Amps that sound good at low volumes...

Discussion in 'Hi-Fi and General Audio' started by julian2002, Mar 31, 2005.

  1. julian2002

    bottleneck talks a load of rubbish

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2003
    Messages:
    6,766
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    bucks
    winner stays on?!
     
    bottleneck, Apr 6, 2005
    #21
  2. julian2002

    julian2002 Muper Soderator

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2003
    Messages:
    5,094
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Bedfordshire
    exactly. the only 'problem' i have now is that i need to find something to sit the vincents on as i'd like to try short speaker cable runs which means putting the amps right next to the speakers. i may also give bi wiring a try too. all this fun stuff is now an option. i guess i'll have to use some paving slabs or bricks or something for the moment hey it'll be like being a student won;t it?
    cheers


    julian
     
    julian2002, Apr 6, 2005
    #22
  3. julian2002

    bottleneck talks a load of rubbish

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2003
    Messages:
    6,766
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    bucks
    short speaker cables... and 6 feet interconnects!

    a good idea though if you like them.

    I bet not a lot of work is going on at chez julian's today!!
     
    bottleneck, Apr 6, 2005
    #23
  4. julian2002

    julian2002 Muper Soderator

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2003
    Messages:
    5,094
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Bedfordshire
    errrr.... yeah loads of work hmmmm.
     
    julian2002, Apr 6, 2005
    #24
  5. julian2002

    JonR

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2004
    Messages:
    195
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Herts, UK.
    Slightly off-topic this, Julian, so apologies, but I visited Tone recently and he told me that your kit-built speakers he did the crossovers for are basically IBLs ....is that the case or have I misunderstood?

    Just curious.

    Cheers,

    Jon :)
     
    JonR, Apr 6, 2005
    #25
  6. julian2002

    julian2002 Muper Soderator

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2003
    Messages:
    5,094
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Bedfordshire
    no they are made by a company called IPL (the designers initials) it is suspected that tey are based on transmission line speakers made by a now defunct (i believe) company called TDL who were an offshoot of IMF. IBL's are naim speakers and therefore IMHO less than ideal :D .
    cheers

    julian.
     
    julian2002, Apr 6, 2005
    #26
  7. julian2002

    merlin

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2003
    Messages:
    3,262
    Likes Received:
    0
    Julian,

    can I suggest one of these if you really cannot turn up the wick at your place.

    I simply cannot believe that your neighbour intimidates you or should I start referring to you as Julia in the future?
     
    merlin, Apr 6, 2005
    #27
  8. julian2002

    wadia-miester Mighty Rearranger

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2003
    Messages:
    6,026
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Beyond the 4th Dimension
    An Astute' observation Julain as with all naim speakers :)
     
    wadia-miester, Apr 6, 2005
    #28
  9. julian2002

    Uncle Ants In Recordeo Speramus

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2003
    Messages:
    1,928
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    East Midlands
    erm, just wondering about this. If good sound at low levels is the goal here, don't speakers have more of an impact on the problem (or the solution) than the amps. Like I say just wondering.
     
    Uncle Ants, Apr 6, 2005
    #29
  10. julian2002

    Joe

    Joined:
    Mar 15, 2005
    Messages:
    896
    Likes Received:
    0
    The Monarchy SM-70 would get my vote. Hifi World says 'The Monarchy is a smooth, warm amp most at home with speakers that are easily driveable.' which is not exactly my experience; I would say fast and lively rather than smooth and warm. Either way, it sounds good; £595 retail but you may be able to get a deal on one. I use one for my second system but am seriously tempted to promote it to main system. Downsides: it's one ugly ****er.
     
    Joe, Apr 6, 2005
    #30
  11. julian2002

    JonR

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2004
    Messages:
    195
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Herts, UK.
    Aaaah of course! IPL ...not IBLs....that clears that up! I must have been confused by Tone's west-country accent! :D
     
    JonR, Apr 6, 2005
    #31
  12. julian2002

    julian2002 Muper Soderator

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2003
    Messages:
    5,094
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Bedfordshire
    mike,
    it's just that outright volume is getting less important - especially with big speakers. also i want to listen more in the evenings in a serious way which i can;t do as my daughter will be upstairs asleep. headphones aren;t really a solution either as i'm not a fan and anything other than light ones give me a headache.
    joe,
    i'll add the monarchy to the list....

    cheers


    julian
     
    julian2002, Apr 6, 2005
    #32
  13. julian2002

    Joe

    Joined:
    Mar 15, 2005
    Messages:
    896
    Likes Received:
    0
    Can I just add that those asterisks weren't added by me! If I type fecker will that emerge uncensored?
     
    Joe, Apr 6, 2005
    #33
  14. julian2002

    julian2002 Muper Soderator

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2003
    Messages:
    5,094
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Bedfordshire
    the contenders....
    [​IMG]

    i thought i'd better check that the vincents at least worked - bit of a heart stopper as the left channel didn;t play anything - then i realised i'd not got it connected to the decade - doh. they work and i'm giving them a bit of a go as they sound quite pleasant.
    cheers


    julian.
     
    julian2002, Apr 6, 2005
    #34
  15. julian2002

    julian2002 Muper Soderator

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2003
    Messages:
    5,094
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Bedfordshire
    well from my limited listening (and their horrendous warm up from a cold start - and i do mean warm) the vincents are showing that europe and the usa have got stormy waters ahead.
    cheers


    julian.
     
    julian2002, Apr 7, 2005
    #35
  16. julian2002

    Mr_Sukebe

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2003
    Messages:
    912
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    London
    Julian,

    Thanks for the update, keep us posted on the final choice.
     
    Mr_Sukebe, Apr 7, 2005
    #36
  17. julian2002

    Sgt Rock

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2003
    Messages:
    873
    Likes Received:
    0
    Not like The Vapors song I hope Ian :D
     
    Sgt Rock, Apr 7, 2005
    #37
  18. julian2002

    bottleneck talks a load of rubbish

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2003
    Messages:
    6,766
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    bucks
    so have you decided which amp gets to do battle with the BAT?
     
    bottleneck, Apr 8, 2005
    #38
  19. julian2002

    julian2002 Muper Soderator

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2003
    Messages:
    5,094
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Bedfordshire
    well i haven;t touched the aloia since wednesday afternoon, and i haven;t watched tv since then either.
    i must say the vincents do most things incredibly well. they love vocals and although the treble can get a bit rough / crashy at times (especially with hdcd recordings and cymbols so it may just be what's on the cd) the bass is controlled and very bouncy. i was listening to some prince the other night and alphabet st and cream were just fantastic. there's somethign that just sounds 'right' about it. must be the valves.
    and yes, i'm listening to the electric soft parades - empty at the end at very low volume levels and the guitar break at the end had me stop writing this to listen. even damien rice sounds good.
    if i had to criticise i'd say they were slightly veiled but again it seems to be recording dependant to a great degree so can't honestly say it's down to the amps. certainly if it was a choice between the vincents, the aloia and the 250 the vincents would be comming home with me.
    i'm going to take the aloia back and give the vincents bigger solid state class a brother the 993 a go next week. if you're at a loose end tomorrow afternoon and fancy popping over for a listen be my guest.
    cheers


    julian.
     
    julian2002, Apr 8, 2005
    #39
  20. julian2002

    merlin

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2003
    Messages:
    3,262
    Likes Received:
    0
    Come on Julian,

    you know you really want one of these :D Why not keep the Naim and save up a bit?
     
    merlin, Apr 9, 2005
    #40
Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments (here). After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.