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Add'l amps for ARC/ML HT System?

I just picked up an entire Martin Logan HT set up--Prodigys, Scripts, and Theatre center channel (off A'gon, to boot). I really wanted the Prodigys, and the rest was kind of gravy. But, now that I have them....

My problem is matching up amps/speakers. I've got a pair of ARC VT-100 Mk IIIs I am currently using to passively bi-amp the Prodigys, with the theatre and scripts are sitting in my study as non-functional art. ML recommends using solid state for the bottom end of the Prodigys, so I suppose I could use the other VT100 for the rears (seems kind of overkill) and look for something like a ARC 100.2 or D200/D240. I like the way the tubes sound with the electrostatics, so I'd probably be looking for some well-matched mono amp for the center, but trying to find a second hand single VTM 200 doesn't seem to be in the cards. Another possibility might be looking for an ARC SDA-1, which would give me, I gather, 4 ch. of solid state, 2 of which could be bridged for the center channel and two of which could be used for the rears or the bottoms of the Prodigys.

Any suggestions? Am a unnecessarily confining myself to ARC? I've assumed, I guess, that I'll get more continuity and consistency buying from the same mfr, but maybe I'm totally off.

The rest of the system, if it matters, is a Theta CB II playing preamp/processor and a Theta David CD/DVD, with a generic VCR. Cables and I/C are Kimber, AGDL/KCAG and Bifocal XL. (Anyone got a spare single run of Bifocal XL or want to split a pair?)

Thanks in advance.
edesilva
abstract7
541 posts
 
The SDA-1 is a good idea. Another possiblity might be a Classe Ten bridged to mono for the center and potentially a Classe Seventy or another 10 for the rears. You don't really have to stick to ARC, but there's certainly no harm in doing so. You will get a little different sound from the Solid State--I don't think it will matter in the least for the rear channels. For the center you could consider a tube, but for my tastes and movie soundtracks that might be a little overkill (I also have limited faith in really good multi-channel audio, but only time will tell for sure).
edesilva OP
768 posts
 
Abstract7, thanks for the input. I poked around on A'gon a bit and, since you seem familiar with Classe, what do you think of the CAV-75? A pair of Classe 70s would seem to run me about $1K, and the CAV-75 maybe 10% more, but its a more recent vintage amp ('98 v '92) and I'd get six channels of 75W, bridgeable into 3 at 150W, for that 10%. Any reason to think the 70/70 or CAV-75 options would sound better/worse?
abstract7
541 posts
 
I have not had much time with any of the CAV series. My first impression when I heard them at a dealer was they were little colder (how do you describe sound) more analytical than the predicessors. I also think the older series will mate a little better with the ARC, which in my opinion (with a few expceptions int he pre-amp line) is anything but analytical. Keep in mind the seventy can not be bridged (at least the one I own can't), but the Classe Ten can. I'm actually using a Classe Ten with a Martin Logan Logos--great combination.
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