Amen Drjay, All a speaker can do is let you hear what your amp sounds like. I have a pair of Focal Titus 200 little monitors I bought off craigslist for 200 bucks.
They are fully able to let me hear the difference between my 2K Van Alstine and my sons 20K worth of Lamm.Much to his surprise. |
I was warned away from bridging by Richard Schram at Parasound as well. He said to go with the 2250. I've since read that an HCA 2200II is a better amp, though. It certainly specs out better in terms of current,but that doesn't tell me how the high frequencies would sound. I'm not writing off the PSB's, but the goal is to solve my high frequency issues with the Kappas with the right amp so I don't have to spend $3500 + on speakers |
My Thiel 2.4s were a bit on the harsh side with a Hafler 9500, very nice from top to bottom, but losing some detail and transparency with a B&K 2220, wonderful with a Conrad Johnson 2300A and really gorgeous after I had the C-J completely re-caped with polyethelene capacators. A revealing speaker like yours should improve a great deal with an amp upgrade. As an aside, an ATI 1502 was literally unlistenably harsh with these revealing speakers, despite ATIs good reputation. I have learned that the amp matters a lot, given revealing speakers. |
Correction, my amp is a Synergy 450 there is no 550.
In any event, doing a marvelous job right now in hearing all the instruments in Brahm's 3rd, not just the big clump my Oddesy Statos gave me, sweet as it was. |
I responded to your thoughts on bridging, but my post hasn't appeared. |
Ok, thanks.
So it's the ST500 vs Mamps from W4S.
The AVA Synergy 450,
or the Parasound 2250 vs HCA2200II (I'm reading that the HCA is 'better' than the New Classic Line).
I emailed Parasound last night, and the President emailed back with his advice within a couple of hours. Good sign for how they treat customers! Can anyone comment on either the comparisons within brands, or comparisons between the brands? |
The question might be are you going to be replacing the Kappa 7's for the PSB Synchrony or keep the Kappa's with this amp. Because it looks like the Kappa 7's may have some ohm dips at certain frequencies that go down to 2 ohms or so. Using a bridged amp for that is not recommended in most cases.
If you're interested in the A21, they do go on sale. I bought mine from a dealer who shipped it to me for under 2K. And there might be deals on Audiogon used as well. The W4S I'm not as familiar with, but they have lots of power too. You just need a dealer willing to deal. |
I would suggest the new W4S MAMPS. Talk about taming! They make my Paradigm V1 S8's just sing. So smooth and refined. These speakers have never sounded so good. They eliminate all aspects of the forward and brightness of this speaker that the V1 tweeters are known for. The Spatial Quantum cables are the perfect match for these amps. Even listening to internet radio is enjoyable. |
Oh, another question, brought on by looking at the amp options - Should I get a stereo w/225-250wpc, or for example 2 Halo A23's and bridge them to mono? W4S also has the mono options, so any opinions on that? I can't bi-amp the speakers, but I can use one amp per speaker. |
I'll call Parasound, thanks. Sounds like your issues were similar, and solved the way I'm hoping to solve mine...the measure of a man's intelligence is the degree to which he agrees with you? ;)
The AVA Synergy looks good to - listed to be laid back and 'easy on the highs'. Looks like my budget will be $1500-2000. |
Try an AVA Synergy 450 or 550, a 550 did wonders for my Maggies over an Odyssey and you get 30 daysa to decide.
Synergy's are a big step up from older AVA designs IMHO. |
Yes, it's hard to audition and reading online is not the most helpful sometimes. I can't help you with the New Classic vs Halo comparison, but I would suspect that the 2 lines would have similar house sound and if it comes down to it you could call Parasound, their C.service is apparently amazing.
But the W4S ST500 sounds like a pretty good option. BTW, my sibilance issue was only at higher volumes above 80db or so. I'd say you're on the right track, just take your time and do the research. My Halo purchase was a shot in the dark and I got lucky. |
I've looked into Parasounds as well. The hard part is auditions. Surfing the forums, Emotiva is a great value, but likely to be no help with the issue I'm trying to solve. I agree speakers make the greatest difference in sound, but given the amp needs to go anyway, I'm hoping to achieve the goal for a lot less than the cost of speakers. I found a 1200 ST500 here, Halo amps are a lot more for equal power, but I'm willing to go there if necessary. Anyone have direct experience with the two? Halo vs their New Classic line? Also, the objectionable highs issue is a problem only at high volumes. Does that change opinions from those of you who know about how amps work? |
All the components matter. With the same speakers, one amp will sound harsh, and the other smooth. Likewise, change the speakers but leave the amp alone, and you may have different results with different speakers.
Based on my own experience only, the most important parts of the component chain are speakers, then amp, then preamp, then source. Somewhere in there is the room and room treatments, and in my opinion cables make the least amount of difference (if any at all).
In this case, I can't help but think the amp could use an upgrade. |
I had the same issue, my Paradigms had a harsh top end with sibilance on some tracks. A Parasound Halo A21 was a big step up over the Emotiva amp it replaced. No sibilance, nicer mid range and imaging with more accurate bass. |
Thanks. The PSB's sound great, don't get me wrong, but $3500-5500 better?? It would take an in-home trial to really compare, of course, but then again, if that's the only way to tell, then that's too close to be worth that much $$.
Ok, so we have a vote for the ST500....any other experienced ears able to offer suggestions? |
A well chosen amp certainly can tame your highs. As you have already found, your Kappa's are going to be hard to beat. If you like them, then shop amps instead. |
An amp upgrade could certainly tame your top end peakiness. I've had some issues with metal domes tweeters in the past trying to balance detail with harshness. The Wyred4Sound ST-500 has a soft top end, gobs of power with good bottom end slam and control, is detailed, and images well. There are many reviews available for more details. I found it a pleasant amp, dynamic when necessary and yet capable of subtleties as well. It would probably partner up well with the Kappas.
Another option would be cables/plugs to tame the high end (though I would loose the Yamaha regardless). Good luck. |
