integrated amp to rock the Monitor Audio gs20

[poldo]

After demoing I have filtered my future stereo set up to:

-Monitor Audio gs20
-B&W CM9

Now i want to demo these speakers with some integrated amps but I don't know where to start. I have heard them on Naim, Marantz, Primare and Denon amps. Maybe I could demo Arcam or Exposure which I loved on the Tannoy dc8 (too expansive :-(

In what price range should I look for a good matching amp? and what brands should I demo?

I prefer listening to rock, metal music

Thanks

Rob

 

[the record spot]

Perhaps the Krell K300i might fit the bill? Or a used McIntosh amp? I'd be aiming for a little more high end for these speakers I think.

 

[Anonymous]

You don't mention a budget, however I would urge something with plenty of power and drive to grip the GS20's. I had GS10's and they really benefitted from plenty of current to get them under control.

The ATC integrated, as well as Gamut 150 would be excellent starting points, but do your own listening to make your own mind up!

 

[JoelSim]

IMHO Arcam isn't right for your kind of music. Now if you'd been an avid Jack Johnson, Tracy Chapman etc fan then...

 

[MUSICRAFT]

poldo:

After demoing I have filtered my future stereo set up to:

-Monitor Audio gs20
-B&W CM9

Now i want to demo these speakers with some integrated amps but I don't know where to start. I have heard them on Naim, Marantz, Primare and Denon amps. Maybe I could demo Arcam or Exposure which I loved on the Tannoy dc8 (too expansive :-(

In what price range should I look for a good matching amp? and what brands should I demo?

I prefer listening to rock, metal music

Thanks

Rob

Hi Rob

If your budget allows than the amplifier that will work superbly well with the GS20's or CM9's is (funnily enough from a competing speaker manufacturer) ATC's SIA2-150 MK2 regardless of what you listen to.

The GS20's and CM9's tend to have an obvious LF presentation. The SIA2-150 MK2 with it's damping factor and current will help keep those drive units in check.

Thanks

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[Frank Harvey]

What other speakers have you tried Rob? How did you get on with the Naim amplification? And which speakers did you try on the Naim? What sort of volume do you listen to your music at?

Both the CM9's and GS20's have a fair amount low end energy, so the amp needs plenty of grip, but you don't want something that's too bright as it'll accentuate the top end both of these speakers already have. If was my choice, these two speakers wouldn't be in my shortlist, but I'd be looking at the ATC SIA2-150, Naim SuperNait, or the Bryston B60 (or if you can stretch to it, maybe it's slightly bigger brother, the B100).

May I make one more speaker suggestion? Ased on what you say you like so far, I'd suggest the ProAc D18's, amily because they have a warmer, sweeter presentation, much like the GS20's, but with more finesse.

 

[Ajani]

crimsondonkey:
You don't mention a budget, however I would urge something with plenty of power and drive to grip the GS20's. I had GS10's and they really benefitted from plenty of current to get them under control.

The ATC integrated, as well as Gamut 150 would be excellent starting points, but do your own listening to make your own mind up!

Interestingly, the best sounding "affordable" setup I ever heard was a pair of GS20s driven by a Musical Fidelity X-T100 Integrated (50 watts) and X-Ray V8 CDP... I've also heard the GS20s sound brilliant on an Audio Refinement Complete Integrated (also 50 watts) and matching CDP...

 

[poldo]

Interesting replies,

Beside the CM9 & GS20 I listened to B&W 804s, Monitor Audio rs & rx8, Audio Physic Yara Superior,Sitara & Tempo, PMC fb1, Opera Seconda, Paradigm Studio 60, Tannoy DC8, Audiovector S3 Super, Elac FS247, Focal 816w,826v.

The best I've heard so far is the TannoyDC8 with an Exposure 3010s amp.

I demo the GS20 & CM9 on Naim XS, Primare i21, Marantz 8003 so far. The 804s with the new Musical Fidelity m6i.and a Marantz Pearl, but I think the 804s is not worth the big price tag. Tannoy dc8 is a bit overpriced too I think, I hated the PMC's and Paradigms. Opera was ok but not for my music. Audio Physic idem. Audiovector was ok but nothing special, Elac and Focal were too brite.

The best value I think was the Monitor Audio GS20 wich I prefered most on the Primare i-21, but maybe the amp is the weak link in that set-up.

So I was thinking of a bigger amp like the Primare i-30 or Musical Fidelity ms6i.

