Amp for my Salons


I recently got a pair of Revel Salons and I love these speakers. The problem is that I am not doing it justice with the current amp I am using. I spent most of my money on the speakers so I need an afordable amp that will work well with the Salons. I was thinking of getting a pair of Bryston 7BST since they are cheap used and they have plenty of power to drive them. Have anyone use this combo yet and how does it sound? What other choices do I have on a budget? I really would like to get a pair of monoblocks instead of a stereo amp. Thanks for the help.

Preamp: ARC LS2
CDP/SACD: Sony NS999ES
f155mph

Showing 2 responses by sgr

Hi,
I own Salons and have auditioned them with Krell 350 monoblocks (whatever the newest version is!) and they just sounded ok. I liked a friend's KSA-250 much better than the newer Krell stuff on the Salons. I audtioned the Classe CAM-350s for a couple of weeks and wasn't too impressed.
I have also owned a Levinson 336 stereo amp and that sounded very nice, but polite. I new the system needed more.
That is when I bought my first pair of ML 436 monoblocks. With these amps the Salons really started to shine. Which they should since the 436 and Salons were made to match. With the 436s the bass was much fuller making the room quiver, imaging was pinpoint, and the midrange was far from sterile and lifeless as some have described.
Do to unfortunate circumstances (which became fortunate!) I had at my disposal another pair of 436 amps. So naturally I had to hear the Salons biamped.
Holy Revel-ation! The Salons love power, they crave power. The more the better and two pair of 436s vertically biamped fits the bill.
The sound of my system now is amazing. From pppppppp to fortisimo one can hear every nuance. There is information recorded on CDs that one never hears with the Salons until they are biamped. Just put on Johnny Cash's CASH CD and listen to Hurt or Danny Boy. It makes the flesh quiver with the realism. Mr. Cash is in the room. In fact the recording studio is in the room because its "acoustic signature" is there. Put on the "Kill Bill" soundtrack and listen to Nancy Sinatra's Bang Bang or the answering percussion sets on " Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" ,a sonic delight! Then try Holly Cole's Train Song from "It Happened One Night" you are right there in the audience. If you happen to have bought "The Mysteries of Egypt" soundtrack from National Geographics Imax film you're really in for a treat. This CD is killer and through the Salon 4X436 system you feel every movement and the sound is so pure, dynamic and undistorted. The room shakes! I have listened to some CDs hundreds of times and thought I'd heard it all but was wrong. The Salon 4X436 system energizes the room and transports you to each recording venue. I never realized that with only two amps driving the Salons how much distortion is caused by even one monoblock trying to amplify the entire musical spectrum.

So if you can, I would listen again to the 436's, see if you can hear them in your system. Purchase a pair from your dealer to reward him, than buy another pair on Audiogon someday when the cash and opportunity arrive.
You might also want to look at my current system. I've worked with my Salons for about 3 years now and each time I think I can get nothing more from my system, I find something new to try and the Salons will tell you "You did good or bad in no uncertain terms.". It has been a labor of love and hate at times, but if you have the patience the musical rewards are rich.
In conclusion, you know where my heart lies. If you didn't do the 436s, I would consider Pass or Bryston. I have also heard and like the sound of the Bryston equipment, but never have heard the Pass.
Hope this helps,
Steven
P.S. Now if I could only get my hands on 4 pair of #33s, and had twice the room, and owned Union Electric, and had a very strong back and had the $$$!!! That would have to be the penultimate Salon experience.
Good hunting,
Steven
F155mph,
Yes the Salons are deadly accurate. If the recording is musical the Salons are musical, if the recording is cold and sterile so too are the Salons. They are true chameleons is this respect, and for that matter this is or was the philosophy at Mark Levinson as I think (hope) would be the philosophy at many high end companies and I wouldn't have it any other way. After a while as pleasing as some equipment's colorations are, to me it gets fatiguing.
As for my equipment, click on System below my response and you can view it and the lengths I've gone to for my Salons.
And yes I do use all Levinson including the #32 preamp.
Good hunting,
Sgr