Amp upgrade suggestions needed

[tcaster]

I'm now using a NAD 2155 amp with Martin Logan Motion speakers,92db sensitivity ,4/8ohms and just want to see if I can gain a noticable improvement upward in the same price range with a more modern amp.
I was thinking either the DAL 3886 Gainclone ,or perhaps The Arcam Alpha 8p.
Does anyone have any comments as to what you ended up with after the NAD, which amp you preferred of the two I mentioned, or what would be a similarly priced upgrade to the NAD?
Thanks all!

 

[johnda]

Hi,

The 2155 is 55 watts per channel, you could upgrade to the c275BEE basic amp rated at 150 watts per channel. That should give you increased dynamic range and you could stay in the NAD family. It goes for around $1,300. That may be far out of the price range you were thinking of. The Arcam is an integrated amp and the Gainclone is a basic amp like the 2155 and they are In the same wattage area as your 2155, so if your amp is performing OK, I don't think you would see any noticeable difference. Let's see what the others think.

 

[tcaster]

Thanks for the reply.My amp is performing great I just figured there might be new technology that surpasses the (what, 20 year old?) NAD 2155 for similar money.
I've thought about more wattage and 55 watts a side is probably plenty for my room but maybe higher wattage will improve resolution at lower volumes?
I would like to stay under 4 hundred bucks, probably go pre owned, and I 'm fine to just sit tight and be happy with what I have.
I'm always reading on here about how newer generation amps are more defined, having better mids, more bass extension, clearer less grainy highs, better dynamic range etc,
Would have to be a noticeable difference for the better of course.Is the consensus that chip amp of same wattage wouldn't sound much different?
Mosfet?I have tube power amps in other systems and like em just fine.This is for solid state power amp with a tube preamp for CDP,ITunes from Airport Xpress into DAC etc.