2. amps-preamps
  3. 158310-141574

I am looking for help selecting an amplifier to match my Revel F228Be speakers.

I am looking for help selecting  an amplifier to my Revel F228F speakers (which I love!) and twin REL T/9i subs.

Currently running a NAD M22 V1 or a YBA Integre DT. The NAD is dead silent and has great bottom end but the highs can be bright/screechy/digital at times. The YBA has nice highs but has a somewhat weak bottom-end and is only 50wpc. I tried bi-amping these two amps which takes advantage of the strengths of each. The problem is matching output. The YBA amp volume is almost maxed-out to match the NADs much larger output. This results in an irritating hum from the YBA.

So I plan to sell both amps and buy another. Looking for recommendations. Budget is $7,000, for amp and $2,000 for streamer. I prefer to buy ‘almost new’ components as is seems to me that you get more ‘bang for the buck’.

I mostly listen to streaming music (80%), and CDs (15%) with the balance being vinyl. Taste in music is very wide, Jazz (25%), Acoustic guitar (25%), Blues (15%), Orchestra (10%), Rock (25%)

Current DAC is a Benchmark DAC2 HGC, streamer is a Bluesound Node 2i (which I plan to upgrade).

My acoustically treated music room is 15x20 with sloped ceilings rising to 20 feet at one end.  

At the top of my wish list is a Mark Levinson 585. I like the fact that this amp is integrated and has a built-in DAC.  Thanks in advance for your suggestions.


128x128ericnicky

Showing 3 responses by auxinput

auxinput
2,920 posts
 
Before you jump ship, would you be willing to try out a fuse upgrade on the NAD?  Stock fuses typically sound bright/harsh/sterile.  They could definitely be influencing that screechy characteristic.  I have found that a fuse upgrade almost always fixes this problem.

My favorite has always been Furutech fuse, but they are discontinued.  You could try a Synergistic BLUE or even an Audio Magic Super Fuse  (DO NOT get the beeswax fuses - they push too hard).  Also, do not get Hi-Fi Tuning Supreme.

Just a thought.
auxinput
2,920 posts
 
I heard the Revel F228Be speakers in a couple different systems at RMAF a couple years ago.  I could tell the Revel Be were something special.  One of the systems was driven by the Levinson integrated.  It has absolutely excellent bass, but I just did not like the sound of the Levinson.  Like some other high bias bipolar Class A amplifiers, the Levinson really smooths over the upper mids/highs and presents a non-neutral coloration to the sound.  You really have to listen to Levinson first to see if you are one of the people who like it.
auxinput
2,920 posts
 
Auxinput, also a relatively inexpensive to try with a fuse change. I never heard of a fuse change making a sonic change. Can you help me understand t

stock fuses are usually made with low grade metals (such as nickel or tin).  Also, we have electrical and mechanical resonance that makes its way into the fuse.  The fuse is a small wire that is stretched across two points.  A/C power is applied to the fuse at 60 hz (60 waveforms per second) and will also have it's own noise and resonance. Think of it as a guitar string vibrating in air.  Additionally, the glass case also can resonate mechanically from vribrations.

All this electrical resonance prevents the wire from charging smoothly.  The result is generally a bright and harsh sound, but can also be lack of bass.

Upgraded fuses use much better metal components (copper or copper alloy).  They also have anti-vibration material inside the fuse casing, such as powder or a liquid.  Some use cermic casing instead of glass, which also reduces resonance.

More to discover