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Review available in Stereophile
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They are noticeably more dynamic and transparent than my Parasound Halo A21. I think they are well worth their asking price of $6000 a pair, especially if you have low impedance speakers that require some power to bring them to life. I first heard my Thiel's connected to a pair of gigantic Krell monoblocks and now they sound just like I first heard them with these new PS Audio 1200-watt monoblocks.
The Parasound Halo A21 is no slouch. And although Krell sometimes gets a bad rap, there are excellent sounding Krell amps that ALSO deliver on huge power and big clean effortless dynamics.If you like the M1200's better than your A21 or Krells, that makes me want to run out and try a pair of M1200's for my Thiels ;-) But the M700's are more in my budget range. I wonder how they stack up.
P.S. I owned the PS Audio HCA-2 many years ago. I think it made the cover of Stereophile or some other mag. It was pretty good, not fantastic IMHO but that was Class D two decades ago.
Edits: 12/28/20
The PS Audio M700 monoblocks were rated Class "A" in Stereophile's Recommended Components so you probably can't go wrong with them, either. On the other hand, I've read that the M1200 monoblocks sound better. If you want to read what others think, check out the link below.
Great pic! JE
John, have you tried moving the subs to the outsides of the Thiels, although not butted up against them?
No! I've never tried them on the outside of the Thiel's. That would require some significant rearrangement of furniture. The picture doesn't show the rest of the room.
What would be the advantage of having the subs outside of the main speakers? They reproduce only the bottom octave. When you turn the main speakers off, all you hear is deep bass thumping from the subwoofers. I can't see how it would make any difference where the thumping is coming from. All the imaging and soundstaging comes from the main speakers. I used to place my subwoofers behind my listening chair and they sounded just fine. I couldn't detect the deep bass coming from behind. It blended perfectly with the sound from the main speakers and the bass sounded like it was coming from the front rather than from behind.
Merry Christmas!
John Elison
FWIW
in the early 2000s I was a partner in Audio Tweakers. We were involved in marketing the Nearfield Pipedreams. George Bishop was involved in XO development. We had a local audio meeting featuring the Pipedreams;: George was there.
Judd Barber (Joule Electra) was with me in the room during set up. George had positioned the subs in a place that IMO they didn't breathe properly. I mentioned it to him and he gave me the old school reply 'bass is non directional' and left the room. I repositioned the subs and the music integrated much better. When I walked back to sit, Judd said to me essentially "Well, that blows that theory out the window!"
Now this was a big room, so YMMV, but you might be surprised moving them around as best you can. Acoustic Fields has a YouTube channel. They provide a lot of 411 in subwoofer placement
hth
Well, that's a nice story, but the position of a subwoofer in a room is not magic, it's science. There are two aspects of bass reproduction that change from repositioning the subwoofer. One aspect is the placement of peaks and valleys in the bass response and the other aspect is the relative phase between the subwoofer and the main speakers. Quite likely, phase response is the most noticeable of the two because if the subwoofer is out of phase with the main speakers, the subwoofer's bass will cancel the main speakers' bass. When you find the right position in the room where the subwoofer is in phase with the main speakers, you get the best bass response.Fortunately, my Rythmik subwoofers have continuously variable phase response, which I adjust to coincide perfectly with my main speakers. This give the loudest bass response. Then I adjust the volume control on the subwoofers to blend them seamlessly with the main speakers. They sound just fine in their present position. Consequently, moving them outside of the main speakers won't change their sound as long as the phase and volume controls are readjusted for seamless coupling with the main speakers.
Thanks!
John Elison
Edits: 12/31/20 12/31/20
Sigh!
Magic cannot be measured
I think I need an amp upgrade but sadly those monoblocks are waaaaay out of my price range. I paid less than that for my car.
The problem is not that there is evil in the world, the problem is that there is good. Because otherwise, who would care?
I had the PSA M700s which are often available used for $1800-$2000
They sounded very good, but my room is 21 x 35 x 12 and I needed a lot more power
For about a year now I have enjoyed a TweakAudio EVS1200, which has the same Icepower modules as the M1200s, but highly tweaked and less than $2500, but he's not making them anymore. However, he has new amp mods that you might be interested in
but my old Hafler doesn't have enough grunt for Maggies. It'll drive the Elacs up to where my eardrums bleed but gets all gritty and loose-sounding if I try driving the MMGs up to that level.
