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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
thom_y

Showing 1 response by cousinbillyl

cousinbillyl
190 posts
 
I agree with tfl303, pay special attention to the front end, it is just as important as the rest of the system. You can't go wrong with either of your choices, its like choosing between two exquisitly beautiful woman, whichever one you pick, that will be the best.

Keep in mind, for most alternative pop rock, only XRCD's and SACD's are center seat listenable, most other rock pop alternative is walking around the house / room listenable. It is the recording itself that will disappoint you, not your great system. They may not be alternative, but try Gaucho and Brothers In Arms as a couple of great recordings / pressings. If your system sounds great with these two, than others that disappoint you won't send you looking for a system fix that doesn't exist.

Do you still use analogue?.

I have the EMM Labs combo, and even though I aggree it is the best for now, others like Audio Areo, Wadia, and Audio Note also sounded great IMO.

What front end do you have?.

I know your looking at hybrids, but, if you do not go with the kharma, and If you go with a speaker with an easy load, try listening to the Atma-Sphere line of amps. Make sure they have the upgraded caps resistors and power supplies to compete with the other amps on your list. IMO they have more kick when the music gets rockin'. This only compared to the Tenor 300 with Verity Parsifils in a big room.
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