chipamp for harbeths

[mantisory]

Hey all,
So, I have been running my LM3886 BrianGT chip amp for a few years and have been extremely happy with the sound it produces. However, I recently got some Harbeth Compact 7s, and while it still sounds damn good, I can't help but think that they could use a tad more power than the B&W's I had been using.
That being said, I am wondering what I should do for an amp - build a bridged or parallel (such as the BPA300) or should I move on to something else such as a discrete, class A design?
Anyone have any experiences such as mine?
regards,
Byron

[AndrewT]

go discrete.

[CJ900RR]

From a financially point of view, go discrete.

But, if you like the sound of one LM3886 then you will like a BPA300 even more, go BPA300.

[mantisory]

Any suggestions for a good discrete design? There are so many to choose...

[AndrewT]

Aksa for sound quality.
Leach for ease of building lots of power and current if you can find a 3pair PCB.
Dx for cheapness.
and all the others.

A 30+30Vac or 35+35Vac transformer (~300VA) will drive the Harbeths loud enough.

[sangram]

I've gone the BPA route, and the sound quality drops off rapidly as one adds chips. It's fine up to a point when you parallel chips (sorta) to overcome the weak current delivery of the 3886, but if you really need more than about 40 watts, go discrete.

BPAs don't sound so great. I used PD's LM4780 dual mono PCBs and parts for mine, and it is brutally powerful, but sonically inferior to my single LM3886.

I would look at Anthony Holton's amps or even one from the GBA modules. Those are a bit cheaper than the AKSAs.

[mantisory]

is the aska the same as the SkaAudio amplifier? (I have heard good things about that one)
Regards,
Byron

[AndrewT]

Aksa and SKA are different amplifiers from different companies, although both are based in Australia

[CJ900RR]

Originally posted by sangram
BPAs don't sound so great. I used PD's LM4780 dual mono PCBs and parts for mine, and it is brutally powerful, but sonically inferior to my single LM3886.

Interesting point of view, I think exactly the opposite. OK, I have not tried the LM4780, but I think that 6 pcs of LM3886 parallel/bridged sounds a lot better than 1 pcs of LM3886.

More air, sonic, details, bass. Everything gets better. But the week point of the LM3886 is it's capability of driving heavy loads.

There is no perfect amp for every speaker, nor a perfect speaker for every amp. The most important thing in audio is to match every piece of the equipment to each other, and to your ears

[sangram]

Totally agree with that. I find 2*3886 PA100(have not experimented more with 3886) becomes little more dynamic, but a loss of bass depth. I use the PA100 to amp my Dynaudio studio monitors, which do not have much bass reach anyway, and a single 3886 to drive my Usher Mini-Dancers. Will be moving to the F5 for these speakers now, as they are resolving enough to find fault with the 3886