Integrated amp recommendations for harbeth 30.2 XD

I presume the H390 is considered a high-current unit, but do we have a measurement of how many amps it puts out?

“ …… I just bought the comparatively modest strata CHORD RUMOUR speaker cables to purposely test drive Mr. Shaw’s theories / assumption in the coming weeks in a direct A-B shootout against my incumbent FREYs. (There is a BIG difference in price point deltas…) …”

“ ….. Please share your impressions on the Nordost Frey vs Chord Rumour speaker cable on this thread. Personally I don’t think the Rumour will sound better than the Frey. I used to have Chord Epic on the Harbeth SHL5+ . The Epic is a higher range cable than the Rumour and it does sound quite respectable with the Harbeth. I now use Chord Signature XL and it made the Epic sound colored and slightly congested. The higher range Signature XL’s clarity is quite a step up from the Epic. For this reason I don’t think the Rumour will surpass the performance of the Nordost Frey in your system. In short, cables do matter with the Harbeth or any other speaker in my experience. …”

HANDS-ON UPDATE:

Yup….cables matter …full stop,…no big surprise here . The litmus test is in.
My take: I don’t get Alan Shaw’s stated agnosticism that cables don’t matter.

(1) Comparatively, the CHORD RUMOURs are a big step down from my NORDOST FREYs comparatively in an A-B direct bake-off. The CHORDs sounded congested, thickly veiled, and solely lacking the same resolution and finesse that the HARBETHs are capable of performance-wise on all levels.

(2) I put the FREY speaker cables back in and I borrowed CARDAS CLEAR XLR ICs for an in-house audition and direct A-B bake-off against my NORDOST FREY XLR’s.
Wow …. An expensive $$ upgrade pathway for me now, because these CARDAS CLEARs are now a keeper for me.

In brief, they simply performed “better” at about a 10% - 20% add resolution. / added finesse / added open airiness audio improvement level, with further notable eliminations of any occasional harsh “edge”, depending on the quality of the recordings.

The FREYs are very good contenders and no pretenders by any measure , but the CARDAS CLEARs are the clear winner (no pun intended). Simply put, they open up the HARBETH’s to a higher audio performance and resulting music appreciation level across the whole spectrum. ‘Nuff said.

No way the CARDAS CLEAR ICs are coming out. They excel with my HARBETH 30.2 XD’s. Full stop.

The complimentary assault on my wallet is that CARDAS CLEAR matched speaker cables are now next as leading candidates for a further upgrade path on the Yellow Brick Road to audio OZ.

FWIW

@akg_ca 

Which Cardas Clear cable are you using? There are several variations.

Thanks.

The 2nd in line model CARDAS CLEAR interconnect in the “Clear” line …the one immediately below the very top model CARDAS CLEAR BEYOND .

http://www.cardas.com/clear_ic.php

Thanks!

AKG_CA, thanks for the update. Surely useful to know! I'm glad the cable experiments have managed to elevate the Harbeth 30.2 XD to a higher level of performance.

LFD NCSE Mk 1

BACKSTORY:

I’ve been in and out of the industry since 1976 as a specialist high-end retailer. I was for some years [until I resigned the franchise earlier this year] an official by which I mean full-time] :FD Audio retailer.

SCOPE:

This piece focus on my experiences as both a retailer and home-user of the NCSE I, NCESE II and NCSE III. Future posts, if I can find the time, might include my observations re other LFD Audio electronics.

EXPLANATORY NOTE:

I am going to focus on the ‘upgrade’ path from NCSE 1 > NCSE II … but not NCSE II > NCSE III because I found the differences to be slight and unworthy of the price to change!

SOUCES AND SPEAKERS.

For continuity I always used a Sony CDP XE-530 with LFD Grainless interconnects and LFD Hybrid Ribbon Type R speakers cables. I didn’t use vinyl nor FM.

Speak pairs used included the superb Vandersteen 2Ce Signatures, Burton Somervell floor standers and my JPW Minims … an ebay bargain @ £25

A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD:

During such adventures I ALWAYS use a sound pressure meter [usually around £30] too ensure that everything is heard at the same volume.

