@charles1dad
Totally agree on synergy! Just because something looks like a good match on paper that's certainly no guarantee - and the converse is often true as well. You just have to try - and trust your ears, not the specs.
The Leben CS-300xs and DeVore O/96's are a well-chronicled effective pairing and sound excellent in my system/room. The duo produce a rich, impactful and textured tone, if not a bit forward-sounding as influenced by the EL84-driven Leben. The Leben gives up some detail, finesse, holographic imaging, and agility to the Luxman MQ-88uC and it doesn't quite produce the large and weighty 3D soundstage that my LM805ia provides - but it's a really fun amp with a lot of slam and overall great pairing with the O's.
Interestingly I'd say I nearly enjoy listening to the Leben through the Forte III's as much as through the O/96's. The Forte III's mainly don't image as well and are not as resolving on detail - as one would expect. So far I haven't heard a better pairing with the Forte III's than the Leben.
Totally agree on synergy! Just because something looks like a good match on paper that's certainly no guarantee - and the converse is often true as well. You just have to try - and trust your ears, not the specs.
The Leben CS-300xs and DeVore O/96's are a well-chronicled effective pairing and sound excellent in my system/room. The duo produce a rich, impactful and textured tone, if not a bit forward-sounding as influenced by the EL84-driven Leben. The Leben gives up some detail, finesse, holographic imaging, and agility to the Luxman MQ-88uC and it doesn't quite produce the large and weighty 3D soundstage that my LM805ia provides - but it's a really fun amp with a lot of slam and overall great pairing with the O's.
Interestingly I'd say I nearly enjoy listening to the Leben through the Forte III's as much as through the O/96's. The Forte III's mainly don't image as well and are not as resolving on detail - as one would expect. So far I haven't heard a better pairing with the Forte III's than the Leben.