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Speaker Help for McIntosh Tube Equipment

After nearly 20 years I treated myself this Christmas and made a major change to my home stereo system. My old system was a Bedini Amp/ Pre Amp, Revox CD, Nakamichi Dragon, and Shahinian Obelisk speakers.
The new system is a McIntosh Tube Amp MC2102, Tube Pre Amp C2200, MCD 205 CD changer, and MR85 Tuner. I wasn't considering changing the Shahinian speakers because they have always been wonderful sounding speakers. However after setting up my new system I am now very disappointed with the speakers...they appear so flat. I am hoping that some of you audiophiles can help me get the best out of my new system.
1. Does anyone know what Ohm setting should the Shahinian speakers be set to on the McIntosh amp?
2. Are the Shahinian Obelisk speakers as good a match to Tubes as SS.
3. If anyone has this McIntosh Tube/Pre Amp combo what speakers do you recommend.
My room is 15 x 20 and a fireplace sits between where the two speakers are positioned. I enjoy all types of music with a preference to Jazz, R&B and Rock. I thank you in advance for any assistance.
kgksecurity

Showing 2 responses by bigjoe

bigjoe's avatar
bigjoe
693 posts
 
IMO your speakers are the weak link here,while very nice they are not efficient enough.

my mc2102 sounded great on klipsch horns & drove them to extremes, your gonna need some highly efficient speakers to run with your 2102.

i would look for somthing in a vintage speaker, maybee somthing from tannoy, klipsch or jbl.

from your tastes in music i think a very nice pair of klipsch lascalas would do the trick,your tastes are very close to my musical tastes & the 2102 paired great with khorns,lascalas & khorns are very close in performance.

mike.
bigjoe's avatar
bigjoe
693 posts
 
herman, one thing ive found out is each person has different listening levels,when kgksecurity listed his musical tastes he pointed out music that people tend to listen to at louder levels hence needing more power or more efficient speakers.

i owned the mc2102 that is in question & i just bought the c2200 preamp listed above & i can say from my experience that the amp will not provide the listening levels that he is after for the music he listens to.

is a 100wpc tube amp alot of power? maybee for some little moniters or the likes but he wants to replace the sound he had from a set of full size floor standers hence the need for efficient speakers.

i still recomend a nice klipsch lascala, you get 99% of the performance without having a speaker that is so placement specific,i found my khorns to be elephants,sounded great but you better plan on keepin them in corners for life!
mike.
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