Budget Amp for Avalon Eidolon

Awhile back a friend and I compared Spectral vs ARC on the Eidolon (old version, not vision or diamond). No comparison: the Spectral just blew away the ARC. I use strictly solid state gear on my Avalon Radians( which in my opinion is a better speaker than the original Eidolon, particularly if you like chamber music like I do). I use the Spectral DMC 30SL with the DMA 180. mk1 version with the Spectral 2000/3000 DAC and player. Unbelievable separation of the players in a string quartet with unbelievable lack of blur unlike tube amps. Of course this is not a warm unnatural sound like tubes, but a true vibrant, edgy sound, like a good string quartet should sound like. The Emersons' version of the late Schubert quartets with this setup has yet to be equaled, nobody has come close, particularly tubes, just stay away from that syrupy sound with at least non OTL tube amps.

Hi Bill, I did chime in about Atma-Sphere amps with the Eidolons on Eavr11's first thread "down to earth amp for Avalon Eidolon." Thanks for thinking of me.

FWIW, I've listened to Eidolons with a variety of amps in other people's systems over the years. For my listening priorities (and I listen primarily to classical music, jazz and acoustic blues), none of the solid state amps combined with the Eidolons make music that is as involving and as true to the timbre of acoustic instruments as are good tube amps. And none of the tube amps I've heard are as articulate, resolving and neutral (with absolute authority at the lower frequency range of the speaker) as the Atma-Sphere MA-2s. (And, yes, I've heard various Spectral amps matched with these speakers several times, in all Spectral systems and with MIT cable. No offense intended, it's simply not the direction I would chose to go given my listening priorities.)

Of the large tube amps that I think would be a good match, my first preference would be Atma-Sphere MA-2 or MA-1 (no surprise there), followed by Joule Electra, Wolcott and BAT 150SE. All of these are available from time-to-time on the used market at prices that are more "down to earth" but certainly not "budget" category.

Eavr11, you've acquired a marleous speaker with the Eidolon. I hope you will enjoy it!
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I have just given back to the dealer a pair of BAT 150se amps I have had on loan for a week. And although the BATs are competent amps, and do not think they are any special.

You can get an used pair for $8000 here on AgoN.

Rushton

Do I have to use Paul Speltz's Zero autoformers if I'm using Atma Sphere MA-1(OTLs) with Eidolons (3.6Ohm)? Do autoformers deteriorate a quality of sound?

I have heard eidolon with many dif amps this loudspeaker realy needs hiquality powerful amps to sing.We tried Krells ended up with 600watt,Also MF kilowatt this was the best match the audio research 200 watt monos where not near as good as SS. We also tried Aloia 30 WATT and Jadis 80 watt tube monos.They always sounded good but to realy shine they needed the best and lots of power.As allways YMMV