My Long List of Amplifiers and My Personal Review of Each!

Really looking forward to your impressions on the new amp.  I thought the Mephisto Solos would be your end game....evidently not.  Very impressive.

Nice interview Jay.  I loved my FPB 300...would love to see Krell competing with the top level amps again.

Two of my favorite dealers work out of their home.

And this year Stereophile's speaker of the year is Magico's A5, while last year's speaker of the year was Magico's M2...starting to see a pattern here.

I agree with pokey77 and zprr....what a great interview.  Emile's first video interview and Jay snagged it.  Whoa.

I say if you buy a very difficult pair of speakers to drive, homework should be done first.  Can't blame amps for that.  I agree that speakers should be the foundation of a system, but if only a few amps are capable of driving your speakers you shouldn't start slamming amps that can't....that one's on you.

@viber6

I'm not sure I understand your question.

"Horns are over 100 dB efficient, so even a 5 watt amp will be enough.  But horns have significant colorations, so what's the point of being able to use any amp, if you find speakers that suit you better."

I was disagreeing with your previous statement.

"But take your favorite speaker, and any amp will produce decent sound from that speaker."

Recently I bought a used amp to replace my Simaudio 870a.  The amp I bought retailed for 10k more than my Sim.  I had heard and read that the brand was a good match for my speakers.  When I received it, it was damaged (cosmetic damage) but I had a week to listen to it before I returned it for a full refund.  During that week I found the sound thin, threadbare and the bass was MIA....I hated it.  It did not sound 'decent'.  Proper care should be taken when matching an amp to a speaker....not just any amp will do.

I have found room/speaker interaction to be my priority when building a good sounding system, followed by speaker/amp synergy.

Yeah, a little confused on that last video.....Which system did I prefer?  or  Which system did I prefer for the money (price performance)?

OK kren, we're waiting....

I have a feeling this new undisclosed product that has been used on the last couple of videos and that Jay is endorsing is really something special.

Jay,
I think it's a great idea to start your own forum to be able to have more control like Mike at SunCoast Audio did.  That way we won't have to continually read the unhappy posters that feel the need to complain and disrupt.

@abizzle55,

I would look for a Classe CA-5200 or 5300.  Either one of those multi channel amps would be great for your front two stereo speakers, center channel and surrounds.  Really good value, one box and they sound fantastic.  Good luck to you.

So sorry to hear about Vladimir Lamm passing.  He was a true pioneer in the field of audio.

@abizzle55,

Classe made some great multi channel amps that can be found on the used market.  I had a CA 5100 and loved it.  However I believe the (new) Delta series consists of a preamp, a stereo amp or mono amps.....no multichannel.

Thanks Jay for bringing in Greg...what a cool guy with a wealth of knowledge.  It was refreshing to hear him speak of print and written articles / reviews and how important he thinks YouTube has become to compliment the writing he does.  Funny to hear him talk about reviewers that have little to no experience giving a product their highest recommendation when they have not heard similar products in the same price range or don't have the equipment to properly evaluate the gear. Same thing you've been preaching for years.   Looking forward to part two.

Yes, I believe we all remember your thoughts on 'certain footers'.....wasn't it around that time that you were banned from WBF?  Hmmm

viber in Jay's room....I'd watch that video.

Roon radio 

rbach and pokey77,

Well said.  Totally agree.

Just want to take a short break to wish Jay a HAPPY BIRTHDAY today.  Getting to know Jay over the years has given me a real inside look at the hard work and dedication he spends on his / our passionate  hobby.  He works tirelessly  around the clock to keep this thread and his YouTube channel going and filled with content that no one else is doing.....not even close.  Keeping up with Jay's journey has been a breath of fresh air for so many people around the world.  It has taken our minds off of all of the problems we each face everyday, while keeping us informed  on cutting edge audio technology.  Thank you my friend.

Hope you can take it easy and enjoy your day with family and friends.

I find it odd that posters would rather complain about how an OP operates his / her thread rather than simply move on.

@zprr 

Well said.  Totally agree.

Haha....so with a tank you get 4 women.  viber needs an eyeglass prescription update.

So good Dave....thanks

"So as far as i am concerned folks, most of us have absolutely no business in this hobby due to our terrible electrical system."

I have a feeling Jay was being sarcastic due to the constant prodding by one poster about his so-called poor electrical system.

@purefacts,

You are out of line here.  I was responding to a poster regarding what was discussed in the last video with Alon Wolf.  You owe me an apology.

