Best match amp for Dali Menuet SE

[Harris ARP]

Greetings to all members!!
I want the best match integrated amplifier (neutral to warm sound) under 2000 euro for the Dali Menuet SE.
My room is small 12m2 and i listen nearfield aprox 1,5 meters.
Speakers will be placed on wooden stands.
Most of the times i listen to music in low to moderate volumes.
My music taste 70s-80s rock,soul,funk.
The system will connect to my pc i listen to music through there.
In the beginning if my budget not allow it i will settle with the amplifier's DAC or my Audient ID4 MK2 audio interface (that i have in my current system)as a DAC?
One more thing is that i came from studio monitors world that i use 20 years now for music listening purpose only!!!

 

[gasolin]

loud ?

Warm sound ?

 

[Harris ARP]

loud ?

Warm sound ?

I mention it in the description neutral to warm sound amp!!

 

[RoA]

I can only suggest from what I use … Arcam. Go for one of the higher models as you need power with those microbes. Never heard them though so I have absolutely no idea as to a match and may just talk out of my arse.

 

[abacus]

The only way to find out is to listen to a selection of amps that meet your requirements and try them out at a dealer.
BTW. A good amp should be totally neutral and not have a sound of its own, and how it reacts with the speakers will determine the final sound, which is why you need to try some out first.

Bill

 

[MUSICRAFT]

integrated amplifier (neutral to warm sound) under 2000 euro for the Dali Menuet SE.

NuPrime Audio's new IDA-9 is worth bearing in mind.

 

[boband212]

Greetings to all members!!
I want the best match integrated amplifier (neutral to warm sound) under 2000 euro for the Dali Menuet SE.
My room is small 12m2 and i listen nearfield aprox 1,5 meters.
Speakers will be placed on wooden stands.
Most of the times i listen to music in low to moderate volumes.
My music taste 70s-80s rock,soul,funk.

No matter what anyone says even a 30wpc amp would drive those well. I have Dali Optical 1 mk 2 speakers. I used a Rotel A8 amp for a while. It seemed a bit bright and thin. I bought and connected an Onkyo Integra amp. My wife loved it. So the Rotel was sold. We have a Yamaha R-S300 that sounds very good with those speakers. Denon is very pleasant. We also listened to one of the new Marantz models. That was very warm and mellow. Cambridge Audio is a good candidate. You dot say anything about streaming or a dac, or bluetooth. If you want to do that the Denon PMA-900NE or the Marantz Stereo 70s are good choices. There are many overpriced amps in the market. The brands I mention are well known. Have been around for a long time. Have had many, many happy customers.

 

[Al ears]

Plenty to choose from, much depends on exactly what sources you are going to be using, you don't tell us what they will be and musical genre is irrelevant.
The Dalis are not the most efficient of speakers so plenty of current delivery ability rather than outright watts per channel might be a good idea.

 

[skinnypuppy71]

I'm using my Dali menuet se with either my Mytec Brooklyn amp plus /Brooklyn bridge or Electrocompaniet eci80d integrated....they work well with either amplifier, I don't believe they're particularly fussy speakers but a amp of similar price to the Dali's original rrp should do a good job of driving them well.

 

[Al ears]

I'm using my Dali menuet se with either my Mytec Brooklyn amp plus /Brooklyn bridge or Electrocompaniet eci80d integrated....they work well with either amplifier, I don't believe they're particularly fussy speakers but a amp of similar price to the Dali's original rrp should do a good job of driving them well.

True but until we know what his sources are I cannot comment further?
Does he need an inbuilt phono stage for example.....
I'll bet your Electrocompaniet drives them better...
🙂

 

[skinnypuppy71]

True but until we know what his sources are I cannot comment further?
Does he need an inbuilt phono stage for example.....
I'll bet your Electrocompaniet drives them better...
🙂

Hi Al....I have used the eci80d on the Dali's but not my new Eci6 mkii......the Electrocompaniet does have a slightly warmer balance than the class d brooklyn amp plus, but hey it's not night and day differences we're talking about though and that ECI 6 mkii would batter them into submission I think.....just messing....that amplifier is just a bit on the large side for my wee summer house....cracking speakers though....used in the near field position of course.

 

[Harris ARP]

I can only suggest from what I use … Arcam. Go for one of the higher models as you need power with those microbes. Never heard them though so I have absolutely no idea as to a match and may just talk out of my arse.

Thank you!!!

 

[Harris ARP]

The only way to find out is to listen to a selection of amps that meet your requirements and try them out at a dealer.
BTW. A good amp should be totally neutral and not have a sound of its own, and how it reacts with the speakers will determine the final sound, which is why you need to try some out first.

 

[Harris ARP]

Believe me very difficult in my country to audition these speakers with the amps that i like!!!!Thats why i ask opinions here!!!

 

[skinnypuppy71]

Believe me very difficult in my country to audition these speakers with the amps that i like!!!!Thats why i ask opinions here!!!

