Considering used Simaudio 340i and not sure whether it has got enough power to drive Treo CT.
Amp recommendation for Vandersteen Treo CT
Hi,
I have a pair of Vandersteen Treo CT speakers and looking for amp that goes with it. My budget is around 3k. I used to power them with Luxman L-509X and it was really good. I really do not want to spend 9k for another AMP and wanted to try a less expensive one. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
Ravi
I have a pair of Vandersteen Treo CT speakers and looking for amp that goes with it. My budget is around 3k. I used to power them with Luxman L-509X and it was really good. I really do not want to spend 9k for another AMP and wanted to try a less expensive one. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
Ravi
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For years, commsysman out in the stereophile forums has been a huge advocate for Vandersteen and Musical Fidelity. He has the Treo's, not the Treo CTs, but has them paired with a Musical Fidelity M6 PRX with an ARC LS26 Preamp and has raved about it. Musical Fidelity has reintroduced that power amp and it is as spectacular as ever and is available as the M6s. At 230w of power, it can handle those speakers well and new is $2699. https://verdantaudio.com/collections/musical-fidelity/products/musical-fidelity-m6s-prx What preamp do you have? |
My apologies for no looking at the Simaudio unit first. I just assumed . Silly of me. The Musical Fidelity M6si is spot on what you are looking for then. Price is exactly $2999, 220w and circuitry that should sound really good with your Treo CTs. https://verdantaudio.com/collections/musical-fidelity/products/musical-fidelity-m6si-integrated-amplifier Although a hair above your budge, you might want to look at the Rogue Pharoah as well. Awesome integrated and if you find one used would be below budget. It is a class D and the tube input stage is there just to tame the brightness a touch. I have the Hydra, which is the 100w power amp. It would also be a good fit, especially if you were to roll in a pair of NOS Cifte tubes. |
@karurravi What happened to your Luxman 509X integrated amp? Why are you getting rid of it? Your Luxman 509X is a very refined integrated amp. Did it break? I would think that your Luxman 509X will be superior sounding to the above integrateds that were suggested or recommended. I don't see a point why you want to get rid of your Luxman 509X and get a cheaper one. Did it not sound good on your Vandy Treo CT speakers? What front end source component(s) do you have? |
@caphill - Without any question, the Luxman L-509X was the best AMP I have ever owned. I also have a pair of PS Audio BHK mono block powering my Dynaudio Confidence C4 in my main listening room. I bought Vandersteen few months ago for my living room. I don't use my living room quite often. So I was not able to justify the money I spent on Luxman. Either I need to find a reasonably priced Integrated Amp for Vandy or I need to sell it and buy KEF LS50 + small amp. |
The Treo’s are really nice speakers, one of the few I would consider replacing my Magnepans with (previously have owned 3A Sigs). As you are looking at integrated amps, and I don’t keep track of them, I won’t make a specific suggestion. That said, I will note the Treo’s are pretty inefficient at 82.5db/w, but an easy load not going below 5.5 ohms and no high phase angles. As such, you should target integrated amps with at least 100 watts per channel (100 watts will get you about 97db before clipping; if you listen at loud levels, more would be necessary). As you already have PS Audio, have you considered the S300 amp? You could combine it with a Schiit Freya S preamp for $2,200 for a very transparent combination that takes up no more room than an integrated and runs cool. |
@mcreyn I really like PS Audio. All my gears in my listening room is all PS audio. BHK mono block, BHK pre-amp, DirectStream DAC and PS audio P10. I wanted try different option for my other room. Luxman was amazing but expensive. I'm seriously considering going back with Luxman L-505uXII. Expensive than my current price range but I'm pretty sure I'll be happy with it. Lot of thinking to do over the weekend. |
Decided to go with Luxman L-505uXII for now. If I don't like it, you will see them in Audiogon in couple of months from now. My long term plan is to go with M-900u for my Dynaudio Confidence Platinum C4 and try the PS audio BHK monoblock for the Vandy's. I wish at some point, I can upgrade my Vandy's to Quatro Wood CT. |
The dealer I bought my Vandersteen suggested Aesthetic Mimas. He had one but then he sold the last one. I looked into Ayre and ARC. I was not able to find Ayre in my budget and found ARC Integrated AMP this week at Audiogon but then I already ordered Luxman L-505UX Mark 2 over the weekend. Just plugged it in this afternoon. Here is my take so far. It is definitely sounds and feels like Luxman. Bass is good but not as much as L-509X. I think it needs to be broken-in. |
Thanks for the reply.Let the Luxman run in and see if the pairing plays music for you. (((The dealer I bought my Vandersteen suggested Aesthetix Mimas.)))(((He had one but then he sold the last one. )))Could it be it was time to start to wait for another one?A great choice with great hang time and why the Aesthetix Mimas disappears so fast most all the time?Sometimes when its time to make a great system we have to wait more time for things in life that are time correct. At least your halfway there in time. Best JohnnyR |