Opinions on Alexia with Dartzeel 108?

[joeinid]

I heard a pair of Alexia with Esoteric amp and McIntosh preamp. Not the best combo, but I could really tell there was more to the speaker than what I was hearing. Has anyone tried or is using Dartzeel on Wilson Alexia. Specs seem like it would be a good combo. Any thoughts? Thanks!

 

[Bruce B]

I don't see why it wouldn't. I'm using Pass monoblocs and I thought I'd be wishing for more power. I've got all I need! I didn't say I've got all I want though!!

 

[rockitman]

I've got all I need! I didn't say I've got all I want though!!

I think you would love the XS series...get a demo.

 

[joeinid]

Thanks Bruce!

I think you would love the XS series...get a demo.

OMG! I bet that would be insanely great.

 

[JackD201]

Hey Joe,

What amps do you use on your Cornwall IIIs?

 

[Elberoth]

It will not work. The Alexias are as tought a load as Sashas, and my darTZeel was not able to drive them properly.

Get Magicos Q3 or Rockport Aviors instead.

 

[asiufy]

It will not work. The Alexias are as tought a load as Sashas, and my darTZeel was not able to drive them properly.

Get Magicos Q3 or Rockport Aviors instead.

+1 on this one.

Plus, you'll be getting much better speakers.


alexandre

 

[joeinid]

Hey Joe,

What amps do you use on your Cornwall IIIs?

I forgot to put these in my sig but I use modified ASL Wave Monos with 8 wpc. and the Carver Black Magic 20 wpc amps mainly. The Dart works wonderfully too and I have yet to receive the EAR amp and preamp.

It will not work. The Alexias are as tought a load as Sashas, and my darTZeel was not able to drive them properly.

Get Magicos Q3 or Rockport Aviors instead.

I'm think Magico Q1's possibly and ultimately Raidho D2 or D3. Any thoughts on them.

+1 on this one.

Plus, you'll be getting much better speakers.


alexandre

Alexandre,

I love my Dartzeel and will never get rid of it.

 

[Elberoth]

I'm think Magico Q1's possibly and ultimately Raidho D2 or D3. Any thoughts on them.

I forgot about the Raidho. IMO those are great speakers. Try both and see which one do you like better.

 

[ricjor1]

It will not work. The Alexias are as tought a load as Sashas, and my darTZeel was not able to drive them properly.

Get Magicos Q3 or Rockport Aviors instead.

Elberoth,

I don't understand how you recommend Aviors when you just told me yesterday via PM that you never heard them?

Rick

 

[Elberoth]

Yes, based on the auditioning of other Rockports. Rockports are very even sounding across the range so I assume the Aviors will be as good.

IMO the Aviors, Q3s and Raidhos are the speakers one should audition when shopping in $30-40k price range.

 

[Bruce B]

It will not work. The Alexias are as tought a load as Sashas, and my darTZeel was not able to drive them properly.

Get Magicos Q3 or Rockport Aviors instead.

I don't know how you can say this. My Pass amps put out the same as the DartZeel and the Alexia's can play as loud as I want in my room without sounding congested. MikeL was over the other day listening to them.

 

[asiufy]

I did like what I heard from the Rockports. The Raidhos too, even though I only heard the bookshelf, but was very impressed by it, even with inferior electronics.

But I just can't find any significant experience of the pairing Rockport+darTZeel.

I do know for a fact that the 108 + Magico Q3 is just peachy, and, so far, unbeatable here!

alexandre

 

[Elberoth]

I don't know how you can say this. My Pass amps put out the same as the DartZeel and the Alexia's can play as loud as I want in my room without sounding congested. MikeL was over the other day listening to them.

8/4 Ohm readings only tell half of the story. Your Pass amps have much greater current capability than the darTZeel. darTZeel is not comfortable driving sub 2 Ohm speakers. Been there, tried that.

 

[joeinid]

Within the ohm rating that the Dartzeel is comfortable, they can be magic. But I do believe that the Alexia are a tougher load than the Dartzeel likes to drive. A few friends LOVE the Alexia and D'Agostino combo.

 

[Elberoth]

From my experience, darTZeel can comfortably drive the speakers that do not dip under 2-2.2 Ohms. I got a friend who uses darTZeel to drive his Wilson Maxx 2 (min imp 2.25 Ohm) - and it sounds great. Sashas on the other hand, with their punishing load (1.8 Ohm minimum + some tough phase angles), are too much for the darTZeel.

 

[mauidan]

From Stereophile’s Dartzeel-NHB-108 review:

http://www.stereophile.com/content/dartzeel-nhb-108-model-one-power-amplifier-measurements
Clipping occurs quite abruptly, but the amplifier easily exceeds its specified 100Wpc/20dBW output power. I measured 160W into 8 ohms(22dBW), 230W into 4 ohms (20.6dBW), but 162W into 2 ohms (16.1dBW). The manufacturer strongly recommends using the Lo setting if the amplifier is to be used with low impedances. However, the amplifier then delivers significantly lower power at clipping—43W into 8 ohms(16.3dBW), 68W into 4 ohms (15.3dBW), and 95W into 2 ohms (13.75dBW)—with no reduction in low-power THD.

Here's another no negative feedback amp reviewed/tested byStereophile, which would be a better match for the Alexia:

http://www.stereophile.com/content/aesthetix-atlas-power-amplifier-measurements
With clipping defined as 1% THD, the Atlas comfortablyexceeded its specified output power with both channels driven: fig.4 shows that it clipped at 318W into 8 ohms (25dBW), 535W into 4 ohms (24.3dBW), and, withone channel driven, at 760W into 2 ohms (22.8dBW).

The Atlas is now available in a Signature version or monos for less $$$ than the NHB-108.

 

[joeinid]

Thanks Dan. I've been looking at them for years.