...if you find it difficult to dem gear then I'd be looking on the used market....as I very often do.....Pre loved Naim Supernait 2 would be well within price range as would be a Electrocompaniet eci80d,.....The Naim won't be warm and give you cuddles though...but heck it'll be a awesome ride for those Wee Menuets....lol
Yes it's always best to demo gear when can but if you can't then a well informed punt is the only course available for some....when your into good quality gear,...most stuff works well with other stuff...it's usually the room for listening in that's the problem factor....

 

[Harris ARP]

No matter what anyone says even a 30wpc amp would drive those well. I have Dali Optical 1 mk 2 speakers. I used a Rotel A8 amp for a while. It seemed a bit bright and thin. I bought and connected an Onkyo Integra amp. My wife loved it. So the Rotel was sold. We have a Yamaha R-S300 that sounds very good with those speakers. Denon is very pleasant. We also listened to one of the new Marantz models. That was very warm and mellow. Cambridge Audio is a good candidate. You dot say anything about streaming or a dac, or bluetooth. If you want to do that the Denon PMA-900NE or the Marantz Stereo 70s are good choices. There are many overpriced amps in the market. The brands I mention are well known. Have been around for a long time. Have had many, many happy customers.

Thank you so much for your reply!!!And as a pro you know much much more things than me.I always like marantz amps since i was a teenager.Its one of the best amp brands out there. I will trust you on this!!Also amazing choice is the marantz model 50.I will connect my system to my pc.I dont know if my budget allow me for a good desktop dac at the beginning ,maybe i will use the internal dac of the amp or i will use my audio interface the audient id4 mk2 that i use now as a dac.

 

[Harris ARP]

Plenty to choose from, much depends on exactly what sources you are going to be using, you don't tell us what they will be and musical genre is irrelevant.
The Dalis are not the most efficient of speakers so plenty of current delivery ability rather than outright watts per channel might be a good idea.

I dont think that music genre is irrelevant its the opposite!!!I hear speakers that where amazing in jazz and crap in rock music!!!!

 

[Harris ARP]

I'm using my Dali menuet se with either my Mytec Brooklyn amp plus /Brooklyn bridge or Electrocompaniet eci80d integrated....they work well with either amplifier, I don't believe they're particularly fussy speakers but a amp of similar price to the Dali's original rrp should do a good job of driving them well.

Thank you!!!

 

[Harris ARP]

...if you find it difficult to dem gear then I'd be looking on the used market....as I very often do.....Pre loved Naim Supernait 2 would be well within price range as would be a Electrocompaniet eci80d,.....The Naim won't be warm and give you cuddles though...but heck it'll be a awesome ride for those Wee Menuets....lol
Yes it's always best to demo gear when can but if you can't then a well informed punt is the only course available for some....when your into good quality gear,...most stuff works well with other stuff...it's usually the room for listening in that's the problem factor....

I had very difficult task to do because in the last 20 years i use studio monitors for music listening.So i was between hifi and studio monitors and this is because as you know its difficult to find hifi speakers like menuet that i find now that is suitable for so close listening 1,5 meters.Many times i said ok i end up in this and then i change my mind again when i read and see something better.And ok many says studio monitors are not for casual listening but some reviews from audiophile magazines on specific studio monitors says great things.Many times you read to prase a hifi speakers that has studio monitor sound.So in the end all is in the paper or what you read.Only someone who put together for example 5 pair of studio monitors side by side with 5 pairs of hifi speakers can hear the real difference.Most of hifi world "hate" pro speakers and most of pros hate hifi speakers!!!

 

[skinnypuppy71]

I had very difficult task to do because in the last 20 years i use studio monitors for music listening.So i was between hifi and studio monitors and this is because as you know its difficult to find hifi speakers like menuet that i find now that is suitable for so close listening 1,5 meters.Many times i said ok i end up in this and then i change my mind again when i read and see something better.And ok many says studio monitors are not for casual listening but some reviews from audiophile magazines on specific studio monitors says great things.Many times you read to prase a hifi speakers that has studio monitor sound.So in the end all is in the paper or what you read.Only someone who put together for example 5 pair of studio monitors side by side with 5 pairs of hifi speakers can hear the real difference.Most of hifi world "hate" pro speakers and most of pros hate hifi speakers!!!

If it's speakers similar to pro gear...your after . Then ATC scm 11 ( notoriously hard to drive though) so would need a proper current dumper of a amp.....Naim Supernait 2..lol.
Pmc should also be on your watch list...the original twenty 21 are absolutely brilliantly super detailed speakers that can be had used for less than £700 ( I used to own them)..worked brilliantly with Naim nait xs and primaluna dialogue premium hp.
Pmc db1i also should be looked out for.
...oh and the best small standmount speakers available ( in the £1500-£2000 region).....are the Neat petite classic....without a shadow of a doubt.....unreal what these 30cm shoe box sized speakers are capable of.

 

[skinnypuppy71]

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