Hi Charles,

Been awhile since I've been on agon, but to answer your question about the different amps. The best sound seems to be with the Audio Mirror 45W set amps, just enough power to drive the speakers with most music and some great Vintage tubes. Used the N Core last summer and again now. More then enough power, organically detailed sound - very nice SS sound for this tube head. The 300B, although my favorite is used for a month or so in between the others - really at it's best with acoustic and Barouque. Enjoy all 3, and not a huge difference, seems that the Lamm pre and the speakers set the stage, so to speak.

Still a little envious of your setup though,...

Take care

ludimagis June 18, 2014 15:17

Hi Sidvee,

In terms of your room size it is certainly possible.
But close enough that it may depend on listening level, type of amp, carpeting, etc.

I listen in the near field with the speakers along the long wall & on one side of the room. Room is 20' x 13', so, I have a 3 sided listening space of 15' x 13', with the other side open for that 5 extra feet. Not the perfect listening space, but I'm very happy with the overall sound and sometimes have it fairly loud. The front panel of the speakers are at 43" from front wall and the one speaker is 47" from center to the side wall. Of course the other speaker has plenty of open space on it's side. I don't experience any noticeable wall reflection issues with the slight exception that some bass notes on the closed side are occasionally enhanced by the corner wall reflection. Toe in is very slight, aimed at outside of my shoulders.

I have had them slightly closer to the walls and sound was good, but this is the best positioning for me.

Hope this helps you a little.

ludimagis June 18, 2014 14:21

System edited: Just added a few descriptions. Really pleased with the N Core amps. So much so that I sold the Gamut amp.

ludimagis July 08, 2013 21:11

Hi Dan, With your custom Tannoy's and killer crossovers's, I have to imagine that you have wonderful synergy with your new 300B amp.

ludimagis May 12, 2013 14:53

Thanks Glenfihi, have to admit, I truely enjoy this setup!

ludimagis April 14, 2013 20:04

Hi Harvey,
Yes, I still have the Ascendo speakers. Have had them for about 3 years & thoroughly enjoy them. From what I hear, I'd say that the 29Hz (-3dB) that is reported on the Ascendo spec sheet is accurate. I recently had a money crunch & listed them for sale & glad that they didn't sell.

ludimagis November 03, 2012 23:19

Hi Charles, nice to hear from you. The significant advantage is the increase in gain that the Lamm offers. 18 vs 6 for the passive. Overall the sound quality is similar, but I slightly prefer the Lamm at this point. I have only used it with the SS Gamut so far.

The Gamut is as you expect not like a set amp in terms depth of soundstage or immediacy and 'presence' like the Audio mirror SET amp. Hard to explain, it does result in a very natural sound but differs from the tube base set amp in that it drives the notes of music slightly different. With tubes it becomes easy for me to become one with the music, probably due to the slight emphasis on the inner bloom of the musical notes.

I am thourgholy enjoying this different perspective ~ But I do feel that the musical nature of the Lamm is part of the reason. I see it as a great summer time amp. I do believe that I will still slightly prefer the Audio Mirror but this Gamut is actually a better overall match for the Ascendo speakers

ludimagis September 02, 2012 16:10

System edited: I have to laugh at myself for listing this setup in the 'Done for now' category. A year later and some new pieces picked up, and now it may be complete. The recent finds are Lamm LL2 preamp which I slightly prefer over the passive Stereo Knight. Although this did confirm for me, just how good the Stereo Knight is. The other buy is the Gamut D200 MkIII SS amp. It has 6-7 years since I've had a SS amp. Just had to hear what the extra w/ch would do for the Ascendo speakers. With the Lamm pre at 8 - 10 oclock I'm not using much of those 200 watts. But I like what I hear and will probably keep the Gamut as my summer time amp. Now I'm convinced that the 45W Audio Mirror amp brings these speakers to full song on almost all recordings. They will be my cold weather amps. Finally a sense of contentment.

ludimagis July 28, 2012 15:02

Just an update on pairing the Audio Mirror 45W SET amps with the Ascendo C8 speakers. Thanks to Charles & Lapierre, my search for more powerful amps was re-invigorated. The C8 definitely sound fuller on the more complex music with 45w/ch. The difference is that now the TOS (rear firing ribbon tweeter) and the bass driver are now more fully engaged.

The Audio Mirror amps are designed and constructed very well. Coherent, even handed, and smooth ~ from top to bottom. Good detail and only very slightly lacking in that last % of refinement. They really are good amps and imho Vlad Bazelkov is at that same level as some of the better known builders that markets direct to the end user.

Could be that the C8's might be better suited to as much as 75 - 150w of quality solid state or push pull amps. I didn't expect the C8's to be set amp friendly, but the system sounds very good with 45w set amps in my 15' x 23' room.

ludimagis September 24, 2011 17:16

I just purchased a pair of Audio Mirror 45W SET amplifiers. From what I've read they are powerful, so maybe soon I'll hear what an extra 30 watts of single ended triode does for the Ascendo.

ludimagis July 12, 2011 21:26

I have seen the Coincident demo unit that is listed here on agon, but it is out of my price range.,... dreaming of any Lamm, and window shopping Ayon Crossfire, sophia 845, Pass Labs XA30.5 and a couple of others.

ludimagis June 19, 2011 02:59

Lapierre,
I have not heard the C7, only the C8; but there was another agon thread from last year where both are mentioned. Depending on your room size, I would guess that 1 Mac could be sufficient.
There was an pro online review of the C8 and the reviewer was running Mac amps.

ludimagis June 18, 2011 16:23

You are correct Charles, when I bought the ascendo I did think that if I liked the speakers they would require a new amp, even though I really like the Moore amp. I did buy a 100w/ch hybrid; the 300B was much better. So for 9 months the 300B has been in place. I'd say that on 50% of the recordings the ascendo are fully engaged, on 30% I can hear the bass and lower mid need more, but overall it still sound good; & on a 20% it is very clear that more amp is needed. So for now, I enjoy what I have while considering another amp.

I have found that ratings and published specs can only be used as guidelines, you never know until you hook it up and have a good listen. In this case a powerful 13w seems better to me than a 100w hybrid and my 30w push pull. But if anyone asked me about the Ascendo, I'd say a very good 20w in a smaller room would be the minimum.

ludimagis June 15, 2011 21:29

As far as the EML 300B-XLS, the many positive comments online & at AA and then to see a high rez picture of one prompted my decision. It is a great 300B and as Sebof commented; like scientific pieces of art. I've never seen such an excellent build quality for a tube. With the proper plate voltage they put out 13w/channel, which I needed.

Larry Moore was part of the initial wave of SET amp builders that started up about 15 years ago and this 300B amp was actually his version of the best he could do with "off the shelf parts". I'm pretty certain that he built a few of these. He gained some well deserved industry recognition for 1st his 10 squared amp & than an 845 set amp that was reviewed at positive feedback.

ludimagis June 14, 2011 22:16

Charles, we have some similar listening priorities & tastes; I owned the Partial Eclipse II and have given serious consideration to the Frankenstein amp. I agree, there is a certain joy that comes with a well designed set system. Just seems easy to become one with the music.

ludimagis June 13, 2011 02:15

Thanks Dan, I've been fortunate with my choices and it has come to the point that I wanted; it sounds very good with any type of music. When I 1st got the Ascendo speakers I thought that more w/ch would be needed. But over time there has only been a handful of recordings that were lacking. Still have my eye out for a parallel 300B or an 845 set amp.

ludimagis June 12, 2011 00:19