2. amps-preamps
  3. 157828-114571

Integrated amplifier sound

I read the forum every night to get advice from you all. I am learning so much. I just started using my Music Fidelity A3.2 Dual mono solid state integrated amp(115 W per channel into 8 ohms) with my flagship pair of ADS L1590 Tower speakers. It is not a good match. I have never heard so much beautiful detail and sound but, it sounds like the Music Fidelity  would do better with ribbon speakers like Magnapans or Acustat brand speakers.  My towers are very efficient. 90db. I was using an acurus D-100  with 100 watts per channel and it was great! Very neutral sound but clean and I had slam. I cannot get slam with the music fidelity. When I try to increase volume it is just not the same. I have tried Cambridge audio amps and love the smooth rolled off sound but they lack the power for slam. I see the 851 Azure new has great reviews but it is not integrated. A lot of guys get two and put them in as mono blocks. I cannot afford that right now. I am going to put my Music Fidelity on Audiogon soon and need to find an amp for these towers. I have heard that Rogue Audio Spinx is a good sound and may provide some of what I am looking for. What amps have the power and reserve like the ACURUS has to get me back in the game. I really should have auditioned the Music Fidelity before I bought it. It is not a cheap amp. I am so upset. I will unhook it and use a spare cambridge audio integrated with low power for now. I will be purchasing used in order to stay under 1,500 dollars. Please advise!
128x128arichison
steve59's avatar
steve59
1,669 posts
 
My ADS speakers were bright and needed careful component matching. I'm a little surprised the mf wasn't an upgrade from acurus. I used HK citation with decent results with the ADS L9e speakers I think I also liked the B&K 4420 that you can find used for around $400 nowadays. I only survived 9 months with the ADS as the extreme detail wore me down. I would follow up with Rogue audio next. Good luck
big_greg
6,567 posts
 
The best value I've found in the price category you mentioned is a used Vincent SV-237.  150 WPC @8 ohms and 250 @4 ohms.  The first 10 watts are Class A.  I can't speak to "bass slam" because I'm using it with Harbeth P3ESR speakers and a sub.  Speaking of which... if you want bass slam, why don't you get a sub or two or four?
ljgerens
152 posts
 
The Acurus amps are really underrated. I have two Acurus A200 amps and in my systems, they have outperformed amps coasting 2 to 3 times their price. They were the best amps I have used to drive my KEF 104/2s or KEF Reference Model Ones. They run cool for both speakers and provide more punch or bass slam than other amps that I have tried. The Yamaha A-S801 is a nice integrated for the price, but was no match for the Acurus A200. 
devilboy
1,175 posts
 
@millercarbon ... Hmmm...I respectfully disagree. I had a Raven Nighthawk MKIII over here on my 90db speakers and regarding the "slam" that the OP wants, it fell flat on it's face. It sounded anemic and thin. when I told the manufacturer why I was sending it back, he suggested that I didn't have the subwoofer bypass switch on in the correct position, but I did.

To the OP... My Hegel Rost has "only" 75 watts into 8 ohms but it has tremendous grip and oomph in the low end. Tons of slam, IMO. I'm sure the damping factor of over 2,000 has a lot to do with it. In the end, the Raven was no match n pretty much every regard.

Now, before I get slammed for my comments about the Raven, I have to say that during my research for the Hegel's replacement, I read many glowing reviews of ravens products, specifically the Nighthawk MKIII. It was in one of those reviews that I heard someone replaced a very high wattage solid-state amplifier with the Nighthawk and they were very happy.  The manufacturer said something in a video that it sounds like 100 solid-state Watts. It was comments like these that made me pull the trigger.

In my system, on my speakers, to my ears the Hegel out performed the Nighthawk tremendously. I don't mean Justin slam and bass and grip and oomph, etc. No, in pretty much every other regard, (detail, midrange, soundstage, low noise floor, etc), I preferred the Hegel.

I purchased mine brand new from a dealer for less than half its retail, so the deals are out there.
devilboy
1,175 posts
 
Needless to say, I'm keeping the Hegel. I must have been crazy to consider selling it.
More to discover