2. speakers
  3. 1170781046

Eggleston Andra 2 owners


I have read old threads about the Andra 2's refering to upgrading from the original Andra's but now are a few years old.

I am looking to hear from owners of Andra 2's and their associated gear set-ups. I replaced my Wilson WP 7's recently with these.

This is a second set-up for me and in a large area but must be "wife friendly"

I have other gear that I did hook up (McIntosh 501's and Arc Ref 3 pre and really liked the sound) but this set-up was not "wife friendly."

Right now I have hooked up Bel Canto Ref1000 mono blocks and Dac3, I just ordered the Pre3 because the Dac3 just isn't doing it for me acting as the pre. I want to see if there are any improvements to the point that I keep it.

I only have two sources, one cd player for serious listening and also a McIntosh 300 music server, both are hooked up via using digital connection (using Stealth Sextet cable AES cd player and RCA for 300 Music Server.)

I am also ordering a Bent Audio Tap Line Stage pre-amp. A friend who uses the Placette pre recommended it, suppose to be really good. The Moscode 401HR was also recommended to try, I have read some very interesting reviews. What is very interesting is that the 401HR being favoured over the Dodd 120's and also Bat SE 600 power amps. Both off these amps are highly respected, I have not heard either in my system. I want to listen to the Pre3 and Bent Tap set up for a while and then I'll get a Moscode to see what difference is, should be very interesting.


I really enjoy the Eggleston's and my goal is to mate them up with the proper gear to get the best out of them.
128x128dev
french_fries
815 posts
 
there certainly are alot of options for pushing the egglestons envelope. the one that i found most dramatic was also VERY expensive- transparent wire one-step below opus- (REF-MM).
i was able to save some money by their upgrade program. the day i hooked up my rowland preamp to my levinson amps with balanced REF-MM, the andras' bass went thru' the floor and the stage opened considerably. i didn't know the andra's could make THAT kind of bass until that day- i was totally amazed. after i saved up i later upgraded all my wires to that level- i just had too. but this is just one path you can take in squeezing truly world-class sound out of the andras. just don't tell anyone else that they don't have to spend $30-50k (or more) on loudspeakers to get a MUSICAL full range loudspeaker. BUT, you might end up experimenting with A-PLUS class "other stuff" to make them sing even more.
dev's avatar
dev OP
832 posts
 
French fries, I also have Transparent Ref MM speaker cables, no interconnects. I am also using Virtual Dynamic Revelation Sig. have you ever tried their product? even more expensive than Transparent

How do have you speakers hooked-up? Are the cables you have bi-wired, (two separate runs, most don't do this because of the cost but it is the best way) or a jumpers?
cytocycle
1,043 posts
 
Dev: Transparent isn't a big fan of bi-wiring (you have to go extreme with the bi-cable which in my opinion not worth the cost of the next version up in single wire..)so you can buy the transparent reference jumpers to add to your speaker cable (typically get banana to spade for the jumpers if your speaker cables are spades). Otherwise just try connecting your speaker cables to other set of binding posts to see if you notice a difference.

As far as the Bel Canto... I've found most of the Ice or Class D amps to be light in the bass with speakers like yours and Wilsons. 400+ watts was needed... Honestly you might be blown away with just a Theta Dreadnaught II with two of the 200watt cards. This is a very nice amplifier especially for the money with only 2 cards installed... Oh yeah great bass and works extremely well to complement your Transparent speaker cabling.
dev's avatar
dev OP
832 posts
 

Cytocycle, have you ever tried the Bel Canto Ref1000 mono blocks?

I have to agree with what you say "I've found most of the Ice or Class D amps to be light in the bass" but this isn't the issue with the Ref1000's which I have to say really shocked me.

I actually tried Jeff Rowland 501's in which I was very disapointed, gorgeous looks but did not perform well on the Egglestons, NuForse SE 9's were alright but I prefered the Ref1000's.
I'm not yet sold on them but just trying them but so far working out well.

500w in 8ohms and 1000w in 4ohms, if you have Egglestons you should try them you will be amazed.

The Theta is something that I could also try, thanks.

When you referred to speaker cable hook-up and said "Otherwise just try connecting your speaker cables to other set of binding posts to see if you notice a difference." did you mean instead of the two bottom binding post connect to the top ones? if so I have tried this.

I had the Transparent cables prior to buying the Eggleston's and have not used them because of the by wire connection of the Egglestons. I am running two separate runs of speaker cables.

I have to ask, I bought my Andra's new and when I received them there were no speaker binding post jumpers included. When I inquired about this I was told they don't send any because people use their own, is this true?

Also I have to say that they need to improve showing the "+" and "-" on the speaker post. All they have to do is have a red ring one of the actual binding post connections, black on black very annoying.
cytocycle
1,043 posts
 
I haven't tried the ref1000, I just have read about the smaller wattage brothers and listened to those. FYI on the Rowland it takes like 800hrs for those to break in, but still not the level of refinement I think you are looking for.

Yes the brass jumpers are considered inferior for the most part on my NHT 3.3's I used some Silver Streak jumpers before buying the transparent jumpers.. The NHT's didn't improve with the jumper configuration, because of their crossover design. I found that connecting to the tweater section top half and then jumpering down to the woofer binding posts did improve on true biwire cable. You will see a bunch of used jumpers.. I think it only cost me less than $300 on the transparent reference jumpers.. if you buy used they sell for under $150. Other brands sell for cheap. I still need to post my silver streak jumpers up on agon..
More to discover