Hi Fred, sorry I missed you at CES. I heard the Violins and was very impressed, they weren't playing anything with substantive bass when I was in the room, so I didn't really get to hear what they can do on the bottom end. But the highs from that tweeter were extraordinary. Due to ostensible kleptomania, the new Tenor 300W hybrid amps weren't available for auditioning at CES, but I really want to hear them. They might be a possibility for your Campaniles. If the Tenor boys are accurate in what they say they do, and I've no reason to doubt them given what I've heard with the OTL amps they make, these amps will definitely be worth an audition if you don't go with the JC-1's, which are very good also. Good luck. Mark
Amp Choice for Acapella Campaniles
I purchased a set of Campaniles last summer and have been trying to optimize them since then both with respect to room placement and amps. The speakers utilize a plasma tweeter, a midrange (non-compression) horn using a Dynaudio driver and four 10" SEAS drivers for woofers in individual rather large sealed boxes (2 woofers per 30" by 12" by 28" box). I have to date tried two very different amps (Parasound JC-1's and Wolcott 220 mono tubes). The JC-1's are still breaking in but thus far are promising, still lacking the dimensionality and warmth of the tubes but with superior control of the bass and dynamics. I understand from the designer that the JC-1's will gain in both of these areas as they break in. Any suggestions with respect to other possibilities with these very revealing speakers. By the way, the JC-1's exhibit absolutely no brightness or zip in the top end. I think that 100 watts would be the minimum amp size needed.