pubul57
Responses from pubul57
| Lightspeed Attenuator - Best Preamp Ever? Well, the warm weather has come back to Baltimore, so I took out the Atma-sphere MP3/M60 combo (the best I have heard for the Merlin VSMs) and took out the diminutive Music Reference RM10 MKII (light loaded at 27 watts) and the LSA (so small I had... | |
| The best passive preamp Well, when you find something better than the Lightspeed, let me know:) | |
| The best passive preamp You mean the TVC that became my TVC? | |
| The best passive preamp Has anyone heard the First Sound Passive Preamp and compared with any of the TVCs on the market since the last post here. Quite a while, due to many threads on passives, but this seemed as good a place to ask as any other. | |
| SS for Merlins VSMs? Not sure about that, but call Raplh, I suspect it must not have any sensitivity issues with any standard source, but not sure how the option changes the actual spec. | |
| SS for Merlins VSMs? The M60 needs 2.8v for full power, I think that is the right number. Most digital sources put out 2v max. With the wrong speakers, you might not have enough gain for the M60s to drive the speakers loud enough. My Music Reference goes to full power... | |
| SS for Merlins VSMs? That would like be even better than the LSA, given the absence of an extra IC, and perfect impedance match. Ralph also uses an extremely well design attenuator - wish I had the opportunity ti try that. | |
| SS for Merlins VSMs? Yes, the BAM proceeds the LSA then the RM9. My only concern with the M60 and the LSA is that the amp requires quite a bit of gain ahead of it as it is not very sensitive amp for full power. Doesn't mean it won't work, but it is a caveat. Clio9 cla... | |
| best sounding integrated for under 2500.00 Not sure what you think a lot of wattage is, but regardless of the size room you have, you really need something in the 100 watt range with your speaker,s relatively low sensitivity - I don't think that is a lot of SS watts, you may, not sure. I r... | |
| Merlin Master Bam Alert "and feel no need to spend another 10K for OTL's, which is probably what it would cost to get to a significantly new level."Totally agree. You would need to go the OTL route to really get better, but I do think you could do so for a bit less than ... | |
| best sounding integrated for under 2500.00 Chuck's last recommendation sounds like a very good one indeed. If you can pull of a tube pre/ SS amp combo at the price point it should help bring some tube qualities, while having enough current drive for your speakers. Assuming a good impedance... | |
| SS for Merlins VSMs? The only person I know that has tested an LSA with Atma-sphere (S30) is Clio9. Though I could, I've not bothered making the test since the Atma pre/amp combo works so well I've not been motivated to A/B the two approaches. | |
| best sounding integrated for under 2500.00 Good point. Vik, do you need phono? If so, I'm thinking a MAC 6300 might do the trick if you can get one at the price point. Not sure about Plinius, but I think it does come with phono. Again, I think the SIM integrateds, in the power range, would... | |
| best sounding integrated for under 2500.00 On reputation alone, I think the Plinius is likely to be a good way to go. The Portal Panache is another good candidate, I do think Nelson Pass designed the circuit, and nothing he designs sounds anything but good. Basically any integrated SS with... | |
| best sounding integrated for under 2500.00 No. I have heard tube amps with speakers not appropriate for tubes and then the same amp with speakers that are and the amps always sounded best (and the speakers as well) when properly matched to the speaker. As wonderful as the Cary may be, it r... |