D'Agostino Stereo Amp ordered!

[Ritmo]

Just placed an order for one of these beauties. I went with the standard color - thought hard about going with black but at the end, that silver - copper color is stunning.

Can't wait to get the amp and new speakers delivered.

Mike

[Mike]

Mike - wow! Big congrats!!!!!! This is the best SS amp on the planet IMO! Congrats!

Mike

[dlb2]

Wow, forget about the baby steps you just leapfrogged to the finish line! Congrats!

[cmalak]

Mike...that is awesome. I heard this combination (with the D'Agostino pre) at a demo at Fidelis in NH. You are in for a real treat as you well know. D'Ag amp and Alexias are a match made in heaven. Well done and congrats! By the way, the Ref 5SE will mate very well with the D'Ag amp according to all the show reports I have read which had that combo before Dan came out with the preamp (it seemed to be the preferred combo of ARC pres with his amps and WIlson speakers).

[Mike]

It's the best synergy I've ever heard.

[LL21]

Mike...that is awesome. I heard this combination (with the D'Agostino pre) at a demo at Fidelis in NH. You are in for a real treat as you well know. D'Ag amp and Alexias are a match made in heaven. Well done and congrats! By the way, the Ref 5SE will mate very well with the D'Ag amp according to all the show reports I have read which had that combo before Dan came out with the preamp (it seemed to be the preferred combo of ARC pres with his amps and WIlson speakers).

+1 on the Congrats! I have heard the Ref 5SE and the Momentum Stereo...great combination imho. Enjoy!

[Mike]

I just love the looks of the D'Agostino amps. In person they are even more stunning than in pictures.

[Mike]

Mike - I think you made a smart choice with the copper/silver.

[the professor]

Congrats!

Other than the cost. There are no drawbacks to that amp.

How long do you have to wait? Waiting is the hardest part!

[RLL1]

Congrats!! You must be pacing the floor in anticipation!

[Penthouse-D]

Best of luck Mike! A fine choice.

[Ritmo]

Thanks guys! This is the combo I heard a few weeks ago with Mark (MDP) in Dallas. It really hit me - as you can see.

The toughest decision was - mono vs stereo. But, my room is medium size - 16.5 X 19. The stereo version should be plenty of power.

Now the wait begins...will know early next week. I'm hopeful that it will be mid December.

[the professor]

With the Alexia's you will never run out of power w the stereo version. If you ever switch speakers and need the monos, you can always have them convert it.

Thanks guys! This is the combo I heard a fees ago with Mark (MDP) in Dallas. It really hit me - as you can see.

The toughest decision was - mono vs stereo. But, my room is medium size - 16.5 X 19. The stereo version should be plenty of power.

Now the wait begins...will know early next week. I'm hopeful that it will be mid December.

[Mike]

Thanks guys! This is the combo I heard a fees ago with Mark (MDP) in Dallas. It really hit me - as you can see.

The toughest decision was - mono vs stereo. But, my room is medium size - 16.5 X 19. The stereo version should be plenty of power.

Now the wait begins...will know early next week. I'm hopeful that it will be mid December.

Mike - the stereo is the smart choice!

[MDP]

Thanks guys! This is the combo I heard a few weeks ago with Mark (MDP) in Dallas. It really hit me - as you can see.

The toughest decision was - mono vs stereo. But, my room is medium size - 16.5 X 19. The stereo version should be plenty of power.

Now the wait begins...will know early next week. I'm hopeful that it will be mid December.

Mike, congrats on a great choice ! That amp is the best I've heard with the Alexia !!

[tonepub]

The good news is you can always upgrade to monos, but I was surprised at how much juice the stereo had. Played plenty loud here! Wonderful amplifier... Hope you enjoy it as much as we did when we had it in for review!

[XV-1]

Congrats on the Mom S. It is a keeper.

I love mine and it is equally at home with tube or ss, bal or se pre amps.

Cheers

[MacFly]

Mike Congrats on the D'Agostino amp , this is my new favorite amp. really excited for you

Kevin

[Ritmo]

Thank you guys! I'll know later this week when it will be delivered.

