- Thread Author
- #21
Thanks Nikhil
Interesting that I've never used Facebook! Maybe another Hear Here, but I'd appreciate a link to the Facebook page you saw!
Peter
Hello from an Avantgarde Owner in UK
- Thread starter Hear Here
- Start date
Interesting that I've never used Facebook! Maybe another Hear Here, but I'd appreciate a link to the Facebook page you saw!
Peter
- Thread Author
- #22
Thanks Joe
Yes photography was my job for many years and well spotted - a Toyo View camera on the top. I used this occasionally as a studio camera for my work for market research companies. Otherwise medium format was Mamiya (I sold a Hasselblad as I really didn't much like it) but 95% of my work was with good old Canon 35 mm gear. The most interesting camera in the case is an early F1 (I had 3 at one time) fitted with a 250 exposure back, motor drive with the trigger connected by a curly cable and a sports finder. It was mounted on a copy stand facing downwards and fitted with Rodenstock enlarger lens with bellows for focussing. Used to produce tens of thousands of duplicate slides. Peter
Paul
Senior Member
So good to see you here Mark. We’ve been exchange few emails together
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Nikhil
Member
Oops! It was in the HiFi Audio Streaming group I believe. I just left the group this morning so can't share the link. But it was definitely a post with pictures of your room and described your customized AG frames. Will see if I can find the post.
Regards
.
- Thread Author
- #25
Thanks Mark, although I think you've missed a generational change in the Duo line-up.
Yes the Grosso was introduced some year back as a "better-bass" Duo by using twin 12" drivers in place of earlier twin 10" in Duos since about 2000. However, the new Duo XD uses twin 12" drivers so it now has identical drivers and amps to the Mezzo XD. The old Grosso is no longer in the AG range.
As you say, the difference between current Duo XD and Mezzo XD is the design of the bass cabinet, but not the drivers. The latter has horn loaded (not sure that's a strictly correct description) drivers so the bass should be a little better than standard Duos with their (effectively) conventional subs.
I've pretty much decided on the Duo XD as the subs are so much slimmer and would look much more acceptable in my living room as the speakers are in the middle of the room. In fact, I will follow my existing Duo modifications by eliminating the upright support "scaffolding" that I find unattractive in the Duo. I'm still working on how best to achieve this!
I see you are very much into tube amps and have those lovely twin-845 Nagra monos and the Brazillian Audiopax amps that we often saw powering AGs at shows some years back. I used to use tube amps (Art Audio PX-25 and 845 Carissa , Graaf OTL, Audio Note 300B and more recently Consonance Cyber 845 monos) but I decided 3 years ago to search out a solid state amp that sounded as good, but without the relative hassle of tube amps. I'm happy I did, but I'll look further when the new speakers are installed - though I don't think I'll be going back to tubes. I have a short list of 3 likely candidates, mostly recommended by Mezzo XD owners. Peter
- Thread Author
- #26
Not familiar with that group, but possibly you saw it in in WhatsTheBest forum or maybe Audio Asylum. AVS forum is an unlikely third guess as I occasionally visit there. Peter
Hi Peter,
Please keep us advised as to what amp(s) you settle on. After almost a week, I sent back the Benchmark. I put back my Valvet E2se on my Duo. While there was much to love about the Benchmark, I felt more at home with the Valvet. I still think the SIT-3 is my favorite SS amp but the Valvet is a wonderful and very close second.
- Thread Author
- #28
Hi Joe
I'm sorry you didn't stick with the Benchmark - no perhaps I should say I'm relieved! It was for me just about the dullest and blandest of the many amps I've tried over the last 3 years with my AGs. Perhaps the Quad Platinum was even less exciting.
I had not heard of Valvet until recently, but I think I'll put the E2SE on my shortlist. Only 12 watts but that should be ample with Duos. Peter
Hi Peter,
I have not ruled out the Benchmark for the future on regular speakers but not right now for my Avantgarde. My main focus is to have several solid state amps that I love for my Avantgarde speakers. When I play my system, it’s on for for 10-16 hours a day and most all weekend.
My SIT3 is superb, Valvet E2 or E2se is also absolutely wonderful. My Akitika GT-102 is awesome although gain is a little high. The Akitika is only $500 assembled and pretty amazing with 50wpc, smooth and sweet on top and dead quiet. Also I can’t wait for my Job INTegrated to return repaired. That’s awesome on my Avantgarde too. The Job has a built in dac with a great amp section.
Do I need anymore amps? Absolutely not, but I’m a little obsessed especially when the best seem to be $4K retail or less each. Pretty great if you ask me.
You definitely have me interested in NAD right now, especially with the M33 coming out soon. I love the all in one aspect of it.
I have not ruled out the Benchmark for the future on regular speakers but not right now for my Avantgarde. My main focus is to have several solid state amps that I love for my Avantgarde speakers. When I play my system, it’s on for for 10-16 hours a day and most all weekend.
My SIT3 is superb, Valvet E2 or E2se is also absolutely wonderful. My Akitika GT-102 is awesome although gain is a little high. The Akitika is only $500 assembled and pretty amazing with 50wpc, smooth and sweet on top and dead quiet. Also I can’t wait for my Job INTegrated to return repaired. That’s awesome on my Avantgarde too. The Job has a built in dac with a great amp section.
Do I need anymore amps? Absolutely not, but I’m a little obsessed especially when the best seem to be $4K retail or less each. Pretty great if you ask me.
You definitely have me interested in NAD right now, especially with the M33 coming out soon. I love the all in one aspect of it.
Jim Smith
Member
I've heard several ss amps - such as the SIT-3 - that had a really great sound with the various Avantgarde models.
Maybe it's just me, but going all the way back to the early 2000s, when I demo'd Avantgardes at shows (and was fortunate to receive many Best Sound awards/mentions by the high-end audio press), I have still never heard a SS amp that was as musically involving as any good tube amp with the Avantgardes.
Are there good sounding ss amps? Absolutely.
But when it came to sheer musical involvement with the Avantgardes, I always ended up with tube amps.
As always, IMO & IME...
Maybe it's just me, but going all the way back to the early 2000s, when I demo'd Avantgardes at shows (and was fortunate to receive many Best Sound awards/mentions by the high-end audio press), I have still never heard a SS amp that was as musically involving as any good tube amp with the Avantgardes.
Are there good sounding ss amps? Absolutely.
But when it came to sheer musical involvement with the Avantgardes, I always ended up with tube amps.
As always, IMO & IME...
Jim,
I fully agree with you and realize you have the experience to back it up. In my own experience too, tubes on my Avantgarde rule. I might experiment a little more but think I have most of my bases covered. It can be fun if not a little frustrating too.
I fully agree with you and realize you have the experience to back it up. In my own experience too, tubes on my Avantgarde rule. I might experiment a little more but think I have most of my bases covered. It can be fun if not a little frustrating too.
