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Amps for Sonus Faber Stradivari Homage

I have a pair of Stradivaris that I love, but I´m having a little trouble finding the right amps for them. My system consists of: Emmlabs CDSA SE latest version, Clearaudio Champion Level two/ SME V/ Benz Ruby, ARC REF3, MSB 202 monos.
I have driven the speakers with a set of Pass XA 100.5 before, but they sounded compresed quite quickly. The MSB´s offer more power than the 100.5´s and sound more detailed and airy, but also leaner and brighter.
I love detail and air, but I also crawe bass slam and body in the midths and highs. I absolutly hate lean and bright sound, no matter how detailed it might bee.
I have owned quite a lot of Krell gear in the past. I liked the bass of the ols stuf like the KSA s series + the first FPB stuff. The rest of the frequency range however, sounded rough and "solid state" to me. I liked the detail of the MCX 450´s, but they sounded to lean in the low frequences to me. I have tried tube amps as well, but I have not yet found a pair that did´nt sound like tubes in the bass region
So I am dreaming of a set of amps that delivers a full bodied, warm but detailed sound with bass slam and bass detail as well.
Any recomendations ?
NB: English is not my native language, so I hope for your understanding if my spelling is off !
0461
barnes
45 posts
 
I have a mcintosh mc402 now playing on the Strads, but will probably go back to my Mcintosh 2102 when I re-tube. The Strads sound best with my tubes. I just put some Telefunken smothplates in my Pre, C220. The 402 plays louder with more control. The tubes provide more midrange magic, IMHO.
Hate messing with tubes though.
velo62
255 posts
 
I have the Strads hooked up to Mcintosh MC2301's and rotate between the Jadis DA60, VAC 300.1/Sigma 160i and MC601's. Cabling is Nordost Valhalla/Odin and I also use Kubala-Sosna Elation. Your welcome to come by for a demo, we are located in the Miami,Fla area just minutes from the airport, I am a dealer for all of the above mentioned brands.
doug2507
7 posts
 
Watching this thread with interest. Running a MSB DAC with B&W 803D's and have both the 202's and XA100.5's on my short list. Pre might end up being either attenuator to DAC or the likes of REF.3/LS5/CT5/XP20. Interested to hear how the 202's compare to the XA's after suitable break in.
0461 OP
18 posts
 
Hi Doug2507,

After having listened to both the Pass and the MSB´s for a few months now, I must say that MSB is the owerall winner for me. They do everything better, except for midrage warmth perhaps. But if you end up going for the MSB´s, make sure that you get them in the latest version because the earlier models can fail. But if you buy them new today, they will be allright I have heard !
lloydelee21
1,202 posts
 
Congrats 0461!!!!!

i imagine you have read Martin Collom's review of these on hifi critic? i am particularly intrigued by msb's digital stuff. have been speaking with them about their new universal media transport.
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