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Amplification for Shahinian Obelisks?

Hello there!

I just had my newly-bought second-hand Obelisks overhauled at Shahinian, and now they are on my way to me.

At this stage I am thinking of amplification for them.

I listen mostly to acoustical musiс (Norah Jones, Madeleine Peyroux, and the like), jazz of all sorts, mostly modern ECM-style, also some older Blue Note, and pop music (a lot less). Almost no rock, although it is gaining on me (in the car, though).

I have had several Macs (integrteds and separates), loved their sound, but I want to move forward: Macs' sound is a bit too relaxed for me (although I don't like the sound to be overly crisp). The most important thing for me is musicality and space: I like to listen to music, not sounds.

I want as few boxes as possible, so I want a DAC with an amp in one box. It will be fed through coax or optical from an upgraded 24/96 Sonos.

The contestants at this stage are

1. Electrocompaniet ECI 6 DS
2. Hegel H300
3. Plinius Inspire 980
4. Devialet 120

I am currently leaning towards the Electrocompaniet or Hegel.
Would appreciate your comments on these. Or, maybe, I am missing something here, and there are more choices?

I dont have an opportunity to audition them in my home town, unfortunately, so it will be more or less a blind buy.

Comments from Shahinian owners are more than welcome.

Thanks a lot for your comments!
ja_zz
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
You really need to go with a high powered, high current amp, period, and probably need to figure out your line stage needs separately. Plinius power amp would be a great match, as would Bryston (yeah, we know, we know), Perreaux, Rowland, etc.

If you go integrated, you'd need *at least* 150 high current wpc, and I'm not confident that--as good as integrateds have gotten--you'd get the same low output impedance, high current, and high damping factor that a separate amp would deliver, and which the Obelisks definitely need.
ja_zz OP
124 posts
 
Johnnyb53,

Thanks for your input. However, I have always had a problem with the words "low" and "high",not being an electronics engineer or something...

So, you got me guessing: when saying "low" or "high" what do you mean exactly? Above or below what figure?

Thanks!
ja_zz OP
124 posts
 
Does this look any good?ЖЖ

Output power: 250W + 250W in 8 ohms, 430W + 430W in 4 ohms
Minimum load: 2 ohms
Analog Inputs: 1 balanced (XLR), 3 unbalanced (RCA)
Fixed analog inputs: 1 unbalanced Home Theatre (RCA)
Digital Inputs: 2 coaxial S/PDIF, 2 optical S/PDIF, 1 USB
Line level output: Unbalanced Pre Out (RCA)
Digital outputs: 1 coaxial S/PDIF
Control inputs: IR direct input (3,5 mm jack), max 12V
Speaker outputs: One pair of heavy duty gold plated terminals
Input impedance: Balanced 10kohm, unbalanced 10kohm
Output impedance pre out: 1kohm
Frequency response: 5Hz-180kHz (+/- 3dB)
Signal to noise ratio: More than 100dB
Crosstalk: Less than -100dB
Distortion: Less than 0,005% @ 100W 8 ohms 1kHz
Intermodulation: Less than 0,01% (19kHz + 20kHz)
Damping factor: More than 1000 (main output stage)
Power Supply: 1000VA dual mono, 90 000uF capacitors
Output stage: 20 pcs 15A 150W high speed bipolar transistors
Power consumption: 60W in standby switched on
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,524 posts
 
Don't rule out good Class D. You may be delighted in every way and even save some money in the end (on both amp and subsequnt power bills) if Shahinians's are anything like OHM Walsh speakers. I use only Class D with those these days and cannot see ever going in a different direction. I've been pleased as punch with both Bel Canto Class D amps I am using currently in my two systems (C5i integrated and ref1000m monoblocks).
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
That's true, Mapman. The best traits of good Class D are a lot like high-current, low output impedance A/B amps--speed, fast and copious current delivery, stability into fluctuating loads, and high damping factor.

I have had a pair of Mirage M5si's in daily use for 19 years. They and their larger brothers (M3si and M1si) thrive on amps of these sorts, and one HFC-er particularly mentioned that his M1si's really sang with some Class D amps.

Rowland is another major Class D maker. For a more economical approach, some Red Dragon monoblocks or the S500 Stereo amp might be an easy way to bring life to these Shahinians if Red Dragon ships to Russia.
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