ok guys, i received the luxman gear last friday and fired it up right away. My initial impressions:
Luxman 900u preamp & amp: MIND BLOWING. DID I SAY MIND BLOWING? I MEANT F@CKING AMAZING!.
I have yet hear a better midrange from ANY of my amplifiers. That said, let's not forget i did not get to own the pass labs xs preamp so i never really knew how those amps could have sounded with the matching pre. I only used the mark levinson no52 reference.
I am willing to say that THESE ARE THE BEST 150 WATTS i have heard in my life. I did a shoot out yesterday between the luxman combo vs the mark levinson no536s and classe cam600s which i also connected to the luxman preamp and the classe came dead last in this shoot out. It was either not a good match with the preamp or it just simply got outclassed by the rest of the amps.
I had several people come over and we all listened to a couple of songs and i switched between the luxman, classe, and mark levinsons (no pass labs yet) and everyone had the luxman ahead. They all said the same thing: the luxman puts the artist right in the middle of your living room. They also said the luxman sounded "cleaner" and just more of an engaging feeling.
Anyhow, the luxman has officially retired my classe cam600s (will be up for sale soon) and now i am listening to the pass labs, but i want it to be playing for a full 2-3 hours before i do a serious listening session. That said, the little bit of A/B that i did after just one hour of having the pass labs playing, the luxman IS STILL ahead by displaying SPECTACULAR MIDS & HIGHS. Let's wait and see if the pass labs x350.8 closes the gap when i come back in 2 hours and try it again. BIG SHOCKER GUYS! The luxman combo has really hit one out of the park from the get go for me so far. Let's wait and see what transpires when i bring out the levinsons out again today. I need to do a lot of a/b comparisons before i give my final verdict.
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Lol. Thyname , you know a thing or two about the economy for sure...hide your stash right now then fish the market.. if you were planning to buy a car next year , you might want to buy one in the next few months because the interest rate is low and dealers will begin to choke to stay alive which means big opportunities for all of us. Give it another month and we will see serious deals that only those with money in their pocket will be able to capitalize on. Watch .... |
Is that why I haven't received my music ? Lol jk |
hi thezaks,
i told you the Odeon is amazing. It is one incredible amplifier and you can be sure THERE IS NO BETTER MULTI CHANNEL AMPLIFIER out there. NONE.
Anyhow, i have an update for everyone. I received the audio research reference 6 today and have been listening to it for the past 2 hours and my "preliminary" findings are these:
1. I am not impressed by the audio research reference 6/mark levinson no536 combination
2. The audio research has great low end punch and the mids are certainly there, but the highs are not anywhere as detailed as the highs that i obtain from the luxman 900u preamp.
That said, i can begin to form an opinion that is certainly premature and unless things start to somehow "change" in terms of sound over the next few days, i can say that the luxman 900u amp & preamp is OUTSTANDING to say the least. It just sparkles beautifully without any sort of harshness. Maybe i have been "poisoned " by it?
Anyhow, if i had to make a call and decide on something tonight, i would take the luxman pieces ALL DAY LONG over the levinson amp and audio research.
What i will be doing next is to use the audio research with the pass labs 350.8 and luxman amp and see if the reference 6 preamp sounds better with these amps than the luxman preamp does.
I don't like to admit it, but the Japanese hifi gear i have here is shockingly killing the all American competition. The only amp that i can say has put up a fight has been the pass x350.8.
I actually had the wife blindfolded last night and had her listen to all 3 amps, at the same volume, same song and after her first round she said "amp # 3" does not sound good at all. It lacks sparkle and detail and well amp # 3 was the levinson...
i then proceeded to play the luxman and pass labs again in order for her to choose the winner and she said she couldn't because they sound too close that it is hard to tell. I think there is some truth to that because you have to find songs where you can hear the finesse of the Luxman. I personally find the Luxman more organic and it feels as if it separates things a bit better than the pass labs.
