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Amp for Revel Ultima Studio 2s

I currently am driving my Revel Studio 2s with a Simaudio Moon Evolution i-7 integrated but am looking to move to a more powerful pre/power amp combination. I only have room for a stereo amp (I don't have room for 2 monoblock amps). My audio cabinet (recently custom made) can also only accommodate an amp 20" or less in depth and 9.5" in height (although less height is ideally needed for the amp to breathe - the space in the cabinet is only 10" high).

I'm considering moving up in the Simaudio line to a P7 or P8 pre-amp plus a W8 amp. Other option is McIntosh MC452 amp and a Mac pre-amp or Mark Levinson 532H amp and a ML pre-amp (or a mix of the Mac/ML gear). Suggestions?
camb
ritmo
99 posts
 
What is your budget?

ARC also works well with the Ultima 2 line. I'm driving the Salon 2s with the ARC LS27 and DS450. Extremely happy with this combo.

Mike
camb OP
164 posts
 
Thanks for the input! A Simaudio P-8/W-8 is stretching my budget so ideally Id like to spend less.

i do think Sim and the Studio 2s are a good match. a local dealer is selling an ARC Reference 3 and associated ARC 220 amp on consignment which I may also try out.

Auditioning the Mac 452 and Levinson 532h today. Will post my thoughts.

Cheers.
goatwuss
877 posts
 
What don't you like about the i7 driving the revels?
camb OP
164 posts
 
Nothing, actually. That's a good point! But when I heard the more powerful W-8 drive the revels there was a greater sense of control and space. So I guess I'm going from very good to excellent performance.
camb OP
164 posts
 
Tried out a bunch of diffent combinations of Mac, Usher and Levinson amplification yesterday. Aside from the fact that I learned that Mac is not the sound I'm looking for, there were a couple of surprises:

1) The combination of the Levinson 326S pre amp and the Levinson 532h power amp does not work well. Very dull and kind of washed out in terms of sound. Strange - you'd think that all gear within a brand would work well together - not the case here. On other occasions I've heard the 326S pre amp with the 532 dual mono amp and the 53 monoblocks, and both were extremely good combinations...

2) The Levinson 326S pre amp and the Usher R-6.0 power amp (only $3,600 for 150 wpc amp) sounded fantastic! Huge open soundstage and slightly warmish, engaging sound. The only thing that was missing from the sound coming out of the Revel Ultima Studio 2s was the lowest of low frequencies. The Usher R-6.0 is a real sleeper, high value product that's worth checking out!
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