Amps that sound good at low volumes...

winner stays on?!

 

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

 

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!!

 

errrr.... yeah loads of work hmmmm.

 

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

 

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 .
cheers

julian.

 

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?

 

An Astute' observation Julain as with all naim speakers

 

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.

 

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.

 

Aaaah of course! IPL ...not IBLs....that clears that up! I must have been confused by Tone's west-country accent!

 

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

 

Can I just add that those asterisks weren't added by me! If I type fecker will that emerge uncensored?

 

the contenders....


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.

 

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.

 

Julian,

Thanks for the update, keep us posted on the final choice.

 

Not like The Vapors song I hope Ian

 

so have you decided which amp gets to do battle with the BAT?

 

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.

 

Come on Julian,

you know you really want one of these Why not keep the Naim and save up a bit?