I had the Andra 2 ( mk.1 upgraded) and it is a real nice speaker, especially for rock and larger stuff. I did find
that they needed some power though. The Tenor 75 was underpowered, but I kind of knew it would be going in.
I paired them with Vac 220 monos, IMO they drove them but not enough where I was content. I then tried a Lamm 1.2 reference, which did do a sufficient job driving them. However, I was not ready to cross the threshold from tubes.
Honestly, I dont have a first hand suggestion, but only
ones I would seek out to mate best. I do not believe the
ML 1 at 90 WPC would work. The new VTL 450 II or the CAT
may very well be the ticket.PFO reviewer Robert Levi drives Eidolons with a pair of EAR 890 monos. In SS, the Gryphon or the Lamm 1.2/2.2 may work. A darkhorse for less money may be the Mccormack DNA500. Hope this helps. |
Check out the Manley line of amps. They are known to mate well with the Andra 2's. |
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Thanks FJN04 & Myraj.
FJN04, thanks for the many suggestions that I may not have thought of.
I've actually been contemplating the Lamm ML1 but concerned about being underpowered. I contacted Vladimir/Lamm & he says the ML1 would work but the new M1.2 Ref would be a killer system. I do like listening to rock & even find the Levinson 23.5's a little underpowered. After having the Wyetechs for the last year, it's very hard to go back to solid state so I'm trying to avoid.
Myraj, have you any experience with the Manley Neo 250 or 500? There's a 500 for sale that I am contemplating but I've never heard it & there aren't a lot of reviews on it. |
I am happily running my Andra IIs with 120wpc Dodd monoblock tube amps (EL34 based). They control the Andras just fine (in fact better than most SS amps I owned, and it was a bunch of them), and I get the superb midrange and blooming soundstage that only tubes will give you. No looking back for me, my amp search has come to an end! |
The Andra 2's speakers are amazing, I just recently replaced my Wilson W/P 7's which I owned for two years with these and prior to that I had for 4 years Revel Salons.
This is a second system for me, not my main.
Tube amps, what I have found in the past in my systems is that no tube amp has done what a good solid state can in specific areas and the same goes with tube sound in other specific areas.
I seem to have more luck using good solid state amps with a tube pre.
I have only had the Andra's for two months now so I have not done allot of changes because I want to get use to their over all sound and presence.
Equipment that I do have is the McIntosh 501 mono blocks, Audio Research Ref300 mono blocks, Audio Research Ref3 pre, Audio Research Ref2 MK 2 pre. and VTL 7.5 pre.
Sources; Audio Research Ref CD7, ARC CD3 MK2 player, McIntosh 300 Music Server
I still don't really beleive what I currently have hooked up in my system right now. I have a Bel Canto Dac3 along with their Ref1000 mono blocks, no extra pre. I am using the Dac3's digital pre., my ARC cd player and Mac server hooked up via Stealth Sextet, AES digital cable for the ARC player and RCA digital for Mac. Server and the sound is shocking, solid state and tube sound.
I was exspecting the Bel product to be a joke and take it right back out immediately but so far this has not happened. The Bel set-up has about 50 hours on it and really impressing me wow! totally shocked.
I still have along ways to go though before prior to commenting and giving my opinion on the differences once I put other gear in and out. I will say this, if you know me personally and have heard my system set ups something has to be going on for me to say that I am impressed.
I really have to say the Andra's are amazing speakers, for my main system I sold the speakers and looking at replacing them.
I have in mind the Savoy's, MAXX 2'S, VON Schweikert but this is a tough call mainly because of the size of the speakers. If in the end you don't like them it's alot harder to sell plus the investment made is higher. I presently want to really get use to the sound of the Andra's with different gear and then I will go to the next step for the other speakers. |
1markr, have you tried other tube amps before settling on the Dodds? Other than a few remarks on here, I have never heard of them.
