Hi guys-
As you listen to amplifiers, consider things that hide a lot of the differences:
Reflections
off your eyeglasses
off your stereo gear (drape with a "poorly folded" bed quilt)
off a coffee table/footstool (move it- the quilt method won't help much)
Close your eyes!!!
Cables from the source component-
We recommend recent production from Audio Magic `cause we know they have that "special something"- I'm sure there are others, but at least with AM you cannot go wrong. Placed at the source, they do not inject any grunge, so that cannot develop into "distorted distortion" on down the line. If this happens with the AM, then suspect the next set of cables and even the speaker wires before you suspect your amp or preamp.
Listen late at night- after 3AM
Matching loudness' is tricky-
There are some (usually solid-state) amplifiers that have an "off/on" sound, which gives lame-sounding speakers a kick in the seat of the pants, but on ours or other good speakers, you will hear, after many recordings, that there are actually NO small dynamic nuances- listen to the overall sound on MANY recordings, without concentrating on any particular detail or aspect. Subconsciously, you will hear that problem via becoming bored. This may take a week.
There are amplifiers (and cables) which sound "soft" on some speakers ("laid back"). Heard on ours and other good speakers they are actually more dynamically graceful, with less overshoot and less "mechanical" sound. These nuances are plainly audible, especially when you are not even listening for them.
The finest amplifiers do not change in "gracefullness" or clarity when (A) the music becomes more complicated behind that first instrument or voice, (B) the performance becomes louder, or (C) you slowly turn up (down) the volume.
Power cords
They do change the personality of an amplifier- and I am not sure that one brand of cord (or power conditioner) is best. In fact, I AM sure that there is not ONE. So listen to many before you buy.
Any thoughts here guys?? This is one of the suckiest areas of audio... I'd really like to hear from their designers on WHY (or IF?) they think their power cords and conditioners should be "universally good".
I can dream can't I?
There are CDs we know where dynamic nuances can be glossed over- making the music boring.
There are others that can have a harsh sound- which is NOT in the recording.
We will have comments posted about those, and what to listen for, on our website (one reason it is taking longer to get it up and published- will advise).
In the first category, I recommend California Guitar Trio "Yamanashi Blues" CD and also Acoustic Sounds' "All-Star Percussion Ensemble" CD.
In the second category, I would recommend the Mercury re-issue CD of Morton Gould and Samuel Barber works, and also the DG-label of Orpheus Chamber Orchestra playing Prokofiev, Britten and Bizet (an out of print CD- go to orpheus chamber orchestra's website, and then do a search for it on both GEMM.com and at CDConnection.com).
Most recordings have peak-power flickers reaching many times the average levels, and that is one thing most cables screw up (the AM's do not). If those flickers are cleanly sent to the gear, then a preamp which fouls up just puts out "grunge", as it is having problems no matter where the volume control is set. A power amp on the other hand, especially the ones without high negative feedback, will start to "harden up" with just that one last click of the volume control. If it goes away when you turn it down that one click, then YOU WERE CLIPPING THE AMP, briefly.
For that reason, on our speakers we recommend at least 70Watts into 8 Ohms for a well-built tube amp (w/big power supply) and at least 120W/channel (8 Ohms) for solid-state amplifers (the Europa is an "easy" 4 Ohm load).
With that in mind, at average listening levels, you will rarely exceed 35Watts/ch PEAK (8 Ohms) on our products (89dB sens), but when you want to turn it up, you will eat up your headroom pretty quickly- hence the higher-power recommendation if you want to put the hammer down. You hear it because our drivers, unlike most out there, have very little dynamic compression (a function of drivers' thermal capacities, magnetic field focus, cone/dome rigidity, as well as the quality of crossover parts, and the simplicity of crossover circuit, and extreme time coherence).
This is why we recommend Edge and Blue Circle for solid state. And Manley and VAC for tubes- because they do everything correctly, musically. Are they the best? Who knows? But at least they are greatly satisfying, on every recording we have ever played. So you can buy one, forget about it and get on with listening to the tunes. And this would sum up, again, why we also recommend the AM cables, and the Birdland DAC. Because they make music.
And to Pete- I have used the Manley Sting Ray here a lot. I do not think it has QUITE enough power for your style of listening, but it is a gorgeous-sounding amp..
Best to all,
Roy Johnson
Green Mountain Audio
