Help me decide.....

[mbovaird]

I am considering buying a used pair of Sonus Faber Aida's. Two friends have checked them out and they say they are in terrific shape. My question is, what amps would you recommend to drive them? I've seen pictures of them at CES with a pair of ARC REF 250's and a pair of DS450M's. I've seen them paired with just REF 250's. I've seen them paired with D'Agostino Monos.

My current gear is:

Classe CA-M600's
ARC REF 10 Preamp
EMM Labs DAC2X
AVID TT with Zesto Phono Stage

My room is 15 wide x 35 deep. My room is dedicated and treated.

Thank you in advance...

Michael.

 

[Steve Williams]

I've heard them with the ARC Ref 250's and when I did I thought it was the best in show

 

[mbovaird]

I've heard them with the ARC Ref 250's and when I did I thought it was the best in show

Thanks Steve. Did you happen to hear them with the DS450M's on the bottom too? I believe this was the configuration at CES.

 

[Steve Williams]

not that I recall. This was CES 2012

 

[KeithR]

one of the more common pairings with SF is McIntosh- 2301s would be a good option.

 

[Steve Williams]

I heard the McIntosh with the Aida and IMO wasn't nearly as good as with the Ref250

 

[rockitman]

Your Classe' amps will drive just about anything.

 

[DaveyF]

Ref 250's or perhaps an even better match: Ref 750's.

 

[mbovaird]

The Ref 750's are interesting, but I think there is too many tubes and I just might melt from all that heat.

So the D'ags are not a good match for the Aida's?

 

[microstrip]

I am considering buying a used pair of Sonus Faber Aida's. Two friends have checked them out and they say they are in terrific shape. (...)

Let us hope that none of your friends decides to get them ...

Although I have ARC with mine, there is an amplifier I would like to listen with the Aida's - the Constellation Audio Centaur.

 

[Steve Williams]

The Ref 750's are interesting, but I think there is too many tubes and I just might melt from all that heat.

So the D'ags are not a good match for the Aida's?

I owned the Ref600 Mk lll with a Ref3. Total of 70 tubes. So hot I had to install a 3rd central HVAC for my room alone.

 

[mbovaird]

I owned the Ref600 Mk lll with a Ref3. Total of 70 tubes. So hot I had to install a 3rd central HVAC for my room alone.

Do you think the REF 250's (combined with my REF 10) will melt me out of the room?

 

[mbovaird]

Let us hope that none of your friends decides to get them ...

Although I have ARC with mine, there is an amplifier I would like to listen with the Aida's - the Constellation Audio Centaur.

Thanks Francisco. This is a curious recommendation. I thought you loved your REF 150. Are you looking for more power?

By the way....what do you have the rear settings at on your Aidas? High, Low, Depth. I see in the manual it is quite adjustable.

 

[microstrip]

Do you think the REF 250's (combined with my REF 10) will melt me out of the room?

You can not compare - each REF750 (or REF610) releases more heat than the two REF250.

 

[microstrip]

Thanks Francisco. This is a curious recommendation. I thought you loved your REF 150. Are you looking for more power?

By the way....what do you have the rear settings at on your Aidas? High, Low, Depth. I see in the manual it is quite adjustable.

Just audiophile curiosity. I listened to the Centaur - Virgo pair sounding good, and question myself how would it play with a superlative speaker.

I have High and Low in the middle positions, Depth is on 2.

 

[mbovaird]

Francisco - Did I read somewhere that you added a DS450 to your setup? Did you combine it with the REF 150? How does the combo sound?

 

[microstrip]

Francisco - Did I read somewhere that you added a DS450 to your setup? Did you combine it with the REF 150? How does the combo sound?

I have not been able to optimize it - many issues such as gain and cabling to play. I was initially impressed but after a few days I found I preferred the sound of the tubed unit alone. But it was only a first try, I intend to play a little more later.

 

[Frank750]

Do you think the REF 250's (combined with my REF 10) will melt me out of the room?

I've had both Ref210s and 610s in my 30 x 22 room. 610s did make it a little warm if it wasn't winter or the AC wasn't on in summer. It was very tolerable though, especially considering the lucious sound they produced. Significantly better than the Ref210s. It's wasnt just a matter of more watts. If you're going to look at the D'Agostinos then you owe it to yourself to at least consider the Ref750 with Aida. Right around the same price i think. The 610s were killer with my Sonus Fabers. Just too many quality problems forced me to make an amp change. I've heard the 750s are much better in that regard.

 

[Amado]

wow

 

[joeinid]

Mike,

Start with the Ref 250's and later on add a D'Agostino Momentum stereo amp for a different flavor of great. You will have the best of both worlds and if you want another D'Agostino Momentum, just run two stereo units for a touch more warmth.

My D'Agostino Momentum is absolutely incredible.