Amp and Preamp for JM Lab Alto Utopias

Hi Bill,

I am glad to read that everything worked out fine. So much for the MF being among the first 5 integrated at any price :).

Look forward to see some pics of your new system!

Best wishes,
Paul

Thanks Paul. I need to get those pics loaded up soon. The MF is a nice amp to be sure, and I very much enjoyed it for eight years, but this new amp is in another world. Thanks once again for the help and support!

I owned a pair of JM Labs/Focal Alto Utopias for 4 years. I sold them to buy Venture CR-8 Signatures. The Venture speakers, even though not as heavy or as big as the Altos, kicked the Altos backside in every way. Better bass (2x8" vs. 1X11), tweeter is more refined, and best of all, more musical and detailed at the same time.

Well, that's nice I'm sure, but I'm not looking to change speakers. There are probably better speakers than the Altos, even in the Focal line. I've heard really great speakers outside my own, including the MBLs and the Magico Q7s, which I heard at an audio show this weekend. I've also heard the Audio Machina speakers, which impressed me a great deal. But the reason I started this thread was to get recommendations for better amplification. If I were to switch speakers at this point it would be for a good value pair of the earlier JM Lab Utopias, which are priced right locally. But that may be more of a lateral move rather than an improvement. I'm happy with what I have. My next move will be a higher grade SACDP and then I'm off the search for a long while.

Hi,

Bit of a pot shot. What about the Devialet D Premier. I own one and used to drive the Focal Scala Utopia and now the Focal Maestro Utopia.

It is a very tidy and fabulously sounding rig.