2. amps-preamps
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Amp for Aerial speakers?

My current speakers are NHT SuperTwo's for the front and rear surrounds, with an NHT VT1C center, and Velodyne HGS-18 sub. I will be receiving an Aerial CC5 center channel speaker next week, and will then later (end of year) upgrade the front surrounds to Aerial LR5's, and the rears to Aerial SR3's. My preamp is a Lexicon MC-1, and my amps are two ATI 1506's that I'm running in bridged mode. I have the opportunity to purchase a new Theta Dreadnaught at a great price, and was wondering which amp would be a better match for the Aerials? I did hear the Aerials with the Dreadnaught at the dealer's showroom, and the combination sounded great, so much so that I went ahead and ordered the CC5. I haven't had the chance yet to hear it with the ATI amps though. Thanks for any input.
kyee
mahandave
153 posts
 
I have been doing a lot of amp searching and have Aerial 8B speakers. I would look at the new Belles 350A,(two and three channel versions available) I was also looking at the Classe CAM350 and prefer the Belles. Don't get me wrong, Classe is great and you cant go wrong with any of their amps! It's a matter of taste. Both will smoke the ATI which I have owned. EAD is also great with Aerial! Theta is overpriced!!! Bel Canto is a much better more musical amp than Theta. Brown Electronics Amps are the best amps on the plannet by a long shot and cost $4000 for two channels.
kyee OP
10 posts
 
The price I'm able to get the new Theta Dreadnaught populated with 5 200w modules is $3500 delivered. With this in mind, is the Dreadnaught a good match/buy for the Aerials?
massvm
126 posts
 
I'm not sure if your thread is requesting information on other amp matches with Aerials, or whether you wanted further information about the ATIs with Aerials. I read one review that was favorable to the combination, but I have not heard ATIs with Aerials. I have heard Aerials with Classe, Levinson, Proceed, Bryston, and Rowland (which I own). Levinson (outside of the Rowland) was my favorite match with 10ts. Great bass control (Lev 336) and good mid-range. I'm sorry, but I've yet to hear the LR5s, but I assume, perhaps incorrectly but just the same, that the timbre/voice of the LR5s is similar to the 10ts. Best of luck.
massvm
126 posts
 
Kyee, sorry but I posted at the same time as your last response. My response now is, "Oh, Never mind".
jbecker
22 posts
 
Kyee, I have a pair of 10t's matched with a Classe 300; it took this much power for the Aerials to come alive. I think Aerials in general need a lot of power. My classe is six years old and I have had no trouble with it. I think Classe is a good company; their products are well built and reliable.
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