2. amps-preamps
  3. 156156-123906

Amplifier for Q acoustics concept 500

Hi to all.

I own the title’s speakers. I have paired them with harman kardon hk 990 but I don’t like the combination.

I tried a friend’s cambridge audio cxa80 and the result was much more pleasing, so pleasing that maybe I could live with it.

But I want to do better because I think these speakers deserve better amplification.

My budget is about 2.000 euros for second hand. I was thinking for cambridge audio 851a if its’ a step up from cxa80...since I already liked cxa80.

I could also find Hegel h190 and marantz pm-ki ruby for 2k and I wonder if they worth over Cambridge audio which is very transparent. One think I don’t like about harman kardon is that is has a bit dark presentation even its power is effortless. Pairing with cambridge audio, the speakers had very good bass extension as with hk 990 too, but sounded more airy compared to harman.

If someone owns these speakers and has a suggestion for which amp will suit them best I would appreciate it.

The source is a marantz tt15-s1 and I also use the internal hk 990 dac to listen from Spotify and macbook.

My primary concern is to find a suitable amp and then I can add an external dac and phono if they are not onboard.

Thank you in advance.
itzikia
itzikia OP
11 posts
 
Thank you for your answer. The fact than Ken Ishiwata have promoted ruby with concept 500 makes me thinking that it must be a good match but I may have different taste. So the personal listening is a must for sure.

I owned marantz pm15s2 in the past and it was too warm for my taste and I sold it. How the newer ruby sounds compared to older marantz reference amps? I think it is class D that many avoid but except from that have you ever heard another marantz gear to compare?

How did you also find azur? The newer cxa80 did a great job with concept in my opinion (open full sound, clear highs without being fatigue) even the speakers deserve much better amplification.


p3ga
21 posts
 
Yes, I compared the Ruby with my brother's Marantz PM 14s1 - there's an appreciable difference between the two. The Marantz leans warm, almost tube-ish, but has great speed & headroom. It's a heck of a chamelon.

The Azur 851 on the Concept 40's was ok; the Marantz in a very different league. Can't speak to the cxa 80.

I'd demo one if at all possible. The combo could be an end game for you; or you may find that the cxa hits all the right buttons, that's great if it does.
itzikia OP
11 posts
 
Finally I got it.

After several hours of listening is for sure better and more balanced than my Harman kardon hk 990.

Big soundstage, delicacy, nice vocals, guitars, piano etc sound indeed very good. It doesn't sound like previous marantz reference models.

It is less warm/dark but still warm, it reminds me of an arcam I've heard in the past. It has lots of detail, good tight bass and airy clear highs without fatiguing. Sometimes I felt I want a little more bass but I can set it from tone controls.

Overall the combination of ruby and concepts is great, almost ideal. 

To be honest I didn't hear other amps in this price league (4.000 euros) to say if there are better options or not but the result is beautiful.

So I cannot conclude if it worths the asking price compared to others. 

It is certain that it is a beautiful sounding amplifier and its phono stage is excellent.

Wish I had cambridge audio cxa80 to make comparisons. Ruby is better for sure but no way 4 times better than cambridge (1000 euros cost).

I will add a good dac in the future and hope there is no need to upgrade for long time!
psepulvp
9 posts
 
I also own the concept 500. I paired them with Mcintosh Ma252 and Moon 600i.
Since the 600i is a fantastic amplifier, it sounds better than the Mcintosh gear by far.
Been said that, you could try a used 600i but I’m afraid it will be out of your price range.
You could try a used Marantz PM11S3, which I liked more than Marantz Ruby or PM10.
Another option that can surprise you is a Gato Audio DIA-250S from Denmark, which now is 40% off factory direct with shipping and taxes included for 2.495 euros. One hell of an integrated more close to the high end amplifiers that you can imagine, and with DAC included that sounds like a 2.000 euros one. I have no affiliation with them, just like their gear. I will try this combination with Concept 500 shortly. 
psepulvp
9 posts
 
Forgot to mention. Hegel h360 or h390 also will be a perfect match with Concept 500. Better than Ruby to my taste.
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