Amplifier for Spendor A9 speaker

[admin_exported]

Hi.

Anyone have any suggestions for what amplifier(s) to use with Spendor A9s?

Feel that I might not be getting the best out of them with my Cyrus amps.

Hi-Fi: Sonos ZP90, Chord DAC64, Cyrus XPre, Cyrus XPower, Spendor A9

 

[Frank Harvey]

A couple of Mono X's should get them singing.

 

[MUSICRAFT]

simjen:
Hi.

Anyone have any suggestions for what amplifier(s) to use with Spendor A9s?

Feel that I might not be getting the best out of them with my Cyrus amps.

Hi-Fi: Sonos ZP90, Chord DAC64, Cyrus XPre, Cyrus XPower, Spendor A9

Hi simjen

What do you generally listen to?

The size of your room?

Cabling?

Do you generally use the maximum buffer setting on the DAC64?

What level do you generally listen at?

What do you feel is lacking with your current setup?

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Rick,

Some of the music I listen to: Radiohead, Rufus (& Martha) Wainwright, Damien Rice, Frank Turner, Rachael Yamagata, Ani DiFranco, Eva Cassidy, Eddi Reader, Tom Waits, Massive Attack, Leadbelly.

The room is about 17 foot by 14 with the speakers along one of the shorter walls. Unfortunately there is a 50 inch plasma TV between the speakers as I can't have separate tv and music rooms.

Never really been convinced by cables. However, the speaker cables were the most expensive QED cables in Seven Oaks about 5 years ago.

I used only the maximum buffer setting when I first got the DAC about a year ago. However, recently changed back to no buffering and couldn't really hear the difference.

I am fortunate in that I can listen to music at quite loud volumes - we live in a detached house. However, would also like it to sound good at lower volumes when the kids are in bed.

This system sounds pretty good and as it is. However, I guess the bass could be described as a little understated and other systems I have heard had more of a "presence" if that makes sense?

Thanks for your time,

S

 

[MUSICRAFT]

Hi simjen

Thanks for your reply.

If you don't mind just a couple of more questions.

Do you wish to stay with Cyrus amps?

What budget have you in mind?

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Rick,

I'm not tied to Cyrus (if I was I guess a couple of Mono Xs would be my only option).

I really want something that works well with the Spendors and enables me to play them at their full potential.

Budget around £5k.

Cheers,

S

 

[Anonymous]

David,

Thanks for the reply.

Have you heard the Spendors with the Mono Xs?

My reservations are that while I have enjoyed Cyrus amps for many years (and passed my old integrated onto my son) they might not be the best at the high end price point.

My budget is up to £5k.

Cheers,

S

 

[MUSICRAFT]

simjen:
Hi Rick,

I'm not tied to Cyrus (if I was I guess a couple of Mono Xs would be my only option).

I really want something that works well with the Spendors and enables me to play them at their full potential.

Budget around £5k.

Cheers,

S

Hi simjen

Thanks for your reply.

I think firstly you need to look at changing your pre amp as i don't feel the loading presented to the DAC64 is quite right. I also feel the pre amp is not quite up to driving the cable load/input stage of the power amp as effectively as could be. If you are happy to buy used then NAD's C160/C162 pre amps will provide you with the uplift in performance you seek with your existing source and power amp components. This can then pave the way for Mono X's.

For a complete change in amplification then ATC's SIA2-150 MK2 or CA2/P1 are also worth consideration. The transparency of these amps will enable the qualities of the DAC64 to shine through (quite a few of clients are now using DAC64's/QBD76's with ATC amps). Their potent high current, damping factor and stability of power will help keep the Spendor speakers in check.

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[Anonymous]

MUSICRAFT:
i think firstly you need to look at changing your pre amp as i don;

Rick,

What would you suggest?

Have you heard the A9s with Cyrus / other amps?

S

 

[MUSICRAFT]

Hi simjen

I've completed my post above. I am sorry for the delay (very sensitive mouse!).

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[Anonymous]

Surely a £5k budget would get something a little more high end than the ATC. What about looking at some of Leema's offerings? Or Plinius?

 

[RCduck7]

I'm not sure you have any intrest in tube amps but...

I have been playing with the thaught of finding a way to have a tube amp but is also powerfull, many small companies that do such a powerfull tube amp, the money they ask is redicolous. Untill i found out about the Sacthailand Glowmaster amps.

http://www.acousticperfection.co.uk/sac.pdf

With 5£ i would at least try a demo at acoustic perfection (don't know of any other dealer at the moment for this brand). I understood that many customers were blown away with the sound. There is a GM70 single ended design and the KT88 tube amp.

 

[MUSICRAFT]

igglebert:Surely a £5k budget would get something a little more high end than the ATC. What about looking at some of Leema's offerings? Or Plinius?

