2. amps-preamps
  3. 156156-123906

Amplifier for Q acoustics concept 500

Hi to all.

I own the title’s speakers. I have paired them with harman kardon hk 990 but I don’t like the combination.

I tried a friend’s cambridge audio cxa80 and the result was much more pleasing, so pleasing that maybe I could live with it.

But I want to do better because I think these speakers deserve better amplification.

My budget is about 2.000 euros for second hand. I was thinking for cambridge audio 851a if its’ a step up from cxa80...since I already liked cxa80.

I could also find Hegel h190 and marantz pm-ki ruby for 2k and I wonder if they worth over Cambridge audio which is very transparent. One think I don’t like about harman kardon is that is has a bit dark presentation even its power is effortless. Pairing with cambridge audio, the speakers had very good bass extension as with hk 990 too, but sounded more airy compared to harman.

If someone owns these speakers and has a suggestion for which amp will suit them best I would appreciate it.

The source is a marantz tt15-s1 and I also use the internal hk 990 dac to listen from Spotify and macbook.

My primary concern is to find a suitable amp and then I can add an external dac and phono if they are not onboard.

Thank you in advance.
itzikia
itzikia OP
11 posts
 
No-one having experience with these speakers?
p3ga
20 posts
 
While I do not currently own the 500’s, I am ’making do’ with it’s smaller brother, the Concept 40 in an apartment setting. Once I find a house, the 500’s are budgeted for.

After auditioning many integrateds, including one of the Azur’s, I chose the Marantz Ruby; while it’s been too long to recollect specific differences, the Ruby is open, very fast, and detailed, well worth a listen before making a final decision. The phono section is suprisingly good.

Your preferences will ultimately dictate which amp is chosen, there’s no bad ones.

Ken I. used the 500’s in many demos with the Marantz Ruby Series. While I did not have the pleasure of attending one of these events, a few associates did and were suitably impressed.

FWIW, I have found a nice synergy between the two with Canare speaker wire & an old Jellyfish powercord. I’ll probably upgrade the cables once settled into a permanent dwelling, or if I get bored in the meantime.

Good luck, hope this is of some help.
itzikia OP
11 posts
 
Thank you for your answer. The fact than Ken Ishiwata have promoted ruby with concept 500 makes me thinking that it must be a good match but I may have different taste. So the personal listening is a must for sure.

I owned marantz pm15s2 in the past and it was too warm for my taste and I sold it. How the newer ruby sounds compared to older marantz reference amps? I think it is class D that many avoid but except from that have you ever heard another marantz gear to compare?

How did you also find azur? The newer cxa80 did a great job with concept in my opinion (open full sound, clear highs without being fatigue) even the speakers deserve much better amplification.


p3ga
20 posts
 
Yes, I compared the Ruby with my brother's Marantz PM 14s1 - there's an appreciable difference between the two. The Marantz leans warm, almost tube-ish, but has great speed & headroom. It's a heck of a chamelon.

The Azur 851 on the Concept 40's was ok; the Marantz in a very different league. Can't speak to the cxa 80.

I'd demo one if at all possible. The combo could be an end game for you; or you may find that the cxa hits all the right buttons, that's great if it does.
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