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In Reply to: RE: McIntosh C-20 preamplifier posted by audiogatorjim on March 15, 2014 at 07:14:39
The H/K Cit. 2, unlike MOST tube amps, can over damp some horn speakers. Over damped drivers sound bad. The "Deuce" has an extraordinarily high damping factor, for a tube amp. That high damping factor, along with substantial power O/P, is why the Cit. 2 works well with AR3 speakers.
Eli D.
Follow Ups:
Eli
Now Jim has quads ESL57s tho and the ideal amp for those is a Mcshaned Cit 5 or a McShaned Mac Mc240.Remember,electrostatic speakers are honest in nature with ultra low distortion with tons of speed to assist in that accuracy.
Honest amplification is better than excessive 2nd order distortion anytime.
1 - 5 (best)
Marantz 8B Reissue...4.9
Bedini 25/25.........4.8
McIntosh 225.........4.5
HK Cit 2 McShane.....4.5
Pilot 260............4.3
Pilot 232............4.0
Quad 909.............4.0
Fisher SA 300........3.5
Mike, if you recall, I bought the HK 2 from Bill Cobb. I sort of tired of it after a while, for some reason. Maybe a lack of synergy with the balance of the system but it was a super amp, to be sure. The Marantz and Bedini sound very similar, with the Marantz a slight nod.
If you want to try something that really makes them sing and swing get a set of the original QUAD IIs and go through them. It seems Peter just got the paring right when he developed the ESLs but then again he voiced the ESL with the QUAD IIs. I used a pair with the 22 preamp. Like most makers, the company did not quite get the magic into the preamp but it is quite competent with newer components and wiring. I liked the Marantz 7 and ARC SP-3a1 better with the IIs as well as the Mattes and Acoustech ss preamps.
Don Brian Levy, J.D.
Toronto ON Canada
Jim
I remember and some prefer the citation 5 to the two because it's a bit more euphonic in the sense that it uses the simpler mullard circuit and that said,some prefer it.
As you said,it's all about synergy..I use the modern Martin Logan CLXs which are a multi-panel design and I'm running the Cit 2s in parallel,and that doubles the power and lowers the impedance.I'm using them from 50cps on up and the Martin Logan Decent powered subs from 50hz on down to about 17hz.
The thing about the Citation 2 is,you really need to crank up the volume because that's where they show their incredible bandwidth and detail.Martin Logans have depth out to street and you can hear every little element in the music,and it's like you can actually see it being created..I run my Citation 2s only on ESLs or full range ribbons and that is where the amps really shine.
The reason I think you would love the McShaned citation 5 is,you can run Kt66s in it and that is the tube that Peter Walker thought sounded best with his speakers at the time.You might also like the Heathkit W5ms.You can't really crank a citation 2 up on an ESL57 because they are only 25 watt speakers as I recall. The Cit 5 with KT66s might be just the ticket but can't be sure but you can crank them up without fearing damage to your speakers being they are less power than the Deuce.
Honest amplification is better than excessive 2nd order distortion anytime.
Edits: 03/16/14
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