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What amp to match with Spatial Audio M3 Sapphire open back speakers

Fellow audiogoners,
If all goes well, I will shortly be the proud owner of a lightly used pair of Spatial Audio M3 Sapphire open back speakers.
The trouble is that in making this acquisition, I will have expanded most of my intended "hobbies" budget,yet still need to purchase an amplifier that will make the speakers sing.
The rest of my modest setup consists of: Bluesound Node 2i streamer, SMSL SU-8 V2 DAC, ProJect Debut Carbon Esprit TT.
The listening room is our living/dining room (400 sqft), and our music ranges from classical to world, with a good dose of classic rock and jazz of all types. We also like to turn things up from time to time...to dance!
Sound characteristics I appreciate the most are: musicality, definition but not too clinical, wide and open sound stage, tight impactful bass, and most realistic vocals. 

I am thus calling on all Spatial Audio M3 owners and others to request your advice/guidance in helping me select an integrated amplifier at a budget of around $2500.
Thanks very much for your input and experiences, have a nice weekend and please stay safe!jlr261
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Showing 2 responses by yakbob

yakbob
449 posts
 
I owned the M3 turbo s for about a year. My best pairing with that speaker was the Bob Latino ST-70 (tubes4hifi.com). It is a glorious sounding tube amp with more than enough grunt to power the Spatials.

Available with a volume pot, a built unit with KT-66 power tubes is below your budget at around $1400. Add some NOS Mullard drivers/ phase splitter tubes for another 300 and you’re still under budget. Its an amp worth looking into if you have a single source.

yakbob
449 posts
 
The M3 turbo S was/is a fantastic open baffle speaker but required dual sealed subs and sub eq in my room. I was looking to simplify my system and set out in search of a speaker with more bass and tonal weight. I'm still a spatial fan, and was planning on one of the x--series models, but never got to demo them.

The Spatial M3 with its dual concentric design, employing point source directivity led me to the Tannoy Legacy Arden which also uses a dual concentric design.
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