Low to mid price balanced 2ch power amp or HP amp

[Norton]

I’m looking to buy a brand new power amp as a backup and/for second system use, general messing around etc.

 

I’d like to try my Oppo205  or Resonessence DAC into directly via XLR, without a preamp.

 

Could be a simple balanced power amp or (I’m sure I’ve seen this somewhere but can’t remember where) else a HP amp that also has speaker terminals and can double as a single (balanced) source integrated amp.

 

Will be driving my Klipsch Cornwalls so can be v. low power, SS or maybe valves for a change.  Maybe even a pair of cute low power monoblocs?

 

Budget £1k, maybe £2k tops.  Easily available  in UK.

 

Any suggestions, recommendations?  Fir example one  possibility  is the Project Amp Box RS stereo, but not sure I’m ready for Class D.  I could make an exception for Benchmark ABH, but out of budget.

[Ralf11]

besides that, see if Cambridge Audio imports to the UK

 

NAD??

 

is used an option for you?

 

what output power do you need?

[ericuco]

Have you checked out Nord which is UK based? This is Class D stuff which would fit your budget with a wide range of amps with balance connections.

 

As examples:

 

https://www.nordacoustics.co.uk/product-page/nord-two-ice1200as2-in-black

 

https://www.nordacoustics.co.uk/product-page/nord-one-se-mp-nc122-125w-stereo-power-amp-in-black

 

I had been running the Hypex Ncore Class D amps with my Klipsch Forte III's which worked well.  Currently, I am waiting on a pair of Nord One UP NC500MB Mono Blocks for my new La Scala's.

[Norton]

33 minutes ago, Ralf11 said:

besides that, see if Cambridge Audio imports to the UK

 

NAD??

 

is used an option for you?

 

what output power do you need?

I’d like to avoid used.

 

I’ve used down to 8 watts with great results with the Klipsch so no real min power requirement.  My main amp is 23pc.

[Norton]

18 minutes ago, ericuco said:

Have you checked out Nord which is UK based? This is Class D stuff which would fit your budget with a wide range of amps with balance connections.

 

As examples:

 

https://www.nordacoustics.co.uk/product-page/nord-two-ice1200as2-in-black

 

https://www.nordacoustics.co.uk/product-page/nord-one-se-mp-nc122-125w-stereo-power-amp-in-black

 

I had been running the Hypex Ncore Class D amps with my Klipsch Forte III's which worked well.  Currently, I am waiting on a pair of Nord One UP NC500MB Mono Blocks for my new La Scala's.

That’s a great call, esp recommended by a fellow Klipsch heritage owner!

Thanks.

[Jud]

31 minutes ago, ericuco said:

Have you checked out Nord which is UK based? This is Class D stuff which would fit your budget with a wide range of amps with balance connections.

 

As examples:

 

https://www.nordacoustics.co.uk/product-page/nord-two-ice1200as2-in-black

 

https://www.nordacoustics.co.uk/product-page/nord-one-se-mp-nc122-125w-stereo-power-amp-in-black

 

I had been running the Hypex Ncore Class D amps with my Klipsch Forte III's which worked well.  Currently, I am waiting on a pair of Nord One UP NC500MB Mono Blocks for my new La Scala's.

Though Class D and bumping up against the top of your budget, Nord are now AIUI shipping amps based on the Purifi modules, Bruno Putzeys’ highly anticipated new design. Since they are (somewhere) in the UK, perhaps it would even be possible for you to arrange to have a listen.

 

https://www.nordacoustics.co.uk/purifi1et400aamplifiers

[John769]

Fantastic value

 

https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/power-amplifier/audiophonics-mpa-s252nc-xlr-class-d-stereo-amplifier-ncore-2x150w-8-ohm-p-14185.html

 

https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/power-amplifier/audiophonics-mpa-m400nc-class-d-mono-amplifier-ncore-1x400w-4-ohm-p-14155.html

[Ralf11]

Klipsch horns??

 

you might look at some of the ultra-cheap (Chinese or Brazilian) Class A amps - a decent Class A circuit is not too hard to make (copy) these days, the tubes can be replaced if needed, and you only need to worry about quality of the caps, etc. and maybe not even that

 

 

[Norton]

Well, thanks  to @ericuco ‘s excellent  suggestion, I  now have one of Nord’s entry level Hypex amps in my system and it’s sounding very good  indeed, very crisp and precise.   I can categorically say that Class D does not suck..Both SQ and finish are way above what I’d expect from a £700 amp and I have to say dealing with Colin was an absolute pleasure - an excellent customer experience.

 

Already wondering  how good their higher end offerings  might be...although I’m slightly cautious about how much I’ve had to lower the output on my DAC (direct to the Nord) to keep things civilised, at -30db on a digital vol control (min is -40db) I guess I could be losing some DR?

 

 

 

[ericuco]

1 hour ago, Norton said:

Well, thanks  to @ericuco ‘s excellent  suggestion, I  now have one of Nord’s entry level Hypex amps in my system and it’s sounding very good  indeed, very crisp and precise.   I can categorically say that Class D does not suck..Both SQ and finish are way above what I’d expect from a £700 amp and I have to say dealing with Colin was an absolute pleasure - an excellent customer experience.

 

 

@Norton Glad it worked out for you. I too had a very positive experience with Colin and Nord all ways around. Quality product, reasonable price and great customer service, Nord amps are hard to beat.

 

I just received my Nord mono blocks (One UP NC500MB) on Thursday so they are still burning in but already sound amazing along with my La Scala's. I thought my Forte III's and the older NC400 amps sounded great but this new setup is a whole new leap forward in SQ.

 

If you do decide to move up the Nord food chain, some of the amps are modular components so you can start with the basics and then update (e.g. opamps) later.