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Difficult Choice

HI,
choosing a HI-FI from scrathc is a difficult exercise.
I'm asking for help.

I might get Lamm2.1 amps or Tenor 75i
i tried the hybrid amp from tenor and was very disappointed
I found it not as full and "real" than the 75i (kind of normal) but it was on the top "messy", lacking precision.
I was using a EMM Labs transport + Dac directly plugged in the amp + Kharma Grand Midi Ceramique
Very disappointing
I have to say that those EMM Labs did not impress me that much and I wonder if it is not better to use a preamp with them.

Kharma exquisite Midi seem to be a good choice even if it lacks some guts with the Tenor
A sub could be a solution but i did not try
I'm wondering if those VR9 Von S. are that much better than the Kharma
I'm interested to know as well what people think of
Sonus Faber Stradivari (do they work with SET)
Dynaudio Temptation (do they work with SET)
Pipedeams model 18
Audio Physics Caldera ?

More over, what preamp to use ?
There is a Audio Note on the offer but does it go well with
Lamm ?
What about the new ARC reference3 ?

Concerning the source, is the DCS suite that good ? I was not that impressed by the EMM Labs.

Thank you
dck
amperidian
67 posts
 
of course I forgot to mention the most important parameter ... the listening room ... what size, any treatments, what speakers sound best in it? .... etc

have fun
gregm
3,405 posts
 
Similarly, & if you are still reading this thread:
*do check out Supravox (driver manufacturers) and arrange to listen to some of their speaker designs.
* Tidal (you mentioned above) are German and use hard ceramic drivers from Thiel & partner -- as do Martens, Avalon, Kharma, and a few others. They make good but very expensive and bulky speakers.
* electronics: don't forget YBA, a french manufacturer of outstanding amplification. BTW an YBA (called "passion") connected to the Stradivari (mentioned above) makes beautiful music.
* Jadis is also exquisite (and expensive).
* very many excellent hobbyists in France would surely give you ideas AND perhaps help you audition stuff before you buy...

Have fun!
dck OP
13 posts
 
Amperidian, Gregm
thank you for those answers.
I've just bought a pair of Lamm ML2.1 so ti reduces the choices of speakers
Now looking for a preamp, probably a L2 Ref by Lamm or a ARC Ref3
Digital : come down to Emm Labs, DCS total package, Zanden Signature2000/5000, Reymio 777 or even Goldmund Eidos 36 Universal
Now the speakers :
Here is what I saw on stereophile :
"The MAXX2s had sounded anemic and blah in the Lamm room at the 2005 Consumer Electronics Show, and they'd overwhelmed the VTL room, where they sounded congested. But in the Audio Research space—wow! If I could get that sound at home, I'd have something. However, I'd been down that road before, with the Aerial 20T—a great speaker with plenty of bottom-end heft that packed an impressive wallop in a large Mirage Hotel suite, but that sounded neutered in my room when driven by the same Musical Fidelity electronics".
What do you people think ?
If I go for horns ? Acapella or avant garde ?
X2, Excalibur are too expensive...
Regards
David
szutinglee
91 posts
 
the highly efficient avantgarde trio should be a better match to your lamm ml2.1 than acapella, although i like acapella more. the jbl k2 s9800 and tannoy westminster royal are also amazing and efficient.
amperidian
67 posts
 
I second szutinglee on his opinion. Acapella sounds amazing but you need higher efficiency (and higher price) Acapellas if you want to use the Lamm's to drive them.

Avantgardes are good too, probably a better match for your Lamm amps.

Wilson defintely not a good match for you amps, Halcro suits those speakers very well IMO.

Have you considered silverlines? ... some of their models boast up too 96db efficiency and could mate well with your amps too.

For preamps, don't overlook the VTL 7.5 ... worthy of an audition at least.

All digital sources you mentioned are top of the line. You left out Burmester CD 001, Audio Aero Prestige and APl 3910 which are below the ones you mentioned but not too far off.
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