2. amps-preamps
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What to put between a Calypso a Mini Utopias?

I have been trying to develop a "short list" of amplifiers to evaluate. My preamp is an Aesthetix Calypso and my speakers are JM Labs Mini Utopias.

There are many glowing reviews about mating an YBA Passion the Mini Utopia, but I'm not looking for an integrated amp solution at this time. I am committed Calypso.

The Mini Utopias are 91.5 dB efficient and JM Labs recommends an amp no higher than 150W. They are only capable of low frequency down to 39Hz. I use a sub to help shore up the bottom end.

Stereophile said “the Calypso will need to be used with a power amplifier offering an input impedance of at least 30k ohms if the bass is not to sound lean.”

In terms of cost, I suppose I would like to come in under $5K, but I wouldn’t hesitate to increase the budget if the sound quality warranted it.

Any experiences or ideas would be greatly appreciated. BTW, solid states, tubes, doesn’t matter to me either way. It's all about the music. Fussing with equipment doesn't bother me if the end justifies the means.

Thanks
buckr

Showing 6 responses by buckr

buckr OP
9 posts
 
Rlew, it certainly does make sense to give very strong consideration to an YBA separate amp given all the strong press on the YBA Passion integrated.

The problem is finding a dealer anywhere in my section of the country. The YBA web site does not have a dealer locater facility. I have invested a lot of time trying to find dealers for this product line and it has not been an easy journey. East of the Mississippi River would be preferable.
buckr OP
9 posts
 
My updated short list:

Solid State: Plinius 102, Rowland 112, Edge G4/G6. (dropped YBA from the list because information and dealers are too sparse for my comfort level).

Tube: Rogue M-150 monos, Conrad Johnson Premier 140 (a bit over the budget, but might be worth it).

Dan_ed, thanks for giving me something else to save up for ;-). The Calypso is an amazing piece of equipment so I can only imagine the Rhea to be cut of the same cloth.

The Calypso just seems to keep getting better and better over the four+ months that I have owned it. It has really begun to blossom. Actually, it is this blossoming that has driven my extreme desire to upgrade the amp. My current amp (an Harmon Kardon Signature 2.0 mult-channel amp that double duties as an HT amp) just seems to be strangling the signal path coming out of the Calypso and throlling down what the Utopia's are capable of reproducing. I am expecting a big improvement here.
buckr OP
9 posts
 
Rlew. Thanks for pointing me the YBA dealer locator. It came up with three YBA dealers between 216 and 255 miles away from me. Not exactly short jaunt, but I understand that travel is just part of the quest ;-). I'll likely wait to see where my next business trip takes me and hopefully find a dealer there.

As a follow-up on the short list, apparently CJ discontinued production of the Premier 140. Off the list it comes.
buckr OP
9 posts
 
Just to complete the story, I ended up purchasing a Simaudio Moon W-5LE and I couldn't he happier. It wasn't on the short list mentioned above, but after borrowing the W-5LE and listening to it in my home for several days, there was no way that puppy was going back to the dealer! It had found a new home. It has a little more power than I need for the Minis but I'll just be careful not to take the volume to '11'. lol

The combination of a true fully balanced tube preamp and a true fully balanced dual mono amp really cooked up some magic and was just the ticket I was looking for. The sound was jaw dropping. I litterally found myself listening to music with my mouth open. Do they make bibs for Audiophiles? If not, they should.

Anyway, thanks to all who contributed input. I may not have purchased any of the specific equipment recommended, but your comments helped shape my decision in many ways.
buckr OP
9 posts
 
Dizzyizzid, No, I never did get to try out the Plinius SA-102 though I would have liked to. I am certain that it would have performed very well. That being said, I have no regrets buying the Simaudio amp.
buckr OP
9 posts
 
Great input on the solid state options.

YBA, Plinius and the Rowland have made it to my solid state short list for sure.

BTW, my sources are an MMF7 turntable (with a Living Voice Carbon Fiber record mat)going through an EAR 834P phone pre for the analog path. The digital path starts with basic cd transport that gets processed by a Monarchy DIP Upsampler then through a Benchmark Media DAC1 then into the Calypso. I listen to everything 'guitar' across every genre imaginable. Speed and accuracy is very important to me, but I am also looking for a full rich sound as well.

I am really starting to believe that having the Calypso as a tube front end and a high quality solid state amp on the back end may be just the ticket I’m looking for.
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