Also, one thing to add is that the pass labs amps takes a full day to hit its stride while the luxman begins to sound incredible within one hour of playing. That is certainly something to think about it. If i turn both amps on after being off for a few days, the luxman kills the pass labs. The pass labs closes the gap a day later though. |
Hi there,
Thanks for the note. We are thankful to be doing fine. I hope everyone else is doing fine.
Sorry for the delay but I will be uploading a video tonight. |
4b3 would be closer to a classe 2200. The new bryston units have laid back highs now as opposed to their sst2 series. Great amps with great reliability. If I were building a serious home theater that played movies all day long, bryston would be the amps I choose. They just work like horses and hardly ever break.
As far as music, I think they're good but they're not at the pass labs, krell evolution, bhk level. I find them not as refined but this doesn't mean they're not good. |
@rsf507
You could be right. I just didn't want to have any odin at all so perhaps some of you can go back to my older videos and compare the sound with all Odin or no Odin at all.... |
Lol....@riaa...you're priceless ! |
@grey9hound
No worries. I was only busting your chops. |
Until a powercord can prove its worthiness by taking on the already proven successful powercords , it means nothing. In my eyes and ears , Odin 1 continues to best a lot of new offerings and many manufacturers STILL can't figure out what to do to best it. Now, yes one prefer a powercord over another one because it does something better for them BUT I will say that when I comes to sheer detail, and liveliness NOTHING has bested Odin 1. NOTHING. That said, this isn't a cable for everyone. |
hi guys, i have been listening to everything you can imagine in order to figure out which set up i want to keep:
1. Luxman 900u amp & pre
2. Pass labs amp & Audio research preamp
Both are awesome at what they do and yes they present everything very differently. The pass labs / audio research combo sounds big, with great bass, nice sparkling highs and does not disappoint.
The luxman set up sounds different. It brings more depth from front to back with anything you play. It gives you a sense of the space where the recording took place. It also gives you amazing silkiness with great midrange. Although the soundstage isn't as big as the pass labs / audio research combo, it presents it in an amazing way. I could live happily with either set up.
i also wanted to update everyone about the 536 Mark Levinson monos: I simply did not like them with b&w d3s. I found them too relaxed sounding, too laid back and i was using the audio research reference 6 preamp which has amazing highs, but i just couldn't get into the levinsons. I had different people come by to listen and every time i went from the levinsons to either the pass labs or the luxman, people chose the luxman or pass labs. They all said the same thing which was that it seems as if the levisons lose the sparkle up top.
im not saying they are bad amplifiers, but they just do not fight well against the pass labs or luxman. however, you wouldn't know this unless you had another amp to compare it to right away...
I have the levinsons in 3rd place, luxman and pass labs very close in sound with the edge going to pass labs because of the added horsepower, but not because of anything else.
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My pleasure. I'm also going to do a video on my take on using a dac directly into the amps versus using a preamp. |
Right now, i have a big battle in my hands. The Luxman combo vs the pass labs and audio research combo is by far the hardest decision i have had to make.
The luxman is superb in may ways and one thing i like about the preamp is that the volume increases little by little which allows you to set it exactly where you want it and with the audio research it is harder because it increases/decreases in larger steps. I also like the fact that the luxman has the bass and treble knobs which nowadays are a rarity to find on most preamps. The value i find on these knobs is that sometimes we have speakers that need more oomph and so it is great to be able to add a little more bottom end.
Lastly, the "loudness" feature on the preamp is AMAZING to say the least. I know some of you have the wife that complains that the music is too loud at night and so having to turn it down really sucks because you lose alot of the detail and bottom end. Well, with the loudness feature it actually " resuscitates" the sound at low volumes. You get all the detail and bass at low volumes.
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Nice Guido. I am indeed finding magic with this interconnect. |
Odin 2 is indeed a better cable but the rest of your system needs to be at its level in order to benefit from it. I still believe that Odin 1 is the best cable for the money BUT it has to be carefully matched with other components or you might get some of the "brightness" as some of you call it. That said , once you hear and own it, it is hard as hell to accept anything else other than odin 2. It has nothing to do with its price either because I own cheaper cables, but right now my ears are enjoying cardas clear beyond so much that i am shocked to say the least. I am now seriously thinking of bringing cardas clear audio beyond speaker cables and let the party begin but let's wait on the preamp to see how Odin 1 plays with this new component.
