@routeman21 Looks like I missed something important in your initial post:
Your impressions. I’ve been using a Conrad Johnson CA-150 (SS) integrated with my Harbeth SL5+ and the sound is nice but is underpowered at 135W@8ohms. Also, I would like a little more refinement with the amp.
My impressions of the following (from my previous response):
I have driven my SHL5+ 40ths with:
- Bryston BP26 pre > Forte1A (class A 50 wpc)
- 3rd place in refinement.
- First in musicality (non clinical?)
- Not as open sounding at higher volumes driving my B&W 801 Matrix S2s or Maggies.
- Bryston BP26 pre > Michael Yee Audio PA-1 (class A/B dual mono 100 wpc)
- Still kind of new to this one (less than a month of recent time with it since the move.)
- Sounds a bit clearer than the Forte1A.
- Bryston BP26 pre > Ampzilla 2000 2nd Edition (class A/B 300 wpc monoblocks)
- Close but clear 1st place in refinement but better than the rest all around. Especially at very low and moderately high volumes.
- 2nd place. Very close to the Ampzillas in refinement.
- Possibly best match for the SHL5+40s up to just over moderate levels where the Ampzillas can just keep opening up to higher levels
These impressions are based on 5 months in the new listening space (14 x 17x 9 wall to wall carpet, bass traps in the upper corners and some other minor treatments).
I work from home in my listening room so average over 5 hours a day listening.
I am also still a bit new to this hobby but have been a classical piano student throughout my life.
I listen to jazz, some rock and mostly classical piano.
Flipping the direction here, the Harbeths sounded better with these
different
amps overall than several other speakers of different types I keep in rotation.
Hope this helps!
