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Meadowlark Kestral Owners! - Amp Help.

I recently moved the system into a room that sucked the life out of my EPos ES12'and have ended up with a pair of Hot Rod kestrals- Definetly an improvement in the low end. But things still didn't seem quite right. I replaced my CJ MV 52 (45 watt) with an old Rotel RB970(70 Watt) I had laying around and while not as smooth, things just worked better. I guess the answer is I need more power and am thinking of getting something in the 100-150 watt range Solid State. Any suggestions? The rest of the system: Micromega Stage 2, Audible Illusions Modulus 3. Oh yeah, I'd like to spend in the $700 to $1000 range. Thanks for you input
prfont
kitch29
316 posts
 
Funny you should ask Prfont, I received my gift to myself today, a sonographe 250 fbo my kestrels. After 4 hours (not much) better soundstage, better able to hear into the hall, violins have lost their squeaks but still bite on a downbow, and Joni is even more ethereal. I can't listen to metal tweeters so not a detail freak, (kestrels are silk)and i've done a lot with placement, room treatment and cables (AQ topaz ic and dh labs t-14) with my very limited blue-collar budget. Everything will change over the next week, e-mail me if you like.
prfont OP
89 posts
 
Thanks all for your input and insight. As I've changed so much so quickly, I think its time to settle in, fool with placement etc... I think I'll still probably end up swapping the CJ for something solid state - Bryston, McCormack, Marsh or ??. Still the comments on power and detail are probably right on. I don't consider myself a detail freak either but there is a clear loss of sparkle that the ES12's had that is missed, and I'm wondering if that can ever be "corrected" with different amps. Thanks again.
chelillingworth
309 posts
 
I use a Audiomat 30w tube integrated with great success. Not a warm tube amp. The smaller Marsh is great if you think you need power. check out goldmanaudio.com
sedond
1,387 posts
 
hi prfront,

if ewe miss that sparkle, there may be nothing that will "correct" those kestrels. ewe may have to try something like proacs...

regards, doug

musikdok
120 posts
 
Don't give up on the H.R. Kestrals! I certainly respect the more experienced opinions that allude to their lack of extreme detail (relative to speakers costing *much* more), but I don't feel as if I'm missing anything with mine. I've always been able to appreciate changes upstream, and do have that *sparkle* (without etch) on the high end. Alas, the conundrum when one changes a variable in their system - it all too often necessitates other changes in search of synergy. I would definitely recommend bi-wiring to allow the speakers to perform at their utmost. Also experiment with placement. I think you're on the right track with amps - audition Bryston or McCormack. Both great values, as are the Kestrals. Regards and Happy Holidays to all, -John
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