@soix @arafiq - Thank you! I'm very happy with my purchase!
@grislybutter - That's sort of my hesitation with subs. It just sounds like getting a sub dialed in is painstaking and not guaranteed. Just hesitant to take that plunge, but I could be convinced otherwise. I was perusing the Axpona feed on LinkedIn and heard an impressive demo of what appears to be a new company -https://www.lchaudio.com/. What I heard was impressive and sort of seductive.
@perkadin - I'm glad you brought this up. I am able to get the bass going on the Dynaudio HS with my 100 watt tube amp, but I really need to crank it to a level where my wife is guaranteed to ask me to turn the volume down. SUPER BUZZ KILL. But marriage is about compromise, right?
As for lower volume listening, I've spent many evenings transfixed with the Dynaudio HS speakers. The treble frequencies can be sublime. I just felt like I was missing the bottom end. Over time, I realized I wasn't satisfied.
The QLN speakers are, overall, more balanced with my current amp. You lose some upper frequency detail, but I'm ok with that.
What new preamp are you getting?
Feedback QLN Prestige Three Speakers Requested
Forum Members -
While I have another thread asking for general advice on speakers & preamps/power amps, I was hoping to hear feedback specific to the QLN Prestige Three speakers. I am close to purchasing a used pair and would welcome input from folks who own and/or have heard the speaker in-person.
Based on their reviews and sound clips I've found, they appear to be what I'm looking for:
- Laid back, yet immersive sound
- Musical vs. analytical presentation
- Sounds good with tube amplification
- Great base for a smaller floor standing speaker
- On the warmer and smooth side
At the end of the day, I'm looking for a speaker that is warm, laid back and musical. After work, while making dinner, or relaxing in the living room, I'd love the speaker to help create a relaxing and comforting environment in my household.
Musical taste: Classical piano and cello sonatas, acoustic guitar, slowcore/shoegaze rock, bossa nova, electronica/techno and lots of 90's English guitar bands. In brief, I'd like to be able to play lots of different styles of music. I'm finding that's not the case with my existing system, unfortunately.
I'd replace the Dynaudio Heritage that just fall short on base response...
The Current System
- Dynaudio Heritage Special Speakers
- Innuous Zenith Music Server
- Merason DAC1
- Qualiton/Audio Hungary Tube Preamp
- Qualiton/Audio Hungary 100 Watt Power Amp
- Cardas Clear Interconnect and Cardas Cygnus Speaker Cables
- Lessloss Power Cable for Power Amp
**I've got a Linear Tube Audio Microzotl Preamp on the way to replace the Qualiton/Audio Hungary Tube Preamp
My Question for Forum Members:
What are your impressions of the QLN Prestige Three? Based on what I'm looking for, do you recommend the QLN Prestige Three? If not, what else might you recommend that fits what I'm looking for?
THANK YOU!
Hah, I knew it was a lower volume issue! Its exactly the same for me. It's like that fabulous tweeter and midrange frequencies eat up all the available power and the bottom octave falls out, which never happend with my Contour 1.1's and the R8. Probably it's because the 1.1's arent as good at lower levels, everything is diminished in scale including the mids/highs, and they also have a much smaller bass port which helps retain some of the punch. Since the 1.1's are moving to a home office setup, I have a Linn Classik coming that I picked up here on Audiogon. Ironically, the Classik and 1.1 combo is the first higher end system I had ever heard and got me interested in Dynaudio years ago, so it feels like I'm coming full circle in a way. I never forgot that punchy rythmic sound, its quite a pairing. Anyway I'll temporarily use that as a preamp with my old SimAudio W3 and see how that works w the HS. I just can't see myself moving fully away from the R8, there is something magical about tubes and that amp in particular. And I'm probably being overly critical of the bass from the HS, its still there, just not as full as I'd like. If I like it with the W3 I can always find a used Linn pre and then have the R8 side by side with the Sim/Linn stack. Or sell the Sim and go with a beefy integrated since I tend to prefer fewer boxes. Lots of options. As you can tell I'm not into overly analytical systems and prefer smoother, warmer tones along with weighty, punchy bass, but it doesnt need to go particularly low. I'm in a townhouse so subs and big towers are out due to neighbor concerns. The R8 has plenty of punch, but to get there I need volume, and then the highs and mids will be too loud and I'll get complaints. So I kinda know exactly what you mean. |
@perkadin - You know EXACTLY what I’ve been wrestling with! It’s that lower volume listening one does in the evening before retiring for bed. I’ve loved listening to those hypnotic mid-range and treble frequencies, but coming away feeling like something was incomplete. With the tube amp, the HS had a holographic quality that was especially appealing. I’m not quite getting that with the QLN, but I’m still preferring the more balanced delivery. I’m happy to say that I feel all the glowing reviews for the LTA preamp are legitimate. It’s arguably the single best upgrade I think I’ve made. |
@bluethinker66 great to hear it, I told you to ditch the Hungarian :) Looking forward to the photo! |
I don't know if all Hungarians are created equal. I had an Audio Hungary Qualiton a50i ... 50 watts of pure class A and drove many speakers extremely well. I preferred it over Luxman 590AXII, VAC 160 and ARC GSi75 -- I owned all three prior to the Qualiton. That being said, I wasn't impressed with their X200 all that much. But if you're looking for class A tube amplification, the Qualiton a50i is very very good. |
I'm finding the Audio Hungary Qualiton 100 watt tube power amp (not the integrated) is pairing wonderfully with the Linear Tube Audio Microzotl preamp. As an aside, I want to call out the great customer support I've received from Audio Hungary/Qualiton, their USA distributor and the audio dealer I purchased the unit from. I did have an issue at some point and they addressed it and took care of me. Super impressed with their customer support. And really in love with their 100 watt standalone tube power amp. It's a beauty and I can't recommend it highly enough. |
@bluethinker66 sorry for the messages drama, hopefully it didn't confuse you or piss you off. I have a short fuse sometime. |
@grislybutter - All good! I was off Audigon for a few days as I was finalizing a new job offer. I saw the other thread with moderator, happy to share my personal information to send that promised photo! |
thank you @bluethinker66 ! some of us still have to work :) |