Amp suggestions for Marten Coltrane Tenor

[JayT]

Hi Crom. Ended up with the tried and tested Vitus Combo. While it wouldn't grab your attention straight away, it gives me hours upon hours of listening without fatigue, which is something I really appreciate in an amplifier. The Audionet did give me something to think about, but to me, those amplifiers shine with single ended interconnects. Unfortunately,I'm already in too deep with balanced connections so didn't pursue it further. While I have not heard the current Karan amps, I have heard ASI amps paired with the Martens. Believe they are made by Karan as well? Oodles of power but I found Vitus gave more refinement. Recently I have been intrigued by Pilium amplifiers. In a casual listen (albeit with different speakers) I find it gives both power and refinement in equal measure. Might explore that in a couple of years time, but maybe another option for you to consider? Hope this helps a little!

 

[Crom]

Thanks JayT, I have Vitus SS-101 at the moment and it's fabulous - it sounds like maybe I should stick with what I know. I've heard the big 2000 Karan Monos but not the new POWERa's which are reportedly (on this site and in press, hifi+) excellent. Pilium seems to be getting a lot of attention recently. The name has come up a few times in my hunt but I've not heard of them before - I will investigate. Thanks for the tip!

 

[Cellcbern]

Hi all, currently a happy user of Marten Coltrane Tenors (mk1) speakers and Vitus SL-102 and SM 010 amps. DAC is CH Precision C1 and Ayon CDT 2 as a transport.

Recently the SM 010 developed buzzing on one of the amps, and the local dealer has given me a great deal for the SS 103. However, before I commit, I would like to ask everyone's opinion on what else I should consider?

I listen to vocals, piano, indie and some orchestral pieces now and then.

Any suggestions are welcome, but I prefer solid state.

Some amps I have listened to are Vitus (current amps), Soulution Integrated(a bit too "clinical" for my liking"), Dan D'Agostino (I like them, but not sure if they will match with my Vitus Pre), Gryphon Integrated (Too...dark?), but happy to take any suggestions.

Thanks!

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[orfeo_monteverdi]

A music lover in Belgium owns the Marten Tenor 2 Statement Edition with Gryphon Essence stereo.
He reports that the match is (very) good.

---

Nevertheless, he is upgrading, so he is selling both his Gryphon and Marten Tenor 2 Statement.
He says the speakers have less than one year, and are in pristine condition:
"Pristine Finish: No scratches, scuffs, or blemishes; looks as if it just left the factory."
Shipping from Belgium, Worldwide shipping .

For all intents and purposes, here is his offer, published on THE marketplace for used gear in EU, Audiomarkt:
https://www.audio-markt.de/en/market/marten-design-tenor-2-statement-edition-1599105535

 

[Crom]

Thanks for reminding me about this thread @orfeo_monteverdi. I tried Gryphon monos and MSB monos when I was looking to upgrade my Vitus. The Gryphons sounded particularly textural and 'real' but my wife didn't like the look and they generated an enormous amount of heat, so I continued my search. I couldn't get a pair of Vitus mono blocks in sadly but I ended up purchasing Karan POWERa mono blocks which manage to do things I have never heard before in my room. They gel with the Martens superbly!

 

[LL21]

Jay - easy - Audia Flight , either Strumento 4 for stereo or Strumento 8's for monos. And best of all I'm pretty sure your dealer carries Audia Flight.

I had ur speakers with Vitus, integrated then monos, Absolare monos, and now Audia Flight monos. AF is the best in taming the ceramic drivers and providing huge current and control.

cheers paul

I am intrigued about your comments about 'taming the ceramic drivers'. I think a LOT of great speakers use Accuton ceramic drivers, and I myself have been reading up on those speakers: Tidal, Marten, Von Schweikert, Vandersteen, Evolution Acoustics, Lumen, Gauder Akustic.

Any further guidance or insight on your views on amplification and ceramics would be great. I also note in this thread someone said Dartzeel and ceramics which of course is the exact pairing used with Evolution Acoustics...not least by our very own Mike Lavigne in his legendary MM7 set up.

 

[LL21]

A music lover in Belgium owns the Marten Tenor 2 Statement Edition with Gryphon Essence stereo.
He reports that the match is (very) good.

