Don't trust me but I have heard Dave Belles of Power Modules power amps designs his amps with Dynaudio speakers. You can call Dave. His amps are very good and reasonably priced. Audio Waves gives a real good deal on new PowerModule amps.
Amplification for Dynaudio Contour 3.4 LE - strange results obtained so far
Hi,
I have recently purchased a Dynaudio Contour 3.4 LE floorstander and am now looking for an appropriate amplification. The Contours are placed in a room sized about 4,5*8 metres. I bought the Contour for my second system. In my (smaller) dedicated listening room I have a Dynaudio Confidence C1 II, with Bladelius Thor MK 3 integrated amp and Bladelius Freja CD player. With this combination I am extremely happy.
So far, I have tested two amps with the Contours: The Bladelius Thor from my other system and a Revox B250E which I had in the system I am about to replace now. The Revox (former Swiss brand) is a 25 year old solid state with a reasonably high power output (120 resp. 200 watts) and a rather low damping factor (>100), in tests in the early 90s described as a rather analytical amp and compared with the Yamaha sound at that time. The Bladelius is much more powerful (175/340 watts). The results surprised me pretty much and leave me a bit helpless, so I hope for your suggestions, particularly from Contour owners:
* The Bladelius has a good grip on the Contours, it sounds precise and provides a decent soundstage. BUT: It sounds clinical and liveless in this combination (though not at all with my C1!). No airiness in the heights, an alltogether quite lean sound, the opposite of what I'd call musical.
* The Revox also has enough power to control the Contours. It produces a somewhat less clean, but considerably more volumnious bass. The mids are much more lively and emotional sounding and have more body than with the Bladelius. Heights are quite OK at high volumes, at lower volumes the system sounds slightly dark.
To sum up, the Revox is less clean and has less resolution and control with the Contours than the Bladelius, but is overall more lively, has more body and is much more fun to listen. I nevertheless want to replace the Revox with an amp that has more resolution and airiness in the heights and a better soundstage but has also a lively and bodyful midrange and an overall rather voluminous than lean sound. I will rather buy a used amplification, with overall not more than ca. 2.500 US $ respectively 2.300 € or so.
After quite some research, my favourites would currently be (all of them are currently available within the price range):
* Simaudio Moon i 3.3 integrated
* An older Simaudio Moon i 7
* Exposure 3010 S2 monoblocs with either the Exposure or another preamp
* Electrocompaniet ECI 5 MK II or ECI 6 D
* NAD C 165 preamp and 275 Power amp
* Possibly a Halo A 21 power amp plus whatever preamp
What is your opinion? What are your experiences with these amps, particularly in combination with the Contours? It seems pretty much a problem of system matching I have and I do really not understand why the Bladelius reacts so differently with the Contours than with the C1s.
Best,
Fritz
I have recently purchased a Dynaudio Contour 3.4 LE floorstander and am now looking for an appropriate amplification. The Contours are placed in a room sized about 4,5*8 metres. I bought the Contour for my second system. In my (smaller) dedicated listening room I have a Dynaudio Confidence C1 II, with Bladelius Thor MK 3 integrated amp and Bladelius Freja CD player. With this combination I am extremely happy.
So far, I have tested two amps with the Contours: The Bladelius Thor from my other system and a Revox B250E which I had in the system I am about to replace now. The Revox (former Swiss brand) is a 25 year old solid state with a reasonably high power output (120 resp. 200 watts) and a rather low damping factor (>100), in tests in the early 90s described as a rather analytical amp and compared with the Yamaha sound at that time. The Bladelius is much more powerful (175/340 watts). The results surprised me pretty much and leave me a bit helpless, so I hope for your suggestions, particularly from Contour owners:
* The Bladelius has a good grip on the Contours, it sounds precise and provides a decent soundstage. BUT: It sounds clinical and liveless in this combination (though not at all with my C1!). No airiness in the heights, an alltogether quite lean sound, the opposite of what I'd call musical.
* The Revox also has enough power to control the Contours. It produces a somewhat less clean, but considerably more volumnious bass. The mids are much more lively and emotional sounding and have more body than with the Bladelius. Heights are quite OK at high volumes, at lower volumes the system sounds slightly dark.
To sum up, the Revox is less clean and has less resolution and control with the Contours than the Bladelius, but is overall more lively, has more body and is much more fun to listen. I nevertheless want to replace the Revox with an amp that has more resolution and airiness in the heights and a better soundstage but has also a lively and bodyful midrange and an overall rather voluminous than lean sound. I will rather buy a used amplification, with overall not more than ca. 2.500 US $ respectively 2.300 € or so.
After quite some research, my favourites would currently be (all of them are currently available within the price range):
* Simaudio Moon i 3.3 integrated
* An older Simaudio Moon i 7
* Exposure 3010 S2 monoblocs with either the Exposure or another preamp
* Electrocompaniet ECI 5 MK II or ECI 6 D
* NAD C 165 preamp and 275 Power amp
* Possibly a Halo A 21 power amp plus whatever preamp
What is your opinion? What are your experiences with these amps, particularly in combination with the Contours? It seems pretty much a problem of system matching I have and I do really not understand why the Bladelius reacts so differently with the Contours than with the C1s.
Best,
Fritz
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- 10 posts total
Dear all, thanks a lot for your suggestions so far, very helpful. Pass, Bryston and Plinius are unfortunately quite expensive here in Germany, even used they are normally beyond the budget, the basic integrateds starting at >3.000€. I'd however have the chance to get a Belles Soloist 1 at a good price, for 1200€ used or 1600€ as a demo. I suppose that is the Belles company marqmike and carmenc are suggesting. Do you know the Soloist, would it be a good partner for the Contours? And is the company Belles still existing? In Germany, I could not find any Belles dealer. Best, Fritz |
Hi Fritz, Belles still exists. One might say he is going stronger than ever with his newer Aria line of amps an preamps. The Soloist 1 would certainly do a great job as it offers plenty of current. The other alternative is a pair of the Aria monoblocks and the Aria preamp. If you could find an older Belles Reference 150a amp that would save you money. Then match it with a used tube preamp. The 150 has an input impedance that is quite conducive for a tube pre. If you can get a good deal on the Soloist, go for it. Try it and see/hear what you think! Best..... |
Hello Fritz The company is called Power Modules. You can go to www.powermodules.com. Johnny at "Audio Connection" is also very knowledgeable regarding those amps and he is in New York I believe. Carmenc's suggestion of a used Belles Reference 150 or 350 would be a very good to see if you like it with the Dynaudios. I have compared those Belles amps with what has been mentioned in the previous posts and they compare very well. Some would like the Belles better some would like the others a little better, but they compare very well. Remember you can call the designer himself Dave Belles and ask him, he may provide some nice suggestions as one who has probably used Dynaudio's in developement of some of his amps. With all that being said, and even if you got someone to tell you about a great combination, it is only a great combination in their lives not yours yet. You will do yourself good to listen to it first if you can. |
- 10 posts total