2. amps-preamps
  3. 1050866235

Audiomat Arpege Is it really that good ? Help

I have auditionned an Audiomat Arpege at a friends house recently. He let me have it a week or so afterwards. Let me tell you, I had it up to ''here'' with this whole audiophilia thing, never finding the right amplification.
I tried everything from CARY monoblocks to the Krell 300il, to Sonic Frontiers separates. NOTHING sounded finer than this Arpege. I also tried the ''higher end'' Solfege reference. I keep reading that this is an ''unforgiving'' amp. Well it may be, as it came nowhere near as the Arpege as far as overall musicality. Maybe I could never get into a 6550-based tube sound after all. The Arpège uses EL 34 ( Electroharmonix I think) and I just hear more of everything. I own Sonus Faber Grand Pianos, and my room is not ''ideal'' as it has much hardwood flooring. I would like to know of anyone with experiences on the Arpege. Is it my hearing that has gone bad or is this amp really as good as everyone say it is? One member of the Chicago Audiophile Society told me it was the best integrated they had ever listened to, including the more expensive Audiomats. What gives here? Thanks all...
audiopanini

Showing 1 response by tlh28

tlh28
91 posts
 
Hi,

I own a VAC Avatar and just gave a rave review in response to another thread posted above. However, if I were buying another tube integrated, it probably would be an Audiomat. I have heard the Arpegee twice, w/ Reynaud and Equation speakers and it was very impressive. In some ways very different sounding than my VAC, but quite enjoyable. I never had a chance to compare the two in the same system; would love to do so if the Audiomat dealer in town were still in business, but I suspect it is an apples and oranges comparison (different approaches to musical truth). Moreover, the Arpegee is only about half the price of the Avatar. I have also owned another contender, the Aronov integrated. Also a fine amp, but I would probably rate it as third best behind the VAC and Audiomat, unless you prefer a very warm/tuby sound. For reference, I have heard VTL, CJ and ARC integrateds as well as Jolidas, and owned Antique Sound, Golden Tube and Anthem tube amps as well. Of course, only my own personal opinion. Good luck in your search.

TLH
More to discover