---

Nevertheless, he is upgrading, so he is selling both his Gryphon and Marten Tenor 2 Statement.
He says the speakers have less than one year, and are in pristine condition:
"Pristine Finish: No scratches, scuffs, or blemishes; looks as if it just left the factory."
Shipping from Belgium, Worldwide shipping .

For all intents and purposes, here is his offer, published on THE marketplace for used gear in EU, Audiomarkt:
https://www.audio-markt.de/en/market/marten-design-tenor-2-statement-edition-1599105535

What is he upgrading to?

 

[LL21]

Well the Vitus + Marten combo sure is nice. I'm a big fan. Can you get your buzzing amp repaired? Alternatively, the Dartzeel amps are a very sensible choice with Marten, speaking from daily experience. I would be happy long term with either combination.

Would appreciate learning more about your experience with Marten and Dartzeel. I believe Marten use Accuton Ceramics and Diamond drivers...which Evolution Acoustics do as well (Mike Lavigne's system)...and of course he is using Dartzeel as wel.

Would appreciate any guidance on how you hear this combination working. Also would appreciate any guidance on whether you think the 2 speakers utilizing Accuton ceramic drivers might both tie back well to Dartzeel as well.

 

[sujay]

I’m very happy with my Burmester 911 mk3 driving the Parker trio diamonds. I haven’t heard them at home with other amps. But I have heard them with both MSB 500 stereo and Vitus reference monos at the dealer’s. I clearly liked the MSB over the Vitus.

 

[bazelio]

Would appreciate learning more about your experience with Marten and Dartzeel. I believe Marten use Accuton Ceramics and Diamond drivers...which Evolution Acoustics do as well (Mike Lavigne's system)...and of course he is using Dartzeel as wel.

Would appreciate any guidance on how you hear this combination working. Also would appreciate any guidance on whether you think the 2 speakers utilizing Accuton ceramic drivers might both tie back well to Dartzeel as well.

I don't think I'm sure what your question is here, specifically. Both @Mike Lavigne and I have speakers with Accuton drivers and Dartzeel amps. Mike's tweeter is a ribbon whereas mine is ceramic. And of course Mike has the 468s while I have the 108 Model 2. For me, it's a dynamic, detailed, yet laid back natural sound. I can listen endlessly without fatigue and remain fully engaged the entire time.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Would appreciate learning more about your experience with Marten and Dartzeel. I believe Marten use Accuton Ceramics and Diamond drivers...which Evolution Acoustics do as well (Mike Lavigne's system)...and of course he is using Dartzeel as wel.

Would appreciate any guidance on how you hear this combination working. Also would appreciate any guidance on whether you think the 2 speakers utilizing Accuton ceramic drivers might both tie back well to Dartzeel as well.

I don't think I'm sure what your question is here, specifically. Both @Mike Lavigne and I have speakers with Accuton drivers and Dartzeel amps. Mike's tweeter is a ribbon whereas mine is ceramic. And of course Mike has the 468s while I have the 108 Model 2. For me, it's a dynamic, detailed, yet laid back natural sound. I can listen endlessly without fatigue and remain fully engaged the entire time.

some background to my appreciation of ceramic midrange and darTZeel. that attraction began with my ownership of the Kharma Exquisite and Tenor OTL amplifiers in 2001. Kharma's had Accuton Ceramic mids, and also a very profoundly cohesive sound. with an excellent tweeter/midrange pairing. during that ownership i also added Marten Dukes as rear channel speakers for a short period for SACD multi-channel and could hear how it was very transparent and cohesive. i chose them specifically due to the ceramic mids to be complimentary in my system.

later due to reliability with the Tenor's switched to the darTZeel's and felt that realism of the Tenors carried over with the darts and again the with the Evolutions which in many ways grew from mine and my friend Jonathan's love of the Kharma's sound. now over 20 years later still enjoying the musical truth of the darts and ceramic mids. it just gets out of the way of the music and is very involving and allows for long sessions with zero fatigue yet is exciting and satisfying.

 

[LL21]

…now over 20 years later still enjoying the musical truth of the darts and ceramic mids. it just gets out of the way of the music and is very involving and allows for long sessions with zero fatigue yet is exciting and satisfying.

Thank you!!!