A McCormack power amp and a Audible Illusions preamp are a excellent match. Depending on how much you want to spend, a smaller ARC power amp is also excellent. The Belles 150a Hotrod sounds really good. As for the AI preamp, a used L-1 is in the $700 range, M3a around $1200(with phono) or the L-2 at about $1700. I have personally used all of these combo's so I know of what I speak. Don't shortchange the electronics with these speakers.
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Versatile enough that they sound great with everything from NAD integrateds to Jadis separates. Revealing enough that each change along the way is easily heard and appreciated. They sound particularly fine partnered with Rogue and Music Reference gear. Amps with very small output levels don't work well. |
Good comments above. I have particularly liked the 2C speakers with tube amplifiers, but not under 30 watts or so. As Siliab says, these speakers are revealing enough to reward you with each improvement in electronics driving them. Among the amplifiers I would consider if I were buying 2Cs once again are: Atma-Sphere M60 or MA1 David Berning ZH-270 Shindo Labs Montrachet EL34 (40 watts) Conrad Johnson Premier 11 (used) or MV60 Balanced Audio Technology (BAT) VK-55 . |
Rushtons choices are all good and it is true that these speakers mate will with even some pretty high end stuff like he listed. Considering cost factors, I had pretty good luck with McCormack DNA 0.5s and 1.0s which you can have modified to truly reference status if you desire. As far as pre-amps go, CAT is a good buy if you want a phono stage, or BAT (3i) if not. A 0.5 and a VK3i would set you back well under $2K and made an aweful nice rig with my Vandys. |
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