Dear @inefficient: Which your $$$ floor level for it.
Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.
Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.
MBL 101 (~1990) - amp suggestions.
Does anybody have experience with those speakers:
Designation was MBL 101, or MBL 101a/b/c (letters may designate colour).
They have _no_ cone drivers, only three 'Radialstrahler' units, the same size units as in later/current MBL 101 range, but lower crossover points. Subwoofers (MBL 201) were optional, I do not have them.
So far I have tried the following amps:
Pass Aleph 4: almost there, but feels like lacking authority. Also, female vocals seem to suffer (males fare better).
300B SET (glasshouse/hificollective): they make sound, even loud if pushed (circuit allows 300B to go A2), yet the match is poor, orchestra becomes a mess.
Moderate power SS AB amp ("INnovative Audio Ultrapath"): pointless. Sounds flat and gutless, worse than Aleph 4 or SET.
Mark Levinson 23: the best match so far. Controlled and effortless; merciless at times (poorer recordings are exposed for what they are).
-- Do you think I can [substantially] improve over ML 23?
Designation was MBL 101, or MBL 101a/b/c (letters may designate colour).
They have _no_ cone drivers, only three 'Radialstrahler' units, the same size units as in later/current MBL 101 range, but lower crossover points. Subwoofers (MBL 201) were optional, I do not have them.
So far I have tried the following amps:
Pass Aleph 4: almost there, but feels like lacking authority. Also, female vocals seem to suffer (males fare better).
300B SET (glasshouse/hificollective): they make sound, even loud if pushed (circuit allows 300B to go A2), yet the match is poor, orchestra becomes a mess.
Moderate power SS AB amp ("INnovative Audio Ultrapath"): pointless. Sounds flat and gutless, worse than Aleph 4 or SET.
Mark Levinson 23: the best match so far. Controlled and effortless; merciless at times (poorer recordings are exposed for what they are).
-- Do you think I can [substantially] improve over ML 23?
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- 29 posts total
76w in 4 Ohm do not seem to do the trick @ 80 dB/W (or even 80 dB/2.83V). To R.: in ‘cost no object’ situation I’d start with a pair of ML 33 and see if they are any good. In real life I tred ML 23, I could get a Krell ksa 250s, probably a ML 333, a Pass X350... or —and that is quite realistic right now — another Pass Aleph 4 and run them paralelled one per channel. = I look for ideas and _experience_ Experience with old MBL 101 seems a scarce commodity though... |
Dear @inefficient: My first ML amp was the 23 followed by the 23.5 ( that I choosed over that Krell you mentioned. ) and 20.5's and 20.6's. From those times were excelent designs and between them Threshold S500 II and S5000e, believe it or not are a challenge for any today Pass ones. You need to take a look to the Parasound monobloks JC1. I listened paired with different big speakers: top of the line Soundlabs, the big Dynaudio and Magico. Very good with either. The ML33's has very good engeneering but its performance has not the design levels. I never heard these Electrocompanient but I owned its electronics and are very good designs: https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis9d7a3-2-each-electrocompaniet-nemo-aw600-monoblocks-amplifiers I forgot another very good choice could be the Gryphon Antileon where I have too first hand experiences. Have fun in your hunt. R. |
- 29 posts total