Posts: 1884
Location: Toms River NJ
Joined: May 28, 2012
Contributor Since: December 14, 2012
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Option 1: Braun/ADS L300's; NAD, Adcom, Hafler DH-101, or Dyna PAS preamp or even an Advent Receiver as preamp; Small BGW power amp, like the 100A. Recap the old electronics - easy to do on these choices. The BGW on the little Brauns *will* astonish. Used ICs and speaker wire. Skip the tuner if you can - stream for now. If you go the Advent route, its tuner section is ok, the preamp is kinda sorta fair-ish, and it's power amp is junk. Still, it's handy to have as a universal substitute for when something has to go out for service. The best sounding preamp options are probably the Hafler or PAS. I'd leave the NAD, Adcom, Advent, or Hafler on all the time, but not the Dyna or BGW. The BGW's are good enough to stay with you forever, regardless of the other gear - they are outstanding amps. Rig up stands for the L300's and keep them away from the walls.
Option 2: Spica TC-50's or TC-60's with whatever integrated amp you find. I like the TC-50's better, and the early version (prior to s/n 7,500) better than the later version, but I'm picking nits here. TC-50's are still the all-time imaging champs. Spicas with the BGW are superb, and if you have only one source component you can use the level controls on the BGW for volume/balance and skip the preamp all together. Mount the Spicas away from walls, exactly equidistant, pointed at your head with the woofers at ear-level, good rigid support, and leave the grills on. Not a bad idea to get a spare tweeter driver or two if you like to rock out. Madisound has them. If you're handy with a soldering iron, msg me and I'll send the mods to the crossover for bi-wiring. This option is by far the best sounding. Other than a slightly forgiving top end, and a bottom that starts to drop off around 80 Hz but usable to the upper 40's, it is extremely musical. Mating a sub to the Spicas is tricky, as there will be a large overlap, which will change the character of the sound somewhat. Still, it can be done. The TC-60, which is ported, should be easier to use with subs. In theory.
The BGW amps aren't widely known, and haven't been in production for many years, but are among the best amps I know. Many are still doing 24/7 service in studios. Flat from the very bottom to the very top, musical, highly detailed without being etched, and dynamics that can frighten. Superb bottom end detail and control. No hint of grit or transistoritis. Dead silent. They are basically enormous power supplies with a couple transistors tacked on. All their models were excellent. Do make sure it's working properly, because with the huge power supply, any failure that causes a thump or pop can easily take out your speakers. They are all easy to work on. I picked the 100A because I know it best, but any of the smaller BGWs are fine - they are all basically the same circuit. Most look pretty rough on the outside; ignore that.
WW
"Put on your high heeled sneakers. Baby, we''re goin'' out tonight.
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