Amp advice for Sound Lab M-2's


Looking for opinions for a amp to use with my Sound Lab M-2 speakers. I am down to considering the Bryston 7b – SST, Parasound JC – 1, and the new Sanders Sound ESL amp. The former owner of the M-2’s used a Pass X-350, but I found that it sounded dry, and very thin. No warmth at all. Lots of older Krells out there, great bottom ends, but again often very cool sounding. I’m not that familiar with the Levinson’s, another option, maybe. The Sound Labs do need a good honest 300 watts > 8 ohms, and 600 watts > 4 ohms. Most amps don’t have the combination of voltage and current ratings to handle the speakers. I am leaning towards the Brystons. Overall they seem to be an amp that is easy to live with, while maybe not the best over all, they do a lot right. Ideas and experiences appreciated. By the way, the listening room is 23x21, with a ceiling that is 9 feet on one long wall, and slopes up to 16 feet on the other long wall. 15 feet of the highest long wall is open right in the middle of the wall. So the room can really suck up speaker output. Thanks.
128x128gammastrep

Showing 4 responses by rleff

I think you maybe missing the boat going solid state on the m2's. Do you know if they have the impedance mods and diffusion ring?
If you can you should try a tube amp at least to see what these speakers can really do; The wolcott mentioned earlier is excellant advice; also higher powered vtl, manley,cary and my opinion the best match atma-sphere's ma1 or ma2 otl tube amps.
Also may want to try paul speltz's autoformers to help with the impedance curve these speakers have.
Ralph;if you pop your head back onto this thread;I have m2's with impedance mods;would your 60 watt amp with the autoformers drive these;I don't listen to large SPL's on my m2's; music is mostly vocals,jazz and acoustic but sometimes pink floyd does shown up.
Chris-did you ever use the mod from jafox for the brillance
control in your speaker;if you did,how were your results?