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Amplifier For Martin Logan CLSIIZ?

Hey guys,

I'll be getting my Martin Logan CLSIIz's next Friday. I've been leaning toward tubes, but am somewhat open to solid state - provided it's a synergistic match.

Do the CLS' need WATTS or CURRENT?

Here is a list of the "affordable" (less than $1,500 used) amps that I am somewhat familiar with and was considering.

Solid State:
*Classe DR-2 or DR-3 (only 25 and 30 watts, but pure class A and VERY high current)
*Pass Labs Aleph 3 or 5
*McCormack DNA-1 Deluxe or DNA-225
*BelCanto EVO 200.2
*PS Audio HCA-2 (never heard this one but have read good things)

Tubes:
*Audio Research D-XXX Most of these are fantastic - anything from the D-76B up to the D-160
*BAT VK-60
*VTL 70/70, ST-125, Compact 100s
*Music Reference RM-9

This is by no means an exhaustive list. They're just a few pieces that I'm either very familiar with or that just sound intriguing.

I'm open to all suggestions but am particularly interested in hearing from folks with personal experience driving CLS'.

Thanks in advance for your help.
gullahisland

Showing 2 responses by norfish

norfish
75 posts
 
I owned the CLSIIZ's for about 8 years and was very happy driving them with a pair of ARC Classic 120's. Can be obtained for about $2300 used. I tried the Synergistic Master A/C power cords on the CLS's and liked them quite a bit.

Randy
norfish
75 posts
 
I compared the Synergistic Master Coupler with a pair of XLO cords and found that the Synergistic had a much better midrange with more sparkle, especially on piano recordings. They went a fair bit of the way towards alleviating the thinness which is the primary drawback of the CLS, IMO. This thinness ultimately led me to sell the CLSIIZ's and get a pair of Alon Circes, which are also dipolar in the mids and highs, but use dynamic drivers.
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