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Amps for Avantgarde

I recently installed a new set of Avantgarde Mezzo speakers. They have two horns for medium and high frequencies and a horn based woofer cabinet with its own 500 Watt amplification.
The speakers look great ( I have them in cherry with burgundy red horns), my wife likes them and the sound is GLORIOUS !
You can see my setup in Avantgarde-acoustic.de web page/gallery
Bass it has all you can take, the limit is your ears an the furniture trying to move around by itself. Even at low levels you get plenty of bass.

From my former setup with Aerial 8B speakers i had a C-46, two MC-501 and a MCD-205, all McIntosh.
With the Avantgardes the MC-501 were showing a watt usage of hardly over 0.5 Watts, at normal listening levels and no more than 5 Watts when really turniung the volume up to hurting levels. The sensitivity of the Mezzo is 107dB.
I thought that maybe I should try the real fine stuff, valves single ended, which have an output power handicap, but in this case with theses speakers not. 5 Watts is probably enough.
A friend of mine who is also audio dealer loaned me a set of Klimo Belataine Mono Valve amps, 5 Watts Class A, single ended, 300B, with automatic bias controll and choice of feedback or no feedback. The Klimos have a separate power supply for each mono amp and those are also valve operated.
He also gave me a Klimo Merlin valve preamp to try.
Ther hearing test produced the following results.
The Merlin with the Beltaines compared to the C-46 with the MC501's sounded more real, more detaild, more lifelike and maybe with a tighter bass. No distortion or noise was heard at any level.
But I did try another combination, and that was hooking up the C-46 to the Klimos
And I got an even better, more detailed and lifelike sound than with the Merlin Valve preamp.

I have never been really interested in valve amplifiers and considered well designed solid state the better.
Well, the Klimo Beltaine power amps are a joy, but the McIntosh C-46 preamp sounds better than the Klimo Merlin, which has had some good reviews, allthough it is not considered a preamp good for rock. Maybe that gives a hint.

Now here is my question, should I stick with the C-46 or can I get something much better, solid state or tube ?
stefanfad8

Showing 6 responses by chadeffect

chadeffect
586 posts
 
Most of the amps mentioned already are great sounding amps. The Avantgarde integrated amp is good too. Very musical.

I am still looking though. I want an amp with depth and clarity without the cloudiness some hear as warmth. The Halcro DM is probably the one I will go back to.

You will laugh but I am using modified Bel canto ref1000 m2 monos. A left over from a previous system. They sound amazing on the Trio although if the recording is rough it will only show you how rough...
chadeffect
586 posts
 
Hi mapman,
I have spent some time with the big Classe 400 watt monos on B&Ws. They sound very good too. For me (others may feel different) they are similar to a lot of other good amps. Maybe a cross between a Pass labs and a Chord amp.

Has anyone tried any of the first watt amps on Avantgarde?

There is a Luxman amp called the B1000f that I think may fit the bill in that it may give the strengths of both SS and Tube. It stays in class A for the 1st 30 watts.

The wonderful thing about Avantgarde speakers is that you can drive them with anything. They show an amplifiers character in stark relief.

For me the amps that changed my view of what an amp can do for a system over the years makes a very short list. Audio research, Lamm, Halcro. If price is factored in then Bel canto makes an audiophile bargin, and the 75% you save could buy a lot of music or better source!

Thats not to say there are not many others, but they seemed the 1st to plough new audiophile ground. Nothing at the time or maybe since has sounded the same to me.

If sticking to tube amps, trying the Atamasphere amps on Avantgardes in depths of winter may work well...
chadeffect
586 posts
 
Hi Mapan,

I had Cl150 monos, VT150 monos,ref 300 monos and many preamps. The 210t is very nice. I have never tried the SS amps though. The VT150s where beautiful. They made music an event. Even if they where not the last word in complete transparency. If I had different speakers I would still keep a pair for the love of music! I tried it on some unos, but it was a little noisy. A little scary on power up too due to a pop when engaged. But when there was signal it was almost livable with.
chadeffect
586 posts
 
Hi knghifi,
how would you describe the F3 sound? I have been wanting to try one on the Trio.
chadeffect
586 posts
 
Knghifi.
I have been looking for something to drive the Trios with for a while.

I dont know if you have read any of my previous posts, but I am very happy with the sound I am getting. While I am using modified BC Ref1000 mk2 which would seem overkill to say the least, they sound fantastic.

The issue I think I am going to have is that I have got used to a very clean, extremely fast and transparent sound. I fear the usual tube amps (as good as some are) may not work for me. Thats why I was hoping one of the the First watt amps may help.

I loved the Lamm, but in comparison it is a little veiled and rounded, though very musical. Similar to the Avantgarde amp in presentation. I have heard the Art px25 on Duos with music first passive pre, and I could tell it still had some softness/roundness in an area where I have amazing detail and poise.

I fear I am going to be a difficult customer as I dont know of a manufacturer that has the sound I believe I am after. I think may last hope is a Halcro Dm38 or something, and a valve pre amp to help between the DCS front end and Halcro amp. It all seems a little expensive for the slight tilt I am after.
chadeffect
586 posts
 
Hi Knghifi,
thanks for the info. I will try to find and listen to a First watt. I would prefer a balanced input which I think narrows the models down. I like a good solid balanced connection, as long as everything else in the chain is balanced.

An interesting read regarding the ASI liveline cables. I stopped bothering with cables some time ago. My AP golden Ovals I like so much, and I felt I could forget all about cabling for good. Is it time to get back on the horse? My other cables are a left over from my old low sensitivity (Apogees) set up and were just the ticket. Incredible bass, dynamics and low noise floor. A nice match for the Trio.

Interesting that you say some people with Stealth cables (I assume indras) are changing for this cable. If thats the case I can only deduce that they must be very good cables or the bankers are still suffering and are down sizing.
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