holygrailaudio-old

Responses from holygrailaudio-old

Thiel CS6 / Dali MS4
I have worked with several people refining systems with Thiel speakers. When I see someone looking at new speakers it is because they are looking for something that doesn't seem to be in their system currently. The system needs to be refined to pu... 
Talon Ravens vs. JM Lab Mezzo Utopias??? comment
Anyone looking at excellent speakers like the Talons should check out Meadowlarks, either the new Nighthawks or the giant killer Blue Heron 2's, and by giant killer I'm talking about Grand Utopia, Wilson X-1 caliber. It's all determined by what yo... 
Best Floorstanding Speaker under $1000 USD
Meadowlark Swifts, this is a tough price point, these offer a lot for the money. Meadowlark is announcing a new line of very affordable speakers which has a three-way floorstander for somewhere around $1200, it would be worth scratching up the ext... 
Best amp for either Kharma or Focal Utopia speaker
I used BAT equipment such as the VK-500 (upgraded) VK-150se monoblocks, the VK-51se, and the upgraded VK-40 which I still have for direct comparisons. The Belles 350-A monoblocks give up a tube like smoothness but have a solid state power and dept... 
Better Amps For Talon Khorus CAT JL2 or Tenor 75?
Pay attention to someone who has experience with both the Tenors and Belles monoblocks, the Belles is stunning in ways you have to hear to believe, massive power reserve leads to huge dynamics, the best bass control you've ever heard, total instru... 
Belles 20A Phono Stage
This is a sleeper of a phono stage, I carried BAT as an equipment line and would equate it to something as highly regarded as the VK-P10, although not the se version. You need to be able to provide cartridge impedence as that is factory set. You c... 
Krell ksa-300s vs Pass Labs x-350
I have had both, and would lean toward the Pass Labs, but hey do you want to know what these were traded to me for? Belles 350-A at a recently increased price of $4000 new. Reviews will easily support the fact that these are regarded as the finest... 
Need amp match advice to drive Eggleston Andras
It seems you were always aware of bass performance, how about a 250 watt per channel (conservatively rated) amplifier that has been repeatedly reviewed as having the best bass control in the business, bar nothing at any price? The Belles 350-A wil... 
Have you heard or own the Meadowlark Blue Heron 2?
I forgot to mention that the Wilson Audio you would compare the Blue Heron 2's to wouldn't be the Sophia, it would be the Watt/Puppy 7's, roughly same driver compliment 
Anyone use a Belles 150A to drive a difficult load
The new 150-Reference was developed to handle difficult loads, Dave claims 1 ohm loads pose no difficulty for them. I have used the 350-A to drive Martin Logan CLS II's and Magnepans and find that the bass control is the best I've heard. A recent ... 
amp for Meadowlark Shearwater's
The best, is there such a creature? A Belles 150-A hotrod is pretty hard to beat for the money. They are very musical and involving and yes I am a tube lover by the way. I have a BAT VK-75se as my tube reference. 
Have you heard or own the Meadowlark Blue Heron 2?
I've got the Blue Heron 2's and have had several pairs of the older Blue Herons. Make sure if you hear these anywhere that they are fully broken-in. They sound so good early on that most are very happy with them, but for those who have had longer ... 
von Schweikert VR-4 vs Vandersteen 5A
"Excitement" may be the operative word here, as mentioned above that would indicate an artificial emphasis somewhere that creates the illusion of more/better when being compared in a store to a more neutral and correct sound. This can be easily pe... 
vandersteen 3a signature or thiel 2.4 or 2.3
Given what you are currently using the Vandersteens would be the more forgiving choice. The Thiels are excellent but quite demanding of everything else in the system, you'd be on a forced upgrade path where the Vandys will sound very good at all k... 
Best monoblock tube amp with Vandersteen 5A
There are a lot of good products out there, mostly with one common factor, PRICE. There are several dealers I know of, myself included that have used $10k preamps as their personal reference best. The new Belles 21-A can actually replace many $10k...