Reference 3a vrs Focus Audio

Thanks Phil for the advice.

You have given me some before and I appriciate it. Currently my amp is a Blue Circle CS. I just got it and it is breaking in. I am loving it.

It has preouts. So over the next few years I am going to work towards a poweramp (BC22 or 24 - not sure which yet but thinking 24) and use the CS preouts then replace it with a 21.1 pre.

It would be nice if I did not have have to replace my speakers again (at least for a long while), and I would like some that would last me well into my next few rounds of upgrading.

Like I said, I can't not afford anything now, but I would like to have a goal to work towards in the future.

Thanks
Nick

Nick,

I own the DeCapos (non-i version) and I think it is a great speaker overall. Unlike Phil above, I do not find the DeCapo "tilted-up" at all. In fact, I would consider it just the opposite based on my listening experience over the last year.

One GREAT thing about the DeCapos is that you can drive them with virtually ANY amp. I've use mine with several different SET tube amps that generated as little as 1.5 watts/channel and I've driven them with solid state. Currently I'm using either a pair of BottleHead Paramour 2A3 tube amps @ 3.5 watts/ch or a pair of Channel Islands VMB-1 40 watt/channel solid state amps. Both are excellent!

There are a lot of lower powered amps available at relatively bargain prices. That alone keeps me happy with my "easy to drive" DeCapos. I don't think I will ever own another pair of speakers that require high powered amps. Quality high-powered amps cost to much for my frugal comfort level.

Enjoy,

TIC

Yes, as Phil pointed out the 688s really benefit from high power. I found it interesting though that a gentleman I corresponded with was driving the 688's in a 18x21 room with a 30wpc Audiomat tube amp with no complaints.

I know in my own room 12x13 a 40wpc Jolida was adequate but the 688's really came alive with a 80wpc Jungson class A amp.

One thing I will say though is IMO the 688's really don't need tubes in the signal path. They work well with tubes but I think they benefit more from adequate power then they do from the tubes.