Exposure 3010s2d Integrated on demo...

[iamjaymo]

Just by way of background, been in the hobby for a little while, had lots of different amps over the years. Last couple years mostly with upper crust Yamaha and Luxman amps. Had some others sprinkled here and there such as Modwright and Wyred4Sound, etc. All integrated amps as I love the simplicity.

Lately wanted to try something new/different and was looking at the Parasound Halo Integrated. Was having conversations with my dealer about amps and he kept insisting on me trying the Exposure 3010s2d. Took a gander at it and I didn't think it looked like anything special.

Had a slow weekend so called him up and agreed to take the 3010 for a spin. Well, I don't think I stopped listening for about 40 hours or so. It was a total avalanche of music. This amp ROCKS!! Totally dumbfounded - don't think I have heard a faster more lively amp in a long, long time. The 3010 has this amazing way of just propelling the music along with fantastic pace and timing. Though the 3010 has tremendous grunt and amazing detail it is not in any way harsh or fatiguing.

So I ordered one and it should be here sometime next week. Got it with the MM phono in the black finish. Never in a million years would I have thought I'd have a British amp in my room.

The dealer let me keep the demo till the new one arrives. I also am falling for the the minimalist looks too. Totally a captivating music reproducer!

 

[nickrobotron]

What speakers are you rotating through?

 

[iamjaymo]

Right now some loaned JBL L5s. Just can't make a decision on speakers. Had Vienna Acoustics Beethoven Baby Grand SEs here just before the JBLs (probably a mistake to sell those)...would've like to hear them with the Exposure.

Lookin' at some Monitor Audio Silver 8s at the moment but not sure. Any suggestions?

 

[nickrobotron]

I love those JbL L5's. I recently sold my pair of those. Also had the smaller of the Monitor Audio Silvers. Good speakers too, but maybe not as much air as I wanted.

Suggesting speakers is hard considering how many options there are and how we all have different preferences.

I can just say that I am crazy about my KEF R500 speakers right now. Easy to drive, accurate low end, detailed without being obnoxious. The lower mids have a serious amount of weight that makes chesty vocals and guitars super realistic. Imaging is super tight as well. Well recorded vocal tracks sound like they are coming out of a mouth in front of you.

I just ordered some Anthony Gallo Classico 2 bookshelf speakers and have been enjoying them. Thinking that possibly they would unseat the KEF's, despite the retail price behing half, but the minute I plugged back in the KEFs, that idea went out the window.

So if your room is big enough, I highly recommend that speaker. About the same foot print and size as the L5, but much prettier and with much more finesse.

There are thousand of options though, so good luck.

Maybe look into the Salk Songtowers too. Those would be the only speaker that I've heard that I'd consider replacing the KEFs with. Maybe...

Oh! And Aerial Acoustic 8's. Or whatever they're called. You'd need a big room for those though!

 

[iamjaymo]

Yeah, looked long and hard at the Salks, both the SongTowers as well as the Veracity STs. Not sure I like the MTM design and a demo of those isn't possible as they are made custom.

Happy with the L5s quite a bit actually, the Exposure makes them sing. Gonna take my time with the speaker decision.

Will definitely take a look at the KEFs.

 

[nickrobotron]

Last recommendations:

B&W CM6 s2 (or CM5)
Sonus Faber Venere 2.0 (or 1.5)

Those are 2 bookshelf speakers that I've been blown away by. I imagine the floor standing versions in those models would kick ass as well.

NOW BACK TO THE THREAD ABOUT THE BRITISH INTEGRATED.

 

[iamjaymo]

Yeah, guess I hijacked my own thread!

 

[vinylator]

Just by way of background, been in the hobby for a little while, had lots of different gear over the years. Last couple years mostly with upper crust Yamaha and Luxman gear. Had some others sprinkled here and there such as Modwright and Wyred4Sound, etc. All integrated amps as I love the simplicity.

