[mrbadog]

The out-of-warranty Proceed Amp5 just bit the dust. Prob. can be fixed, but that's 6 months and $500 away (based on the timeline of their recent repairs). Want to get things up and running in the meantime with 3 two-channel amps, budget 2-3K. Have a Halo pre/pro and a Revel front line (studios + center).


Thought about 2 Halo A-23's and a Parasound 750 (for the surrounds). Thought about digital amps (especially after taking that behemoth off the top shelf, risking life and limb in the process), but come away a little confused. Are they reliable, user friendly (normal connections, triggers, etc.), and ready for prime time? Are there others I should consider? I appreciate any suggestions.

 

[Kal Rubinson]

Among digitals, the eVo6 should be considered

 

[Swampfox]

Quote:

Originally posted by Kal Rubinson Among digitals, the eVo6 should be considered

Do you have one, or have you heard one?

 

[tubeguy44]

i have heard the evo6 as well as the evo4 and evo2 from bel canto.....


extremely smooth and detailed..... i would have bought one if they all weren't out of my price range....


i did purchase a carver professional ZR1000 digital amp..... for well under $1000..... you have to work with pro connectors (XLR) for the inputs.... if you have balanced outputs on your preamp - no problems.... the outputs take standard banana plugs....


the sound is very close to the bel canto with perhaps more authority in the bass... probably because it is rated for alot more power.... 225 watts per channel vs 120 for the bel canto models....


i am currently saving up for two more ZR amps to complete my home theater with outboard amps.....


just a heads up.... i talked to a dealer today...and unless you find a dealer with these amps in stock, you won't be able to get any until august or later.... carver professional ZR amps were selected as the official amp of the summer olympics and the entire factory is producing 230 volt models to provide the sound for every venue this summer in athens......

 

[mrbadog]

Isn't the evo 6 4 or 5K? Otherwise, I would check it out. Thats still just for two channels?


The carver pro sounds intriuging, but no availability for 2 mo. is a killer.


Too bad PS Audio don't make a 3 channel version of their digitial amp; I could then add a 2 channel cheapo for surrounds.

 

[Kal Rubinson]

The eVo6 is six channels. The eVo2 is two and the eVo4, naturally, is four channels. I've reviewed several of the eVos (in stereo and MCH) in Stereophile and I have had the eVo6 in my MCH system for quite a while. It is now on its way back to BelCanto for replacement with the current Mk. II versions.

 

[tubeguy44]

if anyone is interested in a carver pro dealer with these amps in stock, pm me... i will forward his email address to you.....

 

[Kevin C Brown]

Not 6 months. They have their repairs down to within weeks now. You might want to at least email/call them before you decide to move on. The AMP 5 is still one of the best multichannel amplifiers ever manufactured.

 

[rich wu]

Chip,


I have an AMP5 and I curious as to what happened to your unit? Is the whole unit dead or only a couple of channels? There are three seperate power supplies so if one goes bad, the other should still work.


Rich

 

[mrbadog]

Rich,


The protection circuitry kicks in when it powers up.



Kevin,


Thanks for the update; that is a big change from their recent performance. My AVP went in in September and came back in Feb.



Kal,


Thanks for the clarification on the Bel Canto's. Judging from their website, they are outside of my range.

 

[Kevin C Brown]

mrbadog- I just picked up a floor model AMP 5 (with warranty ), and I emailed a whole bunch of questions to HSG about what kind of support to expect before I did. They were honest in that there were problems with the whole Mark Levinson/Proceed/Revel thing being reorganized under the new Harman Specialty Group, but that they had made a lot of progress to get things back to "normal". Made me feel a lot "safer" in getting a Proceed even though they are discontinued.

 

[proudx]

odysseyaudio.com


Odyssey audio khartago at 750$ this amp is a steal. Or you can go with the Stratus line at 1050. Checkout the audioreview.com reviews on these amps and goto www.audiocircle.com for the forum on them. They are basically a symphonic line 3500$ amp from Germany. Class A/AB


oh it comes with a 20 year warranty and full trade up value and 30 day in home trail.


soundstage did a review on the khartago if you are interested.

 

[rich wu]

Chip,


I am guessing that the protection circuit kicks in if one of the channel has an internal short. If you could narrow down which channel is bad, you might be able remove that channel and still have a four channel amp. It's too bad you are so far away otherwise, I could take a look at it.


If you decide not to fix, let me know maybe I might buy it from you.


Rich

 

[mrbadog]

Rich,


People who would undertake "looking under the hood" on these things seem few and far between. If you were local, I'ld give it a try. For now, its on its way back to Madrigal. Based on Audiogon, its worth fixing even if I decide to sell once I have it back.