What preamp have I not tried?
- Thread starter MadFloyd
- Start date
I have heard the D'Agostinos...stereo and monos. Although i have not extensively compared the two...my gut tells me i prefer the Stereo, and i think so did a couple of the guys at the dealership. A touch sweeter was the term they used.
I dont think you'll have bass bloat with your Sashas caused by the D'Agostinos. Good luck and pls post your findings!
Yes, although I did try the stock tube as per suggestion. It didn't change the low end that much and overall I preferred the NOS.
Floyd,
you should really consider full range traps behind your head on the wall. As seen in your pictures, you head is too close to the wall w/o having absorption there, imo.
you should really consider full range traps behind your head on the wall. As seen in your pictures, you head is too close to the wall w/o having absorption there, imo.
Yeah, I'll be looking at the stereo version, if only for financial reasons.
MadF - they really are superbly transparent and they really are 'sweet' in the treble...and they really appear to be powerful...but i never really tested them. With D'Agostino at the helm with his name on the unit...i dont think its a stretch to assume they are 'indestructible' and will drive any load with punishing power.
Have you tried their own amplifier? I listened once to a pair of small Avantgarde's and it was really a delight.
If i change the sophia electric RP tubes for Full music 300 B i get more of the rounded/ rolled of tubey sound, the latest 300 B s have become much more Full Range.
To get the full triode magic i suggest one should go with a tube triode power amp as well
If i had not that efficient/easy speakers i would probably go for CAT amps , which are full range and powerfull
To get the full triode magic i suggest one should go with a tube triode power amp as well
If i had not that efficient/easy speakers i would probably go for CAT amps , which are full range and powerfull
Nope, ran the horns first with the Audiopax 88, then the Lamm ML2 SET. There is a real synergy between the Duo and the ML2. I think the areas for improvement are: bigger, better room (will be happening); bigger speaker system (want to eliminate the discontinuity in the bass with the Duo) and line stage.
I still think mad floyd your living room is a fairly large open space which is pretty hard to fill with any speaker
Yep, sorry, I don't mean to derail Floyd's thread. The output of the ML2 goes directly to the midrange horn- no crossover. Then a jumper to the horn tweeter, and another jumper (fed by the ML 2) to an input of binding posts that accept amplifier output as input to an active woofer system. There is a well-known issue with this speaker having a tricky blend between the horns and the woofers. I would eventually like to have horn loaded woofs, and for that, I'm gonna need a big room.
Postscript: I guess the point is, with two very different systems, rooms and listeners, both Floyd and I can zero in on the strengths and weaknesses of a particular line stage that we have in common. That was the reason I chimed in earlier on the use of efficient speakers not changing the conclusion, and also, why I am interested in the various line stage alternatives being discussed. Back to our program?
Sorry madfloyd Whart indeed beautifull system/ room i looked it up on the gon ,looks like a cosy music place.
And madfloyd what different pre s are concerned , i suggest you listen to the mentioned candidates, preferably in your own system and decide whether its worth changing.
Proof of the pudding is in the eating ,( not in magazines )
Whart indeed beautifull system/ room i looked it up on the gon ,looks like a cosy music place.And madfloyd what different pre s are concerned , i suggest you listen to the mentioned candidates, preferably in your own system and decide whether its worth changing.
Proof of the pudding is in the eating ,( not in magazines )
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I've heard Madfloyd's system many times. I agree with those who are starting to suggest more powerful SS amps. I dragged my Pass XA160.5 to his house when he had the Pass XP30 and Ayre pre for comparison. (Not easy to move those monsters.) Sure enough, to my ears, the amps made the system sing like I have not heard it - and with both preamps. The key was that the Pass SS amps drove the Sashas beautifully. There was plenty of control, extension, ease, and the vinyl was just incredible. I thought it sounded quite transparent, but I think Madfloyd prefers some tubes in the chain. It was the best I've heard the Sashas sound at his house. Of course, I'm heavily biased toward Pass gear, and he knows this well, but the XA160.5/XP-30 combo was really, really good. The Sashas are a very tough load and they need lots of good, clean power, IMO.
Sorry, Madfloyd, to take this discussion away from pre amps.
Sorry, Madfloyd, to take this discussion away from pre amps.
Madfloyd , ... or go with wilson maxx3 or X series to give room fill in the current listening situation
With Peter's email, MadFloyd, and Andromeda's...i will add to my earlier post suggesting a relook at the amp.
1. For me, when i get a speaker whose 'voice' I generally like...the next thing i learned was that giving it the right engine block to really drive made a big improvement. Note - the improvement was in the same vein as the original voicing i heard in the speaker...its just that it felt more accomplished in all the areas where i originally liked the speaker...and it substantially improved in areas where perhaps i originally thought it had quite a weakness.
If you like your Sashas...and there is a lot to like there...an even more powerful (high current and ability to drive tougher loads more than pure watts) and still transparent amp with your Lamm pre might just do it.
2. The other way to do it...is to get a speaker that has similar voicing to your Sashas...that is easier to drive and bigger (for the bass wallop you may be looking for)...guess what...Maxx3/Alexandria.
Depending on what amp you go for...you might find trading in your Sashas and adding money to get bigger, second-hand Wilsons...may result in close to the same 'out of pocket' as keeping the Sashas and investing purely cash to get the bigger amp.
Interesting in that you are suggesting that the lack of bass articulation is a result of the amp, and not his line stage.
Whart, That is correct. We first listened to the two preamps with his Lamm amps. After a few hours we inserted my amps and listened to both preamps again. All bass issues were resolved, IMO. The bass was more articulate, more extended and fuller with no bloating. It sounded more natural. The Lamm amps sound great in the mid range and upper frequencies, but I think the Sashas need more current and control for the lower frequencies. The XA160.5 are 320 watts at 4 ohms and 640 watts at 2 ohms with lots of current. My suspicion is that Madfloyd felt the Pass/Pass combo was a bit thin, but perhaps he will chime in here with his own opinion.
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