Amplifiers Recomm. to drive my Martin Logans


Hey All -
I'm in the process of getting my 2nd amplifier in 4 mos. b/c of the disappointment I have had in the sound of my Martin Logans (scenarios). Have small townhome w/ hardwood floors. Used nak RE-10 to drive the Logans (not happy) and now have a NAD C370 en-route. Will the new amplifier help me here? Looking for suggestions. Speaker wire suggestions are also appreciated.
I am a live music archivist and (DAT) tape alot of rock/jazz oriented music.
rdalton8888
Martin logans tend to like tube amps with lots of power. You might try and get your hands on one of the larger Audio Research or VTL amps. We don't sell either but I have owned about 12 different pairs of Logans over the years and really like those combinations. Also the Goldmund solid state amps work very well.
I was driving my Martin Logan Aerius i with an NAD C340, and just recently upgraded to a tubed VTL IT 85. The difference between these two amps is HUGE HUGE HUGE. My speakers have become SO musical. Veils and veils removed. Mids are MUCH richer, fuller... the NAD really sounded thin in comparison. I have to just stop and stare at my speakers sometimes, i'm so amazed at the music coming out of them with the VTL.

I also listen to a lot of non-classical music, and I now understand how pace, rhythm and timing really can change with a different amp. The music has really jumped in terms of excitement and energy with the VTL.

The IT85 is an integrated amp, rated at 80 wpc, but it is more than sufficient. I never turn it up past 12 or 1. I guess what I'm getting at is don't worry too much about getting an amp with some huge power rating. I'd bet 150w for each channel would be sufficient. My Aerius recommends 80 to 200, so I'm right at the bottom recommended setting, and the amp totally blows away the 100w rated NAD in terms of power.
I drive mine with an Audio Research tube amp VT-100 MKIII to be exact, fed from an Audio Research pre LS-16 MKII The whole shabang is cabled with Nordost Quatra-fil and Nordost SPM bi-wire speaker cable. The sound is quite nice :^)
I was pretty happy with a McCormack DNA 0.5 driving my SL3s until I had a good opportunity for a DNA 1/B. You may also be interested in the new McCormacks or the InnerSound amps which were designed for electrostatics.