[johnthomas]

Congrats Mike. What did the Alexia do that Salon2 was missing?

[still-one]

Congratulations Mike. I know you will be happy with the pairing. Dan makes great gear.

[Ritmo]

Thanks Jim! I know you are very happy with your amps. Look forward to the DAG amp and what it will do to my system.

[Ritmo]

Well, approaching 300 hrs and the DAG continues to impress. It barely works to drive the Alexias in my room. Sweetness re-defined!

[Mike]

Mike - glad you are loving the D'Agostino amp! It's my go-to amp. It really is special.

[dev]

D'Agostino is one product I have yet to hear and look forward to such, what differences do you guys find in comparison to the stereo v/s mono blocks

[radioactive]

I've heard them both, with the Alexia's and with Sasha's. The one big difference I heard was simply how loud they would go. The stereo amp ran out of gas a little sooner, but honestly we were listening pretty loud by that time. It felt like the Alexia's could take much more than what the mono's had on tap...they just never gave up. For an extra 15-20K, the mono's are overkill if you don't listen loud (like over 90DBA from ~10FT) -- at least with Alexia's or Sasha's. YMMV with other loudspeakers.

Tonality, they sounded the same to me. In fact, my dealer sold his mono demo pair and went with the stereo pair for this same reason. It was just overkill for the purposes of demoing. All that said, if had the extra kitty, I'd get the mono's.

Bryan

[the professor]

I just switched my stereos w monos for my D3s.

There is a big difference. Played softly they have blacker blacks - lower noise floor. The ease that the monos have even at low volumes is better than the stereo. You never know the stereo is straining until you hear the monos. Again this is at low volume.

Played loudly - well, in comparison the stereo is like a toy in comparison. And trust me the stereo is a GREAT BALLSY AMP. I Highley recommend it. But, the monos are better.

[MDP]

Cool !!

[Bobvin]

I asked my dealer about pairing the Dag stereo amp with 5SE, he said the Dag pre was a better combo. For those who've heard both pairings, what are your impressions?

[Ritmo]

Bob,

I am extremely happy with the 5SE and DAG stereo amp combo. They have very good synergy and sound wonderful. Mark (MDP) heard this combination with me at Audio Concepts last November. He may want to comment as well.

I have not done a comparison of my system configuration with both DAG units so I cannot comment. I suppose DAG + DAG = Fantastic Sound; but, at a much higher cost over the 5SE and DAG combo.

Thx!

[Adrian Low]

I asked my dealer about pairing the Dag stereo amp with 5SE, he said the Dag pre was a better combo. For those who've heard both pairings, what are your impressions?

Just saw this thread. I have an ARC 40th Anniversary, not the same as the 5SE obviously but perhaps similar enough. Compared it to the DAG Pre recently. The 40th Anniversary is more holographic, perhaps more 3D. The Dag pre is quieter , black background, better details, bass etc. Both very musical. Hard to choose between the 2. Dag is more neutral, shows changes in the system easily. Dag is still breaking in, approx. 100-150 hours by now, but exceptional right out of the flight case.

Connected all new Nordost Valhalla 2 cables in the system yesterday, brand new cables. WOW! I've never been a big fan of expensive cables. I've sold lots, and certainly heard the improvements, but I've always had a harder time justifying them. The V2 is something else...if the system sounds this good with new cables, I can't wait for them to break in!

The ARC is one of the best tube preamps I've ever personally experienced. I think it's destined to be a classic. The Dag may well be the best all rounder.

[MDP]

It's a damn good one Adrian, I've heard it at Jock's house many times.

[Ritmo]

ARC Ref 5SE and the DAG Stereo amp is a fantastic combination.

[XV-1]

I found the Dag Stereo matched even better with the cj GAT than the ARC Ref5se.

cj has better bass control and an aliveness in the mids and upper frequencies that the REf5se could not match.

I am sure this may change depending on system.

cheers

[joeinid]

Bump.