Lately wanted to try something new/different and was looking at the Parasound Halo Integrated. Was having conversations with my dealer about amps and he kept insisting on me trying the Exposure 3010s2d. Took a gander at it and I didn't think it looked like anything special.

Had a slow weekend so called him up and agreed to take the 3010 for a spin. Well, I don't think I stopped listening for about 40 hours or so. It was a total avalanche of music. This amp ROCKS!! Totally dumbfounded - don't think I have heard a faster more lively amp in a long, long time. The 3010 has this amazing way of just propelling the music along with fantastic pace and timing. Though the 3010 has tremendous grunt and amazing detail it is not in any way harsh or fatiguing.

So I ordered one and it should be here sometime next week. Got it with the MM phono in the black finish. Never in a million years would I have thought I'd have a British amp in my room.

The dealer let me keep the demo till the new one arrives. I also am falling for the the minimalist looks too. Totally a captivating music reproducer!

I've been running the same legacy Exposure electronics in my system since the late 1980's so I have a feeling that you won't be rotating through amplification anytime soon. Exposure gear simply does what any hifi component should do; bring me closer to the artist.

 

[iamjaymo]

I've been running the same legacy Exposure electronics in my system since the late 1980's so I have a feeling that you won't be rotating through amplification anytime soon. Exposure gear simply does what any hifi component should do; bring me closer to the artist.

Agreed. Nice having the amplification issue settled. Just got my amp in from Exposure with the MM phono installed. Have to say it sounds great out of the box.

 

[iamjaymo]

Not that anyone is really following this but I did choose speakers...Fritz Rev 7s. Like 'em.

 

[DOBIEGUY]

Hey Jaymo
I follow everything in the British forum. Your Exposure is no slouch and will make those Fritz sing.
May I suggest a listening session with a small Jazz Trio. Then maybe a female vocalist.(Sade! Joni!) A blues singer.(Muddy,Buddy) An acoustic guitar.
It won't take long to "get " the monitor "thing"
Happy listening!

 

[iamjaymo]

Hey Jaymo
I follow everything in the British forum. Your Exposure is no slouch and will make those Fritz sing.
May I suggest a listening session with a small Jazz Trio. Then maybe a female vocalist.(Sade! Joni!) A blues singer.(Muddy,Buddy) An acoustic guitar.
It won't take long to "get " the monitor "thing"
Happy listening!

Way ahead of ya...just listened to a particularly well recorded CD rip of Eric Bibb's, "An Evening With Eric Bibb" and I was absolutely FLOORED. Just Bibb on stage and an acoustic guitar with some backup bass. Amazing! The amp and speaker combo is right up there with the best I've had in this room. Blues never sounded so good.

 

[iamjaymo]

I will tell ya, it has been a pretty tough break in period with the Exposure. Sounded great out of box, then veiled and muddy with no bass...then it would come back to sounding great, and back to muddy again. But it seems to have settled in after about 80 hours or so - the amazing sound of the demo is back with this unit. Powerful, quick and agile bass is back and stable now. Treble is amazing with lots of air and very extended. Patience has paid off.

UPDATE 03/12/2016: The amp just continues to get better and better. Easily the best amp I have ever owned. The Exposure has the best bass of any amp I have heard in my room...tight, clean, deep and punchy. Fantastic! Such a smooth yet fast paced amp the music just flows perfectly. Literally could listen to this thing for hours and hours with no fatigue at all. The pairing with the Fritz Rev 7s just couldn't be better IMO - perfect blend of deep bass and airy highs. Looks like I'm stuck on British audio!

 

[StevenZ]

I ordered one of these and it should ship next week some time. I am really excited to hear it and I got the black version too. At first I thought silver would be nice but it seems the black is more my style. Unfortunately I didn't have the luxury of hearing one before buying so my purchase is a huge gamble. My speakers are Paul Carmody Carrera DIY speakers but they use top shelf drivers. I hope they work well. I also ordered a Schiit Bifrost Multibit. So two new components to evaluate at the same time. Exciting!

I sure hope you are still loving yours. Any update would be great.