Parasound A21 minimum. If you can find used a McIntosh MC-352 would be perfect.
Aerial 10T Mk2 - Suitable Amplifier?
Audiophile newbie here. I found a mint pair of Aerial Acoustic 10T (Mk2) speakers at an estate sale. They came with Kimber 8-strand (per polarity) cables (4 cables for bi-wiring) and a Rotel RB-971 (70 watts/channel) solid-state amp. Sound sources are connected via the preamp stage of a Denon DRA297 (no speaker cables connected to the Denon). I’m delighted with the speakers, which eclipse the Vandersteen Model 1 pair that are now my TV speakers. Audiophile friends have made amp suggestions including bi-amping. I’m hoping for suggestions from Audiogon members regarding amp (or preamp and amp) selections that would bring out the best in the Aerials.
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I also had good luck with a Levinson 336 driving them. In terms of preamp/amp combo I've tried many and have settled with a Levinson 326S pre with the JC1 monos. It does so much right in terms of what I am looking for. I would not bother with bi-amping, instead spend that money on a higher quality/power amplifier(s). |
I have had my 10T's since I bought them new in 2001 for $6,900 (with the Sound Anchor stands). Something equivalent would be at least $15K today. Fantastic, musical speaker. It's recommended that you have a high current amp with min 200 watts to get them to light up, so that Rotel has got to go. I started with a 300w Classe SS amp, which I thought sounded good, but after that darn bought-new amp broke down for the second time in 2 years, I replaced it with a Krell FPB400cx (400w of Krell muscle). That's what I'm talkin' about - now they sing. Bass is tight, where the only ding the 10T's got in the reviews back in the day was they can be a tiny bit tubby, and goes really low. And don't believe that crap about Krells being bright - maybe that was true for early models, but they're nice and smooth - just depends on what's upstream. Find a used Krell with at least 300w and those Ariels will be very happy. You can use it with tube preamp's if you choose - there's a jumper inside that you change. I tried it with an ARC pre, and it was very nice. Now I'm using a Krell KCT preamp - which for me is a nice combination. There's something to be said for going with a stack from the the same vendor - you get what the designers were going for. All the best to my 10T owner brethren! |
The 10T's are so good that they have broken up my long-term love affair with Magnepans.
I recently purchased a set of the MK II's that I think play very well with my Son of Ampzilla II. My preamp is the Wyred 4 Sound STP SE, which I particularly like because, being a low-gain design, it allows finer increments of volume adjustment. I have not tried other amps with the 10T's, so there could possibly be room for improvement in that respect, but I feel that I have reached the point where all I need is a little room treatment and I will be in that top percentile of performance where I can comfortably sit down and listen to MUSIC and not equipment. |
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Grateful for the suggestions so far. What do you think of the Belles
Aria to drive these MK IIs? They happen to be made in my city, and I’ll
be checking them at an expo on Saturday. It’s an integrated amp (http://www.powermodules.com/ewExternalFiles/HFC_412_Exotica_Belles_Reprint.pdf), which could work as a preamp for an eventual larger power amp. Headphone and MM phono stages are included.
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Thanks again for your suggestions. I bought a Bryston 4B-ST, the Audio Research SP16-L tube pre, and a PS Audio Perfectwave DAC. Swapping out the Rotel for the Bryston has been a revelation. Music I thought I knew well was being heard only dimly, by contrast to how the 10Ts respond to new amp. Amazing sound stage, detail, and full frequency response. I'll add the preamp over the weekend and the DAC next week. Words are inadequate. As they say, talking about music is like dancing about architecture.Tip of the hat to TMR Audio, Rich Carroll at drrnc2, and David Weinhart. |