What Integrated Amp for Reynaud Offrandes

Thanks Bojack. You may be right. I'm sure that the Phi 30/30 would sound very nice with the Offrandes, but this is also a financial decision. I've decided to re-allocate more of my resources into speakers, and less into electronics. The distributor does state that the Offies like some power to bring out the best in their bottom end. At any rate, I just listed my Phi 30/30 (with some regret). I wouldn't be too broken up if it didn't sell. Anybody want to buy a Honda Element ;-)?

Thank you Eril. That's a good suggestion. I have spoken with Bob at Amherst Audio, the U.S. distributor for Reynaud He favors Manley and Blue Circle. Manley is coming out with the Manta Ray, an integrated based on the monoblock Snappers. I also have an interest in the hybrid Blue Circle FtTH, especially since the BC phono stage is much more affordable than the Manley Steelhead, when I decide to add it. I love my vinyl, but listen to my tuner and CD player alot more.

I received a response from Jean Claude Reynaud, who indicated that it was difficult to make a specific recomendation, as people's tastes vary. As others have written, he said the speakers do not require alot of power, but will benefit from "some current" if I want to have "a deep low end that's tight." He stated that he did know the Manley Stingray is "a vivid amp that gives alot of joy to the music."

So, it sounds like the field is still pretty wide open. It may be a moot point, as so far, no takers for my Phi 30/30 currently being auctioned. At least now I have some reassurance that this amp is likely to sound just fine with the Offrandes if it doesn't sell. Thanks, everyone, for the advice.

Soliver:

Thanks for the great input. May I quote you to my wife on the "smart move" part? Just when I was about to get this sorted out, you have to complicate my life with all these SET amp temptations, and the NAF 845 SE looks VERY tempting.

I wonder how much of a difference there truly is with the newer Offrandes. Bob definitely seemed to favor Push Pull design tube amps or hybrids. How big is your listening room? Mine is about 300 SF, although with 2 large openings along one wall. I've had no experience with SET amps, although my PHI 30/30 does fine with the Trentes in there. I thought that SET's were used mainly with single driver speakers, or otherwise high effieciency speakers.

Hey Russ:

You really got me interested in the Concerto when we spoke a while back. I'm really excited about the Offrandes, which should arrive in a week or two. I actually came close to getting a Concerto, but decided to buck the popular opinion, and go in the opposite direction (see Soliver's post earlier). I'm expecting the 25 w.p.c. New Audio Frontiers 845 SE integrated to arrive tomorrow. Since most of my listening is jazz and chamber music late at night, I wanted to try a lower powered SET amp first. There was alot more harmony at home when I ran my VAC PHI 30/30's with the Trentes, than with my Spendor S8e's and Musical Fidelity KW500 integrated. Thanks for the great report. I'll post my impressions of the NAF/Offie combo in a few weeks.

Thanks Jim. I appreciate your generosity in taking the time to speak with me about the NAF 845 Integrated SE recently. I believe that the unit I'm expecting has the Tung-Sol rectifiers. I'll take some NOS RCA 845's if you have em' though!

Hi Russ:

I'm getting the last of the new old Offrandes. An new model is said to be coming out. It looks like the entire Reynaud line is being changed or updated. I've been waiting to see if a used pair would come up, but it doesn't seem that owners want to part with these, particularly as the current model is now out of production

The NAF amp arrived today, and it is truly a thing of beauty. The transformers are massive. The weight alone may be enough to get me off the so-called upgrade merry-go-round, but I'm anticipating that the sound will be sublime. It's torture to have this lovely integrated amp in my living room with no speakers to hook up. My Offrandes are on order. I'll be sure to post my impressions when they arrive.

Jim:

I'm not sure about the new drivers. I've read that there will be somewhat of a redesign, but I'm not sure how significant the change will be. Supposedly, JMR has enough drivers in stock to service the current speakers in the field, but not to continue production further.

I agree with you on the use of isolation devices. I used a Symposium Ultra platform with my VAC amp, and felt that it made a significant difference in soundstaging and bass quality. I will likely use another one under my NAF integrated as well.

At long last my Offrandes have arrived. I've spent the past few weeks gazing logingly at my NAF 845 SE integrated sitting there with no speakers to drive. After listening to the combo now for about 5 hours, I have to say I'm over the moon.

I know from experience with the Trentes that these speakers have a long way to go before they are broken in. Right out of the box though, they are outstanding. I wish that I had purchased the speakers and amp at different times, so I would know where to credit what I'm hearing. I have to say that by far, this is the best imaging system I have heard. That includes my old Spica TC-50's and Totem Model 1's. The soundstage is wide, deeply layered, and rock steady. This is a very unexpected surprise, as the Trentes with the VAC PHI 30/30 did not come close.

As I had hoped, the presentation is at the same time vivid, but also pleasantly natural sounding. I'm sitting in about row three, just where I like to be. Altogether thrilling and captivating, but not harsh or shrill at all. I can tell that the bass has a way to go as the speakers break in, but honestly, I'd be overjoyed with this system, even if they stayed where they were. I can't imagine what I'll be hearing in a few hundred hours. If I ever try to sell one of these pieces, someone come to my house and slap me ;-)!

Soliver, thanks so much for bringing the New Audio Frontiers 845 SE to my attention. I never would have known about this integrated amp if you didn't bring it to my attention. This is a manufacturer that deserves to be much better known in the States. I'd also like to thank the distributor, Jim Ricketts, who was very generous in offering his time, even though I bought the amp from a privte party. I see that Jim is selling his demo model on Audiogon as I write this. I hope someone snatches it up.