Good Amp for Martin Logan Monolith II

Find a used Mark Levinson 23 or 23.5 or 27.5 and you are there. I have an Audio Research REF 3 pre-amp that goes to two AR VTM 120 Monoblocks for the upper panels of my Monolith IIIs and a Mark Levinson ML3 for the bass drivers.
I also use an ultra modified Bedini 250/250 MK II (that I modified) and it is also wonderful on the upper panels. Do not, I repeat, do not let tube bias steer you away from excellent and cost effective sound.

The ML 23.5 is still one of the best amps out there and for the money, you can't touch it tube or solid state.

enjoy

Minor1, You are using late model tube monos and preamp on your panels and recommending an older solid state stereo amp. Does this mean you're not there?
I have had the original Mark Levinson amplifiers like your ML3 work extremely well with electrostatic speakers.

Rrog; Oh I'm there all right. I don't have a tube vs. solid state bias. I have listened to many amps over the years and built up my system. I am not in the amp of the month club and don't change because some "new and better" amp came around. Because most times, the new stuff really isn't "better". Don't get me wrong. There is some great equipment out there. But, I will not change equipment just because something reportedly new and better came along. Most times manufacturers will cancel a piece of equipment and come out with something new, not because it really is better, but because equipment reviewers and magazines won't review older equipment, even if they are still being produced. And for some audiophiles, if the equipment isn't reviewed recently, they won't buy it. However, for tube amps and pre-amps, I recommend cleaning the connectors, changing the tubes with new tubes and rebiasing and then listening again before considering changing components. for example. I wanted to investigate a new pre-amp that was remote controlled (getting lazy) that was at or better than my Audio Research SP11. The SP11 is probably one of the better pre-amps around, even now. So, what I did was purchase new tubes and burned them in and listened. Wow! was it great. Then I went to my favorite stereo store and borrowed an AR SP 17 and SP 16 to listen to, along with a Krell pre-amp. They weren't close to the SP 11 in sound quality, and if I sold my SP11 it would basically pay for any one of them. So, finally, I listened to a demo model REF 3 pre-amp. Took it home for two weeks (yes, they let me). and it was better, not much better, but better than my SP11. I didn't think that the cost of the REF3 was low enough to justify purchasing it over the sound of my SP11, but I weighed it for days and finally negotiated a very good price for it, sold my SP11 for a very competitive price and I am good. I don't do that often. I know what music is suppose to sound like. I played classical violin, oboe, bassoon, etc. I know what live music sounds like also. So, my system is very close. Such that to upgrade is not cost justified for the incremental increase in sound quality. So, Yes, I'm there. It can always get better, no question. But I don't feel that anything is really missing or lacking in the music reproduction.

enjoy

Minor1, I'd say another set of VTM 120s and you'll be there. I'm a stickler for coherent sound.

I totally agree with you. Newer is not always better and sometimes newer is not as good.

I also owned an SP-11 MKII. I used it with a Levinson 23 to drive the big Duntechs and later I owned a 23.5.

I am a long time fan of Audio Research both new and old. I have owned everything from an SP-3A-1 and ST-70 C3 up to the Classic Series amplifiers. After that I switched to Quicksilver to drive my CLS and then the ESP Concert Grands. There is a pair listed on Audiogon with some good photos if you have never seen them.

I don't know about the product of the month because I don't read magazines anymore. We eventually reach a point where we realize the manufacturers and reviewers are not gods and we begin to trust our ears for what is good sound.

I would call myself a tube lover, but some of the best sound I have heard was with high quality Class A solid state monos like the Levinson Model 20s. I also like the John Curl Levinson gear like your ML3 with the preamp of the same vintage.

I am sure your system is very there. It sounds like you have an awesome system.

Happy listening.

Please tell me you kept your ML 23.5. That is one amp that I would not get rid of. I would keep it even if I bought other equipment. I've heard it many times, and it was a very good, wonderful amp. Hmmm, four VTM 120 monos huh? Well, the Martin Logan Monolith III's that I have use the Martin Logan electronic crossover that adjust the gains of each amp to match with switches in the rear of the crossover. But, tube amps for the bass drivers? Hmmmm. What would that sound like? The VTM 120's are very good amps that didn't get very high positive reviews and were cancelled. The AR rep and stereo salesmen that I spoke with told me they were cancelled because at that time, people were moving away from Mono blocks and wanted stereo amps. In any case, useing them to drive the upper panels of the Monolith IIIs takes much of the load away from the amps with the ML 3 on the base drivers, the VTM 120's absolutely shine.

Recommendation: Eliane Elias' Something for you disc. the Blue in Green cut is simply wonderful.

enjoy