2. amps-preamps
  3. 1435441061

Another

~

It's time to move up in my system. I'd appreciate some amp recommendations, as I haven't heard too many amps, and have little knowledge of some of the nuances involved in making a decision. Field testing amps is also difficult where I live.

My system is Magnepan 3.7 speakers; (2) Vandersteen 2wq subwoofers; Mojo Audio Mac Mini feeding a PS Audio Directstream DAC, straight to amp. No preamp. (Transparent ICs, Shunyata Triton, Anaconda PCs, DH Labs and Silnote SCs.) The current amp is a very fast and very powerful Class-D switching amp with tons of headroom.

The system is noiseless, clean, precise, detailed, neutral. The soundstage is huge, holographic, and immersive. Live recordings are the bomb. Sometimes it seems a bit sharp or harsh, but that's often the recording or the room. Overall, soft and sensuous, it ain't, but I can hear every note and breath.

I've heard some denigrate a different switching amp -- "I can hear the switching." This from a tube guy. I'd prefer not to get into any Class-X wars.

A local dealer is suggesting I look at Bryston, a classic match for Maggies, I'm sure, but he also suggests that the Bryston can be somewhat two-dimensional. His solution is a Levinson 532H, which he holds as more three-dimensional than Bryston.

Or, he has a demo Acoustic Research Ref150. Somehow, I doubt I'd like to go with tubes, due to the sonics, the expense, and the 'hassle' of dealing with tubes.

All of the prices mentioned are more than I'd like to spend, but I've gotta deal with that part of it.

So, I'd love to hear recommendations.

And... how does one audition amps when they live in an area of so few B&M audio stores?

~
rhanson739
guidocorona
4,114 posts
 
Hey Rob, I do pride myself to guide my friends on an audiophilic path of financial irresponsibility *grins!*

Both Rowland Continuum S2 and Merrill Veritas are valiant contenders with similar power dlivery.

The Rowland Continuum S2 in your system has probably a good four weeks of signal grinding in front of it before it is completely stabilized.
ricred1
1,412 posts
 
Rob,

I have the JR S2 and curious of how it compares to the Veritas. Totally happy with the S2 and not looking to replace anything, but love to hear how it compares to something as highly thought of as the Veritas.
rhanson739 OP
269 posts
 
Ricred1,

I'll be posting a comparison here before too long.
tbg
5,263 posts
 
Rhanson739, in-home demonstration must be like doctors making housecalls. I am going to recommend the H-Cat amp. You would want the X-10 version, but if you can find one of the older models, for $2000, you have it converted into an X-10.

Only about ten or twenty of us have heard this new version and I know of many of them. All of us are incredulous of what we hear. It has a soundstage that just lays to waste any other amp I've ever heard.

I was fortunate and had kept both their amp and linestage in a secondary system. Now both are coming home to my big system.
rhanson739 OP
269 posts
 
Tbg,

Thanks for the input. If that's the same X10 I'm looking at online, then I don't believe 100W RMS is going to cut it when driving the Maggies. They are thirsty speakers.
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