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I have about 280 hrs. It sounds great but my only complaint is that the volume does not increase in small Steps. I wish it increased or decreases on a smaller scale.
It is an outstanding preamp though. I may bring out my classe cam600s and connect them to this preamp.
One thing most people should realize is that I am doing direct a/b comparisons. |
Stay tuned ... Video going up soon. This will be a great topic as well !
Yes, you all know how I feel about luxman in general. I've owned them 4 different times ! |
@dasign
I have the vivaldi dac with the upsampler. It does have multiple output voltages but they all sound the same and I find the highest setting to have the most impact and dynamics. |
well, right now i am working out a deal on a pair of speakers that would be the most expensive speakers i have ever owned. All i will say is that they retail at more than 40k. :) and they are current models that have been out in the market for about 1 year and a half.
This would indeed involve the mark levinson 536s monos so i think they will soon be gone too. I am stepping into unfamiliar territory, but i had to move a few pieces in order to gather the funds. Right now it is not official, but stay tuned... |
Hi Guys,
the Luxman amplifier has officially been sold and it is quite a spectacular amplifier. It is really insane and beyond beautiful.
I still have the preamp, but i suspect it will also be gone soon enough.
Anyhow, i decided to keep the Audio Research ref 6 & pass labs x350.8 combo. This does not mean it is superior than the luxman sound. It is just different sounding. Think of it as what exhaust sound do you prefer, the sound of a ferrari engine or a big block engine?
Both sound amazing, but it is all subjective at this point.
As far as the ml532h vs 4b3, i owned both and again they are quite different. If you are looking for a sledge hammer of an amp that can drive just about anything out there with plenty of control , the bryston fits the bill, but if you are looking for a lot of detail, sparkle at moderate to low volumes then the mark levinson.
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The preamp is here and it has shocked the living crap out of me. It has really done an incredible thing with my music and the overall presentation. On my next video i will reveal what preamp i am talking about. Oh, i had someone from this forum come over to my place tonight to listen to my system and so towards the end of our listening session i decided to bring the focal scala evo back from the dead and placed them right in front of the Sasha DAW and just pushed play... well, the jaw dropping reaction was insane and to make a long story short he said "the focal scala evo are better than the sasha daw to my ears"... and he is a current Wilson Audio owner.. BIG COMPLIMENT to focal for sure, but now i need to sit and listen as well and see if i hear what he is hearing. Stay tuned for a video on the focal scala evo vs wilson audio DAW. Hearts will be broken on this video , but as i have done so far, i want for YOU ALL to decide what you like BEST. I will keep listening for now to both speakers and then give you all my input on both speakers which i currently own. For now, i must say that the scala evo have TOTALLY elevated themselves with the addition of this preamp. TOTALLY UNEXPECTED ! |
hi there,
i had a chance to own a pair of rowland 925s, but i passed on the chance because i had pass labs xs150 monos.
I still would like to try the momentums, but again i have not found a good deal through my multiple connections.
Remember one thing, one of the ways that i am able to stay on top of this game is because of the huge network of dealers that i do business with. I've spent well over 100,000 dollars this year alone so yes i get deals that a lot of you will never see unless of course you are doing the same kind of business i do.
With all that said, right now i am prepared to buy the most expensive speakers i have ever owned and so the pass labs 350.8 and audio research ref 6 will be my 2 pieces for the time being.
As soon as i can get a deal on momentums, they will certainly make their way to me.
I think pass labs is great stuff so i am a little shocked you didnt like the 250.8. however, i suppose we all have different flavors. |
I've said it multiple times here, stop believing everything you read on the magazines. Marketing is a big business that taints the true facts about any particular product. You should only read to inform yourself and not buy thinking that the product will perform in your house exactly as the reviews stated.
I used the Revel Salon 2s as an example because i thought they were really poor sounding in my room. The Dynaudio contour c4s demolished the revel salon 2s in my room. My buddy also hated the revel studio 2s and he also said they had no bass.
