I'd Rather Play
new member
Joined: 18/02/04
Posts: 443
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Recommend a NS10 Amp?
#1021453 - 29/11/12 09:56 PM
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Hi there,
Can any NS10 users recommend a (new) amp?
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Jonnypopisical
Joined: 16/07/05
Posts: 1070
Loc: London
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Re: Recommend a NS10 Amp?
[Re: I'd Rather Play]
#1021464 - 29/11/12 11:10 PM
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2nd hand HiFi amp from ebay - something like a 30-50W Denon would be my first choice is
cost is an issue.
For top end - and 100-200W power amp from someone like
Chameleon would be fine.
Back in the day is would have been Quad
--------------------
Mac Pro, Logic Pro, lots of software and 17 hard drives!
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narcoman
active member
Joined: 14/08/01
Posts: 8469
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Re: Recommend a NS10 Amp?
[Re: I'd Rather Play]
#1021469 - 29/11/12 11:20 PM
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Second hand Hafler would be a good option.
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Jack Ruston
Joined: 21/12/05
Posts: 4065
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Re: Recommend a NS10 Amp?
[Re: I'd Rather Play]
#1021470 - 29/11/12 11:22 PM
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There's a company in the US called class D audio who make (obviously) Class D amps, which
sound extremely good. I have one on my NS10s. It cost about 400 quid shipped. It's really
good. J
-------------------- www.jackruston.com
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narcoman
active member
Joined: 14/08/01
Posts: 8469
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Re: Recommend a NS10 Amp?
[Re: I'd Rather Play]
#1021472 - 29/11/12 11:37 PM
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Wicked. Thanks for the tip there Jack!!
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oggyb
Joined: 09/02/08
Posts: 1429
Loc: Leeds, UK
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Re: Recommend a NS10 Amp?
[Re: I'd Rather Play]
#1021473 - 30/11/12 12:01 AM
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How much of a bearing on the final sound of the NS10 does the amp used have? Is
the speaker demanding or forgiving? I've only ever use active speakers so this is
something that interests me on a purely academic level 
-------------------- Composer;
www.ogonline.org
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Jack Ruston
Joined: 21/12/05
Posts: 4065
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Re: Recommend a NS10 Amp?
[Re: I'd Rather Play]
#1021571 - 30/11/12 01:22 PM
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It's very important
-------------------- www.jackruston.com
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James Perrett
Joined: 10/09/01
Posts: 9645
Loc: The wilds of Hampshire
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Re: Recommend a NS10 Amp?
[Re: oggyb]
#1021574 - 30/11/12 01:27 PM
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All I can say is don't go for a Teac AX75 which is what my NS10's came with. It really
seems to bring out their harshness. Some people find Quad amps soggy and
restrained but they make NS10's almost listenable in my opinion. The difference between
the Teac and the Quad amps is fairly apparent but I would say that they are fairly extreme
opposites when it comes to amplifier sound and most amps won't make such an obvious
difference. Personally, I prefer LS3/5a's to NS10's James
-------------------- JRP Music - Audio Mastering and Restoration.
http://www.jrpmusic.net
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whis4ey
Joined: 26/09/11
Posts: 156
Loc: N Ireland
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Re: Recommend a NS10 Amp?
[Re: I'd Rather Play]
#1021577 - 30/11/12 01:37 PM
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The Yamaha P2160 would surely have been a suitable power amp for the NS 10's if you can
still pick one up?
Or maybe not powerful enough?
--------------------
Sam
Edited by whis4ey (30/11/12 01:39 PM)
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Flow Mastering
Joined: 16/12/05
Posts: 204
Loc: London, UK
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Re: Recommend a NS10 Amp?
[Re: I'd Rather Play]
#1021605 - 30/11/12 04:41 PM
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The older Hi-Fi Denon amps were a great match as they were built to UK specs/sound and
tended to slightly tame the high mids and boost the low end. When I replaced ours with a
newer version of the same amp it didn't work as it sounded too harsh, so after some
experimenting I switched to using a Roksan Caspian amp which is a great match. With NS10, the amps matters a lot. The better the amp, the better they will sound. An ex
BBC engineer use to come to the studio to test various prototypes of high end tube
amplifiers he was developing with the idea of selling them to studios with NS10. The amps
were in my opinion to week matched as they transformed the NS10 into incredibly good
sounding speakers, defeating the whole point of using NS10!
-------------------- http://www.flowmastering.co.uk
http://www.wolfstudios.co.uk
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Guy Johnson
Joined: 02/05/03
Posts: 3954
Loc: Pembrokeshire
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Re: Recommend a NS10 Amp?
[Re: I'd Rather Play]
#1021707 - 01/12/12 11:02 AM
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As Flow says. I've never met any speakers that have sounded so different with
different amps and wires... from pretty good (Denon), better yet (Carver) to awful (Quad
{sorry!}). Speaker cable also makes a big difference over long runs, again more difference
than with many other speakers. Don't forget to run them in...
