Sounstream Recommendation

hoonyaker · 28th January 2008, 12:45 AM

Hello folks!

I am planning on buying an old school soundstream amp, and would like to know when the company was bought out. Are there any models that I should stay away from that were made during the transition? I had an SS amp back in the early 90s (not sure which model.. MC maybe) and I remember how great it sounded. The highs were so smooth, even at loud levels. Every amp I have tried since then seems to be harsh on my ears at loud levels (the highs).

Could anyone recommend an SS old school model, and or, tell me which ones had the most problems (I know there were some heat issues). I'm looking to spend about $200-$300. I need a 4 or 5 channel amp with 30-50 watts per channel.
Thanks

Madmike2 · 28th January 2008, 12:55 AM

Find a Tarantula.

Jonny Hotnuts · 28th January 2008, 01:30 AM

I have owned MANY SS old school amps and they are some of my faves.

I just purchased a MC300 (no reason, just wanted it)

The D series amps are great.
The MC series are also great.

IMO the D200 (first series not D200 II) are some of the best sounding amps that are obtainable by the common man.

The Class A 100 (basically a D200 II) are also great SQ amps.

Any of the D or MC amps are great....after that they started to have reliability issues and started to cater a demo that is impressed with chrome spiders and bling.

1moreamp · 28th January 2008, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by hoonyaker
Hello folks!

I am planning on buying an old school soundstream amp, and would like to know when the company was bought out. Are there any models that I should stay away from that were made during the transition? I had an SS amp back in the early 90s (not sure which model.. MC maybe) and I remember how great it sounded. The highs were so smooth, even at loud levels. Every amp I have tried since then seems to be harsh on my ears at loud levels (the highs).

Could anyone recommend an SS old school model, and or, tell me which ones had the most problems (I know there were some heat issues). I'm looking to spend about $200-$300. I need a 4 or 5 channel amp with 30-50 watts per channel.
Thanks

I got a Rubicon 805 < you can goggle the model number to check spec's> for sale its still good old SS quality inside and its in your price range and it still looks good PM if interested....C

PS the Rubs were the last American made SS amps to come out all the rest come from offshore...

hoonyaker · 29th January 2008, 04:11 PM

Thanks for the replies!

Anyone have an opinion on how an a/d/s pq sounds

compared to an soundstream mc?

1moreamp · 29th January 2008, 09:45 PM

I have a PQ-15 with all new caps inside also

hoonyaker · 30th January 2008, 06:36 AM

Is it for sale? How does it sound next to the rub?

1moreamp · 30th January 2008, 06:31 PM

Alas both the PQ-15 and the Rub 805 are headed for e-bay in the next few days. I have over 120 amplifiers and I must let some of them go to make room for other things in my life.

As for SQ differences well thats a very subjective question, and it all depends on your ears more than mine.
I would tend to think the Rubicon 805 is a better SQ amp but thats because its a newer design and it was based on the older Reference line that SoundStream built with very little difference inside except a few quality improvements by SS. SoundStream was always known for its outstanding SQ.

Both of these amps are from my collection and are some of my favorite amps from back in the day. this is why the PQ-15 has all new caps in the amp section. I was not its first owner and when i got it I being technically inclined went through it to restore it Like New operation and SQ.

Both amps are 6 channel but the 805 has both the bass channels bridged on output for running a sub. the 805 has all the needed crossovers built in, while the PQ-15 is just a straight 6 channel amp with no signal processing inside at all. So the PQ-15 would need a crossover to utilize it fully in a system. The 805 is about twice the physical size of the PQ-15 also so if space is a issue then the 805 might not be your cup of tea.

I can be reached by using the e-mail function under my post if you wish to talk some more....

jol50 · 31st January 2008, 02:20 PM

What is that Continuum? There was a broken one on there a couple months ago, about 5 times it was listed. Now I see a working one there. I have a Rub 302 but have only tried it on a sub. It has the beans for a 300w amp.

It is a kicker....but I've not had a good experience with the 5ch I have now. Again, it is no SS. It seems weak in the AB section and it is not a power issue. I'd say the old alpine I had on there before had better SQ without doubt.

1moreamp · 31st January 2008, 03:07 PM

If your comparing the PQ-15 to a Alpine you would need to go way back to the black 35 series these were built inside like the PQ-15 < parts wise anyway>
And neither of these older amps are using the same internals as the Rubicon, So its apples to oranges type comparison. SS always designed and built every stage of their amps. ADS and Alpine back in the PQ days used UPC power amp driver chips for their amps internal driver section.
Very modular, and off the shelf in design. SS was all original in their designs of amp circuitry, so they did not use UPC driver chips to my knowledge.