Just my .02 cts |
At low listening levels, say around 87 decibels and below, the Luxman is hard to best. Class a amps come really close but in my opinion the heat is too much to handle if you are only going to be listening at low volume. It's like buying a 800 horsepower mustang and only driving it at 30 mph... it's a waste of gas if you can't put the pedal to the metal. Some amps are built to be driven hard in order to hear what they're made of.
That said, I'd still take the Luxman at low volume listening levels. However, I don't recommend only buying the amp and not the preamp. The Luxman amp sounds best with the matching preamp. However, the preamp sounds awesome with any amp.
Pass labs are still the best amps for the money. These amps can put up a fight to any amp regardless of price. I almost feel the need to always have a pass labs amp on hand just because they are an excellent benchmark.
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If you think revel salon 2s are awesome speakers, go listen to the dynaudio c4 platinum and then your perception of what a good speaker sounds like will change. Dynaudio c4 demolished my revel salon 2s and then the Martin Logan renaissance squashed both of them. |
I've owned the sa103. Excellent amp but it does not go well with electrostatics. It is very similar to pass Labs in terms of heat. Very nice highs too. |
First off, WHY. Would you place the speakers in the same spot ? The spot where the Wilson are is the best spot for them. I had a dealer come and spend hours trying to dial them in. That said , why would you think that this is the same spot where the focals sound best ? Your thinking is also quite flawed if you ask me. You cant use the same exact spot for both speakers especially when this spot has already been determined as the best spot for one of the speakers. This doesn’t mean it is the best spot for the focals especially when we already know they are waaaaay different designs. Rear ported and vs down firing port which means they interact with the room different. I find the focals to sound better the closer they are to my listening position after I experimented with them tonight and placing them around the same area where the wilson was. I also tried placing the Wilson where the focals were on the video and the bass vanished from the room but if I place the focals where the Wilson were on the video then the soundstage of the focal isn’t as huge as when I get more out into the room..
To make it simple , if I place the focals where the Wilson are on the video , the sound isn't as open. If I place the Wilson where the focals are on the video the soundstage isn't as tall , wide and deep plus they lose all the bass.
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Ok, On the following video I disclose what was inside that mysterious brown box plus I finally get a chance to let you all hear whether we should be connecting our beloved audio components into a power conditioner or not ? Ready , set , here we go! https://youtu.be/Ztn-fLKfXfY |
I have zero knowledge of those speakers, but if they are so efficient, i recommend a small pass labs amplifier like a pass labs x30.8 for example. It is plenty of power to make those speakers truly sing. |
I have no experience with Ayre, but a local friend of mine has the pass labs 350.8 and ayre mxr twenty and did extensive A/B comparisons in his room and he preferred the pass labs with his rockport speakers. He said pass labs had more low end punch and more soundstage width. Long story short, he sold the ayre monos and kept his pass labs.
I do not really care for ayre to be quite honest. I have not heard it but all the reports i have had from people who i know very well keep saying the same thing to me which is that they are way overpriced like Mark Levinson and they really arent outperforming everyone else like their price tag dictates. |
Ok guys, i have a couple of updates. I now am the proud owner of Sonus Faber IL Cremonese speakers and its insane how amazing this speaker truly is. If you remember correctly, i praised the martin logan rennaissance for being the best speaker i have ever heard until i heard these Sonus Faber.
Having owned the sonus faber amati futura, olympica 3s, olympica 1s, i can honestly say that i was not impressed at all. I thought they sounded thin, lethargic, narrow soundstage and zero bottom end in my room.
I was very nervous and skeptical about these because i had not been impressed before by sonus faber. That said, the minute i played these speakers, i knew it was something special. It is seriously leaps and bounds better than the logans. I want to say that now i am enjoying a massive soundstage that expands from parking lot to parking lot. Beautiful midrange and highs and a very accurate bottom end.
I am currently running mark levinson 536 monos and audio research reference 6 as my front end. This coming weekend i will have my pass labs 350.8 back in my house and will analyze things again.
