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Mark Levinson with Vandersteens?

Hey all, hoping you can help me find a great SS match for Vandersteen Treos.

I have heard them with the Ayre V-5xe and was impressed but not blown away. A friend suggested the ML 532H would have more weight and body while retaining the definition.

Music = everything from Miles to Massive Attack but almost no classical.

System = hi-res files thru a Bel Canto 2.5 DAC/preamp direct into amp in a room 20w x 16d x 10h.

Thanks in advance.
stignation
bo1972's avatar
bo1972
2,789 posts
 
I would suggest Pass Labs. Good 3d holographic image. Lost of drive and control. And a pure musical sound. You need a source and cables which are good at individual focus.
tmsorosk
1,013 posts
 
I guess all I can say is listen for yourself . McCormack and Classe' are not in the same league as Levinson , never have been , never will be . Pass Labs can be great in the right system but are a little warm for many systems .
bo1972's avatar
bo1972
2,789 posts
 
Little warm? Mark Levinson is too cool for sound. I owned the Nautilus 802N and 800Signature. Wenn these speakers were driven by ML and I played my classical cd's the sound realism was sooooo poor. A violin sounded in real so much more emotional. All the emotion was gone. I call this always a clini violin. The 400 and 500 series are better in sound than the series before. That is the only positive thing I can say about ML.
ecruz
402 posts
 
I've owned 2A Sigs and 3A Sigs. I've had very good luck with McCormack Amps with the SMc mods. My favorite amp for Vandys in MY system was a Belles 150A Reference. However, when I purchased the 3A Signatures, the owner was powering them with a Pass Labs amp (don't know which one) and it was the best I've ever heard Vandersteens sound.

Good luck in your search.
bo1972's avatar
bo1972
2,789 posts
 
Wenn you look at the most important parts in highend audio. 3d holographic sound, sharp individual focus and a sound to die for Pass labs is so much more talented than ML ever will be.
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