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Amp to drive Focal Kanta 3

Hi guys I am new to Hifi speakers and I recently paid a downpayment to the dealership. I am planning to get the Focal kanta 3 driven by devialet expert 200. I auditioned it with the ps audio m700, and honestly I didn’t hear much difference(maybe bcs of the room?), and was willing to go the cheaper route(m700), but my dad leaned towards the devialet due to “less clutter” not for the sound. Anyways I am not a 100% on the amps driving them, and I am open to suggestions. 

I have also listened to other speakers like the kef ls50w, bowers and wilkins 804, 803d3 driven by audiolab8300xp, revel ultima studio2 driven by mark levinson 532h(this was the best sounding to me and my dad) however they were a tiny bit more expensive than the focals. I couldnt push my dads budget any more since I have already more than doubled his intial budget. Anyways I might as well rant here, I asked for an audition on the kef reference 3 on the dealer and sadly they were not entertaining me so yeah I left. For the bowers on the other hand at first they were entertaining me but I guess they got tired and thought that my family didn’t have the dough HAHAHAHA and stopped entertaining my inquiries about prices. I wanted to try the 803 d3 with the michi s5 but yeah they didn’t bother talking to me anymore. The best of the bunch was the revel ultima studio 2 the “airiness” and imaging of that speaker was amazing, heck even my dad who was laughing at me when I was describing the sound that hi fi speaker makes were impressed and said it was like the singers were inside the room. Anyways I chosed the Kanta 3 for the wider soundstage, but damn I still miss the “airiness” and the bass of the revel.

Anyways I would really appreciate any suggestions just not Mcintosh amps pls since they don’t even bother answering my enquiries. My room is 13x4m thats why I wanted a wide soundstage. Would the devialet expert 200 be a good pair with those? My fear is that I haven’t listened to a lot of amps paired with kanta 3 yet to know it’s full potential. Also I can’t push the budget anymore, and I would not be able to upgrade anymore. Any amps that have good synergy with the kanta 3?


kulo
jjss49's avatar
jjss49
6,612 posts
 
in my experience the devialet is bright when fed via its digital inputs (i e from a streamer) ... feed it an analog input and it is quite balanced bot shrill at all ... not sure how to explain this other than the way it works it converts an analog input into the digital domain then amplifies... must be in the first step the treble is tamed via its adc algorithm ... i feel the devialet sounds very smooth and balanced with extraordinary bass control when feed via rca analog in

that been said, imo focals like tube amplification to sound their best. but you need a good tube amp as they are not easy loads
jamitloud
13 posts
 
I definitely appreciate all the input on my question. I’m looking forward to listening to the mc302 at home for a week or 2 before I make that decision. The price for it is perfect for me now or it would take me at least a year to save up cash to buy that pair of mc611‘s or mc462 new. so I might as well enjoy the 302, if it works out for me. I can’t even imagine trying a tube amp, what the sound would be like in my system. Are tube amps generally preferred with certain kinds of music such as classical and classic rock?
I’m sure not AC/DC, 
Rush and Black Sabbath.

Thanks.
Jim
samzx12
1,232 posts
 
May want to consider Naim. I was talking to a fellow who drives his Kanta's with Naim gear and highly recommends.  He also has a Primaluna EVO 400 integrated in a 2nd system driving Focal Sopra and loves the sound. 
jjss49's avatar
jjss49
6,612 posts
 
people shd know that naim is affiliated w focal... so there would be a sonic affinity one would assume
jamitloud
13 posts
 
I heard the Naim at the axpona convention hooked up to the Focal Grand Utopia’s. Though, I wish I had the remote to play the music I like at the volume I want to hear. 
However, I’m committed to saving up for The McIntosh mc462 or 611’s, just recently a mc302 is for sale next week that I could buy now.
Given the fact that if money was no object, where would we stop at amp power. If your speakers recommended amp power which mine is Focal Kanta 3 is 40-400 watts. If a speaker produces a level of 87dB when driven with 1 watt of power and measured 1 meter in front. How do you decide what amount of power you need. I think 50% more than 400 watts recommended would be 600 watts for headroom is ideal versus under power which clips your speakers when playing loud? Is an overwhelming amount of watts going to increase detail through speakers. Why would someone need a pair of MC2KW 2000 watt amps.I’m not saying buy 500k audio system. Just, where do we stop at amp watts that would be of no use to your speakers capability.
 
By the way, Happy New Year to All.
Jimb
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