Amplifier for Dcs Debussy

[pawel8]

I am trying to get "the best " amplifier for my DCS Debussy.

I want to connect Debussy directly to an amplifier without any external preamplifier.

The amplifier should be stereo (single) unit and must fit inside the cabinet(19x22x10).

 

I have tried new Ayre vx5 and it was good,however it produced excessive heat and shut itself down after playing for about 1 hour.

Tried Rotel 1552 II but the sound was average.

I would like to use balanced connectors.

 

Any help appreciated.

[pooger]

Is that a closed (as in no ventilation) cabinet, and what speakers are you driving?

[CatManDo]

A Rotel 1552 II is a good amp for the price, but it's clearly not in the same league as a dCS Debussy.

 

And it's never a good idea to put a power amp into a cabinet. Can't you put a power amp (or mono blocks) next to the speakers and a preamp into the cabinet?

[pawel8]

Than you for suggestions.

I am not allowed (the boss) to put amplifiers outside the cabinet which is closed but has cut out in the back.

I do not want d class amplifier.

Rotel 1552 does not get hot at all ,but I am looking for something better.

[joelha]

As it happens, I'm temporarily running my Debussy as a preamp and am using a backup amp which I think is one of the great values in audio . . . the Parasound Halo A21 (Product Lines > Halo > A 21 Two Channel Power Amplifier).

 

It's about $2,400, runs warm but not hot, and sounds way better than it should for the price. It looks like the dimensions will just fit your cabinet. It weighs 60lbs. so hopefully your cabinet (and cabinet shelf) are up for that weight. But you could do a lot worse than to check out this item. I'm constantly amazed at what it will do for the price.

 

Good luck.

 

Joel

[cjf]

I do not want d class amplifier.

 

Any particular reason why not? It's probably the only "Class" amplifier capable of surviving within the environment you plan to place it in.

 

The low noise floor and low distortion found in a proper Class D amp would match up very well with a DAC like yours directly connected to it. You may actually be able to appreciate the low noise floor of the DCS in doing so.

 

If your insistent on skipping the Class D option I hope you are prepared to drive to the dealer in a Brinks truck to pick up that Class A or Class A/B amp with a sufficiently low noise floor and properly designed chassis capable of whisking away the heat of such a beast operating in an enclosed space. Think full billet, one piece aluminum chassis style amps (ie..Ayre VXR..etc)

[pawel8]

Maybe I had bad luck with class D, I have no prejudice.

I tried Primare and Audio research DS225 and I did not like them.

[hifial]

There is Class D and then there is Class D. Just like Class A/B and A, some sound better then others.

 

As much as I like Audio Research I was not impressed with the DS either.

 

But there are some top notch Class D Amps. I love my Merrill Audio Veritas Amps. They are based on the Hypex NCore NC1200. However they might be out of your price range, as you did not mention one. If so check out Merrill's entry level, also based on a Hypex but not the NCore. Also Merrill is very helpful and is not high pressure.

 

There are also Class D amps by Auralic that have received high praise. And Hypex makes a DIY amp based on the NCore tech. Very cheap and is not hard to build. There is a lot of info on the DIY Forum and Audio Circle. I have heard a properly built pair and they outperform their price range. If you go that way PM and I will give you some pointers.

 

There are many more that are worthy for you to consider. But try and demo first in your system. Also most class D amps will need some time to settle in once they are in your system to sound their best. So do not rush it.

 

Good luck with whatever Amp you end up getting.

[firedog]

Have you thought of adding a low noise exhaust fan to your cabinet? There are some that are so quiet that you won't hear them? That might solve the heat issue.

[Sam Lord]

...Parasound Halo A21

It's about $2,400, runs warm but not hot....

...properly designed chassis capable of whisking away the heat of such a beast operating in an enclosed space. Think full billet, one piece aluminum chassis style amps (ie..Ayre VXR..etc)

Those shiny billets house hot circuits. The reason for heat is heat, which those kinds of amps produce in abundance. Likewise the Para A21 is a 750wpc high-bias Class AB design. Both will cook without adequate convection. A21 Manual:

"Leave at least 3” of space around both sides and 6” of space above the top. The bottom clearance can be a little less." That's when there is no front or rear to the enclosure: a rack.

There is Class D and then there is Class D... ...there are some top notch Class D Amps. I love my Merrill Audio Veritas Amps.

There we go.

Have you thought of adding a low noise exhaust fan to your cabinet? There are some that are so quiet that you won't hear them? That might solve the heat issue.

Good idea, but there aren't *any* that have sufficient airflow. I looked...everywhere.

