Best amp for Raidho Speakers

flh-

great to know you're loving the Manley's with the C 1.1s - I'm sure the midrange sounds fantastic. Do you feel you get enough of the attack that these speakers are known for? Do you care if you don't? I assume you're not listening to Opera or rock at high volumes;-)

I ask because I don't want to have to give up my 80W hybrid now that I'll be a C 1.1 owner. I assume that if my Jazz listening level is low enough (and it usually is) it wouldn't make a damn bit of difference if I had an 80W hybrid or a 300W hybrid.

Thanks,
J

Thanks xti16.That's a very helpful response, and one that has been echoed by others (but not often). It's most helpful, because not only is my amp a hybrid, but it should have plenty of current available for the C 1.1's to fully display their dynamic bass at moderate volumes.

@jymc

Much appreciation for reviving a thread that needed revival IMO. I must not have noticed the comment referring to Raidhos as " not really known for dynamics". A rather remarkable statement, since I have to wonder how a Raidho could be setup so badly that dynamics weren’t immediately apparent given a dynamic music selection that one is familiar with.

With different amp choices, my C1.1s sounded vastly different wrt dynamics. They are *meant* to be driven with an enormous current reserve, and as such may not be appropriate for many rooms and/or ears.

I’ve written several times (at least twice to Raidho themselves) that the published impedance plots are not what I observed and nothing close to what I’ve measured myself. These speakers are meant to wind up and blast out power in the mid-bass and very low mids. NOT the polite phase angle many might be expecting.

It’s a strange point to make, but I’ll make it here anyhow: I also drove the C1.1s for awhile with MX-Rs - the mid-bass was TOO impactful for me (or rather my room which I feel needs almost no more modification). So I tried lower powered tube amps instead and ended up enjoying the C1.1s more. Yes ... clearly I there was some soft clipping there but I didn’t notice it - the dynamics were still incredible at lower volumes.

count me jealous of every one of you who didn't do what I did: sell my Raidhos:-(

Hegel, Gryphon, MX-Rs ... when I think about the difference between what you're hearing and what I've had before and after my C1.1s ...

the main difference by far is the dynamics. Even though I'd say the hallmark of Raidho speakers is the outstanding ability to blend drivers over the x-over range, it's the dynamic "intention" that really set my C1.1s apart from anything else I've owned.