Amplifier for Gamut Speakers

[bower]

Hi all!

i have the Gamut Phi 5 speakers and i find it hard to get reccomendations for amplifiers on the internet.

The speakers are not characterized as easy going. 3-way 4-Ohm speakers with minimum impedance about 2.7 Ohms, need current to wake up.

At the dealer, i heard it with a plinius 9100, very impressed by its astonishing soundstage, which is practically my favourite music part. This combination wasnt the very best for me, due to its' bit tiring highs.

Still looking for impressive soundstage, tight bass, non-fatiguing sound, quality at low volume.

The dealer proposed me the small parasound combo (p3/a23), which i havent heard yet, because he is too pushy (all dealers in Greece i guess due to almost no sales).

Up to now, i have also heard unico secondo and krell 400xi. Neither of the two did it all.

the unico, slow bass, no detail (my Arcam was better in this), no microdynamics, background organs almost disappeared. i could live better with it because of it's nice but emphatic middles, more truth in voices.

On the other hand, the krell was little better in micro, bass, detail but too dry for me and clipped once due to the low load.

budget is up to 1700p, preferably used.

thinking of a parasound a23 with a valve preamp in the future (but little worried of the low price = low quality?).

Any recommendations??ty!

 

[myrman]

Why not look for a Gamut D200 power amp. They are very good and I would assume an obvious pairing with your speakers.

 

[bower]

the Gamut amplification is well above my reach i guess.... havent seen anyone here being sold for less than 2000-2500 just for the power amp.

 

[willie shaw]

I sold a d200 mk 1 for a about 1300. Was a great match for l7 speakers I had

 

[myrman]

the Gamut amplification is well above my reach i guess.... havent seen anyone here being sold for less than 2000-2500 just for the power amp.

I have seen a Mk1 Go for £900. I had a MkII which I sold for £1300. They do come up at these prices occasionally.

 

[James Evans]

There's a few around at the moment I think. Definitely seen a mk1 for 900

http://www.hifi-forsale.co.uk/moreinfo.php?prod_title=gamut/_sirius_d200&p=power_amplifier&prod_id=13273&offset=0

 

[clap]

There's a few around at the moment I think. Definitely seen a mk1 for 900http://www.hifi-forsale.co.uk/moreinfo.php?prod_title=gamut/_sirius_d200&p=power_amplifier&prod_id=13273&offset=0

Someone should buy that. Great price

 

[silencio]

budget is up to 1700p, preferably used.

thinking of a parasound a23 with a valve preamp in the future (but little worried of the low price = low quality?).

Any recommendations??ty!

The Parasound is a damn good power amp, punching well above its weight. The reccs for the S/H Gamut 2000 are also spot on. Just a bit of patience and luck.

 

[mmar]

there is a very nice John shearne pre / power advertised in the classifieds !

 

[bower]

Thanks for all the answers!

Since i havent purchased any used device before, what is the life expectancy of a (lets say) Gamut amp? The MK1 is almost 15 years old.

i feel worried that it will need heavy service and it will never come back to its initial state.

 

[Vinyl Art]

I had a very early mk1 D100, so early it was sold under their previous trading name of Sirius rather than Gamut. It didnt miss a beat in the 15 years i owned it and i knew it was still going strong 3 years after that. Their background was racked studio amps, their consumer gear was built on this experience. At the time i had an expectation of 30 years life before a service. No guarantees of course, but i would expect a long life from them.

Cheers

Bob

Ps. Bloody cracking amp to boot and used prices give great vfm.

 

[zekezebra]

GamuT Di150 would seem an obvious choice. Have seen a few of these used at decent prices (missed out myself). I have decided to go the active route now or I would still be looking for one.

 

[bower]

i will keep an eye for the gamuts then.

any parasound a21/a23 owner or anyone who has compared them with other equipment?

If, let's say, i dont need the a21 extra power, are these two identical in sonic terms?