Re: Have you heard the Ars-Sonum Filarmonia? - Ian Mackenzie 16:09:03 08/30/05 (3)
 Re: Have you heard the Ars-Sonum Filarmonia? - Rich Brkich 18:59:25 08/31/05 (0)
 Forgot to mention... - Ian Mackenzie 16:12:22 08/30/05 (1)
 Re: Forgot to mention... - Rich Brkich 19:11:32 08/31/05 (0)
 Yes.... - Rich Brkich 21:16:00 08/10/05 (3)
 Re: Yes.... - Ian Mackenzie 07:54:13 08/11/05 (2)
 Some answers! - Rich Brkich 09:09:26 08/11/05 (1)
 See additional posts above - Ian Mackenzie 10:46:51 08/31/05 (0)

What do you think?
Thanks,
Ian

btw, i ordered one two weeks ago....:-)

Mostly casual listening to the amp so far.... I'm not quite past the 50 hours mark yet on the break in.

So far the amp is sounding very natural and bodied. Vocals are very papable and dimensional. Bass is very nicely resolved with very good weight and definition and dynamics in general are also quite good. It is very easy to sit down and listen to this amp for many hours. The amp does not have that very snappy and rythmic quality of the Berning, but the mids sound very right and unlike the Berning you do not need a good preamp to get the best out of the Ars Sonum.

The Belles 150A Reference is a rahter different beast than this amp as well... it is probably more resolved and focused where the Filarmonia is a tad bit forgiving.

Happy Listening,
Rich Brkich
Retailer & Audio Asylum Industry Liaison

1. Arrived DOA from dealer.
2. DC shot thru it and blew the woofer on my new (left channel) MX
3. Arrived again and sounded like shit. Transformer came "unglued" from chassis and banged some PCBs
4. he then made the amp "DC coupled" and , in the process, sucked the life right out of it.
\
It's been downhill since with that thing.

BTW, I think you mean AC coupled in item number 4! :-)
Happy Listening,
Rich Brkich
Retailer & Audio Asylum Industry Liaison

Any questions Ian??? :-)

Happy Listening,
Rich Brkich
Retailer & Audio Asylum Industry Liaison

1. How is the base out to MXs?
2. How is it compared to Belles 150a Ref?
3. Berning/Joule.....?
4. Is it "loud" enough @ just 30 wpc?

Thanks, Rich.
Ian

Bass is quite ample and satisfactory. Good body, weight, and definition.

2. How is it compared to Belles 150a Ref?

Best guess (not based on a direct comparison... will be able to do a direct comparison once I get my demo unit): The Belles is a bit more clear in the mids, the Filarmonia is a bit more full sounding through the lower mids and upper bass. I also think the music flows from the Fil. in a more liquid and natural fashion.

3. Berning/Joule.....?

The Fil. is going to be tough competition for the Berning.... it has much of the same drive and verve of the Berning. The Fil. that will be sold here in the states has been built after further listening and refining through the VSM-MM/MXs... so things like the cryo tubes, cardas binding posts, and cardas power cord that the amp comes with (standard/included in the $3,500 price) are all designed to ensure excellent results with the Merlin TSMs and VSMs by just plugging and playing... no tweaking or tube rolling required.

4. Is it "loud" enough @ just 30 wpc?

The way the amp is designed (spent some time with the designer at the Stereophile show going many aspects of the design of the amp), the power rating is fairly conservative and the amp will play louder than what its power rating suggests, though ultimately the Berning is still a little bit more powerfull. For many people, it will be more than enough power. As an engineer, it is nice to see a amplifer that is conservatively built (electrically), measures well, and sounds great.

Now, if you are looking to push the VSMs to thier SPL limits (like we sometimes do with stuff like the Gladiator soundtrack at the Stereophile show or CES), you will need more power! :-)

Happy Listening,
Rich Brkich
Retailer & Audio Asylum Industry Liaison