@rbach +1

To state that you think Magico is paying for its coverage on these web sites is also saying Jay is being paid for the video tour and interview.  I find that accusatory and rude behavior.

@kren0006

Completely agree 

Just finished Part 1 of the Magico factory tour.  I was under the impression that one of the Magico managers would give the tour, not Alon....very impressive.  So interesting is his philosophy on cabinet construction, driver coupling, materials used etc....I now have a greater understanding of my Magico speakers and the thought process behind designing them.  Also very interesting is Alon's explanation of 'air' and why it's not natural in music.  My previous speakers seemed to exhibit this but not my Magicos.  Thank you Jay for this one of a kind video with one of the top designers in audio today.  Looking forward to part 2.

@viber6,

I believe I understand your desire for clarity, definition and most of all HF extension or 'air' as Alon Wolf described it.  As a violinist seated in your section of the orchestra I believe you are hearing, and are used to extreme HF sound.  Tuning your home system and preferring that boosted section of the frequency spectrum is what you feel sounds best to you.  I believe tuning one's home audio system is very personal and subjective.  I prefer a detailed, smooth tonal balance with no frequency standing out over the other.  I don't think you would be happy with my system and I know I wouldn't be happy with yours....to each his / her own.

I have used EQ for years until I got Magico speakers.  I was friends with a recording engineer who taught me his philosophy on EQ'ing.  He said use EQ sparingly only below 200hz, only attenuate and never boost.  It is my feeling anyone using EQ to boost frequencies in the midrange or treble area is compensating for poor speaker / room interaction or compensating for hearing loss due to age, ear damage or some other deficiency.

Alon said "when you hear 'air' from a loudspeaker it's either EQ'd or you're hearing mechanical noise from the tweeter.  The whole notion of 'air' is an artifact."  His example of testing would be to use Roon's EQ and find a point at around 10-12k hz or so and boost the hell out of it and see if you hear more 'air'....you should, but it's not real, it's artificial.  The better the tweeter, the less of that noise you're hearing.

I will not argue what is right or wrong as far as what is natural or prefered sound or from which row in a concert hall is best for listening or recording.  Like I said before, what makes our hobby so unique is every room, speaker, component etc...sounds different.  It is up to the listener to tune their system to what pleases them....and not what someone else says is right or more accurate.

@viber6

Alon Wolf played violin at age six, then recorder and classical guitar.  He won several scholarships to a conservatory in Israel, and, after coming to the US, continued studies at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.  I'm guessing he has a great deal of listening experience to unamplified music from up close, and also at greater distances.  I believe his speaker designs have changed tonally from his first design to his latest M series designs.  When I first heard Magico several years ago I thought they were analytical and a touch bright.  The M series is so different sounding to me....warm, rich yet very detailed.    

As far as sitting in the front row vs the tenth row of a concert hall, I would never sit in the front row....just like I would never sit in the front row of a movie theater.  I prefer a more balanced sound where I can hear all of the instruments equally.  I can understand and appreciate you preferring the first row.  Sounds to me like the S series is voiced a little more tilted to the top end vs the M series, although I would love to hear the M6's with Jay's current setup and Transparent cables....my guess is they would sound closer to the S7's than they did when Jay had them before....only smoother and more refined.  And as far as someone else at Magico designing the S7, I would bet money that you're wrong about that.

Although an older design I would love to see Jay get a hold of a Q series Magico.

@mschwarz 

Welcome to the thread.
 

I think if Jay were to drop a pair of M6's into his current system it would be a different story.  The Stromtank, Aurender N30, MSB Select2, Boulder 3010 / 3060 and transparent cables are a big part of the overall tonal presentation.  I bet Jay would prefer the M6's over the S7's.  Over the last month, Jay has gone from Transparent SC's to Gryphon Vanta SC's, I'm guessing to tame that slight aggressive (at higher volumes) tonal balance of the S7's.  The M6's would be more refined yet very detailed due to the Boulders, Select2 and Transparent cables....just my opinion.

Charlie Haden 'Magico' released 1979. Qobuz has the hi res version.  Not sure if that was the album Alon was referring to.

Hey Jay,
Just wondering if you have any future plans to bring in some more affordable amps and preamps to see how they sound in your current system?

Well, I'd like to be the first one to congratulate Jay for 13k subscribers to his YouTube channel.  I know it's been a lot of hard work to get there.....hoping the next 13k will be a little easier.  Thanks Jay