What are your "unexpectedly good" loudspeaker-amplifier combos?
- Thread starter Kreshna
- Start date
monkeypaw1
New Member
Marantz TA-100 receiver and Harman Kardon Thirty speakers on 20" stands. Synergy and great sound for $90 not including stands.
sqlsavior
Lunatic Member
Just curious - what is the inclined plane in the bottom-right of your picture, and what do you use it for? TIADo 2 sets at the same time count? I'm running a set of Infinite Slope 1.8's and Martin Logan LX 16's. Running then in a 16x20 room powered by a Outlaw RR 2160. The Slopes remind me of the B&W 704's that I had in that they have rolled off highs and mids are not quite in my taste. With both the Slopes and and B&W's the Martin Logan's filled in perfectly. The folded motion tweeters on the ML's are a thing of beauty and the mids are rich. It's a match that came about through luck and curiosity. It's surprising how good they sound together.
Sam08861
Super Member
Just curious - what is the inclined plane in the bottom-right of your picture, and what do you use it for? TIA
Appears to be a finite slope.
And my naive guess is that it's purpose is to allow vertically challenged 4 legged friends to get into the optimal listening position.
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Just curious - what is the inclined plane in the bottom-right of your picture, and what do you use it for? TIA
Appears to be a finite slope.
And my naive guess is that it's purpose is to allow vertically challenged 4 legged friends to get into the optimal listening position.
Yep. A Corgi. They're some really short legs.
sqlsavior
Lunatic Member
HiFi in WYO
The universe is a big place, perhaps the biggest.
Dual CV 40 amplifier (new caps) and recapped EV Four speakers.
swamppirate
Lunatic Member
PL DRS 900 driving some Dynaco A-25’s....
alteclipsch
Super Member
Back in the day (mid/late 70s), my little Sherwood S7100 powered a pair of KLH Model Six speakers in a medium sized living room in my apartment. I still have the Sherwood, no longer have the Sixes, but I still remember the amazing fidelity from this inexpensive system.
yellowfox
Active Member
Recently restored Kenwood L-07Mii monoblocks with Carver AL-IIIs. I never would have expected pairing 42 year old amps with 28 year old speakers would make such a great match...
These amps just barely have the juice needed to make these speakers sing, but they're doing it so well!
These amps just barely have the juice needed to make these speakers sing, but they're doing it so well!
For the past fifteen years, I've successfully paired VTL MB-450s with Sound Lab U-1PX full range stats. The speakers present a demanding reactive load which many amps - regardless of power - are not happy driving, but their impedance curve complements tubes as it is high at the bottom and doesn't suffer from a Scream Machine roller coaster profile. Results? Very linear response in the critical Schroeder frequencies and above.
The VTL's huge combined 500 joule power supply fed by dedicated 20A lines and Harmonic Technology cords delivers incredible dynamic capability. By comparison, a vintage Phase Linear 700 has 38 joules and a pair of McIntosh MC3500s that some here aver is "the best tube amp ever" have but 110.
By contrast, the similarly powered 300 watt/channel Hypex Ncore switcher used in the garage system fares poorly with them - but drives New Advents extremely well.
The VTL's huge combined 500 joule power supply fed by dedicated 20A lines and Harmonic Technology cords delivers incredible dynamic capability. By comparison, a vintage Phase Linear 700 has 38 joules and a pair of McIntosh MC3500s that some here aver is "the best tube amp ever" have but 110.
By contrast, the similarly powered 300 watt/channel Hypex Ncore switcher used in the garage system fares poorly with them - but drives New Advents extremely well.
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melvinjames
Well-Known Member
My biggest surprise was pairing Mark & Daniels Maximus-Ruby loudspeakers (impedance 3-6Ω, efficiency 82.5dB) with my Fleawatt TPA3116D2 (25 wpc 8Ω, 50 wpc 4Ω). Mark & Daniels recommends a high-current amp with a minimum of 100 wpc. The amp ran out of steam only when pushed to volume levels I'm no longer comfortable with. I fully expected the AMT tweeter to sound nasty but the sound quality top to bottom was quite good.
Another pleasant surprise pairing was Magnepan MMGs with my Marantz AMP1-HD.
Another pleasant surprise pairing was Magnepan MMGs with my Marantz AMP1-HD.
sensei91
Active Member
I think I am pretty lucky in that all my amplifier speaker matches sound just wonderful.
My main system has a Mcintosh C-15 Pre amp and a Mcintosh MC 162 amplifier. They sound fantastic driving a pair of Definitive Technologies BP 10 , and a pair of Polk powered subs. I mostly listen to Classical on a local NPR FM station using a Mcintosh tuner. My trusty 18 year old Cal Audio Labs DX1 also matches well with the The source components and speakers.
