Vienna Acoustics Bach Grand

OMG.........it's your amp. As we say garbage in, garbage out. They need to be run by at 100 watts of high end power....I run a set using the Xindak 6950 integrated at 130 watts of high end bliss and the speakers really respond....no midrange muddiness! this is an old thread but if anyone reads this please take note. I would run the HK with cerwin vegas.....you get the point.

Little late in this thread. But I agree with the amps. I picked up the Bach Grands on an impulse when they were on clearance at the local BB. To get them rolling, I quickly purchased a HK3490 which are going for a steal. It sounded good and for a novice, i should say great. However, since then hunger for power, has taken me from the 3490 to a marantz pm8004 and now a Cambridge Audio 840A. Spectacular improvement in sound quality. Now, i am mulling a primare- about the same price as a 840a but apparently the VA personnel themselves pair the speakers with primare amps.

Branon, I'm curious how the Bach + Marantz PM8004 combination worked for you?

I guess, not so well, since you moved on to the cambridge; still there's not much info out there on how Marantz PM8004 sounds period -- I'd be curious to know.

I also have Bachs with a HK3490 in a small room setup. I find the bass a bit bloated and muddy as has been said.

I'll probably be upgrading to an integrated tube or SS in the $1000 range (new or used) once I save up some funds, so I've been researching for good amp combinations with these speakers. I think i've settled on trying a YBA Integre, Primare i21, Naim Nait5i, or Primaluna Pro1/2 -- I'd go tubes without hesitation if I wasn't living Florida.

I had the CA 840A V2 and although it was a powerhouse it was tricky to pair speakers too. I am now pondering the Marantz PM8004...probably less harsh than the CA, a tad warmer and easier to match

Alexander717
The Marantz was fine and a distinct improvement over the HK3490. The main improvement that i recall was musical instruments really coming into their own.
But there is absolutely no doubt - the bass sounds clearer and better with the cambridge. The only thing i dont like about the cambridge is that it gets hotter than the marantz. The marantz never got beyond lukewarm.
There is not much info on the Marantz PM8004 but check out the whathifi review of PM8003. I believe the marantz product numbering ends with 3's in Europe and 4's in US. Or at least thats what i could infer. Its a beautiful looking receiver too. Indeed, my initial plan was to upgrade to a pair of Marantz separates. However, the Marantz reps were very coy about the 4 ohm capabilities of the MM7025 and i abandoned the idea.
One qualification- The speakers are located in a large room about (19'x18'x9) with openings into a study and a large kitchen. This might be the reason why I have had problems with bass. But i am not an expert on acoustics. Anyways, bass is quite good now.