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Anthem STR or Lyngdorf TDAI 2170?

I recently moved house and went from a listening space that was pretty generous to my current setup (Cronus Magnum II + B&W 805D3s) to one where the soundstage sounds really flat and underwhelming. Because we watch a lot of movies, I’ve also been running an integrated (Rotel 1592) and using a splitter to switch between that and the Cronus depending on the source (music or movies).

It’s a lot of equipment and wires for a small space and, given how lackluster the sound is, I want to consolidate everything by leveling up to an integrated with room correction.

I’m stuck between an Anthem STR or a Lyngdorf TDAI 2170 (or 3400 if it’s leaps and bounds better than both).

Reviews and comments on both are equally impressive. Has anyone sampled both and have a POV on which I should go with?
jwh2
robelvick's avatar
robelvick
619 posts
 
jwh2

I owned the Lyngdorf 2170 and Micromega M100.  My quick take - Lyngdorf has better room correction, the Micromega just flat out sounded better to me.  More power and control over the speakers, and a richer tone.

But.....as mentioned above, room acoustic treatments and speaker placement did so much more for me, and that's why I don't own either anymore.

However, I do believe you made a great choice for your situation, and congratulations on your new purchase!
ppack's avatar
ppack
26 posts
 

I am recent owner of a Lyngdorf TDAI 3400 and I couldn’t be happier with the purchase. My system is in a room that’s absolutely terrible and I had neither the time, inclination or money to do room treatments not to mention tolerating the strange looks from the wife. I did a home demo of the Lyngdorf 2170 and was immediately convinced of Lyngdorf.  Earlier I had listened to the Anthem STR in two different showrooms. The Anthem was good but the versality of the lyngdorf and the opportunity to demo in my own room with my speakers pushed me in that direction.  I know much of these impressions are relative but I’m often amazed at how good the 3400 sounds and I’ve got it paired with relatively inexpensive speakers (Martin Logan Motion 40 and Dynamo 700 sub). The details the Lyngdorf bring out in the music are incredible, the imaging and sound stage impressive and the sub is integrated better than I’ve ever experienced.   The bass sounds wonderful, passages with electric bass guitar are intoxicating.  I don’t listen at very loud volumes but when I’ve pushed the volume high just experimenting I got no distortion and room correction is still maintained nicely.   I’m a happy camper but I do wonder how much better the Lyngdorf would be with very high end speakers.


ps
746 posts
 
@ jwh2
As a music lover, in a similar situation, I have the same question, which led me to this thread. I’ve employed fine tube gear separates for decades but no longer have space nor temperament to do so. The many cables and closet-full of spare tubes in weighing me down.  :)

Once I eliminated the off-topic, self-important, pontificating bloviations about Naim, yada, yada, and "room treatments," and what you "should do", I gleaned some very useful information. Thanks for your initial post.

I am going to investigate the Lyngdorf, Anthem, Micromega, and DSPeaker.
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,480 posts
 
jwh2, the Lyndorf has the best build quality but forgetting about the money the Anthem STR preamp has the best feature set and the more usable (understandable) Room correction/bass management. If My TACT died tomorrow and I could not afford a Trinnov Amethyst I would absolutely go for the Anthem STR preamp. I do not care for integrated amps as putting a super huge power supply next to a preamplifier grates on my neurons. For the money it may be the finest preamp you can buy today. 
glennewdick's avatar
glennewdick
1,632 posts
 
Grats on your perches I'd be interested in knowing what you think of the Micomega and its version of room correction. 

I've heard the Anthem Pre with arc room correction and was quite impressed. I was also looking at the Anthem-Lyndorf but was hesitant on the class D and Digitizing my Analogue sources. 

So I'm still on the fence I also have a %@#$ of a room to deal with. 
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