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Revel Salon 2 Amplification Questions

Currently my Salon 2s are powered by a Plinius SB-301 fed by a Plinius M8 (Ayre C-5xeMP front end).

I have been and remain quite happy with this setup, but upgraditis may be kicking in (I should have followed someone's sage advice to stop reading audio forums for at least two years after assembling my system).

Specifically I am curious to know whether anyone is using these speakers with any of the following SS brands: Symphonic Line, FM Acoustics, Clayton, Gryphon, Karan, MBL or Accuphase (but feel free to weigh in with other suggestions of a like quality). And, if so, what they like/dislike about their gear, both pre and power amps.

I am only interested in SS power amps, but am open to a tubed pre. The Salon 2s are power hogs and while most of my listening is below 90db, every so often I wanna pretend I'm 14 again and crank Houses of the Holy at 110+ db and I don't think tube power amps can get me there.

My tastes run to mostly classic rock (Stones, Grateful Dead, The Who, Elton John etc.) with occasional detours into symphonies or jazz. I prefer strong bass that when played at volume can be felt as well as heard, clear but not bright treble and mids that are rich and not too forward - I guess the audiophile term would be slightly dark.

The system is in a 28'x16' sunroom with a 15' cathedral ceiling and a 9x5x8 bumpout on the left rear. There is lots of glass and I have not treated the room (nor do I intend to as it was built to enjoy the view), so I want to avoid anything that really emphasizes the high end. But I do want fast amplification with the ability to convey both micro and macro dynamics.

The Plinius gear actually does quite well achieving these goals, and unless there's a significant upside with the brands I've mentioned vis-a-vis Salon 2s then I have no real reason to change. But if it can get much better, then let me know.

p59teitel

Showing 8 responses by p59teitel

p59teitel OP
312 posts
 
Thanks everyone for the replies so far.

I did hear the Salon 2s with an ML 532H while auditioning gear last fall. I thought it very good on acoustic music and liked the midrange especially, but prefer the Plinius SB-301's bass weight and control, dynamics and soundstage.
p59teitel OP
312 posts
 
Thanks for the comments so far.

I have heard of the Carver AT180s and will investigate the 305 watt version.

I did hear the ML 532H driving Salon 2s when auditioning gear. I thought it very good with piano and acoustic music and that it had a clear and uncluttered midrange, but IMO the Plinius is more dynamic and authoritative, especially in the bass.
p59teitel OP
312 posts
 
Thanks for the additional replies.

I like Rowland gear but I think it would be more a lateral move from the Plinius stuff than a major upgrade.

I really like the Ayre C-5xeMP player but will eventually add a DAC to handle computer audio, so good to hear that the Berkeley DAC plays nicely with the Salon 2s.

At this point I am considering either standing pat or possibly adding a tubed pre-amp...
p59teitel OP
312 posts
 
"the key component that really brings the music to life is the BAT Rex preamp that I am using. The solid state amp with the tube pre is really a most musical combination. the sound is never tiring, and low level listening is just as pleasurable."

After having the benefits of a tubed pre + SS amp combo drummed into me by both my audio gurus in recent conversations - and with additional reinforcement like yours - I've just committed to taking a plunge into the tubed pre-amp waters.

And there may even be some additional experimentation with a pair of highly regarded mono blocks. The unfortunate part is that in-home empiricism with this gear means cash outlay BEFORE knowing the results of the trial, but that's how it goes.

Details to follow...
p59teitel OP
312 posts
 
I've heard the Salon 2s with the ARC DSi200 integrated amp (with ARC CD8 front end). The combo sounded very good but I think 200 wpc is the least amount of power it takes to drive them.

Here's a favorable review of the ARC Ref250s:

http://www.theaudiobeat.com/blog/arc_reference_250.htm

p59teitel OP
312 posts
 
The new (to me anyway) tube pre-amp has arrived - the Symphonic Line "The Enlightenment."

This beat the pending arrival of a new set of RCA interconnects and power cords to arrive (was using balanced ICs and the Plinius M8 pre-amp is 240V). So right now I'm stuck using $7 Rat Shack ICs and a power cord from my Pioneer plasma display. Not exactly audiophile grade stuff, yet I can already hear a significant improvement over the Plinius pre. The treble is much more detailed and realistic, yet more relaxed and pleasing to the ear. The mids have seen a like improvement as well, and my one concern that bass weight - perhaps the best attribute of the M8 - might be diminished has proven unfounded.

The soundstage width has shrunk a bit but I'm thinking the new ICs will expand that back out. In any event it matches up very well with the Plinius SB-301 power amp and so far I'm extremely happy with the way it meshes with the Salon 2s.

But I'm guessing I'll be even happier when I hear it with the SL Kraft 250 monos that should also be arriving soon. What the hell, a new car can wait until next year...
p59teitel OP
312 posts
 
The SL pre-amp has been in place for ten days and the new ICs are starting to break in, so a few observations can be made.

The Plinius M8 did quite a few things well, including deep bass with authority, good macro-dynamics, a quiet background and a wide soundstage.

The SL tubed pre-amp improves on all of those things except the dead quiet background, and even there I can't hear anything unless I stick my ear 18" away from the speakers, which is a big who cares. But the improvements don't stop there.

There is a plainly more natural sounding mid-range, and a far more detailed that is less fatiguing treble at volume. Micro-dynamics are much improved and more life-like - you can hear much deeper into ensemble playing and I'll be interested to hear how symphonies sound once the ICs are fully broken in. The soundstage is deeper and layered.

Overall, I find it just slightly on the warm side of neutral but not at all rolled off or overly polite. And it does not lack attack - drum hits and aggressively plucked notes are dramatic and vivid, and music does not sound at all slow.

None of this is to say that the Plinius M8 is not a solid pre-amp. It is, and during the time it has spent in my system it has performed very well. But the Symphonic Line is a substantial upgrade and gets me closer to my ideal of what music should sound like.
p59teitel OP
312 posts
 
Update - the Symphonic Line Kraft 250 monos have been in my system for two weeks now. While they didn't even have 100 hours on them when they arrived and so are still breaking in/settling in a bit, I can say that they are stunning with the Salon 2s.

Detailed high end without fatigue, amazing dynamics and micro-dynamics, extended powerful bass without bloat or boom , plucked instruments sound like they're really being plucked, and vocals are smooth without being euphonic. Fast as all get-out too.

Really though the best thing I can say about them is that they simply produce the music so that you can listen to it without hi-fi considerations intruding into your consciousness - I know that sounds a bit New Agey but I don't know how else to say it. I also don't know why they aren't better known over here.

Actually I can kinda guess even though I'm no marketing expert: no USA advertising or show appearances, confusing English-side website, odd nomenclature for gear, and Mr. Gemein's apparent penchant for not providing the kinds of technical measurement we Americans crave. Be advised for example that the nominal 250 watts into 8 ohms output designation is essentially meaningless; these puppies drive my Salon 2s louder than my Plinius SB-301 with a stated 310 wpc does.

Despite all that, the product is "until death do us part" incredible and is well worth investigating in the top tier of solid state amplification. Thanks to Klaus Bunge, the Symphonic Line USA rep (and Odyssey Audio principal), for alerting me to their availability when I called with an inquiry about the history of the SL tube pre-amp I ended up getting. I thought he was over the top when he gushed on and on about the Kraft 250s, but after two weeks of listening to them I can say that his enthusiasm was entirely justified.
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