Just wondering how you D'agostino guys are doing?

[XV-1]

Bump.

Just wondering how you D'agostino guys are doing?

Very good Joe

The Stereo amp is sounding better than ever!

I am even going to have a listen to the mono blocks to see if I can hear any musically superior difference


Miss yours at all?

[Ritmo]

Bump.

Just wondering how you D'agostino guys are doing?

Joe,

Very happy with the amp. It is sounding wonderful.

Thx for asking!

[ddb71]

Hallo Mike,
you have changed the speaker (before Sasha2 or?) and the ARC Ref75 with a new Dag stereo in silber! well is a personal taste. Sure Dag is a good choice but I have purchasung the Pass xa100.8 in place from Dag stereo (my taste black!! ) and the monos Pass are too more expenive (here!!) vr. the Dag. but i'm happy with the Pass products.
what for color are the Alexia?

wait the pictures!!

Thank you for info!
greets Omar

[Ritmo]

Omar,

Prior to the Alexias, my speakers were Revel Salon 2s (a speaker I still like very much). My amp for these speakers was ARC DS-450 - a fairly nice amp for the money. My Alexias are black.

The Pass amps are excellent components. I'm sure you'll be very happy. By the way I also considered the 200.8 and 160.8 amps.

Thx!

[ddb71]

Hi Mike,
my Sasha2 are in Obsidian black: very similar black but metallic black.....

Less delicate than black "glossy" ....


Wilson still tuttii colors are beautiful.




Xa100.8 is as powerful as a dag 200watt AB class ..... you can drive too the Alexia no problem.


My dealer has a NEW Dag stereo with a discount of 40% !!!! still to break in! and a preampli too, some condition!
inventories of stock - (change of importer)

well a real bargain !!!

[joeinid]

Very good Joe

The Stereo amp is sounding better than ever!

I am even going to have a listen to the mono blocks to see if I can hear any musically superior difference


Miss yours at all?

Is it that obvious? Yes, I do miss it and think it may have been outstanding on my Strads. I confess to be thinking about replacing them again.

[XV-1]

Is it that obvious? Yes, I do miss it and think it may have been outstanding on my Strads. I confess to be thinking about replacing them again.

Ha!

Replacing your Strads or buying another Dag amp?

[joeinid]

Never parting with the Strads. I plan on being buried in my Strad boxes, so another Dag, maybe.

Ha!

Replacing your Strads or buying another Dag amp?

[PacMan]

I plan on being buried in my Strad boxes

Are they large enough ?

[veindoc]

LOL-You need to simply put on your thinking cap. Can always do waist up in one box and waist down in the other box. Being buried in your beloved equipment boxes does also allow more flexibility when you also choose monoblocks over stereo amps in terms of "fitting In". Just saying. Not sure my beloved wife will be down with this concept.

Nick

[joeinid]

Ha!

I think between the two boxes, someone could make me fit.

Are they large enough ?

[joeinid]

Hahahahahahahaha, So true. Too funny.

LOL-You need to simply put on your thinking cap. Can always do waist up in one box and waist down in the other box. Being buried in your beloved equipment boxes does also allow more flexibility when you also choose monoblocks over stereo amps in terms of "fitting In". Just saying. Not sure my beloved wife will be down with this concept.

Nick

[PacMan]

Which boxes are best to be buried in ?
That is the question.
Maybe the Kef Muon boxes are perfect coffins ?

[db33]

Hallo Ritmo,

the Dag stereo with ARC premapli is a good match? -> synergy is good?

I can have a dag preampli for my Pass ampli Xa100.8 -> What do you thing?

can you give me a reply?
thank you very much!

[Ritmo]

db33 -

The ARC Ref5 and the DAG stereo amp work extremely well together. Very musical presentation. Highly recommended. I have not done a comparison with an all DAG pre and amp but I would expect it to be superior to my combo.

Regarding a PASS and DAG combo, I'm afraid I cannot comment. I have not heard such a combo nor have I read anyone write about it. Sorry...