stiv@rice.edu (david n stivers) (05/22/91)
The saga continues... (Listen #1) After doing some critical listening with my fiance to Angeli powered by a PS Audio 100 Delta and being very disappointed with the sound (too much congestion and lack of clarity), especially as compared to an AR Classic 30, we decided that maybe some serious effort needed to be spent on considering amplifiers or (in the face of a ~$1500 budget) other alternatives. (Listen #2) So, I decided that maybe I should try to keep the Magnepan SMGa's and try for some fancy electronics. I auditioned Cary 50 watt class A tube mono-blocks (found on special for $1350), and a Kinergetics KBA-75 (on special for $1000), and preferred the Kinergetics. (The rest of the system was Adcom 555 pre, chosen to be similar to my as-yet unmodified Hafler, and Linn LP-12). The Kinergetics' sound stage was not as deep as the Cary's, but in all other respects, the Kinergetics were superior (with the Magnepans). The sound was less laid back, but still sweet, the sound-stage was bigger, if not as deep, the bass was (predictably) deeper and more solid, dynamics were better and the sound was overall more involving. I would expect that the Cary's would be sound better if the were powering a more traditional dynamic speaker that wasn't as rolled off in the high end as the SMGa's are. (Listen #3) Brief listen to SMGa's with VTL Deluxe pre and Kinergetics, and compared to Linn Intek integrated (Linn Axis as source). Initial impression favored VTL+Kinergetics, but this was confounded with (1) a very busy store (2) a guy in next room trying to shake down the walls (3) a cold Intek. (Listen #4) Same set up as #3. I called it more or less a draw, when the Intek's price, ability to be used as a pre-amp only (expandability), and flexibility are considered. VTL+Kinergetics was superior, but maybe not by enough to warrant spending $650 extra. The imaging was more precise, and the soundstage was presented better, but it was only a little more dynamic and less congested than the Linn. The bass was deeper too, but not by much. And the soundstage went further back. Both were fairly involving (got the foot tapping fairly easily, though I think that the VTL-Kinergetics won out on this too). Hmm, I thought. I wonder how the Angelus sounds when driven by the Intek? Well, different than the SMGa's anyway. The Angelus have much better bass and dynamics than the SMGa's, about equal with imaging. They don't suffer from the mid-range glare that the Maggies can. Still, the sound wasn't involving. I tried tapping the foot manually, to see if it needed a jump start. Nope, no go. The Intek sounded harsh with high-notes in female vocals, and congested in symphonic Fortes, despite the modest levels that I listen at. Switch to the Kinergetics and my Hafler. Hey, not bad. The imaging wasn't _quite_ on par with the Intek, but the soundstage was about the same width. The harshness and congestion was gone. The bass was even better-left hand piano notes sounded good and solid, bass lines were easy to pick out. And my foot just kind of started up. I listened briefly with the VTL, and _really_ liked it. Well, maybe after my wallet recovers... So, now I need to go back and audition with Melinda (she was only present at #1), and see if she agrees with my choice of the Angelus and Kinergetics. versus the Intek or VTL+Kinergetics and SMGa's. Here are some prices: List Cost VTL pre-amp $775 $650 Kinergetics $1475 $1000 Linn Intek $1000 $1000 Spica Angelus $1275 $500 , including trading in the SMGa's Cary's $2000 $1350 <- different store So the Kinergetics+Angelus is $1500+tax, and the VTL+Kinergetics is $1650+. Some of the things that I learned: (1) Electronics are very important. (2) Electronics are very important. (3) Electronics are very important. (4) There are too many options to consider them all. (5) I need a bigger stipend. -- david n stivers stiv@rice.edu