I have had many pairs of Proacs since the early 90's. They do love tube gear. I ran AR and Quicksilver much of the time. If you want something different, Primare is a GREAT match also. For some reason, they have synergy. Worth a listen if you are able to. |
that's interesting that you can get that speaker driving the way it can with only 33 watts. I know it's only a measurement, however I ended up getting a larger Quick and AR amp as they just opened up big time with more current and higher power in general. I have heard the D2 I believe it is, with a SET amp that was low watts and it was awesome. The mids and highs just sang. I couldn't live with it as I need full sound, but there are some great amps out there now. |
I have always liked them. Got to meet Stewart Tyler many years ago and had a great talk. His speakers to me always were known for captivating midrange and just disappearing. I always felt the bass wasn't big no mater what size speaker they had.
There are plenty of great solid state amps these days. The thing is that the cost of Proacs aren't in the ridiculous range, so why use a 15k amp with them? I heard them with a pair of Jadis many years ago that I was looking into getting and it was awesome. I used my Studio Towers with an Ayre AX7e for nearly a year. I almost didn't even bother changing speakers. That was a really nice sound to say the least. |
brown, that's pretty funny. Thanks I needed a laugh |
That's a really fun integrated. You can even tube roll if you want, but honestly, AR does a pretty good job with their tubes. I've never changed their tubes when i have owned their gear. I used AR in years past with my Proac speakers and it really meshed well. |
I've owned nearly all the Proacs from the 90's until 2002 or so. I still have my Krell Stealth Dac that I'm going to sell. We all felt it sounded better for some reason than the DAC 32 that cost a lot more. I have the Cal Audio Labs drive for it that needs a new home too lol. I also have the CAL Terret CD player that I'm going to sell. That was a great pairing I. The day. Now digital is a different breed. Budget is most important. I own an Empirical Audio OSDE/SE DAC and run a Marantz blue ray and a totally rebuilt MAC Mini with a Haynes linear power supply and 500gb Samsung Soild state drives. Cable is an empirical solid silver hand made USB. I run fully balanced with an Ayre AX-5 Twenty integrated. I ran my ProAc Super Towers that were upgraded through ProAc and my former dealer. From MIT internal wiring to the response drivers and rebuilt crossovers with mundorf's etc. It was such an awesome system, but I upgraded to VANDERSTEEN Treo's. ProAc and VANDERSTEEN seem to have changed their corporate sound over the years but I heard the 7k proacs I believe they were and they were one of the only ribbon tweeters that I have liked.
Personally i I feel that AR digital is their weak point. They have newer gear that sounds better but Aesthetix is making some great digital but it costs a lot. Personally I'd just spend 1500 and buy the Ayre Codex. Alex and the guys know what they are doing. It's a great DAC and can be used as the pre in a simple system with a good quicksilver or AR amp if you want to go that route or paired with that AR integrated. I do love that Ayre DAC for the price. It seems to be liked by most regardless of what they like to listen to as they get rid of the digital ringing. They understand digital filtering as well as analogue. Just some personal thoughts. |
I've also found that both MIT and Transparent are great with the new Proac's. I have never heard the new Audioquest cables not sound great too (the DBS ones). |
I have found that in general, most speakers will not over power a room. It's all about room treatments no matter what you run as a system. They don't even need to be expensive. Folks seem to worry about the bass. That's the biggest reason I went with the Vandersteen Quatro's as I wanted to have total control of the bass, however I also auditioned the D48R and D30R. Both are spec'd to 20hz, however it doesn't show how much they are down at that point. One moves more air than the other, but I also felt that the sound was much more fleshed out with the 48's. I felt they gave me a much larger sound stage, that you'd expect from a larger speaker. There was just more of everything like the poster above stated. It's just a much more refined speaker in every way. You can get standing waves in any room if you push too hard and that's often distortion that will ruin the speakers as well as the sound.
Loved tsloan's post about amps too as it's common sense and what so many 'audiophile's' constantly don't even think about. Manufacturer's recommendations for amp power are just that. Recommendations... A great amp delivering clean power is what is needed. The 48's will need an amp that can control the bass and mid bass units and any top amp will do that. Anyone using a speaker like this will most probably be running a top amp and if not, they may want to rethink their systems, lol.
I miss my ProAc's, but love my Vandy's better. Just lot's of great choices with all the new technology these days.
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Congrats. I'm sure you'll love them. |
I actually owned three pair of Proac's for well over 20 years. Sold them all off to get the Vandersteen Treo's. I went to Audio Connection to get my cones surrounds redone as they all were rotted out. I went to listen to the new D series speakers and then Johnny forced me to listen to the Treo's even though I told him no Vandies for me. I fell in love with the Vandies, but ProAc's are still one of my favorite speakers. They are the only ribbon I've heard to date that don't make my ears bleed. Really like them a lot. |
I had the Supertowers and also 2 pair (from family members) of the Studio 1's if I remember correctly. Sold all of them and got the Vandersteen Treo's that Bob now owns. |
One of my takes on Johnny's post is to make sure you see an equal sliver of the inside of the speakers wood. I owned many Proacs over the years and that's how they are supposed to be positioned. Let us know what you end up with |
Proacs are known for their imaging etc.. Yes, they are highly revealing which is what a high end speaker should be. That's the biggest problem I have wiht Wilsons. Fun to listen to and I could own them, but they lack the micro and macro detail I love. Different strokes for .....
