The functional issues without the loop and multiple sources is a limitation, yet, as you say it does make a great pairing. The moved the MXr with the MasterBAM should make a noticeable improvement, with no loss of why you loved the MMEs, hopefully you will feel no need to use a subwoofer now! I will note that a fellow Agoner went from LA150/VZN100 to the Ars Sonum - which he actually preferred - as great as the little amp is, it is still a "little" amp that does play loud enough in most settings, but ultimately preferred an OTL, what I consider to be the best topology for an amp (SS or tubes)if it works well with your speakers, and obviously it works very well indeed with the Merlins.
Good tube integrated for Merlin speakers?
Hi,
Other than the Ars-Sonum integrated, what is the current crop of recommendations to drive a new Merlin MXe?
The Ars-Sonum is a push-pull A/B amp, so I was wondering if a straight SET integrated would work, and/or something strictly class A?
I'm not dismissing the Ars-Sonum (far from it -- synergy is what this game is about), I'm just looking for alternatives (and the Filarmonia has a rather long lead time, so what do I do in the mean time?) ....
I was looking at Audiomat (specifically the Opera Reference or Prelude Reference 20), the Mastersound (300B or 845) amps, Art Audio Jota or Carissa (I think the PX-25 is going to be woefully underpowered but the Concerto might work), and well, I'm not sure.
If possible, I'd like to keep this under $5k (used or new). Oh, and if it has a remote, that's a really nice feature ....
Separates are fine, but a different conversation -- just looking at integrateds right now ...
Thanks for you input!
Other than the Ars-Sonum integrated, what is the current crop of recommendations to drive a new Merlin MXe?
The Ars-Sonum is a push-pull A/B amp, so I was wondering if a straight SET integrated would work, and/or something strictly class A?
I'm not dismissing the Ars-Sonum (far from it -- synergy is what this game is about), I'm just looking for alternatives (and the Filarmonia has a rather long lead time, so what do I do in the mean time?) ....
I was looking at Audiomat (specifically the Opera Reference or Prelude Reference 20), the Mastersound (300B or 845) amps, Art Audio Jota or Carissa (I think the PX-25 is going to be woefully underpowered but the Concerto might work), and well, I'm not sure.
If possible, I'd like to keep this under $5k (used or new). Oh, and if it has a remote, that's a really nice feature ....
Separates are fine, but a different conversation -- just looking at integrateds right now ...
Thanks for you input!
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- 15 posts total
- 15 posts total