Latest thoughts on Filarmonia?

Re: Latest thoughts on Filarmonia?, posted on June 21, 2007 at 20:50:15
Pubul57 Audiophile Posts: 4 Location: Baltimore Joined: April 28, 2003	RB, do you notice any SPL limitations with the ARS so that it might make sense to have a second amp for certain types of music that might need more power, or have you found the ARS to be a complete all-arounder? I'm using a CAT JL2 now, and wonder whether it will be superflous once I have the ARS.

RE: Re: Latest thoughts on Filarmonia?, posted on June 22, 2007 at 07:50:30

Rich Brkich
Dealer

Posts: 611
Location: Near Syracuse, New York
Joined: April 3, 2000
Contributor
Since: July 1, 1999

SPL limits depend on the room and the speakers in use. With my VSMs (89dB eff), I can pretty much play the music as loud as I want in my 11' x 20' listening room. For certain VERY demanding material though, I can push the amp past its limits. In a bigger room though with the VSN, I can see the need for more power for the oaccasional time you may want to rock out.

With the TSMs which are 3db less efficent than the VSMs, I need to have a more carefull watch on the volume control and I can't get quite as carried away.

On my subjective scale, the Filarmoinia can play moderately loud, but not very loud. On cetrain works I do like to have more power, but for my regular listening levels with the VSMs it may only be 2 or 3 percent of the time that I run into situations where I am pushing the amp right to its limits. Its really an amazing little amp and will play louder than one would think with a moderately efficent speaker.

Happy Listening,
Rich Brkich
Retailer & Audio Asylum Industry Liaison

The Filarmonia needs almost 200 hours, posted on September 22, 2005 at 03:42:29

ramallo
Industry Professional

Posts: 224
Location: Europe, Spain (Madrid)
Joined: May 4, 2003

Hello,

My Filarmonia sounded good at the first moment, but now, with more of 200 Hours is incredible.

Best Regards

P.S. I don't use cryo valves, and I use a Spendor SP1/2 speakers.

Re: The Filarmonia needs almost 200 hours, posted on October 3, 2005 at 08:33:47
Rich Brkich Dealer Posts: 611 Location: Near Syracuse, New York Joined: April 3, 2000 Contributor Since: July 1, 1999	Thanks for the info! I don't have that many hours on our demo unit yet (still under 100), but I'm getting there .. certianly must be a nice sounding combo on the Spendors. Happy Listening, Rich Brkich Retailer & Audio Asylum Industry Liaison

Re: Latest thoughts on Filarmonia?, posted on September 21, 2005 at 08:32:52

Rich Brkich
Dealer

Posts: 611
Location: Near Syracuse, New York
Joined: April 3, 2000
Contributor
Since: July 1, 1999

No more further news to report... break-in was pretty uneventfull... I did not notice any gross changes in character though I did not do much serious listening during the first 40 or 50 hours of use.

Last week the amp worked very well while doing some comparison testing of a specially moded (by me) Capitole (Cryod tubes and cryo'd hovland caps vs Globe Audio SE mod which is cryo'd tubes and a thier coupling cap). I was clearly able to here the differences between the two players via the Filarmonia (Capitole to BAM to amp set-up) and the sound was always very engaging through the whole process.
Happy Listening,
Rich Brkich
Retailer & Audio Asylum Industry Liaison

How about now?, posted on March 25, 2006 at 05:52:43

tmiddle
Audiophile

Posts: 257
Joined: November 6, 2001

Hi Rich,

I placed an order with Bobby last week for the Filarmonia. Do you feel it benefits at all with line conditioning? Reason that I ask is because I have always gone straight to the wall (FIM) with amps and this will be my first integrated. Also, what I would be using is an Audio Magic Matrix Mini (not current limiting), or would consider the Running Springs with the Cardas pc. Your thoughts?

Re: How about now?, posted on March 27, 2006 at 08:12:42

Rich Brkich
Dealer

Posts: 611
Location: Near Syracuse, New York
Joined: April 3, 2000
Contributor
Since: July 1, 1999

Bobby uses the amp at his shop directly into the wall (well an old Cardas power strip with no filtering that is directly plugged into the wall)with the supplied Golden Ref power cord and the result are quite good. I generally use the Filarmonia with its Cardas Golden Ref power cord plugged into a High Current PS Audio Ultimate Outlet (which has an old and short PS Audio Labs PC going to the wall) or I have used the amp with Cardas Power cord plugged into a Equi-Tech PLC. I do feel the Filarmonia does benefit from use with a PLC.... it provides a little more refinement (generally a quieter blacker background) which helps front to back contrasts, depth, layering etc.

Happy Listening,
Rich Brkich
Retailer & Audio Asylum Industry Liaison

Re: How about now?, posted on March 29, 2006 at 04:44:59

tmiddle
Audiophile

Posts: 257
Joined: November 6, 2001

Thanks Rich. I will try both and see which sounds better in my room. Do you have any experience with the Running Springs conditioners?

Re: How about now?, posted on March 29, 2006 at 07:27:16
Rich Brkich Dealer Posts: 611 Location: Near Syracuse, New York Joined: April 3, 2000 Contributor Since: July 1, 1999	I have heard about the Running Springs units, but have not had any first hand encounters with the units. Happy Listening, Rich Brkich Retailer & Audio Asylum Industry Liaison

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Latest thoughts on Filarmonia?

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