Amp for Acoustic Zen Crescendo 2 ?

Wlutke,

Lots of great responses and insight! Over the past 3 years I have used 4 different amp set-ups to include Herron, Vac, Vitus and now the magnificent LM 508IA which is the best sound I’ve heard in my system at a fraction of the cost of the mentioned components. I could have lived with 3 of those components but didn’t think Vitus was a good match at all; very powerful, good sound-staging and imaging but had a warm sound signature and lacked dynamic impact.

I primarily listen to Classical Guitar, Violin, Cello with some old school Jazz thrown into the mix every once in a while and I can tell you that the LM can boogie too. The LM is so visceral, it produces lifelike images with spooky realism like I’ve never heard before and maybe it’s those 300B drivers creating that magic. The beauty of LM is that you get pin-point imaging, deep and wide expansive layered sound-stage with natural decay and ambiance retrieval that’s unbelievable.

If you like musical involvement, this amp will draw you into the recording with loads of texture, emotions and toe tapping happiness... Also, those of you with AZ Crescendo, bypass your binding post and discover another level of realism... Mod courtesy of Grannyring.

My Tubes:
Psvane 805
Sophia Mesh Plate 300B and EML 300B ( 4 days old)
Tung-Sol Gray Plates 6SUT
Stash of NOS 6SN7s
Synergistic Research Black Fuse

Room: 20Lx25Wx10H with entry ways on both left and right side of speakers; Gik 244s, Echo Busters and ASC Tube

Wig, I will add everyone should bypass their speaker binding posts for better sound. Same goes for the amp’s binding posts. Lastly, don’t use any speaker cable spades or bananas if possible. This, as you are starting to learn, makes the music more real and less electronic or reproduced. Really hear what your gear is possible of! These are free mods that do more for sound improvement than the numerous tweaks we all spend hundreds of dollars and more on. 

@wig

I have a few questions on your amp.

- Do you hear any hum/buzz through your speakers a foot away? 3 feet away?

- Do the transformers make a mechanical buzz noise you can hear when the room is quiet? Not through the speakers, but simply emanating from the physical amp.

- How loudly do you listen when you go loud? Did you ever capture with a db meter?

- How many hours are those 805 tubes good for in that amp before they need replacing?

- Do you know if the amp is circuit board built or hard wired/tag strip. I could not find internal pics of your amp. Other LM amps are a combo of point to point wiring with only a two or three very small circuit boards.

- Finally, can you bypass the volume control with a direct input option on the back of the amp?


Thanks!

Bill

wig,
Thanks for posting.  
grannyring,
Thanks for the battery of pertinent questions.  I'm all ears! 

Wig,
I’m glad you responded to thread as you’ve used multiple amplifiers with your Crescendos and in truth you have much valued experience in general. To the best of my knowledge the 508ia is hard wired and can used as strictly a power amplifier via bypassing the preamplifier section.From what I’ve read by numerous Line Magnetic owners the amplifiers are "very" quiet. I’m sure wig can address all of Grannyring’s inquiries.
Charles