Lastly, if you read my thread, you would know i have owned the plinius sa103 and sa100mk4 which i really liked. That said, the plinius sa103 sounded really amazing, but lacked bottom end. I have to believe it is the typical class a design and quite frankly that is the only complaint i have about this amp. i tried class a and class ab modes and nothing. The bass remained too gentle for my taste.
Anyhow, i just pulled the trigger on a plinius sb301 mk2 amplifier and i expect it to be a damn good challenge for my x350.8. I think that amp has enough attributes to make it a dog fight. It is said that it has sledge hammer bass and massive dynamics so it will be interesting to see how it does against my x350.8.
Things are going to get interesting again ! |
hi Denon,
keep in mind that the sb301 has 2 different versions. i bought the mk2 version which i heard is significantly better than the original sb301.
Biggest difference between the 250.8 and 350.8 is of course the power reserves which puts you in a better position for the future with the 350.8.
The 350.8 has more bass without a doubt. I would say that if you listen at low volume levels, you are not missing much by staying with the 250.8. If you live in a small apartment, etc i would say save your money and keep the 250.8. However, if you like upgrading constantly like i do and like to occasionally blast music, then you are a candidate for the 350.8. The sound is fairly similar on both, but the 350.8 is always going to have more market and will be easier to sell. It is an amp that you can use for 5 years and then sell it in a day. I have owned 350.5s and they sold in days after i listed them. It is one highly desired amplifier.
As far as the biggest difference between the futuras and cremonese, they sound like 2 different speakers. They sound like they are not even made by the same company. Cremonese is the new sonus faber sound and the futuras is the old, laid back sonus faber sound. Cremonese sounds BIGGER than the martin logan renaissance and remember that those are HUGE panels on those electrostatics which should just tell you the kind of speaker that the cremonese are. I do not like anything from sonus faber other than their top 3 models: cremonese, lillium, aida. These share the best of the best design and technology and every other model just shares the aesthetics but the sound is thinner, lethargic, anemic, etc.
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Yes, the new sonus faber tradition line should be killer to say the least. i am glad sonus faber went away from the whole "laid back" sound. I totally hated that sound and the soundstage was narrow as well without much low end punch.
Most dealers want to make a sale and i get that. They need to make money and i respect that, but i am more of the type that does research and selects my next move very carefully and then report on what my findings are. I don’t make a dime from this thread at all and i don’t get compensation from the brands that i have praised here. As a matter of fact, sometimes i read reviews on certain magazines and i see the associated equipment that was used to present a review i realize that i have better and more reputable gear that i could use to do reviews myself. I would actually love to do that, but i am very blunt and without a filter and so if i receive a piece of equipment that i feel is terrible, i will make sure i say that because i can’t sugar coat things.
I still have pass labs, simaudio and luxman and MAYBE Mark Levinson as the top dogs as far as refinement, finesse, detail, clarity, soundstage and precision. i call this tier group the "ferrari" group.
As far as the "mustang 5.0" tier group, i would have krell, classe, bryston, belcanto, parasound halo, mcintosh. These would be those with plenty of horsepower, with punch, capable to drive anything, but do not necessarily have all the finesse and depth that the "ferrari" tier group has.
The last tier group would be the "bang for the buck". These are amps that are great and do a lot of things really well. They have power, good detail and dynamics and are well rounded, but lack the extra detail, decay, layering and bass accuracy found in the first 2 groups. I would put emotiva, cary audio, ati, theta digital, nad, parasound classic, rotel.
If you are looking for an amp to build a system upon, ALWAYS shoot for an amp that has more than the needed power when possible because this will lay the foundation of your system today and tomorrow. I say this to some of you who contact me asking for advice. Don’t skimp on amplification when possible. That said, just because an amplifier has 300 watts per channel does not mean it is better than one with 150 watts. Not all watts are created equal. REMEMBER THAT.
If you are building a system, your order of priority in terms of what you need to buy and in which order should be as follows:
1. Speakers
2. Preamplifier
3. Source
4. Amplifier
I could see why some of you would have the amplifier as #3 and the source as #4. I realized that sources are a huge part of this game. I learned this with the sonus faber cremonese more than ever before. You can’t purchase a pair of speakers that are 45k dollars and use an oppo 205 as your source or a sonos streamer or a laptop, etc. That is like buying a ferrari and buying cheap engine oil, cheap chinese tires and cheap air freshener. Really?
