Speakers for Lamm ML2.1

Andy, i own the Tenor 300 watt hybrids, and currently have the DarTZeel NHB-108 Stereo ss amp in my room. at CES i heard the VR9's on the DarTZeel and was very impressed. both the Tenors and DarTZeel trade strength for strength. the Tenor's are a hybrid that does not sound like tubes or solid state and the DarTZeel particularly does not sound like solid state.

i am looking forward to comparing these two amps on the VR9's.

these two amps, along with your ML2.1's; are three different versions of amplifier perfection. all three are quite neutral, all three are among the most refined and nuanced amps i've heard, and each has it's own version of proper dynamics and frequency extention.

......it would come down to taste and system synergy.

Well said Mike.

Your taste and preferences are most important. Some prefer a sedate, easy listening sound, and the market caters primarilly to this group. I play 'cello, trumpet, and viola da gamba, in large and small ensambles, and while at university obtaining my music degree, worked for a high end dealer that sold many well known producs. Among them: Avantgarde, Avalon, Wilson, Joseph Audio, Viva, Nagra, Spectral, Theta, Wadia, Levinson, Halcro, SME, VPI, conrad-johnson, Manley Labs. And I spent much time setting up demos of all the above gear, and naturally compared it to what I hear live. From this experience I can say (1) nothing comes closer to live than a good horn system driven by tube gear, everything else sounds thick and compressed by comparison (2) nothing sounds worse than bad horns and tube gear. One must be careful. Many customers are so used to the sound of amps and speakers, even live (most PAs sound really bad,) that a reasonable faximile of real acoustic instruments sounds wrong to them. I worked extensively with the Avantgarde Duos, but was never completely satisfied with the results. I finally found what I sought with the Edgarhorns, the first system I've heard that goes beyond good, and can, at times, sound so much like the real thing it's creepy. I havn't decided yet what amp I'll eventually use. Bruce Edgar said the Lamms are very good, if overpriced, and I think the Vivas are very good. The Nagras sounded good, but were too noisy for 100db+ efficiency speakers. Perhaps I've ranted enough. Good luck with your search, hear the Edgarhorns if you can, let me know if you want to know more, or if you think I'm crazy. I'm always open to new ideas, and welcome any challanges to what I think I know.

The road ended with Kharma 1d/DE
Thx for advice all

Hi ,
If you do not need the extreme high sound levels you should listen to the Ocellia kedros silver(15 K).It is a dual concentric alnico magnet driven speaker 16 ohm 97DB (NO crossover!!).What you here of musicality....speed...direct sound(no time shift in the frequency range-remember no crossover)..a full body sound....all this will make you forget most other speakers.I agreed with Wright about non existing intresting top end high eff. speakers until the ocellia silver kedros.
Most benefit you get in classic ,jazz and non elecronic music ;they will play pop and rock no problem but they are just to good for that(you will hear weakness of pop music,recording errors-out of the box music-no room information-pure studio boxed music-musicians not always on high level etc..).
A tip for ML2 owners change the 12ax7 for the telefunken ecc 803s ! And put Herbie's Hal-o tube rings on all the tubes(i have the PEEK Rings on the 803's and 6n6p's and on the others the metal rings).This makes the lamms SING! (remember the lamm ML2 has vibration problems,you have to take care were you put them on).
John