What's a good power amp for my NS-10's?

[Level]

I am not affiliated with this auction...but one of the Yamaha power amps works very well.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...766111485&rd=1


DO a search. I worked in a world class facility with NS10's and a Yamaha power amp and the amplifier was never in question.

[ShellTones]

Does it really matter with NS10s?

[tINY]

Go to a garage sale or swap meet and get a mid-high-end receiver. That should match the NS-10 pretty well.

The NS-10 was popular because it was a good representation of typical consumer playback systems.



-tINY

[MJGreene Audio]

Yes it matters with NS-10's. They may have their issues but they do sound better with certain amps. I have mine powered with a Bryston 3b and they have a much cleaner top end and tighter bottom (At least for NS-10 bottom end) than they have with other amps that I have tried before. The highs are much more defined and not quite as shredding. They are still NS-10's but in a more refined way. I seem to recall some people on this site saying that they sound better when you kill them with power. Just watch the level or you will be pulling the woofers out of your back wall.

Kind of like putting nice christmas lights on your double wide trailer.

[paterno]

This was just discussed within the last few months. It's worth a search...

John

[thethrillfactor]

Originally posted by paterno
This was just discussed within the last few months. It's worth a search...

John

Try its been discussed a bunch of times.

Definitely do a search.

[fuzzmike]

Thanks, I'll do a search. The amp does make a huge difference though. The Hafler did a pretty good job, then it died. Then the Alesis RA amp I'm using sounds like ass...like a turned a high-pass and low-pass on. I've done quite a bit of work on NS10's with Bryston's, thats the best amp for them, but too expensive. I've also just finished with an H&H amp that was great for the mids and highs, but the lows weren't there.

[area51recording]

Actually I like one of those old Peavey "boat anchor" amps for use w/NS 10's... When you put the speakers on the floor and drop the amp from about waist high on 'em these amps have enough mass to reduce the 10's to a pile of kindling...sorry- couldn't help myself

[fuzzmike]

geez, so much animosity for the poor 10's. I think that they are great. They MAKE you focus on what's important. My mixes really improved when I switched from Dynaudio BM15A's to the 10's as the primary mixing speaker. You NEED a second set of "better" speakers to A/B with the 10's, but I think that they are really great.

[area51recording]

Nah. No real animosity here. I worked with 10's for about 4 years and for myself I NEVER could get the low end in my mixes right with them. I know people that swear by them, but if I can't hear it I can't mix it I guess... I switched to ADAM P11A's and find them to be much easier to get mixes on that travel well.

[fuzzmike]

I know what you're saying about the bottom end. I swear by the a/b monitor technique. I'm curious abou the P11's though. I have a pair of Dynaudio BM15A's I don't think that they are good to only mix on them. They are sooo open that it's hard to get good vocal placement, or bass level. It's as if anything is OK on them. They are great for bouncing back and forth from the NS10's though.

Do you feel as though you could mix effectively ONLY on the P11's?

[flame Linear]

I like useing a old threshold s150 to power my ns10's
they can be had for around 500-800 on ebay.

Its a detailed amp with great low end.

[area51recording]

I use phones, Sennheiser HD 600's in conjunction w/ the ADAMS. Between the 2 sources I get mixes that translate real well, especially the low end. Something else that I think has really helped me is I've gotten really religious about mixing at around 80 to 85 db. Sometimes I'll push it louder for a little bit and sometimes I 'll mix for a while while the playback is barely audible. I think it all really helps me zero in on what the mix is actually sounding like.

[vnt001]

Originally posted by MJGreene Audio
Yes it matters with NS-10's. They may have their issues but they do sound better with certain amps. I have mine powered with a Bryston 3b and they have a much cleaner top end and tighter bottom (At least for NS-10 bottom end) than they have with other amps that I have tried before. The highs are much more defined and not quite as shredding. They are still NS-10's but in a more refined way. I seem to recall some people on this site saying that they sound better when you kill them with power. Just watch the level or you will be pulling the woofers out of your back wall.