As long as neither of these amps are driven into clipping they should sound pretty much alike according to some of the engineering thinking thats out there, as both had very low distortion ratings and the only major difference being the amount and type of negative feedback used by each. Oh and SS has always used Darlington outputs in all their amps over the years, where as the ADS and Alpine used Japanese audio outputs but not Darlington to my knowledge.

I have not been watching e-bay so I am unaware of a broken continuum that you are mentioning.....

28th January 2008, 12:45 AM	#1
hoonyaker diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2008	Sounstream Recommendation Hello folks! I am planning on buying an old school soundstream amp, and would like to know when the company was bought out. Are there any models that I should stay away from that were made during the transition? I had an SS amp back in the early 90s (not sure which model.. MC maybe) and I remember how great it sounded. The highs were so smooth, even at loud levels. Every amp I have tried since then seems to be harsh on my ears at loud levels (the highs). Could anyone recommend an SS old school model, and or, tell me which ones had the most problems (I know there were some heat issues). I'm looking to spend about $200-$300. I need a 4 or 5 channel amp with 30-50 watts per channel. Thanks

28th January 2008, 12:55 AM	#2
Madmike2 diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Toronto	Find a Tarantula. __________________ Persistence is better then intelligence. Unless persistence kills you.

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28th January 2008, 01:30 AM	#3
Jonny Hotnuts diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2007	I have owned MANY SS old school amps and they are some of my faves. I just purchased a MC300 (no reason, just wanted it) The D series amps are great. The MC series are also great. IMO the D200 (first series not D200 II) are some of the best sounding amps that are obtainable by the common man. The Class A 100 (basically a D200 II) are also great SQ amps. Any of the D or MC amps are great....after that they started to have reliability issues and started to cater a demo that is impressed with chrome spiders and bling.

29th January 2008, 04:11 PM	#5
hoonyaker diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2008	Thanks for the replies! Anyone have an opinion on how an a/d/s pq sounds compared to an soundstream mc?

29th January 2008, 09:45 PM	#6
1moreamp diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Northern California	I have a PQ-15 with all new caps inside also

30th January 2008, 06:36 AM	#7
hoonyaker diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2008	Is it for sale? How does it sound next to the rub?

30th January 2008, 06:31 PM	#8
1moreamp diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Northern California	Alas both the PQ-15 and the Rub 805 are headed for e-bay in the next few days. I have over 120 amplifiers and I must let some of them go to make room for other things in my life. As for SQ differences well thats a very subjective question, and it all depends on your ears more than mine. I would tend to think the Rubicon 805 is a better SQ amp but thats because its a newer design and it was based on the older Reference line that SoundStream built with very little difference inside except a few quality improvements by SS. SoundStream was always known for its outstanding SQ. Both of these amps are from my collection and are some of my favorite amps from back in the day. this is why the PQ-15 has all new caps in the amp section. I was not its first owner and when i got it I being technically inclined went through it to restore it Like New operation and SQ. Both amps are 6 channel but the 805 has both the bass channels bridged on output for running a sub. the 805 has all the needed crossovers built in, while the PQ-15 is just a straight 6 channel amp with no signal processing inside at all. So the PQ-15 would need a crossover to utilize it fully in a system. The 805 is about twice the physical size of the PQ-15 also so if space is a issue then the 805 might not be your cup of tea. I can be reached by using the e-mail function under my post if you wish to talk some more....

31st January 2008, 02:20 PM	#9
jol50 diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2007	What is that Continuum? There was a broken one on there a couple months ago, about 5 times it was listed. Now I see a working one there. I have a Rub 302 but have only tried it on a sub. It has the beans for a 300w amp. It is a kicker....but I've not had a good experience with the 5ch I have now. Again, it is no SS. It seems weak in the AB section and it is not a power issue. I'd say the old alpine I had on there before had better SQ without doubt.

31st January 2008, 03:07 PM	#10
1moreamp diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Northern California	If your comparing the PQ-15 to a Alpine you would need to go way back to the black 35 series these were built inside like the PQ-15 < parts wise anyway> And neither of these older amps are using the same internals as the Rubicon, So its apples to oranges type comparison. SS always designed and built every stage of their amps. ADS and Alpine back in the PQ days used UPC power amp driver chips for their amps internal driver section. Very modular, and off the shelf in design. SS was all original in their designs of amp circuitry, so they did not use UPC driver chips to my knowledge. As long as neither of these amps are driven into clipping they should sound pretty much alike according to some of the engineering thinking thats out there, as both had very low distortion ratings and the only major difference being the amount and type of negative feedback used by each. Oh and SS has always used Darlington outputs in all their amps over the years, where as the ADS and Alpine used Japanese audio outputs but not Darlington to my knowledge. I have not been watching e-bay so I am unaware of a broken continuum that you are mentioning.....

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