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Power amps for Dynaudio C2's

I just purchased a pair of Dynaudio C2's. My system currently consists of a VSE-modded (Level 5) Sony 777ES, SAS 10A tube preamp, Empirical Audio-modded Carver ZR1600 power amp, and Ridge Street Audio MSE Gen. II IC's and SC's.

The modded Carver does well in that it has the power to drive the C2's. It also does reasonably well in the highs. It falls short in the mids, with some smearing and grain, as well as the low frequencies, which are not defined anywhere near as well as other SS amps I have heard (CJ Premier 350, Threshold T400) or even as well as the Atma-sphere MA1 Mk. 2.3 OTL's (but I didn't hear these amps on the C2's).

The store where I purchased the C2's from was using Chord electronics. The sound there was quite good. I was curious what others are using to drive these speakers. I am particularly interested in JC-1's, the Edge NL series amps, as well as the Atma-sphere OTL's (although I don't know if they would have enough juice or match well with the 4 ohm load).

I listen to mostly classical, jazz, and female vocals, with an occasional flashback of classic rock. Any and all opinions are welcome. Thanks in advance.

Bill
billspecfoc
7 responses Add your response
bikeman
8 posts
 
I purchased as pair of C2's in February of this year and have been driving them with a McIntosh MC352 amp. I have been thru a several amps including Thule, Conrad Johnson and Jolida and the Mac stands out far above any of the others. The combo with the Dyn's is stunning - clear, grain free highs, rich and well detailed mids and a surprising tight and well defined bottom end (considering the size of the woofers). As mentioned, I have moved thru a lot of equipment in the past few years but I thing (famous last words) that this combo is here to stay.

The MC352 is no longer available, but the MC402 (current version) is the same amp with 50 more watts.
rost
94 posts
 
i've been driving my C4s with jc-1s for about a couple of years now and am quite happy with the combination,only downside was that breaking in the amps took about 1500 hours,but the end result was worth it.have not heard the edge or atma-sphere with dyns.
digsmithd
913 posts
 
i agree keithr,my humble system kicks but,had a friend out from minn,he was very imppressed.just ai3 amp equinox cd,1.3 se,az,shunyata,ect.w-5 or plinius gets my vote!my freind wadia 861,audio research vt-100 3,wil-benesch stand mounts.
keithr
1,306 posts
 
Dyns always have sounded good with SimAudio gear....and is what they demo with at CES
pauley_1958
18 posts
 
Hi:

I just left a thread before this one and meant to say the Krell FPB-200c. I wish you luck on your search and hope you find what makes you happy.
Thanks
again,
Paul
pauley_1958
18 posts
 
I have ran Dynaaudio's and B&W 803's and 802's and have found the best amp i have used in my opinion has been the Symphonics Line amplifier's through Odyssey Audio. I have tried Krell's FSB-200 ,Pass Labs X-250 , BAT's VK-500, and Mark Levinson's 334. I felt out of these limited few amps i listed , the Symphonics was just more musical and sounded the best in lower and top end. They are very good, but also not cheap.
Thanks
Paul
kthomas
911 posts
 
I own the C2's as well, and drive them with the Krell FPB-200c. What I listen to is on the other end of the spectrum from you, however - rock, blues and jazz, with the occassional vocalist, folk, etc. They also do double-duty, as I love HT. I've only had the C2's for a couple months, but I'm extremely satisfied across the frequency spectrum, getting nicely detailed, non-fatiguing sound with a solid bottom-end foundation across a wide range of applications.

The dealer I purchased thru demo'd them with an amp from T+A - I don't remember the model number. Obviously, it was a convincing demo for, as I purchased the speakers.

While the new Dyns are easier to drive than their earlier models (of which I have owned several), I think they still like their juice, and that a solid-state, high-current amp will still service them the best. I've never tried tubes in any setting, so my opinion is basically conjecture, but it still feels like the C2's will take any power you throw at them and ask for more.
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