No impedance mismatch here at all as the specs for your preamp is 1100 ohms balanced; 850 ohms single-ended. This works fine with your 36k input impedance. I do think it is simply two different sounding amplifiers with your speakers. What is the size of the output cap on your preamp? I think they are 1 uf right? You either have two 1 uf caps in parallel or the 6 pak option? So your output cap value if too small can roll of bass. However 2-6uf should be plenty on the output.
I am afraid you are hearing the sound difference of the amp/speaker combo.
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Is that Rowland amp a Class D amp? If it is, that could account for the thinness? Make sure your speakers are in phase, is it possible you reversed one of the wires on one of the speakers? |
@stereo5 The Model 2 is an old school mid-90s Rowland amp. Guessing it's just the different sound of the two amps i used to run the Micro-utopia with a PP EL34 tube amp and it never sounded thin.
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I owned the minis for maybe 6 months back in the day,thin is about what I would call them reguardles what you drive them with .I suggest moving on to another speaker,if Focal is your poison then try the new models,much much better |
Grannyring i have the normal version, so according to what you are saying the caps should be 1 uF. I took a picture of the inside a few days ago, when replacing tubes. https://servimg.com/view/19857002/14Prior to buying the model 2 it I did not think older Jeff Rowlands had a lean sound, and i knew i should avoid lean sounding amps by all means, in order to have good synergy with the Mini Utopias. That is why i was wondering if there was anything wrong with the amp, or just a case of synergy between elements. |
Stereo it is not class D. As Jond pointed out, it is prior to classe D amps.
I am absoluty shure the wires from amp to speakers are "in fase", meaning amp output + to speaker input + and amp out - to speaker -
As said before, the rowland however as pin 3+ on the inputs of the xlr, and the Bat has the more conventional pin 2+ on the ouput. I am waiting to try some neutrik or switchcraft phase inverting adapters in order to correct that, as i dont want to change the wiring on the Nordost Valkyria.
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Mission yes theu can be lean with the wrong amp, but i can assure you they are amazing with the BAt VK60, and with no trace of leaness. Together they sound like a high perfomance 100m sprinter. Speed, muscle and agility. These are the fastest speakers i ever had, and i have had Apogee and Dunlavy prior to these.
With the Model Two, things have shifted to a Marathon type of atlete if you know what i mean. |
The BAT VK60 has an output impedance over 1 ohm (or higher!). So it will act as a tone control when following ANY speaker's impedance curve! OHM's LAW! The Rowland amp has an output impedance BELOW 1 ohm - so it will have a FLAT (neutral) response with ANY speaker! |
The Rowland is, by far, the BETTER amp! Tube amps with their high output impedances act as "tone controls" and are NOT accurate (contrary to what the "golden ears" crowd says!). So burn me at the Stake for heresy! And I am a tube amp owner for 40+ years! |
What you are hearing with the Rowland connected to the Mini's is the REAL sound! And if you don't like it, sell them and get something else! But keep the Rowland (great amp!). |
he BAT VK60 has an output impedance over 1 ohm (or higher!). So it will act as a tone control when following ANY speaker's impedance curve! OHM's LAW! The Rowland amp has an output impedance BELOW 1 ohm - so it will have a FLAT (neutral) response with ANY speaker!
roberjerman, thank you for your comments. It is an interesting perspective. I actually never thought of that. |
I had a pair of Minis for a couple years and couldn't get them to sound good either. At the time I had Classe, Sumo, Mac, & Plinius amps pass through here, but they sounded bright and thin with all of them. I moved on. |
I have finally managed to get things wright. Unsatisfied i kept trying diferent things, and finally got the amp out of the rack to check everything again .
It seems upon installing the Jeff Rowland i unwillingly flliped the toggle down to 600 ohms...
Once it was back to 36k as i thought i had it all the time, things got much closer to what i was expecting. Sound got more dynamic and gained wheight.
It seems that with the higher gain of 32dB the sound is even bolder, but i keep getting back to the 26dB because 32 is excessive, and i can’t turn the volume upwards of 10 o’clock.
I also changed the toe in (less tow in then i had with the vk60) and i am starting to enjoy listening to music again.
Still waiting for the phase inverters from Switchcraft though, and i am inverting the phase on the speakers for a temporary solution.
The Mini Utopias are back in business, eventhough they don’t have that extra wheight that the BAT power seemed to have given them.
Thanks for all your contributions.
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