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Greetings, Lefty!
What kind of music and volume levels are you prone to?

My musical tastes are fairly varied, but I'm not into death metal or hard-core hip-hop, and volume levels tend to be fairly moderate. So I'm looking for something that produces detail and depth without blasting me into the next room.

I heard the Montor speakers at a dealer, powered by a Krell integrated. They sounded great, but a little edgy and harsh. Could be for a lot of reasons, I know, but it leads me to wonder if a tube amp might smooth them out a little. Hence the interest in the Prima Luna (also the fact that my wife likes how it looks, and the universally-excellent reviews its received). Sterophile's laudatory review of the RS6s used the Creek, which I'm hoping to hear sometime over the holidays. And, I'll definitely look into the Panache.

Whaddayinz think?

Cheers.

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I would also consider some great book shelves with and added sub from the likes of Triangle, Opera, Dynaudio, and B & W for sure. Phile has done a great job of reviewing bookshelf speakers this year. With even a decent sub you can have a sense of scale and 3D that should be easier to control.

I've been impressed by the reviews on some of the Triangle speakers. Of course, I apparently can't audition them within 250 miles of my home, which is a bit of a complication And, by the time you put the stands under Cometes, you're in the $1400-2000 ballpark (depending on whether you're buying stock versions or the "Anniversary" model that ST lauded a couple of months ago), which I'd be willing to pay if they gave more of what I wanted. I'd sure like to hear them, definitely.

I'm not particularly big on subs. Call it it a prejudice, I guess, but I find that while they're great for HT, I just don't care for 'em in two-channel. Deep bass is not reallya big selling point for me, anyway. I'l take musicality and detail over low-end extension.

Thanks for the take on the Krell. I'm sure it's a great amp, and the combo sounded good, but the overall presentation-is that a valid term?--seemed kinda "in your face." I was loking for something more, I don't know, "refined", maybe?

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Listening to a Krell on those speakers might be enough to make me consider a tube amp and I hate tubes!

OK, so I have to ask: Why do you hate tubes? Or am I opening a can of worms here?

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Did you get the chance to listen to the new Bel Canto amps? If you love tubes and Classical music, why dont you try the Icon Audio integrateds?

As for the speakers, how about Sonus Faber Concerto Domus/Opera?

Thanks for the ideas! One issue I'm confronting is that, living inPittsburgh (city of lights, city of magic) is a little bit limiting in terms of what brands are available to sample. I hadn't looked into any of the ones you mention, but I will.

Just to be clear, I don't know that I "love tubes." I am certainly interested in hearing folks' thoughts on tube versus solid-state amplification in the specified price range given the qualities I'm seeling in the sound (however poorly I may be expressing them)

Cheers.

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There are several hi-end dealers down in D.C....I may end up going there to check out equipment.

I used to live in the DC area and still go back there for business fairly frequently, so I've already identified several places to visit to hear things over my next couple of trips. But there are several brands (Rega, Quad, and Triangle being the most prominent) that I can't even locate a dealer for down there there.

As an aside, I've sent numerous e-mails to manufacturers and distributors seeking their help in finding some place to audition their lines. It's remarkable how poorly some of these high-end folks respond to requests for assistance in, you know, buying their products.