I own Audio Physic 3i and run them through solid state Edge Electronics G1 preamp and G4 amplifier with a Resolution Audio Opus 21 CD player. The sound is fantastic, but please keep the following in mind: Audio Physic speakers are like that kitten in the fancy feast commercials- they require nothing but the finest surroundings and associated equipment to be happy and sound their best. The speakers are capable of enormous sound stage for their size, warm tight bass, and clean mids. The Tempo's sound gorgeous with Jazz and Classical music and anything that originates from organic instruments or clean analogue electronic sounds like Kraftwerk, for example. I don't recommend them for dance music as they dont have the slam in the bass department. If you skimp on cables, amplification, or the digital source the speakers will be unhappy (think about the cute white Persian cat with the rhinestone collar) and they will sound thin, edgy glaring, and lacking in the bass department. I have seen several agoners complain that the AP speakers lack bass. This is not true with the proper associated gear. The tweeters are very crisp- almost too bright unless you have good supporting gear. Most importantly, you must have a good, warm digital source with a good DAC and power supply. Finally, like most speakers the Tempos have a bloom volume that they sound their best at and louder doesnt usually deliver higher quality sound. I really like the Opus 21 because it has a separate volume control. The bass is more complete with the preamp volume up high and the cdp volume lower. This may be the preamp more than the speakers. Nonetheless, I spent 2 disappointed years running my AP speakers through a s#%tty amp and dvd player from Best Buy because thats what I could afford at the time. I only recently paid off the speakers and came into enough money to also buy the associated Edge gear, Opus 21 CD player, and a host of Tara Labs interconnects and power cords. After burn in, it sounds like I got a whole new system, not just amp and cdp. I also believe the speakers are efficient.
Audio Physic with Solid State Amp
somewhere along the way, i got the impression that audio physic products work best with tube amps, and lose much of their legendary soundstage and imaging ability with solid state amps. however, i have a mcintosh 402 power amp and a mcintosh c2200 pre amp, and i am wondering how well AP products would work with this system. as my listening space is fairly small, i am most interested in the new spark or the new tempo, and possibly the padua.
i would like very much to hear from those of you who are using solid state amps with their audio physic gear. any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated.
i would like very much to hear from those of you who are using solid state amps with their audio physic gear. any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated.
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- 9 posts total
- 9 posts total