Been hooked on single ended amps and high efficient speakers since the early 90s. Started with lowther drivers and 300B amps. Evolved to present system. Still miss the immediacy, coherency and transparency of midrange of the lowther drivers.
Would be upgrading to the Avantgarde Acoustic Duo Grosso shortly because I feel that midrange horn of the Picco can only go down to 290Hz. Prefer the Duo as the midrange horn goes down lower to 170Hz.
Will also be auditioning the Wavac MD-805m and Wavac MD-300Bm with my present system shortly.
Did you have a chance of auditioning the wavac + avantgarde combination ? The ec300b is probable one of the 2-3 best amplifiers that one can buy to use with dynamic speakers (i have used it lately with an-e), but I am unsure about the sinergy with avantgarde speakers.
Hi Ianchang, a fellow Avantegard user here. I am very interested in your choice of amps. I am starting to look into amps to drive my AG Trios.
At the moment I am using some rather powerful Bel cantos which are a left over from my low sensitivity speaker days. They do sound great with the Trio strangely, but I am sure there are other amps worth trying out and possibly more suitable for 110db/watt.
Do you have any ideas? I was thinking solidstate, like a first watt or Red wine audio or something. I feel nervous going back to tube amps. I want to keep the ultra low noise, detail and dynamics I already have.
Wow, what a system! The Duo Grosso's should be amazing. If your looking for new amps you should give the GRAAF GM-20 OTL a listen. You could even use them as monoblocks, they are not that expensive. Check out the webiste for specs, these are some of the best tube amps made at any price. The they have a very power full sounding 20 watts! Check out this combo with Viva's Linnea pre-amp. it's some of the best sound I've ever heard with Avantgardes. The Italians have it down when comes to tube amp design.
A great 300B amp is VAC's Renaissance Thirty/Thirty Triode amplifier. Not very expensive on the used market, one of the best 300B amps I've heard with Avantgarde. You can save yourself a lot dough with these amps, spending huge amounts on tube amplification doesn't always net the best results.
The Cary 300B amp is more intimate and forward sounding. The 211 amp is more dynamic and have a bigger soundstage but not as intimate. My ideal amp is one which has the best of both worlds - one which is dynamic and has a huge soundstage but does not sound laid back and with intimate midrange.
What a beautiful system. I am going in the same direction ultimately as funds permit. I'm curious as to the relative strength/weaknesses of the 211 amps with the AG horns as compared to the 300b amps you previously had?
I listen mostly to vocals and instrumentals. Occasionally I also listen to classical. The type of sound that I try to achieve is one with a wide soundstage and effortless immediacy and dynamics.
I did not graduate from the PC-1. I jumped right into the PC-1 Supreme. Sorry I could not offer any thoughts on the differences between a PC-1 Supreme and PC-1. But I have ordered a DaVinci Grandezza arm. Will update on the system once it is fitted.
Hi. Gorgeous looking system. I have interest in the Air Tight Supreme Cart. Did you graduate up from the PC-1, and if so, please share some thoughts on the differences.
Beautiful! I am so glad to be the first to post on your awesome setup. Horns are fantastic and Avantgardes are the real deal. So what music do you like?