 

I suggest the OP re-mount the glass at the front of the cabinet so it sits 1" or more proud of the front. If the boss has objections, explain how you will deal with the *rest* of the house.

[kennyb123]

Speakers should really drive the amplifier selection - not the DAC. Synergy between amp and speakers is most critical.

[pawel8]

Speakers are Dynaudio Audience 72

[Audio_ELF]

I know you said the amps HAVE to be inside the cabinet due to the boss' rules... But could you use Bryston PowerPAC 120 Monaural Amplifier mounted to the back of the speaker cabinets?

 

Eloise

[Lee Henley]

Maybe consider one of the Bel Canto amplifiers such as the 1000M mono blocks, they are supposed to very very good

[Sam Lord]

I was wrong to criticize Firedog's idea. The fan noise should be very low when facing the back of a cabinet. I bought some fairly quiet ones a while back, facing rearward they should be OK. You want them to blow right on the amp. If you really want the best for your current setup, get what hifial has or this single chassis, dual-mono unit:

 

Merrill Siamese Twin amps

 

You'll never need more power or lower distortion than this, it should sound magnificent. Then you can get speakers really capable of reflecting that quality.

[pawel8]

Thank you all.

My dealer does not recommend merril or Eloise brilliant idea bryston power packs.

I will try Bel Canto.

I got recommendation to try Quicksilver monos.

[InfernoSTi]

I have heard Quicksilver monos and they sounded wonderful. Highly recommended. Which of the many models are you looking at?

 

Best,

John

[pooger]

I have the original 8417 monos. With the right speakers, they are truly lovely. (I used to run the mid and tweeter for Maggie Tympanies off them). But—major source of heat. You'd need to have a pretty strong fan running.

 

I haven't looked into what conversion costs are (the 8417s are no longer available; I think I have one or two pair of matched NOS up in the attic where the amps have been for the past decade). PM me if you're interested—I might be talked into parting with them at a fair price. But again, I think they are very speaker-dependent, and I know they do put out heat.

[Sam Lord]

Thank you all.

My dealer does not recommend merril or Eloise brilliant idea bryston power packs.

I will try Bel Canto.

I got recommendation to try Quicksilver monos.

 

Pawel,

 

1) Quicksilvers are great if you have good ventilation, you do not. I hope you have good fire insurance.

 

2) I'm going to make some guesses:

 

A) Your dealer sold you the $11k Debussy after he sold you the $2k speakers.

 

B) The same dealer did not tell you that the *best* Bel Canto amps, the Black Series below, use the same Hypex nCore1200 cores as the Merrill amps listed above.

 

I suggest you avoid the dealer in the future.

 

For your reading pleasure:

 

From:

 

Bel Canto Black MPS1

 

"Each PowerStream Mono Block holds a Bel Canto nCore Discrete Power Processor stage that can supply 1200Watts and 40 Ampere peaks to the loudspeaker with 128 dB of dynamic range."

 

From:

 

Merrill Audio Veritas

 

"The VERITAS Monoblocks based on the Hypex Ncore NC1200 are engineered to maintain Audio Purity."

[pawel8]

My dealer is great and I highly recommend him

Optimal Enchantment in Santa Monica ,California.

He did not recommend Bel Canto.

Randy is vinyl guy and he likes tube amplifiers ie audio research,aesthetics or quicksilver.

The only solid state which is acceptable to him is Ayre.

Speakers I bought myself without any recommendation.

The only speakers I can get from Optimal are Vandersteens from 1-7.

I had tried many dacs and to my ears only Dcs sounds great.

I had Berkeley,audio research reference dac,Meitner etc.

[Sam Lord]

Thank you for correcting me, it's good to hear that. I've heard of that store, seen their setups at shows and spoken with them, but never went there. Sorry, it seemed to me as if your purchases were out of balance, and given the critical problem of heat with the tube amps, I had to doubt the competence of your dealer. What does he expect you to do with the Quicksilvers? They would shut down quickly in a cabinet. So you are interested in the Bel Cantos... well I have 4 channels of the admittedly less-impressive 150wpc versions, but I'm planning on replacing them with nCore DIY builds.

 

Given that you spent so much on a top-drawer DAC, it is logical for you to get amps that match up well. The Icepower-based Bel Cantos are good, but now you know what is better. Perhaps your dealer hasn't heard any of the nCore-based amps yet...

 

Cheers.

[tranz]

3 others to try are Audio Research, Boulder and McIntosh. I remember checking out Mc's new lineup and they did not run hot.

 

I am with you on the class D....

 

If you have not already done so, you can remove the back panel of the cabinet for air flow

 

Or a bigger project, but wife approved....stick everything in a closet on an open rack and run wires in the wall.