2. amps-preamps
  3. 192575-187041

Seeking New Amplification for My Graham LS5/5 Speakers

Hello everyone. Looking for a little advice. I have a great pair of Graham ls5/5 speakers that are being driven by an LTA z40+ amp. I also have a pair of Spatial Audio M3 Sapphires that have been living in my basement. Having some free time during the holiday week, I brought the M3’s upstairs and hooked them up to the LTA and they sounded fantastic. Much better than the ls5’s, despite ls5s costing 5x as much. I think the LTA just doesn’t have enough power to really make the ls5s sing. Looking for some suggestions to drive them. I’m good with separates or an intergrated amp and buying either new or used. Think I need at least 100wpc. Also willing to trade the LTA. I primarily listen to digital sources (running a Grimm MU1 through and upgraded Mojo Audio Mystique SE-X). Budget is $10k, give or take. Thanks in advance for your help.
mezzguy2
toronto416
236 posts
 

Accuphase and Luxman amps pair well with Harbeth speakers.

mickeyb
581 posts
 

Accuphase pairs very well with most English monitors. Harbeth, Spendor, Graham and Falcon acoustics. It will be a very natural, detailed and unfatiquing presentation. I have my E470 paired with some Diapason Adamantes iii and it's oh so pleasing. I just can't get myself to buy some Spendors yet. Been dying to get some classic 2/3's but with 2 in college, it can wait. Cheers.

mezzguy2 OP
6 posts
 

Thanks everyone for your thoughts so far.  I definitely prefer a little bit of a warmer sound, if that helps the suggestions flowing. 

mezzguy2 OP
6 posts
 

I’m getting my hands on slightly used Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista 800.2 to demo.  Should have it in the system next weekend and I’m pretty excited.  Fingers crossed.  Will let everyone know my thoughts after it’s had a chance to settle in. 

paullb
130 posts
 

Best of luck with your new 800.2 amp.  I hope it's a good combo.

I am driving my Graham ls 5/5 with AGD Duet mono blocks.  150 W into 8 ohms & 300 W into 4 ohms.  I also drive them with a DIY First Watt F4 sometimes which is 25W into 8 ohms & 40W into 4 ohms.  95% of the time I think the smaller amp is more than I need.  I don't think the Grahams are that hard to drive, but I don't listen too loud either.

In addition to being voiced differently and having different impedance characteristics, the two speakers are different designs.  The dipoles will load the room a lot differently than the Grahams.  Do you think it's possible that the Grahams excite your room nodes, making everything sound muddy?  Bad bass might be the most common problem in audio.  Perhaps the Nu-Vista will give you some insight.

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