Kind of like putting nice christmas lights on your double wide trailer.

yes sir it definitely matters. a crappy amp will make them sound even worse! Flabby bass and muddy midrange become even more apparent when your amp is outputting such.

Bryston's are excellent...if you can get a 2B you should be ok, got some extra dough...go 3B, be careful easy to smoke those things!

A good compromise amp is a Hafler anything. If you can get a newer Transnova..do it...excellent!

[Prickstein]

Loving my NS-10 s again since getting a used Bryston 2b and consumer sub

[djui5]

here we go again....

[DontLetMeDrown]

Originally Posted by thethrillfactor

Try its been discussed a bunch of times.

Definitely do a search.

Well, I've done a search and not much has come up. Any further suggestions? Hafler? Crown? I want to keep it under $500 if possible. Help me out please.

[gsharp]

Originally Posted by DontLetMeDrown

Well, I've done a search and not much has come up. Any further suggestions? Hafler? Crown? I want to keep it under $500 if possible. Help me out please.

Crown DC300A Well within your budget and as ubiquitous as the NS-10's themselves.

[music friend]

i use a hafler 9505 i got used for @ 1000. Great amp. thumbsup


music friend

[u b k]

Originally Posted by MJGreene Audio

Kind of like putting nice christmas lights on your double wide trailer.

or a good port demiglace on your hamburger helper.


gregoire
del ubik

[natpub]

Originally Posted by DontLetMeDrown

Well, I've done a search and not much has come up...

??

I searched NS10 and got 181 threads back. Try putting in the term in different ways, or the term power amp, monitor, etc. But NS10 will definately get ya started. Try title only, then body. There have been 10 or more monsterous threads discussing amps for NS10's over the past couple years.


G'Luck

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by DontLetMeDrown

Well, I've done a search and not much has come up. Any further suggestions? Hafler? Crown? I want to keep it under $500 if possible. Help me out please.

I use a Perreaux on mine and to me its a step sonically above a Bryston.

On an Auratone it is sweeeet!!!!!

For under $500 look for a used Stewart Pro reference 1000.

Its a real sleeper on NS10's.

[DontLetMeDrown]

Originally Posted by natpub

??

I searched NS10 and got 181 threads back. Try putting in the term in different ways, or the term power amp, monitor, etc. But NS10 will definately get ya started. Try title only, then body. There have been 10 or more monsterous threads discussing amps for NS10's over the past couple years.


G'Luck

kk,

i tried: amp + NS-10, Power amp + NS-10

maybe the dash "-" was f'ing things up.

thank you

[tubes2bits]

I'd buy another Pro2400, if you can find one!

[ine-kpro...]

definitely do not get any shite amp or consumer amp to go with the NS10s. stick with pairing it with a hafler. i think bryston amps is a bit of a mismatch for ns10s, i think it deserves a better speaker that will take advantage of its quality and frequency response which the ns10s can not supply.

p3000 has been perfect for me.

[Kestral]

Originally Posted by gsharp

Crown DC300A Well within your budget and as ubiquitous as the NS-10's themselves.

I asked this question awhile back and pretty much got lame ass answers.

But I agree with gsharp. I bought a Crown DC300A thumbsup

[Jim vanBergen]

I have a vintage Crown DC300 in good condition and a Hafler P1500 in mint condition that both sound great on NS-10s. If you're close to NY I'll make you a good deal, but regardless of your location either is a great low-cost choice.

Peace!
Jim

[DontLetMeDrown]

Can anyone recommend a good place to buy them besides ebay? Every search I do has broken links or gives results of pages that no longer exist. Had this problem searching for Hafler, Stewart, and Yamaha. Anyone have links for a trusted site where I can buy new?

[John Sayers]

I agree about the Bryston 3B - NS10's like a good, powerful amp IMO