Need help with power!

[Kaboom]

so i finally got the monitors of my dreams (platinum audio solos) and they are AMAZING, i absolutely LOVE them.
trouble is, at 84db of sensitivity, they are rather close to the lower end of the sensitivity spectrum, and my 60watt per channel Cambridge Audio A540 integrated amp is having some serious problems driving them, when pushed too hard it wont clip, but the sound becomes somewhat congested.
SO! my options are getting a more powerful integrated amp (suggestions?)
or getting a poweramp and using my A540 as a pre (suggestions)
or getting a decent pre and power amp combo.
It would need to be upwards of 140 watts at 6ohm, since that's what most people say its required to make these really sing.
Try and keep the prices within the realms of the reasonable for a college student!
Cheers!

[Pat]

How much are you looking to spend? Kind of hard to narrow it down without a number to work with.

[RICKY009]

Good Integrated Amps: Nad C 320bee-$399; Rotel Ra 1062-$699; Jolida Jd - 1000a (tube Powered Integrated Amp)-$900; Musical Fidelity X-150-$999; Rotel Ra-02-$499; Vincent Sv-121$995; Audio Analogue Primo $799. Musical Fidelity Makes Good Products And They R Inexpensive And Relatively High Powered.

[Feanor]

Good Integrated Amps: Nad C 320bee-$399; Rotel Ra 1062-$699; Jolida Jd - 1000a (tube Powered Integrated Amp)-$900; Musical Fidelity X-150-$999; Rotel Ra-02-$499; Vincent Sv-121$995; Audio Analogue Primo $799. Musical Fidelity Makes Good Products And They R Inexpensive And Relatively High Powered.
Your recommendations are straight out of TAS. OK, nothing wrong with that except that Kaboom stipulated 160 watts per channel which this isn't ridiculous given a 84dB sensitivity. I haven't double checked but as I recall none of the above put out that much power.

[Feanor]

As for a power amp, new, I would look seriously at the new Bel Canto S300. This puts out 150 wt/ch in to 8 ohms, or 300 wt/ch into 4; costs US$1600. It is an ICEpower-based switching, (a.k.a. "digital"), amplifier.

I suspect an A4540 / S300 combo would bet the heck out of any integrated you might consider for the price.

[Glen B]

Good, inexpensive power:

ATI Model 1202, $695.00, 140W/220W into 8 and 4 ohms respectively.
http://www.ati-amp.com/at1202.html

Outlaw Audio Model 2200 Monoblocks, $650.00/pair. 200W/300W into 8 and 4 ohms.
http://www.outlawaudio.com/products/2200.html

[Kaboom]

i'd like to keep it under a grand, but as i said i don't know if it'd be worth it getting only a decent power amp when the preamp section of my Cambridge Audio probably isnt up to scratch or if it'd be better if i just sold the cambridge and got a high powered integrated or a nice preamp-poweramp combo.
I don't mind going second-hand either, in fact i'm a big fan of pre-owned equipment and the platinums themselves are pre-owned.
Cheers!

[Newfiestang50]

Have a listen to the NAD C272 power amp and use your existing pre amp, i have this amp and it sounds great with my psb stratus golds (which are also very hard to drive). Its 150 watts per ch into 8 ohms, i think you will be impressed. good luck

[Feanor]

i'd like to keep it under a grand, but as i said i don't know if it'd be worth it getting only a decent power amp when the preamp section of my Cambridge Audio probably isnt up to scratch or if it'd be better if i just sold the cambridge and got a high powered integrated or a nice preamp-poweramp combo.
I don't mind going second-hand either, in fact i'm a big fan of pre-owned equipment and the platinums themselves are pre-owned.
Cheers!
Amps from NAD, Rotel, Adcom, Parasound, Outlaw are pretty good, especially for the money and will give you the power you want. Based on the reviews I've read, (not personal experience), I'd check out the Parasound Halo A23 power amp, US$850 new, which might be the best of this lot.

However if you want more quality as well as quantity of watts, I think your looking at more $$. I'll stick with my Bel Canto S300 suggestion; the Bel is the least expensive of the new crop of switching amps, (which also includes well-reviewed but slightly lower powered NuForce and Channel Islands Audio models). I haven't heard the S300 or read reviews, but I do love my Bel Canto integrated -- it's sound quality totally trashed the NAD C270 I own previously.