Michell Alecto

anyone experience of these monoblocs?

 

I have a pair of the Alecto Mark 2s which I bought new after reading the strong reviews when they came out and demming against a few competitors at the time. Gorgeous liquid treble and midrange - sound more like a valve amp in the mids. On bass, normally good but depends on the speaker - loads of grunt out of anything sensible, but can't extract the most out of more difficult loads (I'm thinking of changing mine shortly for a pair of big Brystons to drive my Nautilus 802s - the Alectos do a good job with them but I know I can get more bass out of them). They look very unusual and slick (see my rather fuzzy avatar). They are good value - I demmed a few months ago against a pair of Audionet monoblocks (around £5K) and preferred the Alectos.

 

I'd hold on Midlife, a new 250 mono bloc is nearly ready, they sound damn good too.

 

from Trichord? that'd be interesting - might be tempting to have them on the bass and the Alectos on the treble...

 

You might be surprised, you wouldn't need the Alecto's on the treble trust me.
Sounds a league and half above the older vesions, I do also believe the use some 'Choice components' too

 

thanks for reply Midlife. I'm after something which can have a bit of grip on my JM Lab Electras without adding too much of its own to what is delivered by my Dax Decade. your description sounds promising - I've opportune to home demo.

do your monoblocs have Mark 2 inscribed? and any ideas on mark 1/2 comparisons?

Wm, are these 250s likely to be v.pricey?

 

No, there's no mark 2 logo on them - you may only be able to tell by the serial number, from Trichord/Michell, as I think all the changes were internal. I never heard the mark 1s but the reviews in HiFiNews and World reckoned there was a big step up in quality - I remember them picking up on tightness of soundstaging improvements.

 

Ditton - I take it these are the ones in Retro Reproductions? What price is he asking for them? I think they are mk1. A few years ago they were regarded as the best ampps to drive Quad E'statics with, so if you get them..... Let me have a shot!

I must add, if it is from Retro Reproductions, I've always found him (Graham I think) to be very helpful and obliging... I've currently got an ARC LS7 pre-amp on loan from him as I wanted to try a valve pre with my stuff.

 

I had both versions in the past.

Personally at the time, I preferred the mk1's, the 2's didn't sound as well balanced to my ears, and the mk1's soundstaged and in comparison the 2's were flatter. I love stage width and depth and projection, so they got my vote.

My ears may have changed now.

 

encouraging comments. I should book that home demo, maybe a group ticket with Alan.

not wishing to light fires irresponsibly, I've just read a review that confirms soundstage idea with these amps, and suggests use with Mana stands - and it just so happens that I have a 4 tier ...

 

Ditton,

I'm not sure of the price of them, the case work has just been finalised, I've heard them a quite a few occations, sound damn fair to me, the sound is in the very same vein as the Mk2's, just a lot more of the same every where.
I'd give Graham a ring and ask him. Wm