2. amps-preamps
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ProAc budget level S.S. or Digital amp synergy?

Just assembling this system, into which I would like to interject tubes by way of the preamp stage with my foreplay II (Mullards,BugleBoys), yet achieve the drive and articulate bass charecteristics afforded with S.S, on a tight budjet...

Would some kind A'goners make recomendations of likely suspects, knowing the preferances of these speakers and your experiences with their presentation, which might meet my criteria ?

I realize that recomendations are always asking posters to go out on a limb, so to speak, as I have much more experience with headphones and their amplifiers and make recomendation myself over on Head-Fi...

And yes, I have researched and read what little there is on the subject, although without the inclusion of this specific criteria set. On a budjet, with a tube pre and of the S.S. design hopefully to be bought used here!

Room is 20X16X9 hight...

~Garcia/Dylan/Lightfoot/Taylor/Merchant/John/Hynde/Waits/VanMorrison/Knopfler~

TIA for sharing.

Regards,
finthen
rf_gumby
54 posts
 
I'd be a little hesitant to suggest T-amps with your ProAc's, I fear the resulting sonics would get too "zippy".

If you have to though, I second the ARC recommendation.

I realize it may be a few dollars more, but Plinius SS amps sound very good. Maybe wait another 6 months and save up a few hundred more dollars. I don't think you would regret the decision, and good SS like the Plinius hold value pretty darn well. I've seen the older versions quite often go in the range of $1500. I'm not sure how much your budget is though.

Bryston would be another decent choice, but outclassed a
bit by the Plinius.

When I got my first "hi-end" Bryston amp, I had to save for a year to afford the preamp, so the amp just sat under the bed. That was a rough year.

Disclaimer: I don't own any Plinius amps, I've just heard them and feel they're donically up there towards Rowlands but with a easier to digest price tag.
finthen OP
12 posts
 
Rethinking a strategy, due to the feeling I'm getting that class D amps, though having the wattage / spl and low cost advantages, will suffer in terms of sonics vs starting out with say a 60watt Bryston in a near field listening configuration.
Which eventually as budjet allows, can be used in a bi-amp configuration (top), buying something similar but substantial in terms of watts/spl driving the lower end, again, fronted by the Foreplay II pre. Eventually allowing for more liberal placement options...

Feedback would be appreciated~

TIA
finthen OP
12 posts
 
I've decided to begin the journey here by driving these ProAc 2.5s with a Bryston 2B LP @ 60w fronted by the Foreplay II preamp(Mullards/AmprexBugleBoys), lo-fi Sony ce-595 as transport with the Corda Opera as DAC, set-up in a nearfield configuration. As I say, until my budjet allows for a more ideal amplification solution...

Thanks for all the help guys~
cdc
1,685 posts
 
I heard Proac with Jeff Rowland Concentra, Oracle CDP and that was a great match. Later heard the same Proac with Meridian system and the treble got really nasty. It has been well documented that the Response had tweeter troubles that require a laid back amp.
Had the same experience with Monitor Audio / Meridian so I feel pretty sure about the Meridian / Proac combo.
efner
99 posts
 
CDC,
I was curious about your statement that the response tweeter has tweeter troubles and requires laid back amps.
I think they are extremley accurate and require accurate amps. They are revealing but I've heard them sound world class with several amps that I would'nt consider "laid back".Including my ARC 300.2 and Manley Snappers.Both driven by the ARC CD#mk2.
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