Justin & Jerry's Hifi Blog

[Marco]

Lol - we could do that, but weighing 40kg, it's not something I enjoy carting around too much.... If the MBLs aren't a problematic load for a valve amp, which I suspect they're not, then I think that Jerry would very much enjoy what the Copper amp does, as Tannoys aside, we tend to like a similar sound

Jerry, I hear ya, about the amps, and totally get where you're coming from. However, my point was simply that £20k loudspeakers deserve to be driven by a similar calibre of amplification (and I don't just mean 'expensive for expensive's sake'), but where they mullah has been spent in the right places. You know me when it comes to SPPV!

For me, during your amp box-swapping journey, you should be playing more with ones in the £6k range (such as the Chapter), which meet the above criteria, than at the lower end of the scale, which you seem to have done more, that's all. Therefore, why not revisit the £6k amplifier arena, and see what you can come up with there that reflects your usual (carefully considered) lateral thinking and desire to get the biggest bang for your buck - and remind your MBLs what it's like to have some top-notch watts up them!

Marco.

[jandl100]

Well, in the multi-£k arena, I've paired the MBLs with the Graaf 5050, Krell 250a, the Chapter Couplet 250S, Krell 400xi, Viva 300p, Parasound A21, Audiozone Amp2, Justin's 211 monstas ... and probably more.

I hear what you say, Marco - but to be perfectly honest, I don't think I would gain much if anything sonically with any of those (and would often lose quite a lot) compared to the Restek pre / Harman Kardon Citation 12 power combo that is currently wired up.

To echo what Justin said, I remain convinced that you can do just as well with a synergistic lower price amp than you can with most far more expensive items. But I'm always ready to try a new competitor.

I could do the amplifier boxswapping thing at the £5k-£10k level, but then the profit/loss margins with the trades become significant for me, and I don't really want to do that - the fun factor would vanish if I lost a £k or so on a swap.

But yes, the right £10k or £20k amp would I am sure be bloody marvellous with the MBLs.

It would not be an exaggeration, though, to say that I remain ecstatic with what my system currently does, give or take an amp swap or two. I wouldn't swap it for anything else I have ever heard.

[User211]

Lol - we could do that, but weighing 40kg, it's not something I enjoy carting around too much....

Sometimes you've just gotta haul ass. I got two 211 monos round there each weighing around 45-46KG in their respective coffins...

I think the copper amp would do well TBH. I really do. However you don't know til you try.

[jandl100]

Some more Jerry Ramblings ...

I think it is all about amp / speaker synergy.

I was really disappointed with how the class D Crown amp performed with Justin's old Apogees. It sounded good, but was clearly much more in its element with my MBLs. I was hoping / expecting a "Parasound Moment", like when my A21 amp really got a grip on Justin' speakers. That was awesome, but it just didn't happen with the Crown even though it has more power than the Para (maybe not more current, though ).

And Justin's 211 monoblocks really didn't shine with the MBLs, they were OK, but nothing very special - while they do a rather decent job to say the least with both pairs of Apogees he has had.

Synergy rules! You just gotta find the right combos - I don't think price comes into it very strongly at all.

[User211]

However, synergy with the right really expensive amp could be killer. You just have to try some big MBL monos some day.

Lie to a dealer and tell him you want a home demo.

Did I just suggest that? What kind of a person am I? Don't answer that...

[jandl100]

I said that before!

But yes, the right £10k or £20k amp would I am sure be bloody marvellous with the MBLs.

But not about lying to a dealer .... although if it came to it and I was totally blown away, I would probably stump up the Big Moolah.
-- nope, I don't want to go there I'm quite happy playing around in the little boy's amplifier sandpit.

[struth]

I said that before!



But not about lying to a dealer .... although if it came to it and I was totally blown away, I would probably stump up the Big Moolah.
-- nope, I don't want to go there I'm quite happy playing around in the little boy's amplifier sandpit.

Quite right Jerry. I am happy enough with my Atoll power amp; does all it should

[The Black Adder]

>Error...
>Rewind Tape!
>Sonics and price points don't always correlate....
>Error!



>Ready!
>_

[User211]

I said that before!

I know I was just rubbing it in - hard.

It is a bit of a "Danger Will Robinson" road to go down as you so rightly say.

[Marco]

However, synergy with the right really expensive amp could be killer. You just have to try some big MBL monos some day.

That's what I was getting at before, but Jerry's answered the point

We're different, in that I like a 'balanced system', in terms of the spending being equally distributed amongst each component, with the emphasis placed a little more on the quality of the source components, particularly my turntable, which has cost me nearly twice as much as my speakers - but then truly top-notch vinyl replay doesn't come cheap!

Marco.