I realize many others may not consider the BP 10 the best for audio, but I really like the Bi Polar treatment it brings to the sound. So much so that I purchased a used pair of BP 10 for $ 250.00 for another room. I am pleased to say that the sound from my at least 15 year old Onkyo HTR ( TX SR 303 ) sounds great with the Def techs as well, as long as I don’t push the volume too high. This is a versatile receiver with 5.1 analog in for my Oppo Blue Ray player, and it has coaxial digital in that I can connect directly from the cable box. The FM reception is excellent using a powered indoor antennae . I even have a small Phillips powered sub I picked up for $ 20 , which adds a little bass at low volumes. It sounds great for late night, 50db listening level . This is what I use for TV viewing and broadcast movies , with a Def Tech center for dialogue.
The original JBL L100s that I purchased new in 1973 are in another system, and they also match up well with a Marantz SR7000 receiver , with a great FM tuner and enough power to get the JBLs active . This is my rock and DVD concert system. I also have another OPPO hooked up for CD and DVD listening.Despite their flaws, the JBLs just push out a driving , invigorating sound up until about an hour and a half , when fatigue sets in. I like the Def Techs because I listen to them all day and into the night, and I never tire of them.
So over the years of accumulating different equipment and speakers, rarely getting rid of the old( I have other stuff , like I am sure others do as well, that I don’t use) , I’m not motivated to add or make any changes. I actually have a Mcintosh C 28 pre that needs major work, but I really don’t have a place to put it without having to purchase another power amp and try and integrate it in. I might just get it done and hold it as a spare. But I am afraid once it is done I will be tempted to buy an amp. Then I have to make a decision about preowned, new, etc. And where to put it.
My main system has a Mcintosh C-15 Pre amp and a Mcintosh MC 162 amplifier. They sound fantastic driving a pair of Definitive Technologies BP 10 , and a pair of Polk powered subs. I mostly listen to Classical on a local NPR FM station using a Mcintosh tuner. My trusty 18 year old Cal Audio Labs DX1 also matches well with the The source components and speakers.
I realize many others may not consider the BP 10 the best for audio, but I really like the Bi Polar treatment it brings to the sound. So much so that I purchased a used pair of BP 10 for $ 250.00 for another room. I am pleased to say that the sound from my at least 15 year old Onkyo HTR ( TX SR 303 ) sounds great with the Def techs as well, as long as I don’t push the volume too high. This is a versatile receiver with 5.1 analog in for my Oppo Blue Ray player, and it has coaxial digital in that I can connect directly from the cable box. The FM reception is excellent using a powered indoor antennae . I even have a small Phillips powered sub I picked up for $ 20 , which adds a little bass at low volumes. It sounds great for late night, 50db listening level . This is what I use for TV viewing and broadcast movies , with a Def Tech center for dialogue.
The original JBL L100s that I purchased new in 1973 are in another system, and they also match up well with a Marantz SR7000 receiver , with a great FM tuner and enough power to get the JBLs active . This is my rock and DVD concert system. I also have another OPPO hooked up for CD and DVD listening.Despite their flaws, the JBLs just push out a driving , invigorating sound up until about an hour and a half , when fatigue sets in. I like the Def Techs because I listen to them all day and into the night, and I never tire of them.
So over the years of accumulating different equipment and speakers, rarely getting rid of the old( I have other stuff , like I am sure others do as well, that I don’t use) , I’m not motivated to add or make any changes. I actually have a Mcintosh C 28 pre that needs major work, but I really don’t have a place to put it without having to purchase another power amp and try and integrate it in. I might just get it done and hold it as a spare. But I am afraid once it is done I will be tempted to buy an amp. Then I have to make a decision about preowned, new, etc. And where to put it.
Poultrygeist
Lunatic Member
The APPJ/Miniwatt SET amp ( 2.5 wpc ) driving 87 db Swan Near Fields. Wouldn't work so well without the extra gain of the FX Audio Tube preamp nor if the Swans were placed at traditional distances. The end result is mesmerizing thanks to the supporting cast of a Schiit Mimby, Node 2i and Amazon HD streaming service.
doctor fuse
Super Member
NAD 3020 driving Goodmans Ministers
Nikko Alpha II driving Linn Sara Isobariks
Conn 7868 tube Amp driving custom Alternate Audio planars
Nikko Alpha II driving Linn Sara Isobariks
Conn 7868 tube Amp driving custom Alternate Audio planars
Kreshna
...but I have to know.
gizzyman47
Addicted Member
Using my Kyocera A-710 integrated powering my Ess Amt 1a. Sounds really good!