-------------------- PA stuff on FB
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I'd Rather Play
new member
Joined: 18/02/04
Posts: 443
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Re: Recommend a NS10 Amp?
[Re: Guy Johnson]
#1021732 - 01/12/12 12:12 PM
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I thank you for your replies.
Unfortunately the responses here are similar to
what I've already got from friends and colleagues, That is people recommend old
discontinued amps or hard to source equipment.
I didn't explain fully. My
existing amp (nondescript HiFi model) has broken so I thought i'd take the opportunity to
upgrade. But i'd like to buy something now and I want something that's guaranteed to last
(i.e., with a guarantee and therefore new).
Any suggestions on something new
and readily available?
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Hugh Robjohns
SOS Technical Editor
Joined: 25/07/03
Posts: 18348
Loc: Worcestershire
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Re: Recommend a NS10 Amp?
[Re: I'd Rather Play]
#1021755 - 01/12/12 12:40 PM
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Quote I'd Rather Play:
Unfortunately the responses here are similar to what I've already got from friends and
colleagues, That is people recommend old discontinued amps or hard to source
equipment.
Unlike some here,
I actually found the Quad 405 (hifi) or 520 (pro) amps worked very nicely with NS10s. Yes,
they are discontinued, but they are easy to source second hand, built like tanks top last
a lifetime, easy to maintain, and Quad will still service them to as-new condition for
astonishingly little outlay, if necessary.
if you want something new, then the
earlier suggestion of Class D amps in the US is a good one -- I've heard other positive
recommendations for them -- and you can save money by building a kit yourself, or buying
one ready made. Different mains voltages and balanced/unbalaned input options are
available.
http://classdaudio.com/complete-amplifiers/custom-built-amplifiers.html
Failing that, I've had good results over the years with Rotel hifi
power-amps...
http://www.rotel.com/UK/products/index.htm?cat=112
hugh
--------------------
Technical Editor, Sound On Sound
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ronmac
Joined: 27/09/06
Posts: 71
Loc: Nova Scotia, Canada
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Re: Recommend a NS10 Amp?
[Re: I'd Rather Play]
#1021759 - 01/12/12 01:25 PM
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I am a big fan of Bryston (1st choice) and Hafler (2nd choice) amps. A used Bryston 2B or
Hafler P3000 would work very well.
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Jack Ruston
Joined: 21/12/05
Posts: 4065
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Re: Recommend a NS10 Amp?
[Re: I'd Rather Play]
#1021762 - 01/12/12 02:24 PM
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Bryston amps are fantastic professional tools but it's a huge outlay. The Class D Audio
stuff sounds, for me, clearer than Bryston, but it's not quite the same calibre of
product. For example, it has gain pots on the back of my unit which need to be aligned to
balance left and right perfectly...I do it with a volt meter and tone. The build quality
of the cases is clearly not the same as a Bryston either...what is?....but it's 1/10th of
the cost and I wouldn't trade mine for the 4B that a mate locally is running on his
NS10's. J
-------------------- www.jackruston.com
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Hugh Robjohns
SOS Technical Editor
Joined: 25/07/03
Posts: 18348
Loc: Worcestershire
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Re: Recommend a NS10 Amp?
[Re: Jack Ruston]
#1021763 - 01/12/12 03:00 PM
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Quote Jack Ruston:
I wouldn't
trade mine for the 4B that a mate locally is running on his NS10's.
J
Running
NS10s on a 4B indicates either way more money than sense, or extreme optimisim! 
hugh
--------------------
Technical Editor, Sound On Sound
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I'd Rather Play
new member
Joined: 18/02/04
Posts: 443
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Re: Recommend a NS10 Amp?
[Re: I'd Rather Play]
#1021771 - 01/12/12 04:14 PM
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I had a look at the Rotels Hugh, great.
As they have no level controls do I
need to buy a pre amp also or could I use a Monitor Controller?
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Hugh Robjohns
SOS Technical Editor
Joined: 25/07/03
Posts: 18348
Loc: Worcestershire
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Re: Recommend a NS10 Amp?
[Re: I'd Rather Play]
#1021777 - 01/12/12 05:33 PM
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Yes, you'd need a line level controller to set and adjust the listening level (and to
select alternate speaker/headphones etc) -- that would typically be a dedicated monitor
controller of some sort, the montior section of a mixing console, or an appropriate output
from a computer interface.
H
--------------------
Technical Editor, Sound On Sound
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I'd Rather Play
new member
Joined: 18/02/04
Posts: 443
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Re: Recommend a NS10 Amp?
[Re: I'd Rather Play]
#1021784 - 01/12/12 07:04 PM
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Cheers thanks of the info.
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Guy Johnson
Joined: 02/05/03
Posts: 3954
Loc: Pembrokeshire
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Re: Recommend a NS10 Amp?