Dev, thanks for your in depth thread, I too am astounded by the Andras. A friend of mine - another audiophool, has remarked that he's never heard a better system than this one with the 23.5 in. I bought the Andras a month ago from another a'goner & they've been a revelation. But it's missing that liquidity & presence that tube amps provide. |
1markr:
Thinking of getting the same pre/power Dodds as well...
What tubes are you using all the way round?
Tried rolling tubes?
How is the treble, bass and tonality with your existing setup? |
Omegaman, I have used other tube amps in the past, e.g. ASL Hurricanes, Joule VZN-100, Berning ZH-270, and a Canary, but when I got the Andras, I was trying to mate them with the "right" solid state amp. Nothing pleased (a BAT VK-500 came close though) but then I borrowed a friend's Dodd's, and I ended up buying a new pair, they were so good. I've listened to other's Andras being run by Viva and Art Audio low powered amps (25 wpc), and they sound extremely good, but not enough power for me and my bigger room. BTW, There's much more on Audio Circle re: Dodds than here.
F1a, yes I love to tube roll, at least until that "magic" combination is found. In the Dodd amps, I love the inexpensive SED "Winged C" EL34 power tubes, GE 7044 driver tubes, and Amperex 7119 input tubes. In the Dodd preamp, I have found favor in Amperex Bugle Boy 6DJ8s or white label US made PQ 6922. I have a few more to try, but haven't been in a hurry since this combination is highly musical and enjoyable! |
Okay, the wife went away for a few days on bussiness and I have turned the upstairs room into a mini audio room. I hooked up my ARC Ref300 mono blocks, ARC REF3 pre, ARC REF 7 cd player and now I'm wondering how can I get this same sound but in a smaller equipement scale and not loose out on the sound that I am getting. The only area I am having issues with is the bass, it's good but the bass on the Ref1000's was better in control and deep double bass notes which are important to me.
I have my Mac 501's that I'm going to try tommorow.
Regarding the Bel Canto, all I can say is it just isn't in the same league, not even close. It does do some nice things but not enough for me, next.
The more I hear these Andras they just keep impressing me more and more.
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Several years ago I brought a pair of demo Mac 501s home and hooked them up to my Andra IIs. The Andras practically purred. After a half hour of listening I wouldn't let the dealer take the Macs out long enough to replace the demos with new ones, and sold all of my other amps. Only change since then has been to add a pair of biwired Purist Dominus Rev. B cables, which were the perfect addition. I'd be surprised if you don't wind up leaving the Macs in once you hear the combination. |
1markr, come by and borrow a pair of pw amperex, smile will be on face longggg time |
Mgottlieb, the McIntosh 501's with Audio Research Ref3 pre and ARC Ref7 cd player combo sounded the best.
I was at friends place doing some demoing on the weekend and got to demo a McIntosh 1000 pre and the new EMM all in one cd unit.
That was alot of fun, I can't wait to hear the Mac and EMM in my system. The EMM is a different flavour of sound than my ARC but I really liked it also.
The Mac pre piece wow! what a unit.
711 smilin, have you compared the Dodd and pw amperex on the Eggleston's? You feel the pw ampererex is that good? if so what does it do better than the Dodd.
Reason I ask this is that I also want to try some other tube besides what I have already tried.
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Hey 711smilin, when I mentioned the pw amperex in my thread what I was refering to was over the other tubes that 1markr is using. What is the usual cost for a pair? |
711, I will have to stop by sometime after da Bears win the Superbowl! Gotta check out your new wares... |
I just recently read some reviews regarding the Moscode 401HR, very interesting. The first time I saw this unit and started reading about it I felt there could be some possibilities. Well I came across it being reviewed directly up against the Dodd 120's and Bat SE600.
The Moscode 401HR was referred to being the better of the three.
You can go to Moscodes web site for the reviews, and the price is very reasonable being able to but direct.
I still do have a concern if it will drive the Eggleston's to their fullest potential.
This is very interesting because a unit of this size will work really well in the set-up that I am trying to accomplish.
Anyone heard this unit and what are your thoughts?
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