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1988 Hafler XL280, and it's been drivin at "11" aplenty!
We got a record number of responses last week when we asked readers to share their loudspeaker preferences. Now tell us what <I>drives</I> those speakers.
Arcam Alpha 10 integrated and Alpha 10p power in bi-amping configuration. I started with the integrated and added the 10p later, which didn't bring as much improvement as I had hoped, but on the whole it's a good sounding setup, clean and powerful.
I have a Rega Hal preamp and a pair of Rega Exon monoblock power amplifiers. If you are in the market for amplification around $3500, you must try this; if your budget goes up to the $7000 mark, you still should try the Rega amplification---buy it, and save the remaining to buy records. By the way, my Rega Hal/Exon are connected to a pair of Shahinian Arc speakers.
I wasn't there last week, but I read the answers. It is good to see that there are so many Magnepan aficionados out there. I currently own a pair of Sonus Faber Guarneris. They are driven by a Krell KRC-3 pre-amplifier and a KSA 50 S amplifier, with digital playback from Theta and cabling from Transparent. The sound is very relaxing and transparent - I would almost call it noble. I bought the Guarneris because my listening room is too small for planar speakers and the sound of the Guarneri's in a way approaches that of panel or electrostatic speakers (without taking up the floor space, etc.). However, I did own Magnepan 1.5 QR's before and I have to agree with so many others: once you have heard, even better, owned a pair of Maggies, it is very hard to live without them, without the incredible realistic way they make music, their overwhelming sound stage and the inimitable way in which they simply disappear. So, despite the fantastic sound and looks of the Sonus Fabers, I will undoubtedly invest in a pair of Magnepan 3.6 R's as soon as I have access to a listening room big enough to host them. The only problem is that I will most probably have to invest in a beefier amp as well. The obvious choice would be one of Krell's FPB amps.
Oh man, I missed last week's question. Everyone has listed some pretty amazing loudspeakers. My Martin-Logan ReQuest, Logos, SL3s, and Transducers (for HT only) are driven by 5 Linn Klout amps. Our bedroom loudspeakers are Martin-Logan Aerius i's, driven by a Golden Tube SEP 100 amp.
I currently drive my Vandersteen 3As with a McCormack DNA-1 amplifier. I chose this amplifier after many hours of in-home auditions. I feel the DNA-1 is possibly one of the best amps for under $2000 at the time of my purchase. I feel the musical enjoyment I get from my system is a result of the combination of equipment I am currently using. Before adding a tube preamp (C-J Premier 14), it was more difficult to realize the lifelike presence and inner detail of the vinyl and CDs I have collected over the years. I really love this preamp/amp/loudspeaker combination. To me it is musical enjoyment and musical reproduction. What strikes me is that C-J has purchased and is manufacturing McCormack equipment once again. Something must be there, because I am by no means an expert on sound, but a consumer who likes what he has put together.