Hello David, have read your post with interest.
listened to both the Avalon Opus Ceramique and Kharma 3,2FE extensively, and i must agree for the big part with MikeLavigne.
And i do agree with Mike too that Avalon needs very dominant amplifiers to really excell and show what they are capable of. Have listened to the Avalon Eidolon in many set-ups with big tube and solid state amplifiers and although Eidolon and Opus sounds great as for tonality with tube amplifiers, the soundstage and attack i only experience on a true high level with topnotch solid state.
This has nothing to do with power (watts) this has to do with authority and dominance of any amplifier.
The Kharma 3,2FE to me sounds better in respect of attack, wholeness, and resolution.
I would want to make a comparison with the Kharma 2,2 model since it is a three way system like the Opus.
Since David resides in France the price of both Opus and Kharma 2,2 seems to be about the same retail, in the US the Opus will maybe better -cheaper- priced opposed to the Kharma.
i have heard on more than one occasion that some like the standard Opus better compared to the Ceramique Opus.
Kharma has a true 8 Ohm behavior but i have never seen the actual frequency plot of the Opus.
The resistance behavior of any given speaker is much more important when partnered with tubes. no matter the power (watts) figures.
I do know that Kharma has a less is more crossover, opposed to the Avalon which is fairly complicated.
The moment your wife listens to the Kharma she must say 'yes' ;-)
The LAMM SE triode mono amps are truly stunning, but will have a certain ceiling as to loudness in SPL.
I remember all to clearly about a match with LAMM SE Triode with the Verity Audio Parsifal which was a dream combination for sure but had a very specific ceiling in volume. one click further on the volume and it collapsed.
You might find the PP version with double 6C33 tubes to be less stellar as for tonality, but they can go much louder.
look at the BAT VK-75SE too, it will bring you everything the LAMM does and more too, at a better price (and balanced too)
just my two cents.
listened to both the Avalon Opus Ceramique and Kharma 3,2FE extensively, and i must agree for the big part with MikeLavigne.
And i do agree with Mike too that Avalon needs very dominant amplifiers to really excell and show what they are capable of. Have listened to the Avalon Eidolon in many set-ups with big tube and solid state amplifiers and although Eidolon and Opus sounds great as for tonality with tube amplifiers, the soundstage and attack i only experience on a true high level with topnotch solid state.
This has nothing to do with power (watts) this has to do with authority and dominance of any amplifier.
The Kharma 3,2FE to me sounds better in respect of attack, wholeness, and resolution.
I would want to make a comparison with the Kharma 2,2 model since it is a three way system like the Opus.
Since David resides in France the price of both Opus and Kharma 2,2 seems to be about the same retail, in the US the Opus will maybe better -cheaper- priced opposed to the Kharma.
i have heard on more than one occasion that some like the standard Opus better compared to the Ceramique Opus.
Kharma has a true 8 Ohm behavior but i have never seen the actual frequency plot of the Opus.
The resistance behavior of any given speaker is much more important when partnered with tubes. no matter the power (watts) figures.
I do know that Kharma has a less is more crossover, opposed to the Avalon which is fairly complicated.
The moment your wife listens to the Kharma she must say 'yes' ;-)
The LAMM SE triode mono amps are truly stunning, but will have a certain ceiling as to loudness in SPL.
I remember all to clearly about a match with LAMM SE Triode with the Verity Audio Parsifal which was a dream combination for sure but had a very specific ceiling in volume. one click further on the volume and it collapsed.
You might find the PP version with double 6C33 tubes to be less stellar as for tonality, but they can go much louder.
look at the BAT VK-75SE too, it will bring you everything the LAMM does and more too, at a better price (and balanced too)
just my two cents.