shop. I don't expect that
>> would likely happen anytime before ten years or so as is typical for
>> amps.
>>
>> A second thought would be to use 2 of their RA 300 amps which when
>> bridged
>> would be capable of, you guessed it 300 watts of mono power into 4 ohms
>> for
>> around.$280.00 per amp. Just go to your search engine and type in Alesis
>> power amps and you will find many on line dealers in pro audio with
>> Alesis
>> products.
>>
> Good to know, these amps present interesting low cost possibilities. Not
> being able to see the backs of these amps anywhere, what gives as to the
> input jacks (balanaced, unbalanced, one or the other, or both) and speaker
> wire binding posts? It does disturb me a bit that these are not described,
> but perhaps this is customary with "pro" components, and everyone in the
> market for them know the answers.

Archived from groups: rec.audio.high-end (More info?)

Cosworth wrote:
> I'm looking for a new 2-channel amp in the $500 range. It will be used to
> listen to all kinds of music, but not for home theater. It needs to be able
> to drive a 4 Ohm load comfortably, as I'm also planning on picking up some
> entry level Magnepans.
>
> I'm looking at the B&K 125.2 - a bit out of my stated price range, but a
> local store has the discontinued model (not the Mk2) and I'm hoping to talk
> them down some.
>
> I'd appreciate any comments on the B&K as well as options that anyone feels
> are preferable for the price.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Bill

For only $500, you're not going to find an outstanding AMP or PREAMP for
that matter.

If I were you, I'd buy the Yamaha RX-596 stereo receiver, which drives
both 4ohm and 8ohm speakers, and it can push one hundred watts per
channel. For the money and the features one gets, it's a very good
deal. The tuner included in the RX-596 is excellent, too.

I bought one for my niece's setup and she absolutely loves it--as do I.
I would stand by my word and say that it will outperform any amp under
$500.00.

Yours truly,

Michael