I ran Vienna Acoustics Mahlers with Rowland Model 6 monos for about two years. Compared to the Bryston 4B-ST and then VAC 140 monos that I had previously paired with those speakers, the Rowlands were much better than the Bryston and somewhat better than the VAC's. Overall, the Rowland amps really made the Mahlers sing (good lord was that set-up powerful and musical).
The Model 6's (and Model 8ti and 9ti) are very different (superior) from Rowland's new budget line of 201 and 501 components, however, featuring much better parts quality and battery power supplies, so I don't know if this information is of any use to you.
As for preamp, I use a Rowland Coherence II in my main system and its faults are few. I understand that the Synergy IIi is very close for a lot less money. Again, I can't comment upon Rowland's new budget line of preamps ("Concerto"?), but I am quite certain the Synergy IIi is better.
The critical match will be amp to speakers, and having owned Mahlers, I know that the big Vienna models need to be paired with the right amplifier -- that is where you should concentrate your efforts.
Hope this helps.
The Model 6's (and Model 8ti and 9ti) are very different (superior) from Rowland's new budget line of 201 and 501 components, however, featuring much better parts quality and battery power supplies, so I don't know if this information is of any use to you.
As for preamp, I use a Rowland Coherence II in my main system and its faults are few. I understand that the Synergy IIi is very close for a lot less money. Again, I can't comment upon Rowland's new budget line of preamps ("Concerto"?), but I am quite certain the Synergy IIi is better.
The critical match will be amp to speakers, and having owned Mahlers, I know that the big Vienna models need to be paired with the right amplifier -- that is where you should concentrate your efforts.
Hope this helps.