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Revel Salon 2 Amplification Questions

Currently my Salon 2s are powered by a Plinius SB-301 fed by a Plinius M8 (Ayre C-5xeMP front end).

I have been and remain quite happy with this setup, but upgraditis may be kicking in (I should have followed someone's sage advice to stop reading audio forums for at least two years after assembling my system).

Specifically I am curious to know whether anyone is using these speakers with any of the following SS brands: Symphonic Line, FM Acoustics, Clayton, Gryphon, Karan, MBL or Accuphase (but feel free to weigh in with other suggestions of a like quality). And, if so, what they like/dislike about their gear, both pre and power amps.

I am only interested in SS power amps, but am open to a tubed pre. The Salon 2s are power hogs and while most of my listening is below 90db, every so often I wanna pretend I'm 14 again and crank Houses of the Holy at 110+ db and I don't think tube power amps can get me there.

My tastes run to mostly classic rock (Stones, Grateful Dead, The Who, Elton John etc.) with occasional detours into symphonies or jazz. I prefer strong bass that when played at volume can be felt as well as heard, clear but not bright treble and mids that are rich and not too forward - I guess the audiophile term would be slightly dark.

The system is in a 28'x16' sunroom with a 15' cathedral ceiling and a 9x5x8 bumpout on the left rear. There is lots of glass and I have not treated the room (nor do I intend to as it was built to enjoy the view), so I want to avoid anything that really emphasizes the high end. But I do want fast amplification with the ability to convey both micro and macro dynamics.

The Plinius gear actually does quite well achieving these goals, and unless there's a significant upside with the brands I've mentioned vis-a-vis Salon 2s then I have no real reason to change. But if it can get much better, then let me know.

p59teitel
seattlehifi
70 posts
 
4425 - I'm glad that you mentioned the dac in JRDG's system.

I should have mentioned that our front end for our 532H/Salon 2 set-up is the Berkeley Alpha Dac 2/Alpha USB combo which, in our opinion, mates perfectly to the Revel/ML 532H combo.

If you enjoy the plinius/revel combo then perhaps instead of changing the amplifier you may wish to hear the combo with an improved source?...such as a Berkeley Alpha Dac 2? Honestly, this approach is likely to yield the result you're looking for.

p59teitel OP
312 posts
 
Thanks for the additional replies.

I like Rowland gear but I think it would be more a lateral move from the Plinius stuff than a major upgrade.

I really like the Ayre C-5xeMP player but will eventually add a DAC to handle computer audio, so good to hear that the Berkeley DAC plays nicely with the Salon 2s.

At this point I am considering either standing pat or possibly adding a tubed pre-amp...
huntermusic
76 posts
 
I am using a Krell 402e amp, but the key component that really brings the music to life is the BAT Rex preamp that I am using. The solid state amp with the tube pre is really a most musical combination. the sound is never tiring, and low level listening is just as pleasurable. I am listening to CDs and SACDs thru a Esoteric K-01. There is no question that these speakers which sound gorgeous, need a powerful, controlled amp. The most recent upgrade which was a startling and huge change was to switch to a complete
Harmonic Resolution System for the equipment and separate platform for the amp. Honestly it was an audible change for the better that was larger than most equipment upgrades.
j_fav
26 posts
 
I went with a BMC S1 to power my Salon 2's. Compared to the McCormack DNA-750 monoblocks I had before the BMC is a significant upgrade. The soundstage is much larger and more defined with the BMC, low level details are much better fleshed out, and it's more listenable for long periods than the big McCormacks were. And from what I'm told, the BMC goes to even another level once the BMC DAC is added, and the DIGM link is enabled which bypasses gain stages in the amp. I'd give BMC stuff serious consideration.

FYI, I bought mine from Ryan at Vapor Audio - he's a dealer for BMC.
p59teitel OP
312 posts
 
"the key component that really brings the music to life is the BAT Rex preamp that I am using. The solid state amp with the tube pre is really a most musical combination. the sound is never tiring, and low level listening is just as pleasurable."

After having the benefits of a tubed pre + SS amp combo drummed into me by both my audio gurus in recent conversations - and with additional reinforcement like yours - I've just committed to taking a plunge into the tubed pre-amp waters.

And there may even be some additional experimentation with a pair of highly regarded mono blocks. The unfortunate part is that in-home empiricism with this gear means cash outlay BEFORE knowing the results of the trial, but that's how it goes.

Details to follow...
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