Amp Choice for Acapella Campaniles

Hey Doc! Tied up with that darn tag along eh? I understand. As they say (who and the hell is "they" anyway?), it's a dirty job but somebody has to do it!!

Soooeeeeee!!!

;-)

Fmpnd, the dentist in question looked a lot like Kim Bassinger, only prettier and with auburn hair.....

Hi Fred,

It'll be interesting to hear how the JC-1s evolve over time. It is too bad we are so far apart (well, not that far in the overall scheme of things...) that we can't visit and hear each others systems without a lot of effort. Someday though...

Our new Edge Signature monoblocks are working out really nicely so far on our Campanile Highs, though they are still only a couple of weeks old. The Edge NL-10s are very nice with the Campaniles, but the Audio Aero Capitole (50 watt push-pull tubed) amplifier was more musical and satisfying and just plain wonderful in comparison (especially paired with Shunyata speaker cables) - with a richer texture and more engaging macro dynamics (this is an excellent system - the Audio Aero/Acapella Violin pair have won a number of best of shows in Frankfurt over the years).

But the Signature monoblocks with significantly more power - in an all Valhalla setup - is the best system, in terms of overall performace (especially PRaT, richness and general musicality), we have ever heard, anywhere (in the over 30hz frequency range - the amps still keep changing day-to-day in the deep bass regions - loose one day, overly constricted the next). And these amps are new, and Edge amps all take a very LONG time to break-in.

HP was right that these have the same character as the NL-10s - but the added power on the Campaniles really helps the notes to unfold and blossum, with huge amounts of richness and texture - both in time (amplitude) and timbre (frequency), effortlessly produced, with no overlap (lots of seperation), all against a clean dark background.

Yep, we like them :-) The musicality of tubes without all the bother. Of course, next week we get in the Lamm ML1.1's - an amp renowned for its musicality - and they will have to be broken-in as well. And at that time, when they are both fully broken-in, we will just have to see (hear) what tasty flavors of orgasmic sonic delights these two amps are capable of!

-Mike (Audio Federation)

Fred, Brian here from Artistic Audio. While I was at the CES show last January I spoke with the head designer of Acapella and he recommended using tube amps on the Campaniles. Having the Violon's in my showroom I can tell you that tubes work best on them as well. I would look for the best 50-100 watt tube amps available (preferably SET) and work from there. Your speakers will thank you for it, and so will your Ears!

Brian, I sure don't agree as the Campaniles respond to the current a good SS amp can provide.....Fred changed over from tubes to SS months ago after a very long break-in period and hasn't looked back....