2. amps-preamps
  3. 157828-114571

Integrated amplifier sound

I read the forum every night to get advice from you all. I am learning so much. I just started using my Music Fidelity A3.2 Dual mono solid state integrated amp(115 W per channel into 8 ohms) with my flagship pair of ADS L1590 Tower speakers. It is not a good match. I have never heard so much beautiful detail and sound but, it sounds like the Music Fidelity  would do better with ribbon speakers like Magnapans or Acustat brand speakers.  My towers are very efficient. 90db. I was using an acurus D-100  with 100 watts per channel and it was great! Very neutral sound but clean and I had slam. I cannot get slam with the music fidelity. When I try to increase volume it is just not the same. I have tried Cambridge audio amps and love the smooth rolled off sound but they lack the power for slam. I see the 851 Azure new has great reviews but it is not integrated. A lot of guys get two and put them in as mono blocks. I cannot afford that right now. I am going to put my Music Fidelity on Audiogon soon and need to find an amp for these towers. I have heard that Rogue Audio Spinx is a good sound and may provide some of what I am looking for. What amps have the power and reserve like the ACURUS has to get me back in the game. I really should have auditioned the Music Fidelity before I bought it. It is not a cheap amp. I am so upset. I will unhook it and use a spare cambridge audio integrated with low power for now. I will be purchasing used in order to stay under 1,500 dollars. Please advise!
128x128arichison
br3098
994 posts
 
@arichison, I think you are barking up the wrong tree. ADS speakers are great but they are not known for "slam." If you are looking for exaggerated bass and high SPL you should probably look at different speakers. Vintage JBL or more modern Vandersteen 1/2/3s.

You had the sound you wanted from the Acurus amp and the ADS speakers - a happy coincidence? I'm assuming that it wasn't perfect of you would still be playing on the Acurus. You can test lots of other amps or you can make a knowledgeable change by trying other speakers that are known to produce high SPL.

stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,398 posts
 
Music Direct has a “B stock” pair of the new JBL L100 speakers with the blue grill for $2500.00 with full warranty. That is $1500.00 off retail. Those speakers will give you fantastic bass slam with its 12 inch pulp cone woofer and they are quite efficient. Your Musical Fidelity integrated will really make the speakers sing.

Just an FYI, I am thinking of purchasing those speakers as I think my McIntosh integrated would be a good match. The only thing making me take pause is the money I will be spending on my daughters wedding in November. Twice I had the speakers in my cart and procrastinated About hitting the send button.
westcoastaudiophile
309 posts
 
Total DF depends on series resistance of speaker cable, speaker-internal filter-crossover design and drivers, and therefore could be significantly lower than bare Amplifier’s DF. Also need to look at Amplifier Phase/Frequency response at particular loads, which may deviate from ideal 180 or 0 degrees in audible frequency range due to speaker loading is  a very complex equivalent circuit with inductive/capacitive/resistive components, which can break phase linearity of some amp design, despite high DF at @8  Ohms. 
arichison's avatar
arichison OP
81 posts
 
Steve I appreciate the recommendation on B &K 4420. I will look into it. My Music Fidelity has gotten so much better now that I have burned it in and changed out the speaker cables and upgraded the power cable to it from the wall. I am loving the detail but I agree it can be draining! ADS have so much clarity and detail already. The ACURUS was so neutral sounding, not nearly as musical as this dual mono design Music Fidelity. It is a big change but so fun to hear now that I have warmed up the amp. The Music Fidelity has the power and reserve and I am just getting used to such incredible low bass. ADS L1590 Towers will drop down to 28 khz with a good amp. I have never had a sub because of this. I agree with another audiogon member who said they are not designed for bass slam like the JBL or Vandersteen. I can  
arichison's avatar
arichison OP
81 posts
 
try out the Vandrsteen speakers for sure! I can tell you that I have heard these large speaker slam and provide detail with Pink Floyd with amazing musical detail. My gear to do this  is still an ARCAM CD player, dual turntable, Cambridge Audio DAC Magic Plus DAC, Perruex phono stage with power supply and Nakamichi ZX 682 for the wonderful analogue tape sound. I am researching upgrading my DAC to a Schitt Bitfrost 2. Am hearing very good things. 
More to discover