Naim or Octave with Dynaudio Confidence C1

Thanks everyone. I haved nagged the Dynaudio guys about getting an Octave demo in my area. They haven't been able to do it yet. I have heard before that the C1s need a lot of power (and I'm not interested in the supernait -- it is too forward and not refined enough for me) but I have heard the Naim separates on more than one occasion in a room that is similar to mine in size and the power seemed adequate and the dynamics not compressed. Maybe it's my ears. Also, I tend to listen to music that is not bombastic. I'm also told that the Naim's high voltage amps are more meaningful than amps in a cheap power amp. I don't know if that's true or bs. I am going to try to listen to the Octave if I get a chance.

my C1s hit the power guard on a 200w McIntosh integrated.

tube watts and ss watts are different due to distortion---but those Octave pieces can be had much cheaper if you stick to US companies. they are just basic KT88 integrated amplifiers.

Have you heard the Octave amps? If I liked the naim separates do you think I should just go with them? Thanks.

You will have no issues driving the Dynaudio Confidence C1 with the Octave integrated amplifier. In fact, Octave has been using Dynaudio speakers to demo their products in many of the German audio shows I have attended. See this link for a review of one of their products:
http://www.sixmoons.com/audioreviews/octave/octave_4.html

Compared to solid state amps or even other tube amps for that matter, the Octave products will showcase their ability to convey the emotion of the music in an ejoyable manner with a unique quietness. I have heard some top line Mark Levinsons and Krells not sound as good as my Octaves (MRE 130).

I even took my Octave MRE 130's to a Mac dealer to compare to the MC501's, the Octave won hands down, driving the same speakers, the B&W N800's, that I own at home. Many suggest that you might need a lot of power, watts or current (amps) to drive speakers with difficult loads, below 4 ohms. Based on my experience, the Octaves can drive almost anything you plug into them. Granted the V70 only has 75 watts per channel with 80 watt surge capability, but they will drive a 2 ohm load easily.

I am pretty amazed that the Octave products are built so robustly and are very easy to adjust tube bias. I mean, anyone can adjust the bias for each tube on an Octave amp in a matter of minutes with just a screwdriver, while it is on.

The only way for you to really know if you like them is to listen to them and make that decision on your own.

Ciao,
Audioquest4life

Hi Audioquest4life, Thanks for your very informative, kind posting. One question, have you ever auditioned Naim separates, and if so, how would you compare their sound to the Octave amp? Thanks.