MY REFERENCE:

XTZ CD and amps

AN INVALUABLE RETHINK:

At first, I was only interested in finding units which equalled or exceeded the NCSE 1’s performance without focus on cost! Then I thought, well why not look for pre-owned gear which closely but not entirely mimicked its performance at the lowest possible price? And that’s precisely what I did.

NCSE I versus the pre-owned rest part #1

Quad 44 + Quad 405

On the day, at my usual listening volume I could barely tell the difference. A higher volumes, the Quad pair was less shrill. At lower volumes, bass was lumpy, lacking definition and agility. However …

The NCSE 1 was sold for £1,150 and the Quad cost me £330 and therefore on the basis of overall satisfaction – in this specific context – the Quad combo was the winner.

That said, I knew instinctively that a more satisfactory outcome could be achieved for not much mire money, if I was patient.

CONCLUSIONS:

The NCSE 1 is a superb amp within its limitations

It has battleship build quality and very rare on the auction sites.

To date, 100% reliability other than the occasional volume control replacement under warranty.

You can get very close to the sound for far less money than the typical asking price!

Yet to meet a speaker that a Moon by Simaudio 240i, 250i or 340i did not like. 
In other words you can not go wrong with these fine Canadian machines.

Wonder how the Harbeth’s pair up with the Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista product line?

Wonder how the Harbeth’s pair up with the Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista product line?

i suspect pretty well... mf’s are voiced with a somewhat spotlit treble (and neutral textured midrange and solid, tight bass)

the harbeths can use some of that (at least the non xd ones can, before the xd generation turned up the treble some more)

rogue audio cronus magnum iii.  best sounding amp in its price zone.  you get it all, open tramsparency, refinement, power and impact.  so good it is a no brainer with these Harbeths. m

@newton 
It’s been two months Newton, what did you get? How does it sound? 

rogue audio cronus magnum iii. best sounding amp in its price zone. you get it all, open tramsparency, refinement, power and impact. so good it is a no brainer with these Harbeths. m

My local dealer uses this amp to demo Harbeths and it sounds great. I have the 30.1s and haven't heard any amp sound bad, just some better than others.  The XD isn't as warm of course so it will depend on what sound you want but the Rogue would be one of my top choices if you're ok with tubes. 

Interesting commentary on the LFD NCSE, I have had a MK1 since it was introduced and have had no interest in changing since, it truly got me off the merry go round.

My NCSE is driving a pair of 40.2's and does an excellent job at it, I'm sure it could drive the 30.2 no problem as well.

Perfect combo is Conrad Johnson Et3se with Pass xa25! Enjoy 😃

kw6 -- that recommendation is a very liberal definition of 'integrated amp'!  😁😁

Thanks jjss49 🙊

Sorry I've been away from this site and my original post.  I thank everyone for their comments and suggestions.  I did try a Pass INT 25 integrated with my Harbeth setup (everything remained the same except for inserting the INT 25.   It did some amazing things in the midrange, where I heard instrumental passages in a symphony come to life and stand out very clearly.   There may have been more space around the instruments.  The soundstage was very wide.   But I felt that the bass wasn't as tight and forceful (as with the Rega) and that they highs weren't as transparent/extended (I don't mean bright).  So I sold it and went back to using the Rega.  In the interim I bought a Audience Forte 3 power cord and it made a substantial improvement to the sound. It's a 10 gauge cable and it seems to deliver the current the Harbeth's demand at times.  It's the best $150 I've spent in audio.  Highly recommended.  I'm still looking to upgrade my amp.  Looking at the Luxman integrateds that have been mentioned in this thread; the Gato 150.  I'm inclined to stay away from Hegel.  BTW I'm using Transparent Plus speaker and interconnects.  Recently upgraded my streamer from Bluesound Node 21 to the new Node.  A significant improvement --- highs are more transparent along with a bigger soundstage.   I would love to hear the D'agostino progression integrated with the 30.2 XDs.  I have a dealer nearby whom I might be able to arrange a borrow (He doesn't carry Harbeth).  It's an expensive amp and I'd really be pushing the budget.  Thanks again to all who replied.  I will post updates as I make progress.