Preamp/Amp synergy with Cain Abby's?

Gmood1, I can always trust you to come with some new suggestions to keep me undecided :-).

You are quite right that biggest problem with the F1 is it limitation to only a narrow selection of speakers. From what I heard it is one of the best matches with the Abby's, but a later speaker change might be problematic. The digital amp would certainly offer a better match for a wider variety of speakers. I'll have to look into the Scott NIxon amps. The thing with the First Watt is that they are very limited in numbers: better to get one as long as they are available.

I was curious about the nonoversampling DACs (AckDack, Scot Nixon, etc.). I really like the AA Prima and it is one of the most natural sounding players around. Maybe I'll pick up a used nonoversampling DAC one day to start a harddisc based system. But first the amp...

Thanks again,

Rene

Gmood, one more quick question about the F1 in combination with your FTA2000. Is it only the (lacking) sensitivity of the 200A Fostex drivers that are the problem with the F1 or more. Did you or Paul try different parallel networks when using the FTA2000?

Thanks once more,

Rene

Hi Restock,
from what Paul told me the lacking sensitivity was the only problem. He loves the F-1 on his Fostex 1.3 speakers.
Not sure if he tried parellel networks on the Fostex F200A.

He was able drive the FTA with the mono ClariT but after inserting his BSC circuit . The monos started to clip badly. The BSC takes away some of the sensitivity of the driver in exchange for a flatter frequency response.

The F1 maybe your best bet. If your planning to stay with speakers above 94dB. I just didn't want you to be stuck with it if you ever wanted to move to a different type of single driver. Not all of them are sensitive.

Here's a French built amplifier which hasn't gotten a lot of press as yet. But from what I've read from some serious DIYers and underground audiophiles is a seriously great amp that may follow a design similar to the F-1.The difference being it will drive loads of 2 Ohms without breaking a sweat!
I sent this info to 6moons, hoping they may review it soon. Profet amplifier. You can find out more about it on the Selectron forum. It sells for $1600 complete if I'm not mistaken.

Also here's a little shootout with the Class T amplifiers. The Charlize looks like another good amp. You know me always looking off the beaten path. :-) As I've found IME the hidden gems are great finds.

Cheers!

I am going to be purchasing the Abby speakers and am also interested in what amp is best with them. I currently have all solid state equipment (Rotel) except for my headphone amps (Singlepower.) I am betting that tube amps would be better with the Cain & Cain speakers than solid state.... My situation is further complicated by the fact that my system has to do double-duty for both HT and 2 channel, as my house is much too small to have a dedicated listening room, let alone a separate HT room.

Any thoughts on this?

And where is your amp research taking you, Rene? After only 2 hours of listening to them at the seller's house, I love these speakers!

Holly