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MBL 101 (~1990) - amp suggestions.

Does anybody have experience with those speakers:
Designation was MBL 101, or MBL 101a/b/c (letters may designate colour).
They have _no_ cone drivers, only three 'Radialstrahler' units, the same size units as in later/current MBL 101 range, but lower crossover points. Subwoofers (MBL 201) were optional, I do not have them.
So far I have tried the following amps:
Pass Aleph 4: almost there, but feels like lacking authority. Also, female vocals seem to suffer (males fare better).
300B SET (glasshouse/hificollective): they make sound, even loud if pushed (circuit allows 300B to go A2), yet the match is poor, orchestra becomes a mess.
Moderate power SS AB amp ("INnovative Audio Ultrapath"): pointless. Sounds flat and gutless, worse than Aleph 4 or SET.
Mark Levinson 23: the best match so far. Controlled and effortless; merciless at times (poorer recordings are exposed for what they are).
-- Do you think I can [substantially] improve over ML 23?

inefficient
kingharold
304 posts
 
I might be jumping to an obvious but wrong conclusion, But I think open baffle subs would be quite compatible with the MBLs.
inefficient OP
40 posts
 
- Just to clarify “would” or “would not” be compatible?
I like spaciousness of MBLs a lot - they just fill the room. However, they excited vertical room mode, Even with that caveat MBL bass is ok.
Then Gradients showed me that bass can be more tuneful - I am currently using Gradient 1.5 Helsinki, cardioid mids and highs with dipole below 200 Hz. There is a bit of placement difficulty (easy to get decent stereo image, but difficult to get optimal bass), but once in position I like the overall sound quite a bit, I just wish I could have more uniform sound in the room - like with MBLs. With clean dipole bass - like Gradient. Gradient 1.5 have one 12” driver per side. Seems barely enough. So I got something bigger (two BMS 18N862-8 per side).
zmocsary
6 posts
 
I have had excellent results with 2  Ayre V-5 XEs in biamped for each speaker; older Rotel RMB 1095 in  bridged mode, also outstanding.
Currently using 4 Parasound JC5 stereo amps in bridged mode, 2 amps per speaker; best I ever heard them sound.  Power reserves are almost unlimited (5000 W continuous) into 4 ohms, much more than MBLs biggest amps and also very cost-effective. My soundstage rivals Carnegie Hall in a midsize 3300 cubic feet room and musical refinement is off the charts.
I would be glad to share more details with other lucky MBL 101E owners. 
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