Integrated amplifier for Scansonic MB-2.5

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Capybara

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Dec 11, 2014
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Hello folks!

I follow up the forum for a while and I am really enjoying to spend time when I reading all your posts.
Honestly speaking I am not an audiophile, actually not even close to be one ... But somehow I really like to read and learn something about all those interesting and beautiful equipments.
And at the end, I decided to pull the trigger... But that trigger will be belong to a pretty small pistol. I do not have a financial power to get a truely ultra high end system so far. That’s why I am planning to start this hobby with a very simple and cheapest way.

After all the time when I was spending read forums and reviews, I create a short list for possible purchase;

Speaker;
Scansonic MB-2.5

Integrated amplifier options;
Hegel H160
Musical Fidelity M6si
Naim Supernait 2
McIntosh MA5200 (Second hand)

I just want to get your opinions about which integrated amplifier would be a better match for MB-2.5? Or would be there any other suggestions in same price range (2500-3500 USD)..
I do not have a proper source. I will use my computer as source for my digital files. So, integrated amp should contain a good DAC for sure.

That system will be my guide when I am entering to hi-fi world, that’s why I want to keep it plain and simple and also correct at the beginning...

I really love to hear your opinions and recommendations (also for speakers).

Cheers...
 
Welcome to the forum! Thank you for joining.


Do you own or have you purchased the Scansonic MB-2.5? Have you auditioned them?
 
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No, I do not have them yet, I am planning to buy them... Just auditioned for a short time.
I am looking for transparency and resolution, and seems these guys can provide all these very well...
 
They have great resolution thanks to that ribbon tweeter, but their overall balance is on the dark side. From the amps you mentioned I would rather go with sth like Hegel H160 - i.e. fast, transparent, not overlywarm.
 
Actually my first choice will be Hegel H160, that's why it is top on my list... And also there are some youtube videos which shows some raidho systems playing very well with hegel products. That's why I thought it can be a better option for MB-2.5 as well.
After that point I started to looking for similar amps of H160. The other options came up like that... Only last one recommended by a dealer, he said "it just used for a couple months, and he can give me a pretty good discount on that". Brand new MA5200 is more expensive than all other options in my list. I am wondering if that price difference can be noticeable when playing as well? because I did not hear any of these amps when playing MB-2.5. The dealer of the Scansonic in my country also selling Ypsilon products and I heard those speakers with Phaeton integrated which is way better than all my options, also pretty expensive too.
As I said, I am also close to Hegel H160. It is a new model, and according to reviews , it has a quite good DAC too. I am not sure which one has better sounding DAC. Seems MA5200 can play more variety of music files than H160 and M6si.
At that part I will need your help, because I do not have any chance to try those amps on MB-2.5s, because all components selling by different dealers in my city. So,I am looking forward to hearing about your opinions and experiences for these amps.
 
I would go with Hegel then, unless the MA5200 (which I haven't heard, although I had for a short period 6300 in my living room) has a similar sonic signature.

Where are you from ?
 
The Norma IPA-70B is the highest performing integrated I've tried with the Scansonic-series as well as the Raidho X-series under €4.000. The Norma's have SOTA transparency, resolution and micro dynamics. Very special amplifiers.

The Ypsilon Phaethon is indeed fantastic btw :)

/ Marcus
 
Hyperion said:
The Norma IPA-70B is the highest performing integrated I've tried with the Scansonic-series as well as the Raidho X-series under €4.000. The Norma's have SOTA transparency, resolution and micro dynamics. Very special amplifiers.

The Ypsilon Phaethon is indeed fantastic btw :)

/ Marcus
Click to expand...

Thank you very much for your suggestion Hyperion. I just checked from company's web site. But unfortunately they do not have any dealer in my country for Norma products. :(
 
Hi capybara,
I'm from Turkey too. In Denmark Fritz matched them with Naim superuniti and it worked perfectly.


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burau34 said:
Hi capybara,
I'm from Turkey too. In Denmark Fritz matched them with Naim superuniti and it worked perfectly.


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Click to expand...

Yes, I just checked Superuniti from Naim's page. It seems more capable option than Supernait, and also little more expensive. Thank you, I will keep it also in my mind...
 
Welcome Capybara
A couple of things. First Scansonic and Raidho sound best when setup properly. That being they should be approx 9ft (3M) apart with a toe in pointing at your shoulders. They can be pretty close to the side walls (30cm) and I like them a meter or 2 from the back wall (bottom ported). I think the Scansonics are great value for the money. Second is they sound pretty bad when new out of the box especially the lows. Kind of like a one note thump. But after about 30 hrs that starts to get better. On other forums most seem to say they need 250+ hrs to really come alive.

I've only heard the Scansonics driven by Naim and Aavik. Both are very good.
 
octadyndude said:
Welcome Capybara
A couple of things. First Scansonic and Raidho sound best when setup properly. That being they should be approx 9ft (3M) apart with a toe in pointing at your shoulders. They can be pretty close to the side walls (30cm) and I like them a meter or 2 from the back wall (bottom ported). I think the Scansonics are great value for the money. Second is they sound pretty bad when new out of the box especially the lows. Kind of like a one note thump. But after about 30 hrs that starts to get better. On other forums most seem to say they need 250+ hrs to really come alive.

I've only heard the Scansonics driven by Naim and Aavik. Both are very good.
Click to expand...

These are quite nice advices, I will remember if I would get the system which I want. Thanks...
 
Hegel H160 ----- not warm sounding
Musical Fidelity M6si - warm sounding
Naim Supernait 2 -a little warm sounding
McIntosh MA5200 - very warm sounding

Scansonic 2.5- never heared them, but if it follows the same nature of the Raidho X1,then warm/dark sounding

So, go for Hegel.
 
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