Thanks Zd452, yes of course I will try them on my system. Maybe I don't try Spectral due to it needs normally the preamp of the same brand.
I was in the path to buy a MC452 but... in the meantime... I connected a very simple class A amplifier (Audio Exklusiv P1, 35W) and I enjoy the kind of presentation. So my intention to investigate some solid state that can match my preamp. |
Thanks for everyone contribution.
Just to be focused on my genres they are both 50% rock and jazz, not so much classical music.
Now I own a C2500 preamp because my intention was to go with a MC452 amp, and I can't exclude now the C2500 will be an intermediate solution.
@Zd542: I partially agree with you about the possible degrading of SQ using different solutions due to a couple of facts I experimented in these days: the C2500 sound quality is very high compared to some friend's SS preamps and it is (suprisingly for me) neutral, and I'm not a fan of Mc gear.
Second, a good match, in my experience, can be completely unexpected as this little class A ss amp that changed my vision, even with its limits, and convinced to me to try the solid state way without Mc output autoformers (slam, nuances, etc.)
I'm coming from a Vitus RI-100 it was a good integrated amp but not so fast and with a little roll-off on bass area.
@George, sure I will try the DMA 250 even if it not the bes coupling with a non-spectral preamp. Thanks fory your contribution about phase and angle.. yes the SF Elipsa Red needs a lot of (good) power.
@Audiolabyrinth,@Bo1972 I mentioned Boulder because in Italy the same Spectral dealer is also Boulder dealer, I know him very well so it is easier to ask him the equipment for home testing. My only concern about Pass is I don't want another Vitus, and as far as I remember they are very similar in sound presentation, but it is only memory, I need to listen them again ;-)
I will also try to listen some recent Krell stuff like the evo series, but the 402 evo is too big in depth for my shelf (take a look on my system pictures). So the 302 is the only ooption.
Any suggestion will be welcome. After my holidays I will do the auditions in my home, end of August or after September 10th. And of course I will tell you my preference best matching my actual system. |
@Bo1972, you hit the point, and I'm lucky: I will have enough time to test those amplifiers, not only a day, but sure I want to:
- get emotion, the only parameter I personally consider when all other parameters are substantially correct
- be absolutely calm ! :-) very high risk of compulsive buy!
Seriously, an hi-end journalist said that a correct equipment evaluation is made on the first 3 minutes and the next 3 months.
I was asking for suggestion because coupling tube preamp and solid state amp could be very critical but I feel to follow this way, because I hear the potential of this solution.
@Ebm, thanks, an audio reason to do so without any doubt.. will be welcome.. :-) |
@Skootb if you take a look at my system pictures, there is no space to place on it two monos like the XA... I will double check again. |
Thanks George, about input impedance I also see Pass x250.8 has input impedance 50k unbalanced and 100k balanced.
Bouder 850 have 50k balanced and 25k unbalanced, so it seems not working at its best with a tube preamp.
Very intresting.
Now I'm writing do McIntosh asking them the C2500 output impedance: I was not able to find this info elsewhere. |
@George, yes the C2500 output impedance is 250 ohm (I just received the email from macintoshlabs). |
George, any contribution in that sense will be greatly appreciated by me. So please give your suggestions. I'm in the situation where I'm "free" to test almost everything.
Max |
Thanks George, you gave me a lot of material to study for :-)
Max |
@Zd542 definitively yes. BJTs that George suggest are valid and with no doubt they potentially drive the SF at their best. But the sound pressure I can drive these speakers is for a normal listening room (50sqmt in this case) so the power request can be managed also by Bouldes or Pass.
If you know the SF Elipsa Red or Stradivari sound, they have a wonderful bass but it needs a lot of control.
First I was oriented to pure Class-A amplifiers but when I realized that most of them are monos -and I don't have space for two amps- I was looking elsewhere.
From the George list I guess the only amp I can ask for a test is the Ayre.
Sure I will test all initial three. |
@Bo1972 It is not a mistery that Franco Serblin (r.i.p.) tested its own products, in the first instance, with Spectral, his personal setup, and (maybe not confirmed) Krell stuff. |
@all I mentioned Spectral because the personal home Serblin setup was Spectral (and -not confirmed- Krell KSA also), of course the sepakers are tested on a wide range of amplifiers but sure in the first instance, for the old SF production, was Spectral.
Also for me Spectral is not my taste, even with non-classical music: recently I auditioned a Stradivari + DMA260 + 30SS2 with of course Oracle MIT cabling and the result was poor if you consider the expectations from the level of these electronics.
In other words: when I listen a system like this, I expect a jaw-drop :-)
But I want to give Spectral a chance in my personal setup becuase it is easy for me obtain a power amp from the distributor (who is the same in Italy as Boulder). |
@Bo1972: The only MIT I really appreciate are the digital ones (oh, but they don't have any filter !).
For the rest I agree with you, note that MIT and Spectral is often used in Italy because the dealer is the same ;-) But now we are OT... |
@Ari
you are right about Hegel: some weeks ago I considered the H30 because there was one available in a shop very close to my house, and no doubt it is a great amp with the Elipsas.
But... the aesthetics in my living room is not fundamental but important (see my system photos), and IMHO the H30 is impossible to exhibit open air, simply I don't like its design for the big dimensions.
Anyway, next Thursday Sept. 28th I will try the Spectral and the Boulders mono, and maybe something else. I will post an update about the test of these two amps.
Max. |
Hi guys, a short follow-up.
In these days I compared two amps, in the same time, in my setup. Some friends helped me diring listening sessions.
- Boulder 850 monos
- the new Spectral DMA 200 s2
There is a clear winner, no competition: wow, the name is DMA 200 s2.
Let me some days in order to fix the initial feeling.. next week I will post my impressions. Thanks to everybody for suggesting me a way to the right direction, thanks George :-) |