300 wpc into 4 ohms would do just fine here. The 700 monoblocks, I could afford those but there's a WAF issue. A grand for the used 300 might be an easier swallow.
The problem is not that there is evil in the world, the problem is that there is good. Because otherwise, who would care?
I think their are better options than the 300. Ask for ideas
The new Van Alstine's might be within your budget
hth
And Parasound. Axiom makes a Class-D amp similar to the PS Audio, sells for about a grand.
My old Hafler can be modified as well, and I can do the work myself.
I'm neither a tube nor solid state guy. Whatever works.
I've had two tube amps in my hi-fi life, both Dynaco Stereo 70, and they both blew up.
The problem is not that there is evil in the world, the problem is that there is good. Because otherwise, who would care?
Edits: 12/25/20 12/25/20
is a Hypex Ncore amp for $700. I have an OEM model using the NC502mp board driving New Advents in the garage.
Not the most refined top end, but great midrange and plenty of power with almost 500 watts/channel (when less pushed than spec).
I had VTV's Hypex NC252MP and liked it. I considered the top end very clean but after my Pass X150.5 it came across as a little bright with some recordings.I replace that Hypex with VTV's Purifi stereo with the VTV buffers and Sparkos SS3602 op amps. The Purifi may be described as an extreme version of the NCmmmMP -- it exaggerates both the latter's good and less agreeable properties.
I love the music of Dmitri Shostakovich ...
Edits: 12/29/20
nt
The problem is not that there is evil in the world, the problem is that there is good. Because otherwise, who would care?
Sell your car and invest in the amps! You're supposed to be an audiophile for Christ's sake!
If art interprets our dreams, the computer executes them in the guise of programs!
Actually, I've got my eye on a different PS Audio amp, the Stellar 300.
Not cheap but at least it's feasible.
The problem is not that there is evil in the world, the problem is that there is good. Because otherwise, who would care?
You might want to look at Wyred 4 Sound - also Ice technology (so probably the same chips) but a lot less money. I have quite enjoyed the mAmps so far and the monoblocks were on sale for $649 each. Not now - but I am sure a sale will come again. Not quite as powerful as the PS Audios but still more than enough. I like them more than Parasound JC1 and JC5 I recently auditioned.They're a lot more affordable and also built in the USA.
Integrated for $1299 775w into 4ohms. Should be enough power and easy on the wallet. But you might be able to do separates from them for similar dollars. Worth a look.
They were very responsive to me and when I placed the order it took 3 days to get to me in Hong Kong. They came triple boxed. Well done.
When I go surround sound I will be looking at these guys first.
Edits: 12/25/20
IMO the problem with the Hafler is current, not watts. It'll drive the Maggies fine up to a point. Go beyond and it just sags.
The problem is not that there is evil in the world, the problem is that there is good. Because otherwise, who would care?
I have a PS 300 POWERPLANT in storage. I should sell it but it is a huge hassle to ship.
I lost faith in PSAUDIO though, due to Paul's trashing the raspberry pi as a streamer.
We all know better...
If art interprets our dreams, the computer executes them in the guise of programs!
The only streaming I do is with a fishing rod.
The problem is not that there is evil in the world, the problem is that there is good. Because otherwise, who would care?
Love mine in the garage system.
Just a chance to get in a (lame) fishing joke.
The problem is not that there is evil in the world, the problem is that there is good. Because otherwise, who would care?
Raspberry Pi is a little computer about the size of a pack of cigarettes. There are a whole bunch of versions for various applications. Hook up a keyboard vis a USB connection and a TV via HDMI for a monitor and you can have a computer cheap.
They're kinda fun if you're into electronics hobbies.
and guess what is at the heart of more than one expensive streamer, including a super hi end Canadian manufacturer?yep, raspberry pi.
If art interprets our dreams, the computer executes them in the guise of programs!
Edits: 12/24/20
nt
The problem is not that there is evil in the world, the problem is that there is good. Because otherwise, who would care?
See link
"I know just enough to get into trouble. But not enough to get out of it."
nt
The problem is not that there is evil in the world, the problem is that there is good. Because otherwise, who would care?
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