Perhaps I can help. Until very recently, I owned a pair of the new Kharma Midi Exquisites. Also until very recently, I had them paired with the Tenor 300 hybrids. That matchup proved extremely good for most styles of music, but I found that the Kharmas couldn't quite handle rock dynamics as well as I'd like. They did everything else fantastically well, but, dynamically speaking, they never truly convinced me--which, at their cost, and considering that I primarily listen to rock, was pretty disheartening. I wound up trading "down" (cost-wise) to the Von Schweikert VR-9, which, with its 15" powered woofers, should solve the dynamics issue. The Tenors are a great match with rock music--particularly the 300s--but, given my experience with the Kharmas, I'd probably try to steer you into a different line of speaker. Just my opinion, of course.
Tenor or Lamm hybrids for alternative rock ?
Am I barking up the wrong tree ?
I am looking for a new 2 channel system for a dedicated audio room that is 23Lx13Wx9H. My musical tastes are primarily alternative rock and alt-country with artists such as Radiohead, Ryan Adams, Muse, Wilco, Beck, White Stripes, Strokes, U2, Aimee Mann, PJ Harvey, Lucinda Williams, REM, Air, Stereolab etc ... monopolizing my CD player. Importantly, you see many are not "loud", head-banging types and I definitely don't listen to metal !
I have gone from looking at solid state equipment (Simaudio) to a sudden fascintation with hybrids: e.g. Tenor 150 Hps or 300 HP vs. Lamm M1.1, or M1.2, or M2.1 or 2.2. I guess that evolved as on this forum suggested I look at Kharma speakers and then I started reading a lot about these hybrid amps. The trouble is you rarely read about these being used for my tastes in music ... I have yet to had the opportunity to hear either the Tenor or Lamm equipment as there is no local dealer. (I live in an isolated small Canadian city). I am also still waiting to hear the Kharma speakers, as there are no Canadian dealers. I am hoping to get to NJ and MA this summer to get a chance to finally audition these hybrid amps. I was considering pairing these amps with some of the "lower" models of Kharma e.g. either the 2.2 or 3.2F. Yet, some have suggested that these Kharmas will not be appropriate for rock ... the thing is I feel people tend to lump rock, Metallica, and AC/DC together. You can see that I don't listen to that kind of stuff. So my real question is am I completely out to lunch and is this the wrong place to look for my musical interests ? If so, I could save a plane trip or two.
Thanks,
confused
I am looking for a new 2 channel system for a dedicated audio room that is 23Lx13Wx9H. My musical tastes are primarily alternative rock and alt-country with artists such as Radiohead, Ryan Adams, Muse, Wilco, Beck, White Stripes, Strokes, U2, Aimee Mann, PJ Harvey, Lucinda Williams, REM, Air, Stereolab etc ... monopolizing my CD player. Importantly, you see many are not "loud", head-banging types and I definitely don't listen to metal !
I have gone from looking at solid state equipment (Simaudio) to a sudden fascintation with hybrids: e.g. Tenor 150 Hps or 300 HP vs. Lamm M1.1, or M1.2, or M2.1 or 2.2. I guess that evolved as on this forum suggested I look at Kharma speakers and then I started reading a lot about these hybrid amps. The trouble is you rarely read about these being used for my tastes in music ... I have yet to had the opportunity to hear either the Tenor or Lamm equipment as there is no local dealer. (I live in an isolated small Canadian city). I am also still waiting to hear the Kharma speakers, as there are no Canadian dealers. I am hoping to get to NJ and MA this summer to get a chance to finally audition these hybrid amps. I was considering pairing these amps with some of the "lower" models of Kharma e.g. either the 2.2 or 3.2F. Yet, some have suggested that these Kharmas will not be appropriate for rock ... the thing is I feel people tend to lump rock, Metallica, and AC/DC together. You can see that I don't listen to that kind of stuff. So my real question is am I completely out to lunch and is this the wrong place to look for my musical interests ? If so, I could save a plane trip or two.
Thanks,
confused
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