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Recommended Tube Amp for ML CLS I model

Happy holidays!

I've just acquired a pair of CLS I speakers with recent panel upgrade. I know this speaker is supposed to be tube friendly (higher impedance) and the easiest to drive of the CLS range. I am very familiar with the IIz model, but that has very different characteristics from what I understand.

I'm looking to pair a good tube amp with these speakers, to be driven by a Tact 2.2 Mini digital preamp that will be configured to send lower frequency signal to a REL sub and a time-aligned mid / upper signal to the CLS via a Tube amp. (I used a similar setup with an Accuphase DF-35 Digital dividing network and CLS IIz and REL - the Tact is a cheaper option if you just need to 2-way xover division). The digital discussion can take place in another thread.

For now, I am looking for a good tube amp to drive the CLS I model. Since the digitally split signal will be sans deep bass, low frequency performance is not a high priority. So far, I'm looking at ARC VT130SE and VT150 monos (both nice, but a lot of negative feedback used), Rogue Zeus (triode mode), ARC VT100, ARC VS115, Atma-Sphere OTL (with autoformer?), etc.

Any recommendations from those familiar with the original CLS?

TIA!
fdriver
paulro's avatar
paulro
7 posts
 
CLS's plus REL are a wonderful combination! I'm on the CLS IIz's, not the original, but my understanding is that the sound is largely the same (when turning off the IIz's high-frequency softening switch as I do).

I went through a number of amps, including the Rogue Zeus, ARCs, VTA, VAC, and Hovland before choosing the Conrad Johnson Premier 12 monoblocks. The Zeus and ARC were way too dry for my taste, the VT slightly too dry. VAC and Hovland were competitive sound-wise. The Hovland was the only solid state piece to make it into final round with me, and I really wanted to avoid the hassle of tubes, but it kept blowing a fuse trying to drive the CLSs.
dover
2,247 posts
 
Hi there, I used to import Martin Logans into NZ many yrs ago along with Conrad Johnson, Quicksilver, Counterpoint etc. They sre actually dificult to drive, although it is very humid here which didn't help. Best sound was with the Quicksilver 8417 monos by far. VTL's couldn't drive them. Big Rowlands are an excellent match either 7's or 5's. We had custom built stands to lift them 12" off the floor and angle slightly forward/down, this really opened them up and improved the bottom end considerably.
fdriver OP
17 posts
 
Dover - are you referring to the Original CLS, II, IIa, or IIz? I know the IIa was a bear to drive, due to it's very low impedance. The original CLS actually had a very high impedance above 1000 Hz, I believe. This made it ideal for tube amps. The series II versions definitely favored SS amps.
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