What aspects of system/amp performance and sound reproduction are most important to you?
I am looking for help selecting an amplifier to match my Revel F228Be speakers.
I am looking for help selecting an amplifier to my Revel F228F speakers (which I love!) and twin REL T/9i subs.
Currently running a NAD M22 V1 or a YBA Integre DT. The NAD is dead silent and has great bottom end but the highs can be bright/screechy/digital at times. The YBA has nice highs but has a somewhat weak bottom-end and is only 50wpc. I tried bi-amping these two amps which takes advantage of the strengths of each. The problem is matching output. The YBA amp volume is almost maxed-out to match the NADs much larger output. This results in an irritating hum from the YBA.
So I plan to sell both amps and buy another. Looking for recommendations. Budget is $7,000, for amp and $2,000 for streamer. I prefer to buy ‘almost new’ components as is seems to me that you get more ‘bang for the buck’.
I mostly listen to streaming music (80%), and CDs (15%) with the balance being vinyl. Taste in music is very wide, Jazz (25%), Acoustic guitar (25%), Blues (15%), Orchestra (10%), Rock (25%)
Current DAC is a Benchmark DAC2 HGC, streamer is a Bluesound Node 2i (which I plan to upgrade).
My acoustically treated music room is 15x20 with sloped ceilings rising to 20 feet at one end.
At the top of my wish list is a Mark Levinson 585. I like the fact that this amp is integrated and has a built-in DAC. Thanks in advance for your suggestions.
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Before you jump ship, would you be willing to try out a fuse upgrade on the NAD? Stock fuses typically sound bright/harsh/sterile. They could definitely be influencing that screechy characteristic. I have found that a fuse upgrade almost always fixes this problem. My favorite has always been Furutech fuse, but they are discontinued. You could try a Synergistic BLUE or even an Audio Magic Super Fuse (DO NOT get the beeswax fuses - they push too hard). Also, do not get Hi-Fi Tuning Supreme. Just a thought. |
Mark Levinson would seem to be a natural match since they are designed with Revel. You might also consider the Krell K-300i I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised by it in a show setting, Or since you seem to like the YBA sound these look like a good deal in a pair of monoblocks..... https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649625475-yba-passion-1000-mono-pairs-x-2/ |
I heard the Revel F228Be speakers in a couple different systems at RMAF a couple years ago. I could tell the Revel Be were something special. One of the systems was driven by the Levinson integrated. It has absolutely excellent bass, but I just did not like the sound of the Levinson. Like some other high bias bipolar Class A amplifiers, the Levinson really smooths over the upper mids/highs and presents a non-neutral coloration to the sound. You really have to listen to Levinson first to see if you are one of the people who like it. |
soix, I spend a lot of my time
listening to female vocalists. Daina Krall, Patricia Barber, Eva Cassidy, Tracy Chapman, Karen Carpenter, Mary Black, etc. I like a nice focused center image, where I can close my eyes and she standing there in front of me. The speakers disappear. I also enjoy classical and flamenco guitar and want clear, detailed , natural sound.... |
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