Budget Amp for Avalon Eidolon

Thank you everyone for your response. I decided to buy second hand CAT JL2. CAT doesn't have distributor in Australia and I can't audition the amplifier. But after having numerous conversations with owners of CAT and Eidolon speakers I'm inclined to obtain CAT JL2

As for Atma Sphere MA-1 Mk2.III I received some great and some discouraging opinions in regards to matching it with low impedance Avalon Eidolon. I'd love to listen to this great amp but Atma Sphere dealer is in another state and asking $500 for transporting for an audition in my place. Taking in account discouraging opinions and 50/50 chance of leaving the amp in my place after audition I decided not to go ahead.

Eavrll,

Just wanted to wish you well with the new amps.

Enjoy,
Tom

Eavr11, even though you already made your purchase decision, I wanted to weigh in here with another recommendation for others who may read this thread. I have used the Avalon Eidolons for nearly 5 years now, and have tried several amps with them, tube and solid state.

I recently decided to try a Class D amp to see what the fuss was all about. After reviewing the offerings in the market, I acquired a pair of the Gilmore Class D Raptor 500D's. These class D monoblock amps offer 500 watts per channel into 4 ohms, and they are priced at a very reasonable $5000 for the pair.

I was blown away by what these Gilmore Raptor amps could do with my Eidolons! They easily and substantially bettered the Parasound JC1's I used for over a year, which sell for $6000 a pair. Soundstaging, a great strength of the Eidolons, was even more fabulous with these amps. The level of detail that comes through is also incredible. I particularly enjoyed these amps with good rock recordings. I'm so impressed with these amps, I plan to write a review on them in the near future, but wanted to offer this recommendation now for those seeking a reasonably priced pair of solid state amps for their Eidolons.

Congratulations Eavr11. Please report back with how everything has turned out. And did you ever decide on a line stage? Sounds like the Aesthetix Callisto might work here? 8-)

As you know I am a huge fan of the CAT amps. And before I bought the SoundLab speakers, I wanted so much to hear the Eidolons but it just never happened as I could not find an owner or dealer nearby who had these. And I destroyed my speaker budget when I got the CAT amps anyway. But I knew with the CAT amps, they would drive the Avalons with ease if and when I ever made the switch. But for now, the SoundLabs are keepers.

John