Super integrated vs equivalent +$$ for new main system
Just upgraded my main speaker and would like to upgrade the overall setup, room is a 20’’x30’’, listening to variety of music from jazz, vocals, classic, and a bit of pop. Speaker are M30.2XD and a Rel T7i, Streaming only, Qobuz mainly, and might add a tt later on. I have a lfd and qutest laptop in an other room with the P3s, main was a Uniti atom. Tried the lfd IV with the m30, sweet mids but lack on the lower and composure, dont want to go with a ncse as there is no remote and want something simple. From those of you who did these upgrade. Is it better to go for a super integrated, (thinking of 1: Audio Gold Is 1000 deluxe(150w- 2: Naim nova 80w) or going separate + fuss with cable, keeping qutest, going with a Auralic Aries G1 to stream, and choose an integrated amp class AB, ( choice I looked at and listen to 1: Supernait 3 $, 2: Luxman 507ux ii $$) luxman would stretch my budget but would be a keeper, I prefer a limited number of box if that is possible
Gotta love the way Harbeth calls these "easy to drive" even though at 85dB they are virtually impossible to drive. Then someone "on a budget" pays good money only to learn sorry, forget about all the awesome integrated amps, these need a couple hundred watts to sound good. I feel for you.
Integrated is always better in terms of price/performance, but not when you get up into the hundreds of watts like you need. Its a shame having speakers that the strength is finesse, but require an amp that is brute force. Another one went through almost the exact same thing not two months ago. With subs you can find an integrated like Raven with a sub out crossover. This will alleviate the amp having to drive the power hungry bottom end and maybe get you the best of both worlds. Forget what he did or how it worked out. Do a search maybe see how it went?
I read the other tread and no conclusion came from the discussion, hence my post, didn't want to double post. Will look into Raven and will go back to listening at dealer to test different approach. As I've read Hegel 390 590, luxman 507-509ux, what else should be on the Short list? (Looking at budget equal or lower to 507)
OP: Congratulations on the Harbeth 30.2s. I have the P3esr's and absolutely love the way they sound. You did the right thing by adding a sub to address probably the only shortcoming of the 30s.
My recommendation is to go with something that provides class A output, at least for the first 20-30 watts. If Luxman 590AXII is outside your budget, consider auditioning a 550AXII. IMO, it is better than the 507 as long as you keep your listening within reasonable decibels.
My top 5 picks (in no particular order) based on auditioning several amps a few months ago ...
-Pass Labs INT-60 or INT-25 -Luxman 550AXII (or 590AXII if you can stretch your budget) -Hegel 390 -Coda CSIB (I have not heard it, but just bought one to drive the P3er's) -Raven Osprey (lacks the bottom end control compared to other amps on this list, but boy that midrange and three dimensional soundstage is glorious and addictive)
Another amp that was highly recommended to pair with Harbeths is the Belles Aria Signature, but I never got a chance to audition it.
Will definitly try to listen to the Pass Labs, and do a side by side with 507 vs 550s , will definitly look at the 390 but will be harder to audition at home or with M30s, Belles Aria is being added to the short list as well, thaks @
Gotta love the way Harbeth calls these "easy to drive" even though at 85dB they are virtually impossible to drive. Then someone "on a budget" pays good money only to learn sorry, forget about all the awesome integrated amps, these need a couple hundred watts to sound good.
@millercarbon
200w for Harbeth 30.x series speakers to sound good? How on earth do you come up with that? Surely you've never owned a pair.
The M30.2 has a an impedance curve that is nearly identical to the speakers I own, the Shl5+. In my experience, they don't need a ton of watts to sound good. I drive them with a low watt class A integrated and they sound amazing. The only limitation of my setup is that they don't play into the 90dB range with the same clarity. I didn't buy them for this reason and it seems from your post that you didn't either. The Luxman puts out 110W/8ohm and I bet would sound fantastic.
Many thanks for all the replies, will try to listen to everything I possibly can and will go from there but the general idea is integrated class A + B or AB, I've also learn new amp names today as well! Coda, Raven and Aesthetix, Also looked for pass lab but the nearest dealer is located to far from where I live to even consider it, it would be a leap of faith... To be continued
Naim Supernait 3 is inadequate for the M30.2. It may sound good but not great. My experience with Harbeth speakers is they need current / power to sound great. Those who opined that Harbeth sounds great with flea-powered amps may be predominantly listening to mellow stuff or vocals. Play some dynamic music with bass and it will all fall apart.
You need a real good high current amp with the harbeths i would say that a good set of solid state separates would be the best for them considering that my large british monitors love the sound of big solid state they just do not come alive on current starved amps.
OP, please post your listening impressions after you've had a chance to demo the amps on your shortlist. Those same amps are on shortlist of many looking for a good integrated, so all comparative data is helpful.
+1 for Tweak1’s suggestion of the W4S. Recently bought 500 STI v2 from W4S because I could get the black one there. It sounds great with my older Harbeth M30s.
It is really nice but a bit overwhelming with the many answer I got :) now it's amp hunting time, my challenge right now is mainly due to location as I'm in Canada (Montréal) and most of the brand's are limited here, will have to plan a quick trip (when permitted) to audition if I haven't chose something already, Will definitely keep you updated with the listening session and my humble impression of what I hear @mesch @kren0006
A folow up on my choice, tried de 390, lux 507 and 550 and coda csib v1 and added a friend LFD ncse mk2 to the bunch,
507 was to cold, tonally well balanced but no love,.
550 plenty of warmth, loved the class A but lacked power to control the bass,
Coda csib was a tad to warm to my taste but a lovely amp and does power those monitor with easethe
NCSE did win the overall with superb mid and controlling the bass, no remote but was the one I kept home. When I get tired of this amp, will check the bigger brother of Luxman, Hegel and Pass, they were out of range in therm of budget for this time. Thanks for your input, wasn't easy to test all of them home to compare in my setup but was able to do it!
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