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Sub $1000 200+w amp for my RS4B. Recommendations

S

SeattAl

New Member
Looking at Adcom GFA 555, 555ii, 5800. Which of these is the best? What other amps should I be looking at under a grand?
There’s a super clean ‘93 GFA 5800 available now that I’m seriously considering. I will for the time being be using my Cambridge AXR100 as a preamp. It turned out to be pretty underpowered for these speakers at 100w. It doesn’t clip or get hot, but the bass is weak and the midrange is thin. The highs are crystal and really sing. I’m just underpowered as I was told might be the story with this amp.
 
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I would also consider a Sunfire 300. If you are ok with one that is not 100% cosmetically perfect they can be had for under $1K.
 
make sure you get an amp that puts out lots of current, the RS4b can get power hungry when turned up loud (they easily put my 200 Watt Onkyo M-508 into protection) I have had good luck powering them with a Parasound New Classics 2250 V2 (275 Watts/45 amps current), and even better sound quality when paired with my Parasound Halo A23+ (160 Watts / 45 amps)
 
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Assuming they aren't hungrier than RS-IIs the following will suffice.

Yamaha MX-1 200wpc
Yamaha MX-1000 260wpc
Acurus A250 250wpc
 
SeattAl said:
Looking at Adcom GFA 555, 555ii, 5800. Which of these is the best? What other amps should I be looking at under a grand?
There’s a super clean ‘93 GFA 5800 available now that I’m seriously considering. I will for the time being be using my Cambridge AXR100 as a preamp. It turned out to be pretty underpowered for these speakers at 100w. It doesn’t clip or get hot, but the bass is weak and the midrange is thin. The highs are crystal and really sing. I’m just underpowered as I was told might be the story with this amp.
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Soundcraftsmen MA5002, stable into 2ohms, 250W into 8ohms, 360W into 4ohms, drives my 3.2ohm AR's quite nicely.

Doesn't hurt it's also one fantastic looking amp:D

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No fan required, just some massive heat sinks
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There were a couple on eBay within your budget recently, not all have the nice wood side panels. It's a big heavy beast so will need good support and some real estate.
 
I'm using a Rotel RB-990BX (high current and 300 WPC into 4 ohms) and a Crown XLS 2000 (class D 650 wpc into 4 ohms) that I alternate powering my Infinity RS II.
The Rotel is from around 1992, the Crown from around 2016 (both are guess and may be off by a year or two).
Either is around $400-500 now days
 
With these older amps, price in some servicing. I'm using a Parasound HCA-2200ii on my RSIIs and I love it. Even the HCA-1500 is 200 a side at 8 ohms and over 300 at 4 ohms.
 
The heretics answer?


the chip amps, like the fosi audio bt30 pro drive my RS 4 just fine, as loud as I listen to them. Before that I used a Lepai lp7498 for years and years. (funny how long it's been now)
https://www.amazon.com/Fosi-Audio-BT30D-Pro-Integrated/dp/B09YNBHR73


Otherwise look at pro audio amps is my suggestion. Personally, I use old carver pro amps with my infinitys, (and damn near everything else)

now back to your regularly scheduled program.
 
I bought a GFA5800 on Reverb. Now I need a preamp. Looking for something newer with a great DAC, bonus for a phono section although I have a decent phono stage if I need it. Looking at the Marantz NR1200 - seems a great price for high quality modern device and the HEOS will be a nice upgrade from Bluetooth streaming to my Cambridge.
 
Does that Adcom have any sort of speaker protection?
Just asking because I think some don't.
 
QSC CX254. Puts out 250 watts per channel X 4 channels at 4 ohms. It's rack equipment but is only as big (wide and deep) as a 5 disc CD player. First amp I have ever had where now I'm more worried about the RS IIIa's then I am the amp.
 
I bought an Adcom GFA5800 and upgraded my Cambridge Audio AXR100 to a Marantz NR1200. it is truly unreal but the extra power and current has done for the speakers. As an FYI, the Marantz with HEOS is amazing if anyone is considering an upgrade to a device with built in digital media streamer.
 
The Solid Red and Red/Black wires come off the crossover, but I do not know what they are attached to on the crossover. Most of the issue is that the wires from the crossover are attached to the speaker posts incorrectly.
 
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