Amp for Dali Hellicon 400 mk2

I tried them with Rowland, Primare and Conrad Johnson with either Cardas Golden Reference or Analysis Plus Solo Crystal Oval 8, so I don't think there was any problem there. I heard depth but no character. I don't understand how them room did this with the Dali, but not other speakers, but I'll try again. If Dali can't show them at their best, no one can.

Dave

Dave, I can comment on a few things: I would say Primare needs a completely different sort of speaker. I once tried it with Dynaudio and it was terribly flat and lifeless. I do know someone who couldnt make the Primare work well with Helicons, and is using Martin Logans. I do believe Primare make great amps, but perhaps they have a strong character that suits certain speakers. I also think Cardas is a complete mismatch with Helicons from personal experience. I tried their speaker wire when I owned the Helicon 400, and found it took the life away from the speaker, and also made the bass sound sluggish. Havent heard Rowland, Conrad Johnson, or Analysis Plus with Helicons. I am nurturing a theory that Helicons would sound a little better with solid state rather than tube vs the Euphonia for e.g. because of their warmth, but I might be completely wrong.

Mike, you're absolutely right about the Primare, at least the 100 wpc unit that I heard. With the Primare the bass was flabby and bloated. The amp clearly couldn't damp the mid and bass drivers.

The Rowland Continuum 500 and the C-J CA200 did a fine job of controlling the bass, but didn't bring out any richness in the bass. As you say, the bass was lifeless. What cable are you using?

One thing is clear, the 400 needs at least 200 watts and a high effective damping capacity. Many tube units are unlikely to provide the damping and control needed.

My guess is that Dali will have these kinks worked out in their RMAF suite. We shall see...

Dave

the helicon mk2 400 need alot of clean power to control the bass. i am using them with mcintosh 501. ss does work better then tube with the helicon unless you are in the upper price range of a tube amp. I also noticed that the helicon are a very fussy speaker, you need to place them just right, and yes they do need alot of break in. i chose to sell mine and went a diffent rout with totem winds. the helicons will reviel a poor amp and or interconnects.

Dave, I am using Chord epic super twin speaker cables currently. You dont hear much about it in this forum, but I think its a great cable for the Helicon. It also needs a long burn in.
I have tried many cables with many speakers over the years and mostly just get more confused the more listening I do, but the Chord works very well for me so far. Cables remain a huge mystery to me, and I find myself unable to always clearly define what I am hearing with many of them, and it often changes when I listen again. Components are a breeze by comparison, to me.