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Budget Amp for Avalon Eidolon

I noticed here a few conversations already about Avalon Eidolon and best matching amp. It appeared Eidolon sounds best with CAT and Jadis. But I can't afford to buy Eidolon and recommended amp electronics.

Could you please let me know if you had a good experience with 'down to earth' amps with Avalon Eidolon.

My current system is

Meridian 508.24,ARC LS15 Preamp,ARC VT100 MkII, Proac2.5, interconnect(XLR)\speaker cable - NBS Master III, Svetlana valves.

I was considering
1) change only speakers
2) change ARC VT100 for more powerful Mcintosh (don't know which one yet. I found suggestion to bridge MC275 and get 150W per channel.
3)change ARC VT100 for Electrocompaniet AW120 ( Nice SS amp can produce 200W into 4oms)
4)change VT100 for Gamut D200 MkIII ?
5)change VT100 for Ayre V-1xe ?

What are your suggestions?

Please write only if you had an experience with Avalon Eidolon and 'down to earth amps' (under US$10000)
eavr11

Showing 1 response by gregpen

gregpen
9 posts
 
Three recommendations based upon prior (and expensive) listening experience:

1) Gamut D-200 III -- really great all-around solid state amps. IMHO less solid state sounding than other SS amps I auditioned before.
2) Cary Rocket 88 -- Dude! 50 watts that will beat the gamut in terms of 'fun' sound. Bass actually felt more extended than the Gamut! Insane soundstage and very 'tooby' sound.
3) Rowland Concerto integrated. I sold all my crap and got the Rowland 'cause I was sick of the upgrade bug. Sound is like the Gamut, only more of it. Soundstaging is spot-on. Not tubey like the Rocket 88, but since I have no intervening cables and electronics between the amp and the source, I get more "there" there. My new long-term reference for Avalon speakers.

Cheers,
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