2. amps-preamps
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Starting from Scratch -Please Help Pick 1 out of 3

Dear Friends,
Hope that all of you are well, in a moment of transitional evolutional state of mind i sold off my Rogue Cronus Integrated, my Tannoy Stirling Speakers ; well pretty much the spine of the entire system.

I wanted to start over, i listen to a lot of varied stuff ; usually very complex stuff ; i love the weight of solid state gear and the resolution of their baselines and the treble which intermittently sound "filled" ; i also love the midrange liquidity of tubes especially on vocals and the natural timbre of orchestras and drum snares.

So i had gone on a spree to audition some gears, some which couldn't be heard are also included as a part of the system (say, i listened to the power amp but not the pre) i couldn't get to some of these due to various difficulties but generally i've put a package of 4 different set ups - i hope learned pundits here can guide through this to build a good system which i will use for a long time.

I am not the type for frequent upgrades.
Thank you!

The Candidates

Group 1
------
Pre : Rennaisance Preamplifier MKIII by VAC (Valve Amplification Company)
Power : VAC Phi 200 Power Amplifiers (Valve Amplication Company)
Speakers : Harbeth SHL5 [or] Devore Fidelity The Nines (Please Pick)

Just love the look of this system!

Group 2
------
Pre : Modwright LS 100 or Ls36.5
Power : Pass Labs XA 60.5 (Class A 60 wpc) but can take a few months to save
up for Pass Labs XA100.5 (Class A 100 wpc) if it really matters.
but evidence shows otherwise :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXGf3AonFCQ
Speakers : Magnepan 1.7
Which sounds great!

But Will the Modwright (semi-tube) impedance match with the pass'?

Group 3
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Pre : Leben RS28CX Premium Preamplifier
Power : CS-660P Separate Power Amplifier
Speakers : Harbeth SHL5 (or) Devore Fidelity The Nines (or) Devore Fidelity Orang Utan

Group 4
-------
Pre : Modwright LS100
Power : Pass Labs XA30.5 Monoblocks (30 watts Class A)
Speakers : Devore Fidelity Orang Utan

Also Please Feel Free to Mix-Match and Advice.

Music will be fed from my MAC to my DAC and to these.

Thank You!
thegoodarcher

Showing 5 responses by mbovaird

mbovaird
140 posts
 
Go with group one.
mbovaird
140 posts
 
Group 2 with a monkey wrench in your plans.

Swap the preamp for the Classe CP-800 (which has a DAC built in, including USB), and most importantly, it handles bass management like a champ.

Next - add in two JL Audio F110 subs (instead of upgrading from the xa60.5 to the xa100.5...you can always do that later if you so desire, but the xa60.5's I heard have PLENTY of power).

I have owned the Maggie 1.7,s, I currently own the JL Audio F110's and the Classe CP-800....I have heard the Pass xa60.5 and LOVED it....so much so that I am buying the xa160.5's.....so I know of what I speak!

Forget the tube pre...the Pass amps will provide all the warmth and detail you need. The JL Audio F110's will round out the bottom end BEAUTIFULLY on the Maggies and the CP-800 will allow you to control everything - connecting up to two stereo subs, setting the crossover points, allowing you to use its DAC and so much more.

You should be able to negotiate hard on some of the prices. I paid $1400 each for my JL Audio F110's (new), $3400 for my CP-800 (new). Not sure of the cost of the Maggies or Pass xa60.5....but try to get 20-25 points off. Hope this helps.

Lastly, if you find yourself getting heavy into vinyl down the road, you can always add a separate phono stage later. However, digital is definitely the way to go with the setup described. Run a Mac Mini with all your CD's ripped to Apple Lossless, download some high res tracks from HD Tracks, add in a program like Audirvana + with iTunes, connect the Mac Mini USB to the USB on the CP-800, and control everything from your ipad (using Apple Remote). Sit back and soak it the tunes!

NOW you have a setup that will rock!

Mike

P.S. Classe is coming out with a software update for the CP-800 which will give it some additional functionality including AirPlay, etc. This may or may not matter....but just thought I would pass it along. See John Atkinson's review of the CP-800 in Stereophile if you don't believe me! :)
mbovaird
140 posts
 
Let me give you another idea (and just to further confuse you!) - Sonus Faber Anniversarios (there is a good looking pair for sale here on AG). Add in a pair of mint used McIntosh 2301's (call Mike at Audio Classics and mention my name). Add in a McIntosh 2300 Preamp (or C500T if your budget will allow). This would be a glorious sounding system IMO!

Mike
mbovaird
140 posts
 
GoodArcher - you will not get the bass response with the 1.7's. I've owned them. They need subs. Failing that, look at other speakers (some in your list are good) which will give you full range. It sounds like you have some incredible gear already, so why 1.7's?

Other options - based on your music preference, what about a pair of Sonus Faber Stradivari's? There's a mint condition used pair floating around for $24Kish from a guy in North Carolina (I actually know him...he's a good guy). Strads are my current speakers and I think I'm done shopping for speakers. What about a pair of Sonus Faber Futuras?

If your budget can't handle these options, then there are plenty of great speakers like the Triton two's/three's in a much lower price point.

A pair of used Revel Salon 2's is another option (in the $10K range). I've also owned these speakers, and they are incredible for the money. But they require GOBS of power. 750 watts into 4 ohms minimum. They really sing once you get over 1000 watts into 4 ohms (Bryston 28BSST2).

Devore and Harbeth are good speakers too (not my first picks, but good!). Did you get to RMAF this year or did you hear these at a dealer?

Anyway - I'm sure you already have a good idea of what you're looking for.

Mike
mbovaird
140 posts
 
Are you serious? Have you owned these speakers? I have. If you don't own these, then stop spreading misinformation. The Salon 2's demand MASSIVE amounts of power. I had 1.2kws on them, and it was "proper". My previous 600 watt amp was suffocating.
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