Amp recommendations for Revel Salon2


Just recently purchased a pair of Salon2's. I've been very happy with these speakers but I know they can sound better with better electronics.

At this point, I'm using Oppo 83SE (CD/BR), Anthem AVM30 (Pre-pro) and MCA 50 (225 w/ch X 5). My plan is to upgrade the amp first and subsequently the pre-pro.

I'm considering the following and, frankly, open to suggestions:

- Audio Research DSI 450
- McIntosh 402 or 303
- Parasound Halo
- Classe

I use the system 70/30 music to video. Therefore, my top priority is musicality.

Appreciate comments/recommendations.

Thanks,
Mike
ritmo
"I also have the Revel Ultima Salon2's. I have them bi-amped using Mark Levinson 532H amps. It is not necessary to bi-amp these."

I agree, if you have a really beefy two-channel amp. I thought the ML334 was little lightweight for the Salon2 in my room. One 334 probably would have worked well most of the time, but two amps put me in the highly coveted overkill scenario, and look cool too. :)
AaronMadler;

Hi- I am curious as to why went with a bi-amp approach using the 532H instead of a single higher quality 532?
I'll second and third the motion to go with Levinson for powering the Revels. I personally have a couple of the new 531H mono's and am totally impressed. Powerful, cool, and quiet!
I've experimented quite a bit with amplification of Salon 2s nd found that bi-amplification of these speakers to be absolutely essential. The problem is that while you can power the salon 2 with hefty Mark Levinson, Boulder, Krell, Pass Labs or any other high quality high power amps (in my case MBL-9007 dual mono amps 400watts/8 ohms), the back EMF caused by powering three 8 inch aluminum cone bass drivers below the 150hz crossover point to the amplifier is polluting the three high pass drivers. The high pass drivers which consist of 1" beryllium tweeter, 4" inverted titanium cone mid driver and 6.5 inch inverted titanium cone mid bass driver really don't need much power. In my case I had the best results with Nelson Pass First Watt J2 30 watts Class A amplifier to power this high pass section. I dedicated the MBL-9007s just for the three 8 inch bass. The difference in this configuration is night and day. Salon 2s just came to life. Interestingly enough when I measured the frequency response characteristics of the low pass section of the three 8 inch drivers there is a cliff like steep low pass cut off slope at 150hz. Can you imagine the amount of passive components ala inductors and capacitors that gets in the way of music to achieve this. By the way, no matter what amplifiers I used powering the low pass section driving the three 8 inch aluminum bass drivers, althought the frequency response curve truly confirm an amazing deep linear bass response down to 20hz, I feel as though the bass transient speed and amount of air it moves to recreate a true symphonic event is not quite there. I think Revel could have used larger diameter lighter mass cone drivers with heftier magnets which would also improve drive ability of these speakers for folks that only use one amp.