https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649836446-hegel-h160/
a grand cheaper than the benchmark... will make the c7's sing beautifully - very pure sound, but no tubey coloration though
which amp for bedroom system with harbeth 7es-3 XD
I have enjoyed my Art Audio18W set amp in my bedroom for a long time but recently got the Harbeth 7es-3 XD and while excellent sonically do think a little more juice might be better still.
This is for a bedroom system so dont want to spend big bucks so primarily considering the Rogue stereo 100 or the Benchmark AHB2. I have the benchmark la4 and benchmark dac so leaning towards going all benchmark. I can say that with my ZMF verite closed headphones I am quite happy with the dac and heaphone amp on the preamplifier. So I am not considering an integrated amplifier nor a tube preamp.
I hesitate with the AHB2 only in that dont need nor would get subterranean bass with the Harbeth in bedroom so perhaps the Rogue would sound better in the midrange. I do like Herb Reichert reviews and he suprisingly preferred the rogue in ultralinear mode with the smaller still Harbeth 30.2. I listed to all types of music but want a vocals champ and certainly dont want an amplifier that is forward sounding (although that is hard to do with Harbeth).
thanks
Michael
https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649836446-hegel-h160/ a grand cheaper than the benchmark... will make the c7's sing beautifully - very pure sound, but no tubey coloration though |
I had the Rogue Stereo 100 and it would be a good match with the C7ES (which I also owned) but they sounded better with my old rogue audio cronus magnum ii which has become quite a classic pairing with the C7s. not recommending the cronus magnum ii but rather the atlas magnum power amp. if you haven't heard a hegel amp do so before you buy. suffice to say i have not heard one that i liked the sound of, including the H190 driving the C7ES3 and the pairing was as soft as mashed potatoes.
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