YG Acoustics add in Stereophile

I'm using Halcro DM88's for the left and right channel (ANAT ref II Professionals), I use two Linn Klimax solo's for the center channel (ANAT ref II main module). And a Linn Klout for each of the rear channels (Kipod Studios).

I've tried the Solos on the left and right and they worked well, certainly not of the level of the DM88s.

When I set up the Kipods as the rear channels, I actually wired them as the left right and listened to music. I find this a good way to determine the "best" placement. The combination of klouts (which is of course older amps) and kipods was very musical. I do have two klimax chakra twins that I was going to use on the Kipods, but have not felt the need.

The speakers are very musical, resolving, and transparent. I'm amazed at how they respond to everything that you do, setup, placement, etc.

Kevin

Wow Kevin! what a great setup. Please post pictures if you can.

I moved my system from "private" to the forum. You can see it by clicking on the systems link.

I have a pair of Anat Ref II Studios. I am now running them with a Burmester 911 Mk 3 amplifier, connected in balanced mode by a Burmester silver XLR cable to an MBL 5011. The sound is quite good, but being a hobbyist I'm always looking for improvement. In the fall, I hope to try out other premaps. Three likely candidates are: (1) the Burmester 011, whch should partner well with my amp; (2) the MBL 6010D, which I imagine to be an improvement over the already good 5011; and a Halcro pre, which, based on previous experience, I regard as virtually a laboratory instrument. My musical tastes are largely classical, and I listen to CDs, SACDs, and FM radio, so a line stage is all I really need (the Burmester has phono inputs).

I just listened to Anat Reference II Studio speakers at my close friend's home. He is the only dealer in California and he has sold 4 pairs of these this month and he has a pair for himself at his home. He is also part owner of Qsonix.

My friend have had many high end speakers go through his home in his fantastic rather large listening room over the years. I have listened to Dynaudio Evidence Temptation and MBL 111E in this room through his favorite Wolcott tube amplifiers and Tara Labs speaker cables. These Wolcott tube amplifers are amazing as they even drove the notoriously difficult and inefficient MBL 111E speakers without any problem.

I must say Anat Reference II Studio speakers sounded phenomenal at all listening level with convincing detail, dynamics and realism I've never heard from Dynaudio Evidence Temptation nor MBL 111E speakers. It was very spooky indeed giving an illusion that there is a live performance there in front of you regardless of the source of music material. Symphonics sounded like symphonics at concert hall while jazz material sounded like people jamming in front of you.

I would say that it has similar neutral sound as Dynaudio Evidence Temptation but with more musical truth having layers of veil removed from it. I don't like MBL 111E sound at all as its lacking dynamics and transients to its sound.

Having said this I did hear the Anat bottom out when my friend had volume level very unrealisticly loud on one of the very dynamic music passages. I went close to see the midrange while music is playing and you can see that it is working hard at loud levels with its driver excursions quite active. I felt the very solid aluminum chassis on its side at this volume level and you can feel it vibrating some what but no where near the level of vibration you would feel from other speakers having wood cabinets at that sound level. This is true for the seperate bass module below it as it was hardly vibrating as well.

So, under most realistic listening levels, I would suspect that Anats won't bottom out at all. But if you crank its volume level to loud party levels, bottoming out can conceivably happen as mentioned in this thread as I have heard it today. Having said this, I would be very happy to have these speakers if I could afford to own these speakers as I would never play music as loud as my friend played it today.