Amplifier for Sonus Faber Guarneri EVO's


I have a pair in Walnut on their way and I am doing a complete reset of my existing system. Very curious which amplifiers people have had great experience with while paired with the EVOs. I am open to both tube or solid state and would also consider a high quality integrated. My source with be Bryston BDP-1 and BDA-1. I like the option of running balanced, though single ended is fine too.
bavarian05

Showing 8 responses by bavarian05

The Bryston 4 BSST2 is an amp I have owned in the past, though it is not a true balanced amplifier - only has XLR inputs. This irritated me once I found this out after I purchased it. I sold it a few years back. It is very powerful, but not the sound I am looking for. A little too heavy handed for my taste. I may try a new Primaluna Dialogue HP amplifier. It makes 85 watts with KT-120s and a little more with KT-150s. Also considering a Hegel H200. Still weighing options. I am very anxious for the EVOs to arrive. I have Olympica II's currently and have had very positive experiences in the past with monitors in my room. Floor standers seem to be a little bit too large for my relatively small 11' X 15' listening room.
The EVOs should arrive on Friday. I am very anxious for them to arrive.
I purchased a couple of options to try for the time being - a Rega Brio-R integrated (something for background listening that doesn't burn up tubes) and the new Primaluna Dialogue HP integrated with EL34's and also
KT-120's. I am selling my ARC Ref 10 preamp currently and until that moves, I need to conserve audio cash...also ordered the new Audioquest Earth Interconnect (replaced the Colorado) and uses the Teflon Dielectric and also the newer Rocket 88 speaker cable (72v DBS). I will try some tube rolling with some premium NOS 12AU7s too. I love this hobby and love trying new combos. Really looking forward to the new stand mounts, my room is relatively small and seems to appreciate a smaller speaker. :-)
Hi Tboooe,
I have admired your system pics numerous times. I went from a smaller simpler system in the past up to a fairly complicated system recently with larger speakers, many boxes, balanced cabling, etc. and always felt it was a bit too much. Your system is the epitome of what I find to be an attractive simple and clean looking system. This is what I am going after again now. Nicely done! Which room treatments are you using? Which locations and which brand did you go with?
Which cabling have you EVO owners found to be a good match?
I understand that cabling will depend on other components, though most cable brands have a bit of a "house sound" in my experience and wondering what type of cable benefits the EVOs? I am considering the newer Nordost line, either the Heimdall 2 or Frey 2, though open to ideas.
Mine arrived this morning. :-)
It good and bad day...my dealer mistakenly shipped only one of the stands...Boo! Oh well, mistakes happen, were all human and he's a good dude. He is overnighting the other one to me and it will arrive tomorrow.
A little hard to assess the sound when one is on a bar stool and the other it's proper stand. Different heights, different rake angles, etc. they are absolutely stunning in person and much larger than I had anticipated.
The stands are really beautifully done and much nicer in person than they appear in photos. Also bought a Primaluna Dialogue HP with both EL34s and KT-120s and a Rega Brio-R. A new Audioquest interconnect should arrive tomorrow as well. Pretty excited for tomorrow to arrive!
Lots of photos of the new setup up on Audio Aficionado and also Audio Shark right now. I will eventually update my profile system on Audiogon too, but it is a lengthy process by comparison. :-)
Also added a VPI Classic One in black with a DV Karat 17D3 cartridge this afternoon. Pretty excited. My back is killing me from all these huge boxes...!
I love them!
The cabinet construction is worlds better than my previous Olympica IIs.
The rigidity and vibration control is amazing! There is no sense of cabinet sound whatsoever. I'm pretty impressed, though they need some time to break in. They have maybe 15-18 hours on them right now.

I also just updated my system here in the "Opinions Please" section if people care to see some photos...