|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
86.183.80.34
I am extremely happy with my Hi-Fi system, fine tuning it over a couple of decades to the point where it gives me endless hours of MUSICAL pleasure.
With the upgrade of my front end to the Chord Electronics DAVE digital pre-amplifier/DAC my system has become even more musical.
My current amplifier is the legendary and limited edition Musical Fidelity NuVista 300 which I had fine tuned 5 yrs ago, so it is all intents and purposes a 5yr old amplifier rather than 15 yr old.
With the quantum leap in my Chord DAVE is was wondering if the Audio Research Ref 75SE had enough power to drive my Sonus Faber Electa Amator IIs and would be a good match.
My musical tastes are 70s funk, soul and jazz with an emphasis on musicality and rhythm over absolute detail.
Make It Funky Now!
Follow Ups:
I run Sonus Faber Cremona floorstanders, not the M. They may be 1 or 2 db more efficient than your Amator's which I believe are standmounted.
I used to drive mine with VAC PA160 monoblocs which could run with 6550, KT88 or EL34/6CA7. I used mostly the latter tubes in ultra linear and triode mode, output similar to the ARC 75SE. My listening room is 12' wide, 25' long and a peaked ceiling averaging 12' in height. Volume was more than adequate. My only point is it all depends on your room size. Unless you have a big pile in the country with a massive drawing room, you will be happy with the amplifier. I have had various ARC pieces over the years and they make a great product.
Not sure if you're in a flat, semi detached or countryside detached but under most conditions, you should be more than fine especially considering the use of a sub. I lived in a mansion block for six years off Ken High St and spent most of my time in the pub with my porter or going to see live music in town.
What about some of the new models of BBC bigger standmount licensed speakers, like the Stirling Broadcast LS3/6 (pretty big) or smaller SB88 in Somerset. Also, there are the Graham Audio (Devon) LS5/8 and LS5/9. These have great tone for jazz.
Until my Sonus Faber Electa Amator IIs give up the ghost and ascend to their resting place in speaker heaven I am very, very happy with them as enjoy their musicality, I had the smaller Sonus Faber Signums.
They are as big a speaker as I can realistically fit in my lounge, whilst generating good tight low frequencies augmented with the Gravis sub-woofer, they go down to 35Hz.
My jazz tastes is on the Herbie Hancock Headhunter side of jazz-funk with the emphasis on the funk, and the Amators definitely can hold a groove :-).
Make It Funky Now!
FlyGuy-
I would be remiss if I did not mention for you to compare the ARC against Rogue Audio. It may even save you money.
If you're listening taste is 70s and Jazz then why didn't you get a honking 70s style speaker. Like a big JBL or Advent. Something full range with wall of sound chest pounding 12-15" woofer type speaker???
Just curious. You do know that most of that music recorded during that era was recorded with those speakers in mind. Kind of like watching a 70s TV show in 4:3 vs a new show in 16:9, if you get my point????
BUT I would agree that as far as detail a good monitor sub combo is the way to go.
Well I am British so those brands are not freely available, and my modest British house does not have room for floor standers let alone honking big floor standers.
The Sonus Faber Electa Amator IIs with their passive rear radiator coupled with the matching Gravis B1 subwoofer have plenty of tight bass to load my room and for me to feel the groove.
Make It Funky Now!
Indeed they can big big. The joke here in the US (please don't insert your own US joke here please) was not only could you listen to them but you could be buried in them too.
Since you live in London maybe you can answer this. A friend of mine told me that active speakers were big over there for years. And it was because of the small apartments. Was that ever true?
London is an amazing place and a real walking around city. I like to just walk around. I guess that's why I hike so much out here in the Sonoran desert.
On the scale of American cities London is probably small, and we do have a lot of culture in a relatively compact area in the central area.
As for active speakers, they have always been a niche market and haven't really taken off, despite their advantages, tweakers will be tweakers everywhere.
Make It Funky Now!
Yes the ARC will sound very fine. SF speakers do well w/ solid-state or tubes. Happy Listening!
Post a Followup:
FAQ |
Post a Message! |
Forgot Password? |
|
||||||||||||||
|
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors: