Apogee vs Soundlab

I does neither with the Atmas nor with the Zandens, which with their 60 watts drove these speakers extremely well. Must be further up the chain.

Chris, it would help if you would share what systems/amplifiers were paired with the A1's you heard that made you walk away with your "rather sharp and grainy treble" observations.

Jafox: MBL 1621 CD-transport - KCI Falcon S/PDIF interconnect - Goldmund Mimesis 10C+ D/A-converter - CAT Signature Mk III preamp - Gruensch CSE II se power amplifier - Cardas Golden Cross speaker cable - Soundlab A-1's.

Chris

Definetely the CAT Signature makes the sound sharper etc.
Conrad Johnson is a much better choice, softer more musical but unfortunately not too realistic(typical golden sound)

Dazzdax, its normal for transistor amps to sound that way on the Sound Labs, due to the low impedance at high frequencies. Sound Labs do not expect the amp to double power as the impedance is halved. see
http://www.atma-sphere.com/papers/paradigm_paper2.html

So when you put a transistor amplifier on the Sound Labs, the result is too much treble energy and not nearly enough bass. That's why tube amplifiers are preferred; they will try to make the same power regardless of the impedance- that gives you a more tonally neutral sound on the Sound Lab.

Bottom line is that they can be very extended and smooth yet still aggressive if the music calls for it, IOW quite neutral :)