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Hafler DH200 and KefQ100

kswenson said:
Howdy,

I recently picked up a pair of KEFQ100 and I'm powering them with a Hafler DH200. I was really impressed with the speakers in the show room but haven't liked them as much at home or maybe I am not liking the amp as much.

1. Any ideas on a better amp to match the KEFs?
2. Any speakers that the Hafler really loves?

I'm used to listening to my Klipsch Heresy II powered by a Marantz 2226; so far this combination sounds much better to my ears than the above KEF/Hafler combo.

interested to hear your all's input!
Thanks,
Kelley
Click to expand...

Two very different kinds of speakers there really. If you like the dynamics and big sound of the Klipsch then I don't know the Q100 are going to do it for you. Try mating them with a good subwoofer to get more bass. I found the Q100 to image very well and bring out a lot of detail and resolution... But big sound and big bass... Not so much..
 
Many times I've had the same experience... sounded great in the "show room" but not nearly as great at home.

Well... I skimmed this thread and maybe missed it, but audio "show rooms" are very likely optimized for sound with room treatments galore. Unless your own room is "treated" like the show room, might it be too much to expect it to sound the same at home?

2 cents.
 
Update: so I've found that the KEFs are excellent speakers and enjoying more and more the more I listen. I am still using the Marantz 2226 as a pre-amp, but did come across a rehabbed Hafler 100 pre for a decent price. I like the Hafler DH200 best without a pre-but am considering testing it out with a Hafler100 instead of the Marantz.... any thoughts on this being a superior pairing? If not i'll just stick with using the Marantz pre-outs.
 
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Well, it has two chances to sound better, or worse - the phono stage and the line stage. If both pieces have tape-out jacks, you can compare both stages, if you are interested to that degree. I haven't heard either piece, so cannot predict the outcome, but I'd bet on the Hafler, in my ignorance...

:music:
 
sqsavior, what are you suggesting the tape-out jacks would be usefull for? so far the Marantz sounds pretty good; I'd have to buy the Hafler to test it...
 
Sorry, I thought the Hafler was as good as yours already...

You can use the phono preamp (or any other switchable input) from a preamp or preamp section by taking its output from the "tape out" or "rec out" jacks. This is the first available exit from the preamp circuitry, so skips the line stage, tone controls, etc, and the volume control. The output would go to any line-level input on your main preamp.

So, you can use, say, the phono stage of one unit, with the control/line stage of another unit, whichever sounds better. I'm not trying to talk you into anything, just fyi... :)
 
I am saving up for a better preamp myself. An ARC with remote is my first choice, but it will take me a few months to scrape together the wherewithal. In the meantime, I got a very good bump in quality with a NuForce HAP-100 from Audio Advisor which I had purchased about a year ago. Volume control, four-source selection switch and a display on the front panel of this compact headphone amp/preamp. Sounds better than the old Lexicon I was using.

$400. I think Amazon may have a few left. Remote control, too. I've found it to be a good getcha-by preamp, and attribute its decent sound quality to the KISS school of design. No tone controls, no loudness, not even a balance. As soon as I connected it to the ST-Custom, I knew it was staying put until I make a move. Audio Advisor no longer has any, but they have similar preamps from Pro-Ject and Parasound. If you can find any of these used, so much the better.

I have owned preamps by NAD, Adcom, dynaco, and several assorted Japanese vintage brands/models that I found unimpressive. Other than running across a Nak CA-5 or -7 (maybe), a current budget model will sound good, and no need for recapping worries, etc. One of many ways to skin a cat.
 
Hey guys, I hope it's ok to keep this thread going despite many different tracks (I just like all the folks who are commenting here).

So I recently picked up a pair of Altec 891a's and have been really loving listening to them. They have a real sweetness to them! Lots of sweet-thumping mids, and overall very non-fatiguing/pleasent. Now they don't have near the separation of instruments that either the KEF q100 or the Klipsch Heresy have, but abd in an A/B comparison I miss this but when auditioned alone I always pick the Altecs.

I am curious where the Altecs land in the "they are here" vs "you are there" camps?

Thanks everyone i'm having so much fun with all this!!
 
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