Budget Amp for Avalon Eidolon

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

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,

Hello Whitewind,

I'm sorry to hear that. The BAT 150se mono-block amps are very special to me and I wouldn't trade them for anything I've heard this far.

I've auditioned many of the top well respected amps both tube (hybrid, OTL's) and solid-state in my system and others and IMO the BAT's have more than held their own and in some cases have embarrassed the competiton.

Eavrll, I had run my Eidolons and now my Eidolon Diamonds with the BAT 150se and the 51se pre-amp and IMO it is a great combo that has taken on all competitors and stood up against the test of time bringing musical enjoyment to me on the highest level. At the going used price I think they are a steal!

Good luck in finding what makes you happy.

All the best,
Tom

Eavr11, I believe the Atma-Sphere MA-1 will drive the Eidolons just fine with probably a bit less control and authority in the bass than the MA-2 provides, but I've not heard this combination myself so I'm working second hand here and extrapolating from what I hear with the MA-2s. Ralph tells me his customers using the MA-1 with Eidolons are reporting good things to him. If you're interested in considering this combination, I encourage you to call or email Ralph directly to hear what he has to say. As compared to other amps you might use, what you may not quite have in terms of ultimate bass authority, you will more than offset by the benefits these marvelous Class A Triode OTLs offer in terms of transparency, resolution, speed, timbral accuracy and the superb rendering of harmonic overtones.

Be aware that if you buy a used Atma-Sphere amp, you can have it shipped to the factory for them to check out and upgrade to current factory spec. If they do that, they will extend a "new" warranty to you with the update. As I've commented elsewhere, the update from the MkII.2 to MkII.3 on my MA-2 was a very significant improvement, and I'd encourage anyone with a MkII.2 Atma-Sphere amp to seriously consider making this upgrade.

As to the autoformers, clearly don't use them unless there is a need to change the speaker's impedance. I hear both very positive things from owners who use them, and I hear more neutral comments. From what I've gathered in talking to people who've tried them, I think you have to try them in your system relative to your listening priorities.

Tom (Trcnetmsncom), I agree with your assessment of the BAT 150se monobloacks driving the Eidolons. The sound I heard on your system with the BAT electronics driving your Eidolon Diamonds was very good, indeed. To my ear, the combination presented a very neutral, detailed and dynamic sound, with excellent soundstaging, that is very pleasing for long term listening. I would far prefer this combination to any solid state amp I've heard with the Eidolons, and to quite a number of other tube amps as well.
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