Integrated Ampifier suggestion for Dynaudio Audience 52

[admin_exported]

Hello newbie here. Recently acquired a new (old stock, unopened box) pair of Dynaudio Audience 52 speakers. I'm wondering if any of you could kindly suggest a current (brand new) integrated amplifier for the pair. I am looking at a price range of 700 - 1,000 Pounds. I've been reading through all the forums and the integrated amp that matches it is the Arcam A85. Unfortunately, this model has already been discontinued. I'm a bit hesitant to buy a pre-owned A85 because there is no local Arcam distributor (that offer repair service in case something unfortunte happens) in my current country of residence. Would the Roksan Kandy k2 be a good match for my A52s? Any other suggestions would be highly appreciated. many thanks

 

[MUSICRAFT]

Hello newbie here. Recently acquired a new (old stock, unopened box) pair of Dynaudio Audience 52 speakers. I'm wondering if any of you could kindly suggest a current (brand new) integrated amplifier for the pair. I am looking at a price range of 700 - 1,000 Pounds. I've been reading through all the forums and the integrated amp that matches it is the Arcam A85. Unfortunately, this model has already been discontinued. I'm a bit hesitant to buy a pre-owned A85 because there is no local Arcam distributor (that offer repair service in case something unfortunte happens) in my current country of residence. Would the Roksan Kandy k2 be a good match for my A52s? Any other suggestions would be highly appreciated. many thanks

Hi satchi.music

What other source component(s) and amplifer do you currently use? What do you generally listen to? I hope you'll not mind me also asking however where are you based please?

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[MUSICRAFT]

Hello newbie here. Recently acquired a new (old stock, unopened box) pair of Dynaudio Audience 52 speakers. I'm wondering if any of you could kindly suggest a current (brand new) integrated amplifier for the pair. I am looking at a price range of 700 - 1,000 Pounds. I've been reading through all the forums and the integrated amp that matches it is the Arcam A85. Unfortunately, this model has already been discontinued. I'm a bit hesitant to buy a pre-owned A85 because there is no local Arcam distributor (that offer repair service in case something unfortunte happens) in my current country of residence. Would the Roksan Kandy k2 be a good match for my A52s? Any other suggestions would be highly appreciated. many thanks

Hi satchi.music

What other source component/s and amplifer do you currently use? What do you generally listen to? I hope you'll not mind me also asking however where are you based please?

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[plastic penguin]

Hello newbie here. Recently acquired a new (old stock, unopened box) pair of Dynaudio Audience 52 speakers. I'm wondering if any of you could kindly suggest a current (brand new) integrated amplifier for the pair. I am looking at a price range of 700 - 1,000 Pounds. I've been reading through all the forums and the integrated amp that matches it is the Arcam A85. Unfortunately, this model has already been discontinued. I'm a bit hesitant to buy a pre-owned A85 because there is no local Arcam distributor (that offer repair service in case something unfortunte happens) in my current country of residence. Would the Roksan Kandy k2 be a good match for my A52s? Any other suggestions would be highly appreciated. many thanks

From personal experience Arcam isn't a good match for Dynaudio. I'd look at Cyrus, Naim, Leema and possibly Marantz.

 

[Anonymous]

Hello newbie here. Recently acquired a new (old stock, unopened box) pair of Dynaudio Audience 52 speakers. I'm wondering if any of you could kindly suggest a current (brand new) integrated amplifier for the pair. I am looking at a price range of 700 - 1,000 Pounds. I've been reading through all the forums and the integrated amp that matches it is the Arcam A85. Unfortunately, this model has already been discontinued. I'm a bit hesitant to buy a pre-owned A85 because there is no local Arcam distributor (that offer repair service in case something unfortunte happens) in my current country of residence. Would the Roksan Kandy k2 be a good match for my A52s? Any other suggestions would be highly appreciated. many thanks

Hi satchi.music

What other source component(s) and amplifer do you currently use? What do you generally listen to? I hope you'll not mind me also asking however where are you based please?

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

Hi Rick, thank you for your interest. This is actually my first audio set up. I've always liked music and late last year I decided to invest in a decent hi-fi set-up. As of today, I only have the Dyns, a pair of speaker stands (china made), a 1980's Yamaha Natural Sound integrated amplifier, cheap speaker wires and interconnects, ipod, and an old dvd player which I use as my cd input.

