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A friend is selling his S.F. Stradivari's for a very favorable price, since there the best speaker I've heard I'm very tempted to purchase them, even though I'm still more than entranced by my Revel Salons. But before I make up her mind I thought I should also consider the cost and practicality of sympathetic amplification. Has anyone tried different amps on these things?
System details are on my profile. Regards
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Have you ever heard Boulder amps? They might be a bit closer to what you are looking for and more affordable than the larger Vitus.
The Vitus Reference is a more affordable series from them, I have no idea how that would stack up to your 532 though.
It's been a long time since i've heard a Boulder amp , the last one was a friends, I believe a 500E or some such, very nice, but no dealer in my area so an in house demo would be out.
Your right, Vitus, I believe, has four or five levels of wonderfulness in there line. But somehow it would be like bringing home a Corvette with a Yugo engine in it.
No offense intended to Yugo owners or Mr. Bean.
Edits: 08/05/12
Any idea how the Vitus Reference would compare to the Levinson? Probably wouldn't be easy but have you ever had the Vitus hooked to the Salons to see how they compare to the SF?
I hear what you are saying about budget limits, your system would be a dream for me :)
I likely won't get the chance to hear the Vitus's connected to my Salon 1's, considering there cost I wouldn't even want to ask about bringing them over.
As far as comparing the two amps, I've only heard them both connected to one pair of speakers, the Strads. The Vitus amps produced a ( stop you dead in your tracks musicality ), better than the best tubes, better than the best solid state. They have power and grip yet exude an unforced ease. There timbrel accuracy is also unmatched in my experience. It's nearly impossible not to bob your head and start tapping your foot when hearing music player threw them.I better shut up now, I'm talking myself into these things.
Edits: 08/05/12
Sometimes things hit me later than sooner but the obvious question is why not use Vitus?
Hello Mr. P,, a decade or so ago I stopped trying to put a price on everything, but we all have to draw the line somewhere and $68,000 is well over mine, and that would be in addition to some lovely musical instruments, loosely referred to as speakers.
Thanks for your input
I've heard the Strads extensively at a local dealer. Rowland amps sound very nice with them, as did, believe it or not, the Byston 4BSST2.
You have the right to be offended, and I have the right to offend you. But no one has the right to never be offended.
- Ricky Gervais, 2011
Thanks Steven, I never thought about Rowland. We don't have a dealer in this area and non of are audio club members that I know of, own Rowland so it will be difficult doing an in house demo. that last few decades I insist on hearing a prospective component in my system and for at least a few days.
How would you describe the sound of the Strad, Rowland team, and what were the other components in the system?
Regards
Back then in 2009, I never thought I was going to be an analog guy so I didn't pay attention to the source. For digital, a Marantz SACD player would have been the source most times I went in. The dealer always fed amps with a preamp from the same manufacturer.
The sound of the Strad/Rowland combo was some of the warmest, fluid, and smooth sound I've heard from SS gear. The Amp would have been in the ilk of the current 201. It was easy, with a finesse about it. The room was fairly large at a guesstimate of 18x25 set up on the long wall. Without being forward, there was always a sense of being there really close to the musicians.
The Strad is a very special speaker, IMHO. It has a sound for sure, one that gave me chills every time I heard it! It really deserves a great amp, and I would feel comfortable saying a Rowland would a great match for it.
Stradivari was way out of my price range, but I ended up with Cremona Auditor which I enjoyed for three years.
You have the right to be offended, and I have the right to offend you. But no one has the right to never be offended.
- Ricky Gervais, 2011
My dealer pushes the SF with Sim Audio and Boulder. FWIW, my ears prefer the Salon, especially driven by Levinson. I would think your 532 would easily be up to the task of driving the SF as well.
Just curious what your friend uses to drive the SF?
He is now using the Vitus Reference mono's. prior to that he had a pair of Luxman 1000's.
I did schlep the M.L.532 over to my friends home for a listen, and although they weren't a bad match they didn't come close to producing the jaw dropping magic or the natural ease and swing the Vitus, Strad pairing did.
This weekend we'll be taking another friends Plinius SA Reference over for a listen.
I'm not familiar with Vitus but they must be very good, I'll have to look them up.
So you have the 532 opposed to 532H, correct?
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