2. amps-preamps
  3. 1435441061

Another

~

It's time to move up in my system. I'd appreciate some amp recommendations, as I haven't heard too many amps, and have little knowledge of some of the nuances involved in making a decision. Field testing amps is also difficult where I live.

My system is Magnepan 3.7 speakers; (2) Vandersteen 2wq subwoofers; Mojo Audio Mac Mini feeding a PS Audio Directstream DAC, straight to amp. No preamp. (Transparent ICs, Shunyata Triton, Anaconda PCs, DH Labs and Silnote SCs.) The current amp is a very fast and very powerful Class-D switching amp with tons of headroom.

The system is noiseless, clean, precise, detailed, neutral. The soundstage is huge, holographic, and immersive. Live recordings are the bomb. Sometimes it seems a bit sharp or harsh, but that's often the recording or the room. Overall, soft and sensuous, it ain't, but I can hear every note and breath.

I've heard some denigrate a different switching amp -- "I can hear the switching." This from a tube guy. I'd prefer not to get into any Class-X wars.

A local dealer is suggesting I look at Bryston, a classic match for Maggies, I'm sure, but he also suggests that the Bryston can be somewhat two-dimensional. His solution is a Levinson 532H, which he holds as more three-dimensional than Bryston.

Or, he has a demo Acoustic Research Ref150. Somehow, I doubt I'd like to go with tubes, due to the sonics, the expense, and the 'hassle' of dealing with tubes.

All of the prices mentioned are more than I'd like to spend, but I've gotta deal with that part of it.

So, I'd love to hear recommendations.

And... how does one audition amps when they live in an area of so few B&M audio stores?

~
rhanson739

Showing 5 responses by tbg

tbg
5,263 posts
 
Rhanson739, in-home demonstration must be like doctors making housecalls. I am going to recommend the H-Cat amp. You would want the X-10 version, but if you can find one of the older models, for $2000, you have it converted into an X-10.

Only about ten or twenty of us have heard this new version and I know of many of them. All of us are incredulous of what we hear. It has a soundstage that just lays to waste any other amp I've ever heard.

I was fortunate and had kept both their amp and linestage in a secondary system. Now both are coming home to my big system.
tbg
5,263 posts
 
Rhanson739, I am not able to say why, but I have found the amp has more than enough power for my 91 db efficiency Arcadias and 88 db LSA1 Statements. I see that the 20.7s are 86 db. You might want to go to their webpage and ask.
tbg
5,263 posts
 
Guidocorona, they are also 4 ohms, which would suggest no problem.
tbg
5,263 posts
 
Rhanson739, You are making a mistake, but we only learn through our mistakes.
Guido, you were once supposed to coming over to College Station, well you still are and once I get back to Texas if you can hear this H-Cat X-10 line stage and amp.
tbg
5,263 posts
 
Guidocorona, funny, those dinosaurs!

How many are coming with Nick Schultz and for what reason?

I have heard the Rowland at CES.
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