[Re: I'd Rather Play]
#1021878 - 02/12/12 11:45 AM
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+1 Rotel
-------------------- PA stuff on FB
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Matt Houghton
SOS Reviews Editor
Joined: 08/08/07
Posts: 512
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Re: Recommend a NS10 Amp?
[Re: Guy Johnson]
#1021981 - 03/12/12 10:21 AM
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another +1 for Rotel. I've got three vintage Rotels for running hi-fi systems, including a
sealed box Cantor III set that I use in a similar (but nicer-sounding!) way to NS10s. for
second hand, I can recommend the RA-611 and RA-612. But I'm sure there are newer models
that are more reliable.
--------------------
SOS Reviews Editor
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Hugh Robjohns
SOS Technical Editor
Joined: 25/07/03
Posts: 18348
Loc: Worcestershire
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Re: Recommend a NS10 Amp?
[Re: Matt Houghton]
#1021990 - 03/12/12 10:55 AM
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I've got a couple of old Rotel RB-970BX stereo power amps here which are good, too.
hugh
--------------------
Technical Editor, Sound On Sound
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DJW
member
Joined: 03/12/00
Posts: 500
Loc: W. Mids. England, Great Britai...
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Re: Recommend a NS10 Amp?
[Re: I'd Rather Play]
#1021997 - 03/12/12 11:33 AM
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I use a Kenwood KA3020 SE.
--------------------
Duncan J. White
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dbfs
member
Joined: 07/05/04
Posts: 97
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Re: Recommend a NS10 Amp?
[Re: I'd Rather Play]
#1022050 - 03/12/12 03:16 PM
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Hi Jack, Hugh
Which model of the Class D amps would you recommend for the
NS10s
http://classdaudio.com/complete-amplifiers/custom-built-ampl...
Also, Steve Hill once recommended the Yamaha P2500 which is a PA amp, but many
report that although it has fans, they never come on using NS10s. Any experience of this
amp or would you go for the Class D/Rotel. I could also probably get a Chamelon Ruby in
good condition. Have you ever come across that one Hugh.
-------------------- Brian Gardiner
Edited by dbfs (03/12/12 03:17 PM)
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Hugh Robjohns
SOS Technical Editor
Joined: 25/07/03
Posts: 18348
Loc: Worcestershire
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Re: Recommend a NS10 Amp?
[Re: dbfs]
#1022051 - 03/12/12 03:29 PM
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Quote dbfs:
Which model of the
Class D amps would you recommend for the NS10s
You need to decide wteher you wnt unbalanced input (CDA) or
balanced input (SDS) models,and then choose a power rating. In my view, more is always
good, so I'd go for the 120W/8 ohm models over the 60W/8 ohm versions -- assuming budget
would allow. The kit versions are good value if you have reasonable DIY electronics and
constructional skills.
Quote:
Also, Steve Hill once recommended the Yamaha P2500 which is a PA amp, but many
report that although it has fans, they never come on using NS10s. Any experience of this
amp or would you go for the Class D/Rotel. I could also probably get a Chamelon Ruby in
good condition. Have you ever come across that one Hugh.
I've heard Chameleon amps and was quite
impressed with them, so that could well be a good option. Like you, I've heard Steve's
Yamy recommendation before and I have no doubt that the fans probably wouldn't be called
upon for normal studio monitoring duties, but I've not heard this combination myself.
hugh
--------------------
Technical Editor, Sound On Sound
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Jack Ruston
Joined: 21/12/05
Posts: 4065
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Re: Recommend a NS10 Amp?
[Re: I'd Rather Play]
#1022133 - 03/12/12 08:34 PM
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I'd get what they called the Brian Lucey Mastering Amp which is just their 150w a side amp
in an enclosure with balanced IO. It was specified by Brian. They will also do 250 per
side for a hundred bucks more in the same box, but you'll find the 150 a side sounds very
'relaxed' J
-------------------- www.jackruston.com
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Hugh Robjohns
SOS Technical Editor
Joined: 25/07/03
Posts: 18348
Loc: Worcestershire
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Re: Recommend a NS10 Amp?
[Re: Jack Ruston]
#1022168 - 03/12/12 11:10 PM
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Jack Ruston
Joined: 21/12/05
Posts: 4065
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Re: Recommend a NS10 Amp?
[Re: I'd Rather Play]
#1022173 - 03/12/12 11:19 PM
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That's the one...they changed the name. If you're ever near Hove, Hugh, give
me a call and come and have a listen. Nice amp. J
-------------------- www.jackruston.com
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Hugh Robjohns
SOS Technical Editor
Joined: 25/07/03
Posts: 18348
Loc: Worcestershire
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Re: Recommend a NS10 Amp?
[Re: Jack Ruston]
#1022242 - 04/12/12 09:32 AM
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Thanks J, I will -- I often visit friends in Haywards Heath and you're not far from
there...
H
--------------------
Technical Editor, Sound On Sound
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