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August 19, 2016 - 8:14pm
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Amp with trigger INPUT
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I have searched for something similar and came across this review:
http://www.cnet.com/news/are-you-ready-for-this-a-160-stereo-system-an-audiophile-could-love/
"You can manually turn the APA100 on and off via the power button on the front panel, or have it automatically turn on when it receives a signal, and it will turn itself off after a few minutes without signal."
Purchase here:
http://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-apa100-class-ab-stereo-amplifier-60-wpc--300-590
Full disclosure: No idea how it sounds
Most power amplifiers have a 12 volt trigger input.
My Musical Fidelity power amp has one and my Bryston power amp had one.
Few power amps have a 12V trigger output, because the usual application is for them to be controlled by a preamp or receiver that has a trigger output
Although not exactly inexpensive, the Ayre V-5xe has a trigger input via a mini-plug. New it is $5995 I think. You might be able to pick one up used in the $3K range since until the middle of last year it was $4995. This is a freakin' amazing power that is worth every nickle.
The Marantz MM7025 at $799 also has a trigger input via a miniplug as they are designed to be daisy chained together for home theater applications. I own an 8 channel version of this amp and it is not in the same league as the Ayre, it is a really nice sounding amp for the money.
The Parasound Halo A23 at $995 also has one. It is a very solid power amp for the money as well though I can't say I have logged the same amount of time listening to it that I have with the Ayre or the Marantz. The A21 might, I didn't look and it is quite a bit more expensive.
The Cambridge Audio 851W at $2499. I have not heard this and can't speak to the sound other than reviewers generally like Cambridge's sound and suggest it is neutral and detailed.
I believe the new Peachtree SonaAmp at $999 also has one. Again, haven't heard it and have no POV but a different aesthetic.
There are likely others but this gives you a bit of choice.
The Classe Sigma Amp2 has one too. This is a great amp and it retails for $3500. I've heard this amp with its matching Classe Sigma SSP preamp driving a pair of B&W 804 D3 speakers and the Wilson Audio Sabrina speakers on separate occassions and no matter what speakers they are the Classe combo performed extra ordinarily. I would put the Classe Sigma Amp2 in the same league as the Ayre V-5xe amp that was suggested earlier.
It was very transparent sounding with great clarity, focus and authority with precise imaging and huge massive soundstage. No matter what speakers the Classe Sigma combo were connected to, they produced a three-dimensional soundstage. It has surprisingly very low noise floor for the price. It's dead quiet and strikingly clean sounding. Very fast and has great rythm and pacing and it's very agile. The Classe Sigma series combo was very good in extracting every single bit of musical nuance and subtle details of musical recordings. Highly recommended especially for the price ($3500 for a stereo amp and $5k for the Amp5 five-channel amp).
These Classe Sigma amps are class D design but they sounded nothing like traditional early class D designs from back in the day. The amp sounded very smooth and very musical. The Sigma Series also makes a pair of monoblock class D amps for $8k a pair called the Sigma Mono Amp.
Depending on your budget, Classe also makes higher end amplifiers in its Delta Series and their entry level stereo power amp (CA-2300) starts at $7k. Sonically it is a step up from the Sigma Amp2 but it is a lot more expensive too. It's different leagues actually. But the Sigma Amp2 is an extra ordinary amp especially at $3500.
I wouldn't get the Marantz MM7025 power amp if I were you. Performance wise this amp is no different than the built-in amp section in the Marantz SR7009 receiver. It might be ok for home theater application if you have very economical and efficient ht speakers.
The Parasound Halo A23 is a superior amp than the Marantz MM7025 amp in all areas. Or the Rotel RB-1582 Mkll power amp is also highly recommended for the price. It is a superior amp than the Marantz in all areas.
Marantz makes great ht pre pro such as the AV8802 but not the power amp. Their power amps lack in dynamic and oomph and sounded congested and compressed when pushed real hard especially given the task of driving inefficient and difficult to drive loudspeakers.
But the Marantz AV8802 ht pre pro is very good sounding especially for movies. The AV8802 is also good for stereo music. Highly recommended unit for the price. And it's loaded with the most and lattest current formats and codecs and it's equipped with the most advanced Audyssey auto EQ.
Anyways I would put the higher end models of the Rotel amps (RB-1590 & RB-1582 Mkll) in the same league as the Parasound Halo amps such as the A21 & the A23.
I've heard both the Parasound Halo lines and the new Rotel higher end models such the the RB-1590 & the RB-1582 Mkll amps and they both sounded different IMO. The new Rotel has warm alluring sound and it's very comfortable to listen to and the Parasound is more precise and analytical and both are musical with great clarity and subtle details and both the A21 and the Rotel RB-1590 or the RB-1582 Mkll amps have a lot of muscles and oomph to drive just about any demanding or hard to drive loudspeakers.
But sonically both the Parasound and the Rotel aren't in the same league as the Classe or the Ayre but both the Parasound and the Rotel are much more affordable than the Classe or the Ayre.