Sorry guys, I meant the M2.2s not the ML2.2s, which I haven't heard, although I've never been a fan of low power amps driving low efficiency speakers.
I've corrected my original post.
Keith's Dream Amplifier Thread
- Thread starter jeff1225
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I've corrected my original post.
Peter, with the Luxman the sound was definitely between the speakers. As Ron and Jeff can attest to, once we put in a pair of baby 400wpc digital amps - the speakers "disappeared" in their words.
You also asked on another thread what dealers recommend - Alma recommends Luxman and D'agostino. Another former YG dealer I talked to recommends Luxman and Rowland. GTT Audio historically likes YG on Soulution and Audionet. I believe YG has D'agostino and Audionet in the factory. The new, local YG dealer is pairing them with Nagra I believe - I have not heard that combo.
Generally speaking, I'm not a big fan of spending $ on fancy casework for amplification. (Ironically I owned a Dartzeel, although I considered it very good value as the integrated included a full preamp with separate transformer and excellent phono stage). People seem to think the Zillas won't sound as good as others considering the modest price - but his circuit sounds better than just about all SS i've heard. There is a 3d-ness, spatial projection, and tonality to the sound that 90% of SS amps don't get.
Yes, was offer excellent deal purchasing both. No problems with SQ but at the time, I have VAC SigMKIIa SE preamp. I've always prefer transformer coupling tube preamps. Usually more neutral and lower output impedance.
I owned the MSB M203's before I heard the Audionet Max's. They are excellent amps, but on the cool side of neutral. I'm not sure if many would like the pairing with the YGs, but they are excellent amps for the money, especially at their used asking price.
When I heard them on YG the last description I'd have is cool.
@Folsom I agree 100% with you and have brought up these amps to Keith many times. Honestly I'm not a big fan of digital or YG speakers, but I've heard these MSB amps on YG at a show and absolutely loved the sound. It was one of my best of show rooms. Keith is afraid that they'll be too hot.....but that's why God made Air Conditioning.
It's not as popular as the M1.2 Ref. There used to be more of a price divergence between M1.2 and M2.2; now they are within a few hundred dollars of each other. I'm thinking (maybe) today there are more speakers now that are harder to drive than when both models were introduced, thus higher sales of the M1.2 earlier on. Lamm is not on the continual-upgrade-drives-publicity train so you don't hear much about them from the press, their last review being from Greece in 2009. The last M1.2 review was either mine or Matej's in the middle of this decade. Maybe I should ask they send me a pair - I'd love to hear them with my Alexia2s.
I only know YG from shows but the M2.2s are worthy of consideration. Paul Bolin told me the amps are very very close to the M1.2s and he tends to be spot-on. Not meaning to step out of bounds, but maybe Steve could get you a pair to try.
I recommended Luxman on Hailey in December 2016. http://zero-distortion.org/yg-hailey/
If the sound in your demo was in the middle, that would be the passive preamp under driving it.
I have no doubt dagostino and audionet will be better but of course those who can afford them need not look at Luxman.
Heard soulution 700 with Sonja very good, 700 much warmer than 710 which is more analytical
octave is good with smaller YG s
octave is good with smaller YG s
I have owned both
the 2.2 are more powerful and a little AB sounding
the 1.2 are more class A sounding and less powerful
with inefficient speakers or big room go for 2.2
in fact I wish I hadn’t swapped my 2.2 for 1.2
Yeah, for more climate change, that's right.
Don't know about Keith's room, but I don't have air conditioning in my music room, and one of the reasons why I decided against auditioning Octave monoblocks, and went with an Octave stereo amp instead, was heat (half the tubes in the stereo amp). It's total overkill for my 92 dB sensitive monitors anyway (my subs each have a built in 1800 W class D amp that basically generates no heat).
Fortunately, the 130 W/ch Octave class A/B amp produces much less heat than my previous 15 W/ch triode class A monoblocks did. What a relief in the summer!
So yeah, I'm not a big fan of amplifier heat either.
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We tried an active preamp. In fact all 4-5 actives I've tried against the Music First did not improve dynamics or shove. I will say the actives usually get you a sliver wider soundstage.
fyi, I've had people reach out to me on the Lux privately with similar opinions. It doesn't sound as powerful as it rates and bass isn't its strong point. Most move to monoblocks for this reason. I just don't want to spend that much.
That is certainly true of YGs.
I never liked YG until I heard them with Boulder, first at CES (2160) then in my own room (3060), because every other time they alway sounded like they were constrained, by comparison other amps lacked what Yoav Geva describes as the ". . . the stability and speed necessary to drive the speaker to its full potential." Mono and Stereo interview.
I'm not a fan of amps with the "warm" tone that Keith R. is seeking and Boulder has none so he may be right to cross Boulder off the list, but a Boulder 1160 or 1161 audition would be worthwhile first.
one dealer told me the Lux was actually designed as monos, first. i found that interesting considering they bridge them.
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