Silverline "Sonatina II" vs. Coincident "Victory"



I've essentially narrowed down my speaker choices to these two for my Graaf OTL 20wpc amp. While the "Victory" certainly appears to have better specs (14-ohm, 97-db @ $4500 new) the Sonatina-II are no slouch either (8-ohm, 93-db @ $3900 new). If I had no choice but to purchase them new I'd most likely fork out the extra money and go with the Victory. However at the moment I'm torn between the choices becuase I have a shot at a used pair of Sonatina-II (only one month old) offered at $2200. The other problem is, I can't seem to audition either of these here in NYC (a pervasive problem for most I'm sure) and therefore, I'm solely basing my decision on what I hear at threads such as these. I've already had bad luck once before but that was when I was completely new to OTL amps.

Does anyone here have any direct experience with both of these with OTL amps?

Other factors worth noting: Starting next month, I'll be in a large listing space -- approx 35' X 20' X 10-ft ceilings starting next month. Also, I listen to mostly loungy stuff with some vocals and classical thrown into the mix.

I appreciate any feedback you can offer...

Jewel
by Jewel_hasan
jewel_hasan

Showing 1 response by kalan

Others who've noted the amplifier/speaker matching issue as the key one are pointing you in the right direction. Having tried Atma-Sphere OTL's (both M-60's and MA-1's) with Coincident, Super Eclipses. I could not imagine attempting to power the Silverline Sonatinas with a set 20-watt OTLs. Unless Graaf does something really special with its design (I am not familiar with it), OTLs really do like high impedance, sensitive loads.
Unless you get one of the ZERO box auto-formers (available from Paul Speltz through the ASOG [Atma-Sphere User's Group]) to aid in impedance matching, I don't think you will have much success driving the Silverlines very well.
I had a 16 x 26 room and much preferred the A-S MA-1 MkII's over the M-60 on the Coincident Super E's (92 dB, not-below-10 Ohms). (My current smaller room would favor the M-60's, but that's another story....) If that gives you any idea of the task your Graaf amps will have, I hope it helps.
My only contact with Silverline was completely negative, but it could have been an anomaly and not worth going into. From direct experience with my Coincident Super E's, I can say that they are revealing, nearly full-range, and quite musically engaging. They take a long time to break in and some of my earlier complaints about them turned out to be cabling or room related, not the speakers. If the Victorys are anything like the Super E's but easier to drive and perhaps more intimate, you are in for a treat! Coincident speakers and OTL amps really are a good match.