The biggest problem is that i live in The Netherlands and there are absolutely no ProAc dealers arround and very few Spendor dealers. Plus that most dealers in Netherlands match cheap amps with expansive speakers. One big dealer in Rotterdam suggested the Primare i-21 with a B&W 804s.! After reading on some foreign forums I found out that it's better to spread the same money on speakers, amp and cd player.

thanks

rob

 

[Anonymous]

Plinius 9200 or Lemma Tucana for the GS20 - perfect.

 

[Frank Harvey]

You'e better off with putting more oney into the amp rather than the speakers - if the amplifier's not up to the job of driving and controlling the speakers properly, there's no real chance of the speakers sounding their worth.

It sounds like you've pretty much chosen your speaker - just try and hear it with a few more amplifiers. Ignore specs as they won't really tell you anything, it's more down to the synergy between it and the speakers.

 

[poldo]

I am not 100% sure about the MA GS20, I liked the Tannoy DC8 too but there is a difference in price.

Monitor Audio is 2500 euro

Tannoy DC8 is 3000 euro excl. stands so I think it will be 3750 euro.

The best amp I ve heard is the Exposure 3010s

But there are no dealers in Netherlands who have both Exposure and Monitor Audio :-(.

My budget is around 6000 euro for speakers, amp and cd player

2500+1800+1800 = 6100 euro for MAGS20+Exposure 3010s amp & cd

Any other sets for around 6,000 euro's?

Maybe Spendor A6 + Exposure?

 

[Frank Harvey]

Is it possible for you to get a loan of the amplifier on the basis of a home demo, then take it to the other dealer to try wth the speakers? At least that way you might be able to try them against other amplifiers too.

 

[jaxwired]

I would disagree with anyone that thinks those 2 speakers are not the right choice. For hard rock/metal? Either of those speakers would be a very good fit. You need strong bass for that genre. And those speakers deliver excellent bass that while strong is still high quality sound.

 

[poldo]

Iam going to make an appointment with my dealer in R'dam to listen the Monitor audio gs 20.

They have: Arcam, Naim, Primare and Denon

What would you suggest with the GS20?

Arcam a38, Naim XS, Primare i21/i30 or Denon PMA 2000AE?

thanks

rob

 

[Craig M.]

out of that lot i would go for the i30, haven't heard the naim xs though. knowing what i do now though, i would blind buy a atc sia2-150. not much price difference between the i30 and atc in the uk.

 

[MattSPL]

There's a group test in this months whathifi mag with the ATC SIA2-150 in it

 

[Anonymous]

A good used Musical Fidelity A5 integrated may be a good choice ... can be bought for approx £800 ... 250 watts @ 8 Ohms ...

 

[Anonymous]

I think you would be mad if you didn't hear the Moon series. Not sure on your budget, but they have integrated amps starting with the i1 - then i3 and i5 .....

Moon stuff conveys the emotion of the music more than other brands I have tried (which extends to many) ...... so you may find something you like there!

 

[64sparky]

Hi i have the M6i and M6cd with GS20 speakers only had cd player for one week and it went faulty but thought it a little week on bass got loaned a Quad cd player and it really rocked as i listen to rock from Ted Nugent to Slayer the sound was sublime, bass vibrated through floor but amp has too much power to turn to half volume. So what system did you go for?

Mark

 

[cjackson]

They'd sound great on an A-400

 

[plastic penguin]

Arcam is usually a great match for Monitor Audios, but it would certainly be worth auditioning the Leema Pulse. It should match well with the Gold range.

 

[Anonymous]

poldo:

The biggest problem is that i live in The Netherlands and there are absolutely no ProAc dealers arround and very few Spendor dealers. Plus that most dealers in Netherlands match cheap amps with expansive speakers. One big dealer in Rotterdam suggested the Primare i-21 with a B&W 804s.! After reading on some foreign forums I found out that it's better to spread the same money on speakers, amp and cd player.

thanks

rob

Hi Poldo, which dealer do you use in Rotterdam as I am also based there. I am also in the market for a new amplifier and speakers but will go to the UK to hear ATC

 

[Anonymous]

I`d go with a secondhand simadio moon i5.3 integrated or a plinius 8150 or later ..

 

[Anonymous]

BigAir:

I think you would be mad if you didn't hear the Moon series. Not sure on your budget, but they have integrated amps starting with the i1 - then i3 and i5 .....

Moon stuff conveys the emotion of the music more than other brands I have tried (which extends to many) ...... so you may find something you like there!

Agreed..