glad you have them burned in and set up. Most speakers are easy to set up, but to coax the last bit of goodness, it takes time and moving them around. I have to wait until friends come over to move them as I have MS and I can't even get up and down for album changes anymore, lol.
mil, you ask about electronics, the thing is, you need to try them in the system. What works for me, may not work for you. It's about synergy. Johnny R is going to be a GREAT resource as he's sold Proac's for years. I found him when I needed to get a new pair of speakers after 20 years. I ended up getting the Vandy Treo's instead as I liked them better, but I do love the Proac's also. It's one of the few ribbons I enjoy as they are musical and never harsh. Stuart does a great job there.
What is your price range? What are you missing? So many good choices out there. I personally ended up with an Ayre AX5/20 which is one of the best integrated amps I've ever heard in my life. The pre amp is built in the passive mode if I recall correctly. I'm not 100% there, but Johnny knows. I'm going to be selling it soon as I am sure I'll want the new Vandersteen amps with adjustable crossovers, but that's a huge step up for me, lol. |
Thanks for the kind words. When using a passive, you will miss some slam and dynamics. Depending on how good or bad the active preamp is as well as how it matches your amp, will make or break the sound for you.
You really should ask Johnny about the Belles pre amp. To me, it's a Best Buy pre amp and I think well in your price range. Heck, their integrated amp is KILLER and sounds awesome with your speakers I've been told. I've heard it with them once and loved what I listened to. Whatever you do, stay away from using a digital pre amp that would be with a DAC, lol. |
Kclone, the Aria is a really nice integrated. I'd want something like my Ayre AX5/20 with it though or for a pre, that Calypso is crazy good. I just sold my upgraded Rhea. |
My buddy Matt is doing a footer shootout. Gia are right there with some of the much more expensive ones. Its a fascinating shootout to say the least. Lot's of pretenders for sure. |
Please don't be mad as I don't want to offend anyone. The Nordost didn't make the first cut. I forget the reason's, but they just weren't close to the Iso Accoustic gear or any of the others. I've personally tried them and not liked them as much as maple footers I made in the shop with cut off's. For cheap, the wood footers are outstanding, but with the wrong gear will dull the top end and it can muddy the mids.
Using the 'rubber' footers is usually best for the less weighty, folded metal cabinets. Not always though. Since it's still an evolution, I can't share which ones are best per say as he has Symposium in now along with HRS Nimbus and is getting Magico pucks.
The solid metal cabinets and folded ones are just totally different beasts and may need different footers. |
Matt is still working on it. He will be using a couple of new ones tomorrow. Looking forward to what he comes up with. I'll post when he let's me know something. I haven't used the pucks, but every time I"ve heard any iso gear, it was great for the money and honestly, just good no matter what. I know a very high end dealer in the south who sells some very expensive footers and shelves and he loves the iso a TON. Not everyone wants to or needs to spend thousands on platforms or footers, so the Iso stuff is a great value as you aren't sacrificing anything. I also have never heard the HRS stuff not sound GREAT. Their footers aren't too expensive based on the cost of others footers and he has them to play with. That is the one I'm waiting to hear about along with Symposium rollers. |
Mil, the footers shootout so far has the HRS Nimbus, Symposium rollerblocks and the Iso Acoustics as great ones. The Iso, for the price have been awesome. He's doing the Shun Mook and Magico right now. |
The footers were the HRS Nimbus. The shelf was the new Vortex. The thing is that they make different shelves depending on whether or not you have a sheet metal cabinet or one that is made of thick plate or even CNC machined. |
Guys, you can get in touch with Johnny at Audioconnection about footers for the Proacs. He's sold them for many many years and has a great idea of what the footers will do or not do with the specific speakers. The thing to remember is that footers, like anything else, will change the sound, but not always for the best. It is all dependent on the speaker, the floor they sit on etc... So far, the HRS footers/cones seem to be the best with most of my friends IRT an overall helping of the sound with various speakers in various rooms. I have 3" granite plinth that has a silicone 'glue' joint. It is an amazing upgrade that I've heard on a friends pair of Vandersteen's. I have yet to install mine as I need other to do the work as I can't move heavy things anymore, lol. :). |
Vandersteen and a few others are the only ones I know of who voice their speakers with grills on. I have Vandy Quatro's and the grills have never been off of them and never will be as long as I own them. lol. I kind of like that part. I have owned Proac's for years and always had the grills off. Everyone I know who sells them have told me to keep them off. That's why their beautiful baffle finish is important, lol. |
Those Proacs can scale. I've heard them a few times with all different electronics and cabling. Personally, I love the AQ stuff as it's just so neutral. I've seen dealers showing them with cables that are a bit unbalanced to MY ears and it tips the high end to the point I feel fatigued.
They are very revealing, but are not that difficult to match up with electronics IMHO |
