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Acoustat , Hafler TNT and Jim Strickland

Hi

I own Acoustat 2+2 speakers and right now powering them with a Panny XR55 receiver (dual amped) (not the ideal I know).

I know the Acoustat TNT amps are the best match but since they are tough to find, wanted to get which Hafler TNT amp's are also great (think Strickland moved to Hafler and did their TNT series) and also are there other amp's designed by STrickland that would work well.

Side question, what is it (technically) that makes the Acoustat amp's work well with Acoustat speakers, asking as if I can identify the characteristic can look for the same characteristics on other amp's.

Thanks

Shriram
shriramosu
bpwalsh
1,200 posts
 
The TNT amps work, but I wouldn't say are the definitive choice. You can also use Acoustat direct drive tube amps (Acoustat X et al.) with the speakers, bypassing the transformer system altogether, although the amps aren't that common and the 6HB5 output tubes are getting to be hard to come by.
kublakhan
717 posts
 
I've used tube amps on my Model III's as well as solid state. The tube amps were magical. Solid state was amazing but tubes on those babies...whoa!

In fact, I found my Audio Research VT100mkII w/ ARC Ref-1 pre was better than my Acoustat Monitor IV's with their servo tube amps and the same Ref-1 pre.
imin2u
392 posts
 
I have Model 3's also. Although they're now packed away, I did listen to them for over two years. They had been powered by Haflers, Rotels, Acoustat TNT, and finally a Threshold T200 amplifier. Nothing touched the T200. It made the biggest difference in all the good ways. The TNT was just too "edgy".
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