Integrated amp for my Sonus Faber Guarneri

Update - A lot happened the past few weeks. For those interested, to start with, on topic of this thread I got a Luxman 509u integrated, which I adore. This amp is clean, clear, powerful, flat, with punch while bringing out the subtlest tonalities and details of instruments across the spectrum.

Taking mainly Daveyf's advice to work on my source and front-end stuff, I started at my computer by adding Amarra software, which I find noticeably better for playback of higher-resolution files, and I upgraded my DAC to a North Star Designs USB Dac32, which I preferred on listening comparisons over the Bryston BDA-1 and new Luxman DA-200. I also replaced all my interconnects with used Cobalt stuff, and speaker wire with German 12 AWG silver wires. In addition, I put-up sound-absorbing curtains over my thin Japanese sliding plexiglass door-walls, and some foam-rubber absorbers on the reflecting wall facing me. All of these tweaks have made significant improvements, and my system sounds great now.

HOWEVER…and this part might make me lose you all as friends, I finally gave-up on the Guarneris. I came to admit to myself that I am just not a small-speaker kind of guy, and much prefer a large sound that reproduces all genres of music well rather than only certain kinds of instruments. I was hit once and for all with this when I happened on a pair of minty condition Acapella Campaniles on special New Year's clearance sale, and traded-in my G's, old Luxman amp, subwoofer, plus some cash for them, in an amazingly lucky bargain.

These are definitely my sound. No more searching. The problem now is there is no room in my old Japanese house with ceilings high enough or enough room for them, so they are in storage while I look for a new house for them. I've been wanting badly to move, and this gives me greater impetus. I know I face a great deal more tweaking when I finally do find a place where I can install them, but I've learned a lot from this forum and look forward to that challenge.

In the meantime, I'm back again to my old Yamaha NS-1000X's, but now with better sources, interconnects, amp, placement, and room treatment, and the sound is all very livable until I finally find a new home for me and my Acapellas.

Update - A lot happened the past few weeks. For those interested, to start with, on topic of this thread I got a Luxman 509u integrated, which I adore. This amp is clean, clear, powerful, flat, with punch while bringing out the subtlest tonalities and details of instruments across the spectrum.

Taking mainly Daveyf's advice to work on my source and front-end stuff, I started at my computer by adding Amarra software, which I find noticeably better for playback of higher-resolution files, and I upgraded my DAC to a North Star Designs USB Dac32, which I preferred on listening comparisons over the Bryston BDA-1 and new Luxman DA-200. I also replaced all my interconnects with used Cobalt stuff, and speaker wire with German 12 AWG silver wires. In addition, I put-up sound-absorbing curtains over my thin Japanese sliding plexiglass door-walls, and some foam-rubber absorbers on the reflecting wall facing me. All of these tweaks have made significant improvements, and my system sounds great now.

HOWEVER…and this part might make me lose you all as friends, I finally gave-up on the Guarneris. I came to admit to myself that I am just not a small-speaker kind of guy, and much prefer a large sound that reproduces all genres of music well rather than only certain kinds of instruments. I was hit once and for all with this when I happened on a pair of minty condition Acapella Campaniles on special New Year's clearance sale, and traded-in my G's, old Luxman amp, subwoofer, plus some cash for them, in an amazingly lucky bargain.

These are definitely my sound. No more searching. The problem now is there is no room in my old Japanese house with ceilings high enough or enough room for them, so they are in storage while I look for a new house for them. I've been wanting badly to move, and this gives me greater impetus. I know I face a great deal more tweaking when I finally do find a place where I can install them, but I've learned a lot from this forum and look forward to that challenge.

In the meantime, I'm back again to my old Yamaha NS-1000X's, but now with better sources, interconnects, amp, placement, and room treatment, and the sound is all very livable until I finally find a new home for me and my Acapellas.

Hi DILE - congrats!!! and no one should be miffed or upset by your decision...after all, its YOUR decision!

From what i have read, you have bought some fantastic equipment. Congratulations. Northstar and Acapella in particular are both great from what i understand. i may even hear horns myself being in Hong Kong at the end of the month...Audio Exotics, the place of legendary fame!

Enjoy your music and good luck finding a new place to live. Moving house to get the right room for your speakers - now that's dedication to your music!

Thanks, Lloydelee21! Actually, I am not as dedicated as all that. I've been planning to move for several years, and have a pretty clear idea in my head of what sort of house I want, but the 2.4-meter high Acapellas just add one more requirement of a large room with high ceilings. This is difficult but not impossible to find in the semi-countryside here. This will also give me a chance to move the speakers in before the rest of our stuff, hopefully making them less shocking and more acceptable to wifey, who is historically not happy with my hobby, and whom I haven't yet gone out of my way to inform of the addition of the cute little Acapellas among our audio gear.

I looked-up Audio Exotics, and it should be a lot of fun. A lot of that sort of stuff is over the top for me, for example I personally really can't hear a difference by raising $500,000 speaker wire of the floor intermittently with $1000 little wood blocks, but some people seem to think they can and are willing to spend huge sums on such things. I saw loads of such things at the Tokyo International Audio show last fall, but also many things that really improved my understanding of this hobby, and some very tempting equipment as well. I am sure you will find the same, and have fun doing it. You should have some outstanding excellent meals in HK while you're there, too.

As for DACs, I bought the one that sounded best to me from among what was available locally for listening, but I found the sonic differences among the better DACs to be subtle, and my feeling is that computer audio is very young and like other areas of computer technology we will see huge improvements very fast at ever-lowering prices, so there is no hurry to run out and get one, because like computers and other peripherals, if you wait a few months there will probably be something twice as good for half the price.

I want to thank everyone on this thread again for your advice, which really rounded-out my fundamental understanding of several basic aspects of audio, while providing a means by which I could clarify my own tastes and desires, and launched me on my way to whatever my next level will be.

Hi Deaf, well like you said...it seems a lot has happened for you in the last few weeks..:0) Congrats on the Acapella's...are the Campaniles the speakers with the four 10" drivers per side? I haven't heard these, but i would think that you would need a VERY large room for them, wherein, I would expect a great sound. Horns aren't really my thing, but they are able to give one that 'BIG' sound and if that is what you like, then they are hard to beat.
BTW,I hope the GH's went to a good home. Do follow up with your impressions of your new speakers once you have had a chance to listen in your new abode.
Meanwhile, I'm glad I was able to help you with your system.