What Integrated Amp for Reynaud Offrandes

Thank you Eril. That's a good suggestion. I have spoken with Bob at Amherst Audio, the U.S. distributor for Reynaud He favors Manley and Blue Circle. Manley is coming out with the Manta Ray, an integrated based on the monoblock Snappers. I also have an interest in the hybrid Blue Circle FtTH, especially since the BC phono stage is much more affordable than the Manley Steelhead, when I decide to add it. I love my vinyl, but listen to my tuner and CD player alot more.

I received a response from Jean Claude Reynaud, who indicated that it was difficult to make a specific recomendation, as people's tastes vary. As others have written, he said the speakers do not require alot of power, but will benefit from "some current" if I want to have "a deep low end that's tight." He stated that he did know the Manley Stingray is "a vivid amp that gives alot of joy to the music."

So, it sounds like the field is still pretty wide open. It may be a moot point, as so far, no takers for my Phi 30/30 currently being auctioned. At least now I have some reassurance that this amp is likely to sound just fine with the Offrandes if it doesn't sell. Thanks, everyone, for the advice.

I have had my Offrandes for about 6 years now, so they are a slightly different version than the newest, and according to Bob he thinks the newer versions need more juice.

On my particular Offrandes however, my best found match so far is the Wyetech Labs Onyx monos. These things put out some very powerful 13 watts. I have tried multiple SS amps in my system and owned several PP high powered tube amps and the Onyx smokes them all, with bass in particular.

Another newer addition to my system that has really elevated things way up in refinement is the New Audio Frontiers Absolute preamp. Haven't had a chance to get it side by side with some of the big guns, but so far I haven't heard the others do some of the stuff that the Absolute is doing in my system. By big guns I mean stuff like the ARC Ref3, CJ Act2, Aesthetix Callisto Sig, and the Nagra PL-P.

So since you are looking for an integrated I would highly recommend the NAF 845SE integrated that was listed yesterday.

BTW, smart move to go up to the Offrandes, they are freaking great. I dread the day that my drivers wear out or something, but hopefully that is like 20 years from now. They are definately one of the best monitors made, and most definately "full range" for a monitor. I once had them measured professionally in my old room and they hit 35Hz at 0db, 32Hz at -3db, and 27Hz at -10db.

Soliver:

Thanks for the great input. May I quote you to my wife on the "smart move" part? Just when I was about to get this sorted out, you have to complicate my life with all these SET amp temptations, and the NAF 845 SE looks VERY tempting.

I wonder how much of a difference there truly is with the newer Offrandes. Bob definitely seemed to favor Push Pull design tube amps or hybrids. How big is your listening room? Mine is about 300 SF, although with 2 large openings along one wall. I've had no experience with SET amps, although my PHI 30/30 does fine with the Trentes in there. I thought that SET's were used mainly with single driver speakers, or otherwise high effieciency speakers.

Gary,

I have Offrandes. I have had them running with a Krell fpb 300cx/modwight 9.0 preamp, a pair of Manley snapper mono blocks/modwright, and now a Jeff Rowland Concerto integrated. All different, all good in thier own way.

I bought the Manleys based on Bob neill's info on his website. I loved the fatter bass from the manleys and they certainly are fast and dynamic. I lost some soundstage depth and width I loved with the Krell though.

The krell was rock solid from top to bottom, great dynamics, fast attack and decay. Great soundstage depth and width. The most nuetral of the 3. However the Rowland makes the most beautiful music of the 3.

The Rowland combines the atributes I like the most in the other 2 amps into one great looking, very cool running and easy to operate 250 watt integrated amplifier. It only weighs 35 pounds and doubles output to 500 watts @ 4 ohms which is the impedance of the Offrandes. Bass is very good but not as tight as the krell. It's a little warmer (tubier?) on the bottom like the Manleys which I like. Mids are lush and open. The all important vocals are absolutely stunning. Highs are very detailed but not hyperdetailed. Soundstage width and depth are better than either of the other systems, with very solid placement of insturments and vocals. There is a great feeling of the venue the music was recorded at. The soundstage is behind the speakers completely so you are not in the first row, you are back a little with a sense of space. The speakers completely dissapear on most music. There is great synergy between these two components. Also since my system is in my living room and no TV on the first floor the music is on a lot. The Rowland sounds better from other points in the house besides the sweet spot than my seperates did.

You would have to get a seperate phono stage though.

Just an aside on the Offrandes. I have never looked for speakers since I bought these and I have changed out everything else several times. I love these speakers. I have a Totem lighting sub that I used with a pair of Sttaf speakers. I tried it with the Offrandes and it added nothing but time alignment issues. They are true full range monitors.

I guess I should also add my source components are a tubed Sony/Modwright cdp and a tubed Magna Dynalab 106t tuner with Acoustic Zen speakerwire and interconnects. Power cables are Signal. All plugged into a BPT 3.5 signature power conditioner.

All the best,
Russ