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Looking for Amp suggestions or Avalon speakers

I am in the process of downsizing due to a smaller living space and think i have settled on Avalons (either the Ascendants or the Ideas) for my new speakers as their footprint is acceptable to my spouse and i like their sound.

My old amps are the Sonic Frontier Power 3 monoblocks but sadly probably have to give those up as well due to the amount of space they take up. I have also always liked the Conrad Johnson sound (haven't heard alot of other amps so wanted to give an idea of a sound that i have liked over the years).

I have always preferred tubes to solid state but i have heard some say they think the Avalon's sound better with solid state?

In either case, i'm looking for suggestions for an amp that would mate well with the Avalon's. I'm fine with buying used equipment. Looking for something in the under $5,000 range (though of course would love to get away with spending less if i can).

Thanks in advance for all suggestions.
dkonstruction
zd542
5,339 posts
 
"10-07-14: Bo1972
Ayre weakest point is depth. I compared Ayre with Pass Labs. Pass Labs gives a much wider and deeper stage."

I don't get that with my Ayre equipment. The imaging is at least as good as it was with my Pass gear. However, the Pass that I had was some of their older models. Its possible the newest models are better in this regard, but I can't say because I haven't been able to compare them.

Also, Ayre likes Cardas. He even has Cardas make the Ayre cables. Cardas image size is very good, but the depth is not. When you heard the Ayre, maybe it was with Cardas cables. I use Audioquest. The depth is much better with them.
bo1972's avatar
bo1972
2,789 posts
 
Pass Labs .5 series had more depth than Ayre. But I prefer the realism in the mid freq. of the Pass Labs over the Ayre mid freq. as well.

Audioquest is at this moment very good in every single part you judge a cable for. Depth the same thing!
fiddler
581 posts
 
"You need to be aware that the weakest point of Avalon is what I call intimate sound. This is a physical small and realistic proportion of instruments and voices."

Just the opposite is true. Set up properly in a decent room, Avalon excels at imaging with a precise, realistic, wall-to-wall soundstage. I don't think that is even arguable and I suspect most audiophiles who aren't necessarily Avalon fans would agree.
melbguy1
1,438 posts
 
Firstly, to my ears the sweet spot in the Avalon range before you move up into the Eidolon Diamonds are the Indra and Transcendent. Of those, I liked the Transcendent the most which sounded very natural & had wonderful sound staging, imaging & coherence as is Avalon's signature.

I've heard the Avalons sound good with Bladelius, Rowland & Vitus. A couple of others as well, but the above group's combination of natural sound, control, smoothness & resolution were a winner imho.
bo1972's avatar
bo1972
2,789 posts
 
Physical image between a wide and deep stage is a different aspect. I have even proven this to Avalon owners.

One of mu best friends had a concertroom with A Steinway wing. Here he gave clasical concerts for about 60 people. Instrtuments and voices are very small and direct in proportion. I call it intimate sound. I never had this experience with any Avalon spaker.

There are Avalon owners who say and believe that this is a very realistic sound for classical music. I habe heard this combo many times. In real it sounds a lot different.
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