Amp for focal 1038be?


Hello,

First time poster and I have really enjoyed all the great advice on this forum. I recently purchased two new Focal 1038B main speakers. I know I need to look at the entire signal chain but I want to focus on getting a better amp that is more 3-D holographic, detailed, warmth, airy..


Signal Chain:
Node 2i streamer
Schmitt Vahalla 2 with gold loin drivers
Onkyo avr with xt32 Audyssey room correction (stereo mode 2.1)
Emotiva A300 to Focal speakers
Room is well treated

I don’t want to break the bank but here are a few of my top considerations: used or new

primaluna evo 400 amp in stereo (later add another for monoblock)
primaluna dialogue 6 or 7 monoblock (70wpc)
Mcintosh MC275 (70wpc or 150wpc monoblock). Only by one for now.
Pass Labs x250.5 - team a pass labs recommended this for focal 1038be to add warmth to the top end.

The speakers are highly sensitive 93db at 8 ohms. I do plan to audition as many of these as I can but welcome any recommendations. Appreciate anyone’s advice or opinion on which amps to focus on.

thanks
david





dlr944
I’ve had 1038 BE2’s for approx. three years.  I began by powering them with Odyssey Audio 160w per channel Cyclops, moved on to Pass Labs x250.5 paired with Pass XP-10.  Within three months both were traded in for x250.8 amp and XP-20 Pre.  Marked improvement with each upgrade (especially from the Odyssey to the Pass brand) I highly recommended the x250.  If you can’t afford the .8 go with the 5.  Cables matter!  The 1038BE2’s benefit from high quality cables.  In my case Acoustic Zen Hologram 2’s.  With my current set up they image wonderfully.  You will hear instruments playing far outside of the speakers which at times, you may be startled by it.   Oh and pick up some Gaia isolation feet to further enhance the imaging and sound quality.  They are wonderful speakers, classics in fact, currently selling for a song.  Enjoy!
 Im using a Simaudio Moon W5.3SE with mine and am quite happy. Bass is fast and tuneful,and their is some nice wallop to these when you crank them up a bit. The highs are the best Ive heard in my room. They can dip down to 3 ohms so make sure you get an amp that has some current.
Thank you for all the information and verdantaudio for power and distance calculations.

With that said I have heard others mention luxman 590 a2 integrated  30w class A as a good combination with the 1038be.   Anyone have an opinion?

thanks
david