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Power amp for Vandersteen Treo?

My Audio Research SD135 power amp just died, and I'm considering my options.  It may be repairable, but I'm still researching an issue with replacement parts. 

What would be a worthy replacement of the ARC SD135 with Vandersteen Treos?  My preamp is an Audio Research LS 27.  I don't have a lot of cash.  I'm not interested in sizzle and boom, but musical fidelity, especially with piano, trumpet, and big, brassy symphonies.  I'm not a big fan of stuff I have to tweak, so tube amps make me nervous.  

Audio Research suggested I look at DS225, the class-D successor to the SD135.

My tech suggests Nakamichi Stasis amps, and in general, amps having a lot of immediately available current with refinement. 

I have an ARC D130 filling in, but it doesn't seem to play at the same level.

Suggestions?

rach_fan
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 

rach_fan

These Vandersteen Treos don’t need an amp with big "current grunt" as they are a very easy benign load, but they are not very sensitive so they need quite a few watts
https://www.stereophile.com/images/666Treofig01.jpg
Class-D could be good, I can vouch for Belcanto Ref 600m monoblocks, they can sound nice, even in the upper mids/highs into these kind of benign loads.
They do 340w@8ohm and 600w@4ohm. And they are now 5 years old, so used ones are also an option.

Stereophile:
Treo’s voltage sensitivity was a low 82.5dB(B)/2.83V/m, the same as the BBC LS3/5a. However, the impedance remains between 6 and 10 ohms for almost the entire audioband (fig.1), with a benign electrical phase angle. The minimum magnitude is 5.5 ohms, at 26 and 75Hz; the Treo will be relatively easy for the partnering amplifier to drive.
Cheers George
joey54
434 posts
 
I would suggest you contact JohnnyR at the Audio Connection in Verona, NJ. Not sure what your budget is but the Treo's sound really good with Belles, Ayre, Aesthetix and ARC amps. JohnnyR carries all of those brands and can give you good advice. 

I run my Treo CT's with the Aesthetix Mimas integrated amp and they sound great together. Good Luck!
jc4659
549 posts
 
^ good advice.  I owned a DS-225 a few years ago and while I initially liked the see through sound stage and transparency, it eventually wore on my ears.  I eventually switched to Ayre which was more musical and relaxed.
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