1150D vs. 1180dc

[kohngallery]

Does anyone have a strong opinion about the merits of either amp? I have an 1150D and don't really love the sound. Could be the small Sonabs I'm running or the B&O 8002 (going for 70s authenticity). Thinking a stronger amp with lower THD like 1180dc will be a richer sound. Thoughts?

 

[Lavane]

I don't think you would notice much of a difference power wise between the two. 75w vs 90w. Has the 1150 been recapped? The 1150 looks a lot like a 3600 preamp with a 140 amp section. :scratch2:

 

[JURB]

The 1180DC is 113 WPC but that is still not even 3 dB. I agree about the preamp, I think it is the same. In fact I had a fried out one I almost decided to use as a preamp. When those amps fry they can be a PITA to fix.

Now "just trying" an 1180DC is liable to be pricey. One of them went for like 900 CDN a while back at that flea place.

Bottom line, if the 1150D is just a smaller verion of the 1180DC, you are not likely to notice alot of difference. Have you tried any other amps on those speakers ?

Also, if the 1150 is just a scaled down 1180, those things are DC coupled period. When it DC mode there are zero caps in the audio path and there aren't even bootstrap caps. You would have to have some strange problem in both channels of the preamp. It may just be not the greatest combination of amp and speaker. Or just the speakers. Or the speaker placement.

 

[JURB]

Correction : Zero caps in the audio path from the power amp in.

I think there are some in the preamp. (not easy to design it DC all the way from the phono and aux inputs)

Got an extra preamp to try on it ?

 

[kohngallery]

Thanks for the advice. Don't have a preamp to try a test with. However I do have a 1300dc that I love, and thought that the 1180dc would be similar. Same design...a little later than the 1150D. Will let you know what happens!