Best amps for everything EXCEPT bass If your talking mids and highs amp then a solid state Class-A linear amp that has a great extended frequency response say over 100khz -3db, one of my bucket list amps to own would be a mint pair of Mark Levinson ML-2 monoblocks, only 25w Class-A but doubles all the way down to 1ohm. Cheers George |
@georgehifi WADR I would not recommend 25 watt per channel amp or anything under about 125 watts capable for the 85db efficiency Treo CTs. I have the Treo CTs mated to two Vandy subs. so cajun and I are in a similar situation. Although the 225 watts I'm giving the Treos is overkill considering two powered subs., 25 watts I fear will not bring them to life.
@cajunbaseball Congrats. again on the Treo CTs! As I mentioned in another post, I've heard Vandersteens with your Quicksilver models and the sound was glorious. However, I have heard nothing but raves about how Vandersteens and Ayres play well together.
So I don't see a bad outcome for you here. To your credit, you have identified two great options. One safe recommendation. Call Audio Connection in Verona, NJ and talk with John Rutan. He has both brands of amps and is incredibly knowledgeable about all things Vandersteen.
All the best! |
My recommendation for the best mids and highs was for a Class-A amp solid state, of whatever wattage the OP needs.
Not really for him to purchase the ML-2’s, it’s just a bucket list Class-A amp for me, which will drive ANY speaker to a GIVEN level with ease and magic sound for mids and highs, but definitely not a party amp.
Cheers George
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I would look at a Pass First Watt F7 or J2. Purest Class A amps out there. If you cross your Treo's over to the Swarm at 80 Hz, you really don't need much power - 25 to 50 watts will do pretty well.
The Quicksilvers are already pretty good, but if you want to stick with tubes the BAT and ARC amps work really well with Vandersteen's. For that matter so do the BAT solid state amps.
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How about Try a real Preamp in there.
It is even more important than the amps.
I predict you will find its a whole new system.
Trying random amps without a decent preamp will be chasing your tail.
JohnnyR
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Advice from JohnnyR is absolutely wise and rational. Unless it's hyperbole, cajunbaseball has stated the Quicksilver V4 sounds "outstanding". If this is true, why replace it? I believe that the addition of a top tier preamplifier could result in substantial improvement. Again this is under the assumption that the V4 and speaker pairing is truly outstanding. The Ayre amplifier may certainly sound different but not necessarily better than the current V4.
Charles |
As usual, brother John is correct; I need to upgrade my pre. He is the one who told me to get a pre and not use the DAC as a pre. Adding even the cheap Schiit Freya improved the sound dramatically.
Why change? I use my amps for music, TV and movies. A tube change costs between $600 and $1,000. Why decrease the lifespan of tubes on HT? Sooooo,
I see three options: 1) keep the Q4s, get a new pre, change tubes annually or so and shut up; 2) get a relatively cheap SS amp and use it for movies and sports only and keep the Q4s for music only; 3) get an Ayre or other SS amp that can serve both purposes and upgrade the pre.
More comments are welcomed. |
PS - Since I have Treo CT speakers and not Quatros, what about the Ayre Integrated, the AX-5 Twenty???? |
I was just reading about the Ayres integrated. I can't see any reason that wouldn't work well for you!
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ran Vandy 5a and now 7’s with Ayre VX-R ( later upgraded to Twenty)
pretty good sound IMO
you do want an amp with excellent low end chacteristics because the transfer function is preserved with the Vandersteen high input subwoofer system. The Ayre has some grunt as a full range product. Sloppy bass will just get mimiced thru the sub
when i picked my 5a up at Randy at Optimal he was driving them with very modest Quicksilver power.....
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OP sorry just rereading your post
not sure about swarm, maybe you are right and can ignore sub 100 hz performance
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I think you need more power, and lots of it. Why not get a Bryston rather than boutique stuff?
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Separate systems for movies and music. Keep what you have and just get something like a used top line Marantz multichannel AVR and call it the day. |