If you buy a speaker that is up there in terms of value, you also need to look at your front end. You need to evaluate what other components need to go and replaced. Getting better speakers do not fix all your sound problems. The right equipment also needs to be thought out in order to make the entire experience that much more real. Anytime you switch speakers, that is just the beginning of what you are about to embark on. You now need to first identify if your amp can push them (see why i said to buy a quality amp from the get go is important?) and then buy your preamp according to the flavor that you seek. If you are looking for a musical tone then go with a tube preamp, etc, etc. That should be the thought process. |
that is the word on the street, but i can't comment. i am very close to many dealers and certain people in high places. If it is a true statement, things will be really interesting for b&w |
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ALL- i want to thank EACH AND EVERYONE of you for the support you have shown me via pm’s, text messages, phone calls and email. I am very blessed to have such a great amount of people who can support what i have been doing -or better said WE ALL have been doing over the past few years. There is NOTHING that can’t be beat when we all unit which includes this Coronavirus. This thread was deleted yesterday and has been reinstated today BECAUSE of your pleas and courage to speak up. Thank you for this and PLEASE remember that my doors are open to you all if you ever come into my neck of the woods. We have something in common which unites us and although our spouses, significant others may not truly understand at times our OCD behavior towards audio, just know that I DO understand it and live with it in my veins just like it does with you. Please stay safe, and due to the difficult times that we are all facing right now i feel it is very important that i give you some pointers on how to stay protected and safe. Here is a video i created today for you all that i am sure will serve you well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npVqAEpkDNQ |
Ok guys, i had a chance to listen to the Plinius SB301 MK2 versus Pass labs x350.8. My preamp is the audio research reference 6.
here is the final results after quite a few hours of listening to music:
Plinius SB301Mk2: Better and fuller bass. Midrange is bold, big and almost like a tube amp. The highs are more detailed than pass labs, but they do have a tad of graininess with some material.
Pass Labs x350.8: Good bass, good midrange, awesome highs that were a tad laid back with my sonus fabers. They lacked the sparkle that the plinius had. The only advantage that i might see the pass labs have is at VERY LOUD volume levels because the sound is laid back so you don't really get ear fatigue.
To me, this is a shocking exercise. I was looking to try an amp to bring a dog fight to my x350.8 and i expected the pass amp to win, but this wasn't the case. It actually sounded "muffled" and as if my sonus fabers had the treble turned down.
In short, the steal of the century right now is the plinius sb301 mk2.
I loved it so much that i am now going to be hunting a plinius sa reference and will bring an audio research tube amp as well.
I am going to listing the plinius sb301mk2 and pass labs 350.8 for sale. I want to do another shootout between the plinius sa reference and the audio research 150se or gs150 amp.
Again, I'm shocked, but this plinius sb301 has really given me the best price/performance ratio and i will already say that it is superior to the pass labs 250.8 (I've owned it) because my 350.8 is not able to beat it. |
Yes I remember. It's a crazy journey what I've been through and now it looks like im
headed back to tubes. I am actively looking for a pair of plinius sa reference amps but I heard it's being discontinued because the new amp is to be released at the end of the year.
As bad as I want to try a tube amp, the cost of ownership sucks. I mean a replacement tube set for the 150se costs 1300!! That's nuts.
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thanks guys. I can honestly say that this hobby gets quite expensive, but many really great moments and smiles on my face make it all worth it. Right now, i am torn over the rogue audio apollo monos or audio research 150se. I am trying to go into a tube amp, but i am quite nervous. Tube amps are sometimes difficult to sell once you are done with them. |
hi,
yes there is always is compatibility issues when you change out speakers and amps. Right now, i love my SF more than i loved my 15a martin logans. I can already say that pass labs does not sound better than plinius does with my sonus faber. I can vouch for the amazing sound that is heard with martin logans and pass labs.
