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Going to take the plunge on JM Lab Micro Utopia Be

I've been auditioning a ton of speakers of late and seem to have finally met my match, the Micros, which I really love. they seem the most appropriate for my central listening tastes, which are typically electroacoustic and electronic. Very few speakers I heard covered the range of these on this music and yes we should buy speakers first and foremost to fit our music.

What I'd like to know now is what kind of amplification should I consider. The music I listen to covers a lot of wide frequency ranges--sometimes quite abruptly. I need equipment that can take the sonic punishment. What, dear folks, matches up best with the Micros in your opinions? I've read about the YBA's but I can't get them locally (I don't live in the states). I'd probably have to buy them on my next trip to the US or find something else. Any other recommendations? I've heard them very well with a Musical Fidelity setup, quite nicely with the AVI integrated, and today witnessed them with Chord Pre/Power. The dealer said that an older combo with Mark Levinson 28 and 29 would also be a good one. Any thoughts? thanks in advance.
bashline9b78
warrenh's avatar
warrenh
2,299 posts
 
BTW, don't think for a minute that those Micros don't need a sub. Add that to the $7k plus price tag. The Jmlabs are overpriced, right up to their big baby.
dweller's avatar
dweller
3,793 posts
 
To answer your question (you're not seeking speaker advice, right?) look at the following:

1. Spectral - Known for super bandwidth

2. BEL 1001 Mk V monos - Known for super sound

3. Plinius SA-102 - Great sound and reasonable used price

Any of these should make the BE's shine.

Congratulations on finding something YOU like...
panderso
156 posts
 
I heard recently heard the larger Mezzo Utopia Be speakers driven by Jeff Rowland separates, and sounding very fine. The same knowledgable retailer recommends Audio Research VS 110 tube amp & AS Sp-16 tube pre-amp specifically for the Micros.

The Canadian distributor, Plurison, likes YBA with the Utopias and Electra Be line; I haven't had the chance to hear that pairing. I would have thought you could get YBA all over North America, Britain and Europe.

As to the suggestion from Warrenh that you will find the bass inadequate; a very personal decision, having a great deal to do with musical taste and room acoustics. Personally, I'm thinking of scaling back to a comparable two-way monitor because of room limitations and listening patterns.
I admit to being intrigued by Warrenh's advocacy for the Caravelle, but am not sure where to hear a pair short of ordering same.

A note of caution, FWIW. I had a lot of high treble glare coming off my new Electra 927 Be until I unhooked the DAC I was using, reverting to a one box CD player. So I expect the right amp-speaker partnership for your ear to be critical.
thom_y
195 posts
 
If you're interested in solid state, consider Simaudio W-5 and Rowland for the Micros.
sbfx
63 posts
 
Hi,

I'm very interested in these speakers too but wanted to know if a 50W Class A amp drive them properly(Audio Aero Capitole Power Amp)?

Satyam.
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