Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/26/83; site ihuxr.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!floyd!whuxlb!pyuxll!eisx!npoiv!npois!hogpc!houxm!ihnp4!ihuxr!rayjay From: rayjay@ihuxr.UUCP Newsgroups: net.audio Subject: power amp query Message-ID: <504@ihuxr.UUCP> Date: Wed, 13-Jul-83 12:21:45 EDT Article-I.D.: ihuxr.504 Posted: Wed Jul 13 12:21:45 1983 Date-Received: Thu, 14-Jul-83 06:06:17 EDT Organization: BTL Naperville, Il. Lines: 46 1. Sumo model 9 (70 watts-approx $700) 2. Amber Series 70 (70 watts-approx $600) 3. Apt Power Amp (100 watts-approx $550) 4. Hafler DH-220 (115 watts-approx $350 for kit) I would not hesitate to recommend any of these units over the Yamaha. As someone who has somewhat followed Yamaha products for the past ten years, it's kind of sad to see whats happened to their products. They seemed to have decided to close the gap between themselves and the other "mid-fi" Jap audio firms. While their performance is not "bad", its not that much better than most Pioneer or Sansui units. Their seperates are just not worth the money. ( I had a Yamaha B-2 pwr amp & C-2 preamp for several years and as far as I am concerned, they have not produced anything close since ). 1. The Sumo Model 9 is a class A unit with a small Gould Mini-brute fan included to keep things cool. This is my current unit and I am quite happy with it. I don't know about your pwr requirements, but I get along quite nicely with 70 "clean watts" when I always thought I needed to have at least 100. The bass is ultra clean and well defined and handles my tube preamp quite well. It outperformed my Hafler 220 by a large measure. 2. I was quite impressed with the Amber unit. (My best friend owns one and I've spent quite a bit of time listening to it) In an A/B test ran against the Hafler, it was the clear winner. It's built along "military" lines and the company enjoys an excellent reputation with owners and dealers. 3. The APT unit is rather compact and probably the best looking of the units mentioned. While the dynamic range could be a bit better, ther is not much to complain about. I've always liked this unit but I would prefer 1 or 2 more. Also, there is a rumbling that Apt is floundering on the edge of oblivion. 4. I put together a Hafler DH-220 kit and found it to be quite easy. It was alot easier than the DH-101 I tried several years before. There is alot of good comments about the 220 on the Net and when you consider it's $350 price , there is nothing that can touch it. Since you mentioned a limit of $700 for a power amp, you are willing to move up from the Hafler and items 1,2,&3 are better performers. To all you "Hirsch-heads": "Each of these units would make a fine addition to any system" John Wray BTL- Naperville