Right now, i am looking forward to try a tube amp, but i need to make the right choice before i jump the gun. I will most likely purchasing the arc 150se. |
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Hi, and thanks for the feedback about the sb301mk1. I certainly feel that this amp is an amp you must keep on at all times in order to sound best.
I also wanted to share with you all that if you remember above, i loved the simaudio 860a. I found it very amazing with a deep and wide soundstage. Anyhow, i have decided to purchase the 870a simaudio amp which is the top of the line and most expensive ($22k) simaudio stereo amp there is. It is dual mono design (2 transformers) and it is supposed to be like the 860a but on steroids.
I am also working on a deal on a Dan D'agostino momentum stereo amplifier. This could potentially mean 5 amplifiers in my living room and the ability to do true comparison tests. For the record, i do not use any sort of power conditioners. All my amps get plugged into the wall directly.
We shall see what happens, but what i can certainly report on is that my 350.8 disappointed me with my sonus fabers. I actually felt that the mark levinsons 536s did a better job. |
Hi,
i sent you a message in regards to your question.
Ok so I have decided to pass on the audio research tube amplifier. I was about to purchase the gs150 but I just heard it's about to be discontinued due to the poor sales volume. I will wait to snatch one at a very good price and then try it. |
Very nice. I want to hear that combination you have. What sleakers do you own ?
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Never heard them. Curious to know what you paid for the reference 6 and 150se. Send me a message and let me know |
Everyone has their own preferences and reasoning. I can personally say that either one is fine for me with my current electronics. That said, the ref 6se provides a bigger soundstage, s little more smeared but you don’t really notice it unless you have the dac to compare it to. The dac certainly adds more minute details and nuances not easily picked up through the preamp but you gotta be looking for them. For low level listening sessions id choose dac direct all day but once I move that volume knob then I feel as if the Preamp begins to become more and more appealing the louder I go.
If you look at the comments on YouTube , you'll see most prefer the preamp in the mix. |
Interesting. Right now I am getting more votes for the preamp in the mix. Most people are saying that yes there is more detail or information with no preamp but they are concerned with long term listening fatigue. They find that the romantic presentation of the preamp will be more inviting for long term listening. Some say no preamp gives you all the information in the music which is what they prefer but the other group says that there is no point in all this information if it leads to short sessions. |
Hi guys,
i think it’s time I share a few things that some people don’t seem to understand. I’ve learned most of this due to the vast experience I have with power amps. I don’t go by reviews from magazines which don’t really tell you the full story. I go by my experience and me actually owning the equipment. With that said, here we go:
1. Speakers: who said you need to buy amplifiers with the same or less power than what your speakers can handle ? That’s a stupid mistake. What blows up speakers for the most part is DISTORTION NOT EXCESS CLEAN POWER. If you own a speaker that hands 300 watts and you select an amp that has 150 watts per channel or a second amp with 500 watts per channel, chances are higher that the amp with 150 watts is going to damage the speakers faster than if you were to feed the speakers with more clean power than what they can handle. The less powerful amp will clip and begin to introduce distortion way before the other amp is. This distortion is the prime reason why the speaker would begin to kill its drivers. BUYING AMPS WITH MORE POWER THAN WHAT THE SPEAKERS CAN HANDLE IS NOT A BAD THING!!! It’s actually a good thing !
2. Listening at low volume vs high volume:
it has been brought to my attention that some of you listen at low volume levels. Please keep in mind that each amp sounds very different at different output levels. Some amps only hit their stride at moderate volume and others hit their stride at low and moderate levels. You need to figure out with an actual sound decibel meter how loud you listen on average and then take this into account when you select an amp. I’ve owned amps that fell apart at low volumes and only came to life when you put the pedal to the metal. Some amps sound thin at low volume. Some sound good at low volumes. Choose amplification wisely.
3. AMPLIFIERS SOUND BEST WHEN CONNECTED STRAIGHT INTO THE WALL:
yes!!!!!! This is a true fact. Amps seem to open up more when they have full control of the available electricity. I have tested this theory many times and they always sounded best to me when connected into the outlet.
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