Amps for Avantgarde


I recently installed a new set of Avantgarde Mezzo speakers. They have two horns for medium and high frequencies and a horn based woofer cabinet with its own 500 Watt amplification.
The speakers look great ( I have them in cherry with burgundy red horns), my wife likes them and the sound is GLORIOUS !
You can see my setup in Avantgarde-acoustic.de web page/gallery
Bass it has all you can take, the limit is your ears an the furniture trying to move around by itself. Even at low levels you get plenty of bass.

From my former setup with Aerial 8B speakers i had a C-46, two MC-501 and a MCD-205, all McIntosh.
With the Avantgardes the MC-501 were showing a watt usage of hardly over 0.5 Watts, at normal listening levels and no more than 5 Watts when really turniung the volume up to hurting levels. The sensitivity of the Mezzo is 107dB.
I thought that maybe I should try the real fine stuff, valves single ended, which have an output power handicap, but in this case with theses speakers not. 5 Watts is probably enough.
A friend of mine who is also audio dealer loaned me a set of Klimo Belataine Mono Valve amps, 5 Watts Class A, single ended, 300B, with automatic bias controll and choice of feedback or no feedback. The Klimos have a separate power supply for each mono amp and those are also valve operated.
He also gave me a Klimo Merlin valve preamp to try.
Ther hearing test produced the following results.
The Merlin with the Beltaines compared to the C-46 with the MC501's sounded more real, more detaild, more lifelike and maybe with a tighter bass. No distortion or noise was heard at any level.
But I did try another combination, and that was hooking up the C-46 to the Klimos
And I got an even better, more detailed and lifelike sound than with the Merlin Valve preamp.

I have never been really interested in valve amplifiers and considered well designed solid state the better.
Well, the Klimo Beltaine power amps are a joy, but the McIntosh C-46 preamp sounds better than the Klimo Merlin, which has had some good reviews, allthough it is not considered a preamp good for rock. Maybe that gives a hint.

Now here is my question, should I stick with the C-46 or can I get something much better, solid state or tube ?
stefanfad8

Chadeffect, bought a Pass First Watt F3 for the Uno's and it's an EXCELLENT match. Was using an EAR 890 and the sound was very good but a little noisy.
Hi knghifi,
how would you describe the F3 sound? I have been wanting to try one on the Trio.

Chadeffect, the sound is detail, transparent and loads of texture ... very nice! I think it will work fine with your Trios.

If you want to go with tubes, I heard many positive comments on the Art Audio PX-25. One of comment is from Walter Swanbon of Fidelis.
Knghifi.
I have been looking for something to drive the Trios with for a while.

I dont know if you have read any of my previous posts, but I am very happy with the sound I am getting. While I am using modified BC Ref1000 mk2 which would seem overkill to say the least, they sound fantastic.

The issue I think I am going to have is that I have got used to a very clean, extremely fast and transparent sound. I fear the usual tube amps (as good as some are) may not work for me. Thats why I was hoping one of the the First watt amps may help.

I loved the Lamm, but in comparison it is a little veiled and rounded, though very musical. Similar to the Avantgarde amp in presentation. I have heard the Art px25 on Duos with music first passive pre, and I could tell it still had some softness/roundness in an area where I have amazing detail and poise.

I fear I am going to be a difficult customer as I dont know of a manufacturer that has the sound I believe I am after. I think may last hope is a Halcro Dm38 or something, and a valve pre amp to help between the DCS front end and Halcro amp. It all seems a little expensive for the slight tilt I am after.

First watt is not soft to my ears and very musical. I think it's worth an audition.

If you want a detail, transparent and very neutral sound, maybe you should check out ASI Liveline cables along with a new amp.

Here's the 6moon review. I find the review very accurate from my own audition.

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/acousticsystem5/liveline.html

I know several have changed from an all top of the line Stealth to ASI Liveline cables. It's crystal clear, very revealing but not bright or hard and very musical.