Hi igglebert

Even though a budget of up to £5k is available it does not necessarily mean that £5k has to be spent. I feel the ATC amps can punch above their weight and besides which ime they're also well suited to the superb DAC64.

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[John Duncan]

I heard the A9s on the end of a Linn Majik DS and matching (also Majik?) power amp, and to me they were the hit of the show, two channel-wise...

 

[Anonymous]

Sugden Masterclass stereo amp (new), or a pair of Masterclass mono-amps (e-bay, ex-dem), will transport every detail through the A9s i would think and at loud volumes will strip the veneer off the cabinets.

 

[Anonymous]

Would the cognoscenti/poster perceive a Roksan Caspian M1 Pre/M1 Monoblocs power combo to represent a sideways move rather than an upgrade? Just that Sevenoaks has this set reduced by 50% from £4.5k - don't know whether they have any left, however!

 

[Anonymous]

igglebert:Surely a £5k budget would get something a little more high end than the ATC. What about looking at some of Leema's offerings? Or Plinius?has any one compared the atc sia150 to the leema ? There quite closely matched spec wise.it would be intresting.

 

[jockey.wilson]

I have just bought the power amp in my signature, having auditioned it on the end of my preamp, driving a pair a SPENDOR standmounts (can't remember the model). It sounded fantastic, and despite the sharp intake of breath from Naim devotees, a NAP will work well with another manufacturers' preamp; in my case Cyrus.

My point is that the Cyrus Pre/Naim Power/Spendor sound was the best I have heard for sensible money, so maybe this is an avenue that the OP could explore??

 

[Evlampi]

jockey.wilson do you find the nap 200 capable of driving the 1.3 mk2 properly, and have you compared it to other amps with this speakers?

Sorry for the Offtopic, i couldn`t find the PM button

 

[jockey.wilson]

Yes and Yes. I have had a NAP140 in the past driving them adequately.

Listened to Cyrus Mono X, Bryston, Chord SPM650 amongst others. Whilst the Cyrus Mono X, Chord and (Bryston) gripped and drove the Contours like you wouldn't believe, they cost twice (and in Bryston 4BSST2's case) three times as much as a NAP 200.

 

[Evlampi]

Cool, cause i have a Supernait & cd5xs, and the combo with ATC`s didn`t work for me ... it was awful!

So , i`ve heard 1.3mk2 and 1.3se, and they are pretty good, especially the Se, but with Non Naim amps . So I was a bit concerned if the SN will be enough for them ... demo is not possible for now

 

[Anonymous]

Lavardin IT.

I have one with a pair of Spendor STs and the combination is exceptional. Smooth, natural and very musical. I mainly listen to classical and jazz these days but I also have plenty of rock/pop in my collection. Everything sounds good with the Spendor/Lavardin partnership. I spend a lot of time listening to music so it's essential that there is no harshness or brightness to the sound. With this system, you can listen for hours on end. If you can arrange a demo, I'd highly recommend it, but I would say that it's not one of those systems that will impress you immediately, so it really is one to take home for a weekend and linger over, if possible. The sound is very understated,neutral and balanced (it's certainly not excessively rich or dry) and is designed for long-term enjoyment.

 

[Anonymous]

mcq wrote the following post at 08-06-2010 11:04 PM:
Lavardin IT.

Thanks. Good to hear from someone who has similar speakers. Where did you get the amp from?

 

[Anonymous]

I purchased the Lavardin and the Spendors from my local dealer in Dublin, Cloney Audio.

Lavardin are traditionally partnered with Harbeths, ProAcs and the Spendor Classic series (especially SP100) but I think they match the more modern A series very nicely as well. I also heard it with an A5 or A6 (I forget which) and it also sounded fantastic, but perhaps the cheaper IS Reference would suit these speakers better.

Before I bought the Lavardin, I owned the excellent Quad 909 which also sounded very good with the STs. Lavardins are usually referred to as amplifiers that combine the best of solid-state and valve technologies, mixing the natural musical communication of a valve amp with the superior bass control of a sold-state design. And don't be fooled by the 55 wats power output - it will drive your Spendors beautifully.

I should also point out that I think Spendor used the Cyrus Mono Xs when they were developing the ST and A9. I heard the Mono Xs with the ST and and they did sound fantastic. A much more upfront and lively sound than the Lavardin but, personally, I preferred the refinement of the Lavardin. I also suspect that the Lavardin would be less fatiguing over the course of a long listening session.

But, really, you have to demo these amps for yourself and see what sounds best for you.

 

[RCduck7]

I have not heard Lavardin but on forums several recommended Lavardin to for my Hyperion speakers.

But at this time i also read that someone else is also very happy with his Moon hifi amp..

This topic made me wonder what would be best, both links from the hifi reviews here under are about the same price category and both 5 stars...

http://whathifi.com/Review/Lavardin-IS-Reference/

http://whathifi.com/Review/Moon-i33/