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Amp suggestion for Kharma Ceramique 2s??

I am looking to upgrade my amplifier. I have used low-powered SS amps (47 Labs Gaincard and Aloia 13.01i) with fantastic overall sound, but they didn't have enough power for my large family room (needed more bass and macro dynamics). If you have any experience with any Kharma speakers, please let me know which amps have worked well and which haven't. I listen mostly to intimate jazz (vocal), classical and occasional rock.

The order of importance for me is musicality, palpability, transparency and resolution, but I believe that you can't achieve the first three without resolution. As you can see in my system below, I am taking a minimalist approach to maximize resolution.

Anyhow, I'm open to Tube or SS as long as they have quite, black background. I prefer monoblocks (particularly interested in Claytons and Blue Circle BC8), but that is not a requirement. My budget is about $4000 used, and the amp(s) MUST have RCA inputs. If you can help, I'd truly appreciate it. Thanks.

My system consists of:

- RAM-modded SACD1000 with > 3v output (Awesome sounding!)
- DYI Silver Interconnects (the only interconnects!)
- EVS Nude Attenuators
- ???? POWER AMP(s)
- FMS Zero speaker cables
- Kharma Ceramique 2.0
- Audio Tekne power cables
- BDR cones and pucks, Soler Points, Aurios, etc.
henry_la

Showing 2 responses by txlef

txlef
15 posts
 
Henry, it might not be your amp. How old are your Kharmas? If they are more than a couple of years old, I suggest looking into a crossover upgrade. I had the crossovers in my 5-year-old Kharma 2's upgraded to "Enigma" by Bill and Anthony at GTT and I WAS COMPLETELY BLOWN AWAY. A veil was lifted from in front of the speakers and I finally heard for real all the "potential" I had sensed in the speaker from day one. Look into it.
txlef
15 posts
 
I have not yet upgraded the tweeters. I am waiting to see if Kharma comes out with something new next year. I am fortunate to live only about 45 minutes from GTT's location, and Bill was kind enough to pick up and drop off my speakers for me in his van. I would imagine shipping would cost a couple hundred dollars (too heavy for Brown). All internal wiring and the crossover itself was upgraded to Enigma, and a new bottom plate was installed.

As to the sonic changes, they are amazing. The speaker has greater transparancy, life, speed, rhythm. Bass is tighter. Midrange is smoother and the transition from bottom-end to mids is now essentially flawless to my ears(there used to be some sort of upper bass hump). But the most impressive change is in the upper register, where everything is cleaner, clearer. More extended without any "hi fi" etchiness. Soundstage is broader and deeper. There is an immediacy that was not present before and that rivals anything I have heard anywhere. As I said earlier, it's like a veil was lifted from in front of the speakers.

Call Bill at GTT; I'm sure he will be happy to discuss cost, logistics, etc.
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