Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature Amps

I have been looking for a Sunfire surround amp. The 400 watts per channel to be exact. Most of the TGA models have been quite expensive. However just with in the last day or two the Sunfire Cinema Signature amps at 400 per channel have suddenly appeared on Audiogon and Ebay. Some of them were called "Architects Choice" whatever that means. I find it really strange that all of these suddenly appear and not all from the same seller. Someone have a back room of them somewhere?????. At 2 grand and a bit less do you think one of these might fill the bill. I think the Cinemas are just older models of the TGA's. Art

Architect's Choice means that they are the 17" wide model. They're all good.

So you own one of these amps. I was looking at the TGA models but maybe I could go for one of these. Was your model made in the States or China. All the newer stuff is made in China. Also helps avoid duty at the border. How has the repair record been. I don't think there is a service center in Canada. Art

Sunfire amps are tough as nails. I shipped one to a fellow member & UPS saw fit to put a forklift THROUGH the side of it....and it STILL worked flawlessly! Plus, they will drive practically any resistance load and sound fantastic doing it (I'm biased, of course ).

I've run the hound out of mine for the past year with nary a hiccup. I'm convinced the older models are better than the TGAs...

I paid $2400, and BillD a little less than that, about a year ago for ours (both 400~7 channel models). There are a couple more folks on the forum that have either the 5 or 7 channel 400 watt models.

If you find one in good condition for less than $2k, buy it. They are incredibly versatile; I'm going to biamp my AL-III while simultaneously running 2 gigantic subs off mine and STILL have a channel left over!

I just got a 400x7 cin grand amp and I love it. And me being 18 and seeing how my 25 year old carver amps have held up I'm hoping that sunfires do just as well so I wount have to buy another amp for a long time.

Congrads chargerman426!!! You lucky Dog!!

congrats on the new amp.....

I have a TGA-5400 and I'm convinced.........its GREAT!!

Perry

Someday I will have a Sunfire amp. They are one of the best amps I have ever heard. And for the price you get a lot of amp for the money.

If you had your pick, money is an object but; Your speakers are 5 ohm high sensitivity rated @ 110-180 watts. You know you want only a 5 channel Sunfire amp. You also know you want a Cinema Grand. What would your choice be? Cinema Grand 200X5, Cinema Grand II 225X5, Cinema Grand 400X5, Cinema Grand Sig 400X5, Cinema Grand Sig II 425X5. I know there might be more, but I only listed what is shown on AudioGon Bluebook.
Opinions?

I'd get the biggest one I could afford. You never know when your taste in speakers might wander into something more demanding. Doesn't hurt to have headroom to spare.

The most common thing I every ran into in programming computers was the thought that "nothing will ever exceed a certain size". I spent more time reworking others programs where they made that assumption about buffers, file sizes, disk sizes, etc.

You can run speakersb with those specs plenty well on a Cinema Grand 200x5. But what BillD said has merit as well. The 200x5 models are plentiful & not outrageously priced (@ $900-1300), whereas the 400 watt models are more rare and command a pretty high price, usually around $2000.00.... although the last one on ebay sold for ony $1675.00.