Burmester 911 mk3
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I can see where the DarTZeel is enticing. I went back and forth myself for a while. With the Pass XA200.5s in one system and the 911 in the other, I can mix and match as need be. After four years with the 911, it is still my favorite power amplifier, precisely because I've never paired it up with speakers that weren't a match. The 911 even sounded more intriguing than most of the tube amplifiers I used with my Quad 57s.
And perhaps the extra smoothness offsets some of what you are hearing by having a digital front end?
No comparison Joe. Momentum is coherent and balanced top to bottom, with plenty of musical detail. The pass and every pass I have heard has been fuller and slower in the bass. Great for some tastes and rooms, but not mine.
Pity dart does not make a power amp between the 108 and the don't even think about it mono blocks.
Cheers
Hi Jeff,
I think the balance is important. If I had the room, I would have focused on speakers to complement the 911's and kept them. I really did not like the 911's on the TADs. Synergy is important. If anyone knows that, you do. When the recordings were great, the 911's on the TADs were really, really good. Now with the Dart/TAD combo, I push play and enjoy the music, no matter what cd I pick.
For my listening, the TADs are the ultimate late night and low volume speaker. They are superb at normal to high volume as well. It's just when I listen late at night, at very sane levels, I don't miss a thing in the music. The TADs are amazing in that respect.
Agree with you completely. This is so often overlooked when everyone exhausts their adjective gland...
Yes, Joe. You must listen to the Gryphon Mephisto. Fly to Europe if need be. You won't be sorry. I bought it just after 1 hour of home audition. I haven't listened to your Dart 108 but the Mephisto is the best amp I've heard. If warmness is important for you, you must listen to this Gryphon. It has it in spades.
I told Fleming Rassmussen I would put in a dedicated 220v line to review one of his amps. I've only heard them in Europe, but they are fantastic. Sounds like a great excuse to go to the Munich Hifi show next year. He's a very nice guy too.
Wow!
That is some beautiful gear. I will have to do more research on it. Something else to fantasize about. Thanks!
interesting...i did ask that question earlier (is Townshend supertweeter like the X1/Alexandria extra tweeters in the back?). very interesting.
Joe - I have heard Dartzeel stereo/pre, Momentum Stereo, Momentum Mono and Gryphon Antileon and Colosseum. I agree with Turntable and Thf99 given your voracious appetite to pursue the worlds best audio equipment...you have been prolific and i respect your determination. If you can, hear these. I also am very exciting to read Tonepub's review when it finally gets done. The level of performance was so stunning when i heard my Colosseum, i am happy to listen to new equipment to learn, but have 0 desire to look elsewhere. They strike a balance between endless power reserves, the clarity that is extended but where in all cases it has a very clean untouched intense sweetness when a violin soloist really gets going and the string starts to ring and the violin body resonate. That is very rare to hear for me at this level of intensity. It is very very special for me when i hear it (even now)...Handel STring Quartets by Apponyi Quartet. This is the magic i enjoy in this hobby...but it sure is fun when that same amp...also can drive deep house music with super tightfisted bass (that also adds that tounch of 3-dimensionality/air around bass thwacks from orchestral bass)...2 levels through the building (fortunately my downstairs neighbors have moved out! (kiddding).
There is also the mark 2 DartZeel 108 out early '13 (2X the power of current model). Existing 108's can be upgraded as of mid '13. These dates are prone to move back though so a long wait...
oh...and CONGRATS! 108kg of Congrats!!! Enjoy! What preamp are you running? Pandora?
docvale,
I don't know if he has any darTZeel gear on the showroom... But a call would fix that
And if you do the math, either the integrated or pre+power combo are not that expensive, given what they offer (phono pre, no need for expensive interconnects). If your speakers are compatible, I'd go for it. There was a pair of the separates a while ago on Audiogon for half price, and the integrated comes up from time to time too.
Regarding the other amps, I haven't found yet a match for darTZeel in my set up, but the Pass XA was decent, and even though I only heard the Gryphon Colosseum in a hi end show, it was mighty impressive, very fast, clean and detailed. As Joe realised, the problem is not with the other amps, they're mostly good and decent while you have them on. The problem arises when you put the darTZeel back in. Then you start finding faults with the other amps...
So, I suppose Joe could give a good listen to these Gryphons, they're good quality stuff. But don't expect them to beat the 108s.
And Joe, good to see you're moving to the 18NS preamp
Don't forget to get the Zeel cables with it.alexandre
I'm running it with my Burmester 808 MK5 and they are a fantastic combination. The dealer told me the 808 is at least the equal of the Pandora. What an honest man!
docvale,
I don't know if he has any darTZeel gear on the showroom... But a call would fix that
And if you do the math, either the integrated or pre+power combo are not that expensive, given what they offer (phono pre, no need for expensive interconnects). If your speakers are compatible, I'd go for it. There was a pair of the separates a while ago on Audiogon for half price, and the integrated comes up from time to time too.
Regarding the other amps, I haven't found yet a match for darTZeel in my set up, but the Pass XA was decent, and even though I only heard the Gryphon Colosseum in a hi end show, it was mighty impressive, very fast, clean and detailed. As Joe realised, the problem is not with the other amps, they're mostly good and decent while you have them on. The problem arises when you put the darTZeel back in. Then you start finding faults with the other amps...
So, I suppose Joe could give a good listen to these Gryphons, they're good quality stuff. But don't expect them to beat the 108s.
And Joe, good to see you're moving to the 18NS preamp
alexandre
Joe - do you use the special DTZL connections? The local distributor here strong recommends it...and they also distribute some great world class cables, so sounds like an honest assessment to me, since they could clearly make more money by selling great cables at five-figures each.
If you're going to beat the Gryphons, i think this will factor heavily.
By all accounts balanced is best with Gryphons...so good that you have Burmester. On my end, i run SE from my CJ GAT, but i absolutely love it and am not changing. And yes, honesty from dealers is rare, very rare indeed. Good for you. I am fortunate to have found a few as well. 808mk5 is some serious preamp! Enjoy!!
Lloyd
What differences did you hear between your Colosseum and the Dart and Momentum amps? Do the stereo and mono Momentums sound as similar as Kessler says?
Cheers
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