2. amps-preamps
  3. 1223618418

Which integrated Amp for Vandersteen 2ce Sig2 ?

Am currently using a Marantz PM15S1 to drive these speakers - very bright, airy, detailed BUT thin and once its gets into symphony / orchestra music, its messy. Otherwise, for simple femalevocals and jazz, its beautiful.

Hv auditioned the below

- Ayre 7xe
- BAT vx300
- Marantz PM11S1
- NAD M3
- Luxman L-590u Class A
- Musical Fidelity A5.5
- Musical Fidelity A1

Price increase simply cannot justify the sound improvement....am now looking at the below -

Pass Labs int-150
Gryphon Diablo
Luxman L-590u

Any comments ....
art80342
jaybo
4,478 posts
 
my initial thought is that this is a speaker placement problem. any detail about placement?
bigkidz
3,330 posts
 
Call Audio Connection in Verona New Jersey ask for John.

He is the expert.
raindance
56 posts
 
I have 2CE's (the older version) and have heard the new ones. They are not bright speakers, rather they are a bit on the warm side of the fence. In addition, Marantz gear's "house sound" is warm and usually slightly rolled off at the top to my ear. So you have two warm items added together and are getting thin, cold sound - something doesn't add up. The previous poster suggested speaker placement - these speakers are hard work to place properly - I Can possibly give you some tips.

What is your source?
art80342 OP
65 posts
 
Thank you guys - for all ur response.

I am using a Vintage Marantz CD15 without any DAC.

I am basically v happy with the way my system sounds now except when it starts playing complicated CDs (symphony, orchestra) tats when it gets messy and in my chain, i can only point towards my integrated amp as being the weak link - PM15S1 - while its marvelleous at rendering JAZZ and VOCALS (esp females), its a little short on bass...

Or maybe its just the upgrading bug : ) - come to think abt it, its slightly insane that i hv auditioned so many pieces of amps and yet to decide on 1. PERHAPS and v likely, the JAPANESE sound indeed have grown on me such that all the US amps sound so different ....
art80342 OP
65 posts
 
The amps i had refused are all i hv auditioned b4. The amps i had shortlisted are the ones i had NOT auditioned b4. Seems 'grass is greener on the other side' syndrome is setting in now...

nonetheless, from the many amps that i had auditioned, 2 left the most impression (can say BEST)

- Luxman L-590u - class A
- BAT vx300 - hybrid tube solid state

after all these trials, can finally conclude that Jap vs US integrated amps enjoy 2 different sonic signatures just like TUBE vs SOLID STATES. It may be difficult to switch once u are USED to one....i think the typical laid back Jap sound has caught on me rather than the brute US sound ... and on the notion that i prefer more power, Luxman L509u it shall be... : )
More to discover