New amp to drive Sonus Faber Olympica III - Hegel? Coda? Mark Levinson?

Ya know just about all the amps mentioned above will get the job done in good fashion. But I'll toss in my personal favorite...Pass Labs INT 250. Very high quality build (like an Abrams tank), gorgeous SQ, plenty of power, class A up to 15 watts then class AB up to 250 wpc at 8 ohms, and arguably the best customer service in the business. Pretty hard to beat.
 
Hi! I know Pass Int 250 is perfect. But pretty heavy. I’d like to limit weights of my components.

For those interested: I tested integrated - Diablo 300, D’Agostino Progression (both paired to SF OlyIII). System used Tidal and included Aurender as streamer and Copland as DAC. Gryphon is very good. Rich and holographic sound. But too much bass in testing system. Also, over of my limit of weight. Progression disappointed me: didn’t controlled enough LF and sticked out high mids. So, I understood that even 200/8 Ohms are risky for my speakers.
I also tested Simaudio Moon 700i but something was wrong and I didn’t concluded.
 
You are having a tough time of it. I was trying to think of something else that might work for you. Take a look at the Jeff Rowland Continuum S2 integrated,it comes with or without DAC, 400x2 into 8 ohms and cost is around others you have looked at. I don't have any personal experience with this unit but it's only about 15 kg, looks to be high current with good power.

Boris99 said:
Hi! I know Pass Int 250 is perfect. But pretty heavy. I’d like to limit weights of my components.

For those interested: I tested integrated - Diablo 300, D’Agostino Progression (both paired to SF OlyIII). System used Tidal and included Aurender as streamer and Copland as DAC. Gryphon is very good. Rich and holographic sound. But too much bass in testing system. Also, over of my limit of weight. Progression disappointed me: didn’t controlled enough LF and sticked out high mids. So, I understood that even 200/8 Ohms are risky for my speakers.
I also tested Simaudio Moon 700i but something was wrong and I didn’t concluded.
Click to expand...
 
Found video on YouTube about Hegel and comparison to Luxman (like mine). Do you agree?
 
I had the H590 in my system for a listen some time back. This was before I had my Aurender. So I was using an entry level streamer.

The Hegel designer went about trying to make Hegel sound the same as he heard when he was in a band. "Analog" was not his goal.

I don't remember the lack of cohesive sound. I may not have picked up on that. I also wonder if he means space between instruments, which I consider a good thing, or, a timing issue.

I can agree to some extent of the "digital" sound or lack of "warm & fuzzy". You would have Sonus Faber though and I had my JBL, the JBL are going to play just what they are fed. I consider SF leaning to the warmside. That impression could come from associated gear I've heard the SF with. One of the best maches I heard with SF believe it or not was with Jadis. I can't remember what model SF but the Jadis had them singing with nice high end.

The 590 presents images with distinct edges, no rounding and in my opinion leans to the cool side. The same can be said for other brands like Krell. On the other hand it's very transparent, low distortion and brutle control. A lot of performance in one box for the price.

It's all on what you enjoy and looking for.


Boris99 said:
Hegel H590: Reference or Illusion? - YouTube
Click to expand...
 
Somewhere there is athread on the H590. Reviewers keep notes, mine are on that thread from when I auditioned it. I like to post and share my experienes but don't keep any personal notes. Of course, I'm not a rviewer and just in this for fun and passion of audio.
 
Boris, you're right, the INT 250 is a chunk at 105 lbs. Especially if you'll be moving it from time to time. But if you'll be placing it and leaving it alone...I was able to place mine on a chest high cabinet by myself with no issues. However, I donned a heavy jacket and wore leather gloves to prevent the heat sinks from digging into my hands. And I placed a heavy blanket over the cabinet. Wasn't that difficult.

I say all this just to demonstrate it's possible for one person to place the amp barring any physical limitations. I would not recommend it unless there is simply no one to help...which was my situation. If you're a small person you could injure yourself elevating the amp to chest height, let alone possibly dropping the amp. So, once the amp is placed you'll be treated to gorgeous sound from your hospital bed. Just kidding, just kidding. But the INT 250 is a tone machine. It truly is a superb sounding amp. And it, along with the speakers, just keeps getting better and better with use.
 
Are you able to continue and test with the Diablo 120? A bit more velvety and less brute than the 300, worth a shot.
 
Thank you Mr.Peabody, your opinion is interesting and useful.
As for Int.250 according to Bluegrassphile adviced - hmmmm.....I'd like more mobile devices which don't demand assistance of somebody else :-) but thank you for advice.
Low325, Diablo 120 - no, not in access till mid of November. Manager said that 120 is noticable simple comparing to Diablo 300. But he was interested to sell 300 of course. As I see you have TAD ME-1 coaxial monitors. I think there is nice loading for D120. But my Sonus is not. I have proposal for Diablo 300 and consider it with Hegel H590 now. Hegel is about one third cheaper. Also, good old Gryphon Diablo 250/8 Ohms is available for about half price of Diablo 300. Will decide soon. More advices? :-)

Thank you everybody.
 
Mike said:
It digs deeper into the recording. The amp doesn’t create hiss.
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Hmmm...

Hans Wetzel from Soundstage says comparing Hegel H590 to other high-quality integrateds he reviewed in the last few years...... The H590’s power supply wasn’t as quiet -- Hans Wetzel could hear white noise from roughly 6” away from a KEF 700’s tweeter......

SoundStage! Hi-Fi | SoundStageHiFi.com - Hegel Music Systems H590 Integrated Amplifier-DAC

I think I listened white noise also - right from my listening position. Hans Wetzel compared H590 and T+A PA 2000R. I compared H590 and ML5805
 
I haven’t gone through this whole thread but if you haven’t bought …. See if you can get your hands on Gamut Di150 LE.

Spectacular performance , I had one for quite some time and it’s power is effortless and is certainly the most neutral amp I have ever owned. Terrific really and built like a tank, power anything, true dual mono etc etc
 
Thank you for advise. Unfortunately Gamut is not in access.
I have appointment to listen Diablo 300 again and Audia Flight FLS10. Will finish testing and finalize decision
 
Boris99 said:
Hi all
Prepaid and waiting for Hegel H590
Hope to give report later
Click to expand...

The dual mono design of the 590 puts it on another level compared to its siblings. Congrats! Hopefully Roon cert for it will be right around the corner. The irony is that the Hegel rep is also the Roon rep. [emoji848]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
Thank you Mike. Your opinion was interesting and important for me.

I plan to use it for direct streaming from internet using Mconnect app. Also thinking about any WiFi transport because I use WiFi bridge now.
However information about Roon is important . Many people waiting for that. I’d like to push Hegel to make own streaming software also.
 
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Many satisfied Sonus Faber / McIntosh users. Including me. :)
Suprised the MA 12000 hasn’t shown up in this thread as yet.
Might be a great match.
 
Yes, probably great match. Looks beautiful. But MA 12000 is 100+ kg monster, isn’t it? Too heavy

BTW, any advices about proof speaker cables for Hegel/Sonus? I used Analisys Plus 9 successfully for Luxman/Sonus but looking for something new.
 
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