Audio Reasrch REF 5 Vs. Dartzeel NHB 18NS

Papaya, Playback designs Mps-5, TW Raven Ac-3, on Finite Element Master Reference very nice.

Are these the only amps (Parasound, are they the mono blocks?) that you have paired up with your MAXX's?

If I was you I would check the threads for MAXX owners to get a feel for what they are using amp/pre combo. I personally have six friends with them and all of the presentations and sonics are very different.

Jadis 80/80 mono's
ARC Ref5/610 mono's my old 610T's
Joule Ma/Destiny mono's
ARC/LAMM Ref3/Lamm ML & M 1.2 mono's my old Ref3
Mac 1000/2301's mono's
ARC/CAT Ref3/Cat JL2 Sig stereo my old CAT amp

it seems like most of my freinds like to have tubes but I have read other members on this site who own different Wilsons and are happy with solid state.

Off topic your TW what arm and cart are you using, I'm using a Phantom MK2 w/DYN XV-1s with great results. I personally really like TW product.

Dev. I`m using the exact arm and cart as yours on my TW. I was thinking of the Ravn phono, but the decision on the preamp will effect my consideration.
What setup do you use in your system? and as you mentioned your freinds, which of their system do you like best?
I was thinking myself getting the LAMM 1.2 REF or the ARC 210 but I`m not sure. If I will go the Dartzeel road then I don`t think these options are good match. I can see that ARC + Lamm goes well in other member`s system. Have you got any suggestion from your own experience?

Yes it will and it's the joys of this hobby of ours, Raven phono is suppose to be very nice and can use three arms with it. Tron Seven is another one that you should look at, I have heard this with your same table, arm, cart combo and it's a nice match, their full function pre with phono is another one for you to look into suppose to be really nice.

Currently my pre-amp is the VAC Sig. MK2a w/phono and I'm lovin it but I will try some other external ones down the road.

All the pces you are mentioning are great it's just going to come done to pairing them up and in the end what you like. One thing is if you go with the ARC pre it goes well obviously with ARC but also with Lamm, if you go with the DART well I just know. It's a great pce too but if you refer to what most others have paired it up with should say allot. In the end you are going to have to try and see what floats your boat, there will be differences for sure.

Well from my friends set-ups my top two are and these which I feel could be used if you changed your speakers down the road to say the MAXX3's for example;

- ARC Ref5/610 mono's my old 610T's
- Joule Ma/Destiny mono's

I should have never sold those 610T's because they would likely be a really nice match-up with my MBL 101E's. I was using them with Avalon Isis speakers.