After I purchase my amp, I hope to acquire the following:

1. cd player,
2. music server/player (olive?) or dedicated computer + dac
3. dac for my ipod
4. turntable (big maybe)

I listen to the followiing genres:

1. Jazz
2. House, electronica, chill, ambient
3. Rock, alternative. 80's music

Since I have to stick to a budget, I am constrained to slowly build up my system. I realize that the speakers I got are more difficult to drive than other brands in the same price and performance range (4ohms 86db). I now have to spend around 30% more on an amp as compared to a speaker rated at 8ohms that has a lower requirement.

I am currently based in Manila, Philippines. Many thanks Rick.

- satchi

 

[Helmut80]

Hello newbie here. Recently acquired a new (old stock, unopened box) pair of Dynaudio Audience 52 speakers. I'm wondering if any of you could kindly suggest a current (brand new) integrated amplifier for the pair. I am looking at a price range of 700 - 1,000 Pounds. I've been reading through all the forums and the integrated amp that matches it is the Arcam A85. Unfortunately, this model has already been discontinued. I'm a bit hesitant to buy a pre-owned A85 because there is no local Arcam distributor (that offer repair service in case something unfortunte happens) in my current country of residence. Would the Roksan Kandy k2 be a good match for my A52s? Any other suggestions would be highly appreciated. many thanks

From personal experience Arcam isn't a good match for Dynaudio. I'd look at Cyrus, Naim, Leema and possibly Marantz.

Heard the X32s connected to Arcam FMJ A38 on the weekend and really liked it.

 

[plastic penguin]

Hello newbie here. Recently acquired a new (old stock, unopened box) pair of Dynaudio Audience 52 speakers. I'm wondering if any of you could kindly suggest a current (brand new) integrated amplifier for the pair. I am looking at a price range of 700 - 1,000 Pounds. I've been reading through all the forums and the integrated amp that matches it is the Arcam A85. Unfortunately, this model has already been discontinued. I'm a bit hesitant to buy a pre-owned A85 because there is no local Arcam distributor (that offer repair service in case something unfortunte happens) in my current country of residence. Would the Roksan Kandy k2 be a good match for my A52s? Any other suggestions would be highly appreciated. many thanks

From personal experience Arcam isn't a good match for Dynaudio. I'd look at Cyrus, Naim, Leema and possibly Marantz.

Heard the X32s connected to Arcam FMJ A38 on the weekend and really liked it.

That maybe true but we are talking about a different (and older) Dynaudio (and I listened to them on a A80)

 

[oldric_naubhoff]

Hi

if you're looking for an amp I've got a nice sugestion. if you're willing to step into valve amplification domain and if you would be willing to streach out a liitle bit more up to about 1300 GBP there's an Icon Audio Stereo 40 MkIII. it's a pure class A amp with zero global negative feedback circuitry. you can't go much more better than that as far as amp design is concerned. you could wish for a single ended (SE) topology rather than ultralinear but then you'd get approximately 10-15W pc power and not 45W pc (with KT 88 tubes).

[/quote]

I realize that the speakers I got are more difficult to drive than other brands in the same price and performance range (4ohms 86db). I now have to spend around 30% more on an amp as compared to a speaker rated at 8ohms that has a lower requirement. I am currently based in Manila, Philippines. Many thanks Rick. - satchi[/quote]

when I got into hi-fi I heard the same stuff about Dynaudio and took it for granted but then I began to read about speakers and how they react with amps and I know the truth is different. Dynaudios are in fact an easy load for amp to drive. when they say their speakers are nominally 4 Ohm they mean impendance DOESN'T drop below that mark. I saw some other manufacturers rating their speakers as an 8 Ohm loads and when I checked impendace curves it actually droped below 4 Ohm! any real world well designed amp shouldn't have any difficulty driving a 4 Ohm load. problems arise when impendance drops below 4 Ohm or even 2 Ohm. then you have to look for an amp stable in such demanding loads. but that's not the case with Dynaudio. in fact Dynaudio speakers' impendance curves are relatively linear typically remaining within 4-8 Ohm bracket over very wide audio band (from approx. 100Hz through 20kHz). but that comes at a price because to attain this impendance linearity a very complex crossover with impendance smoothing circuitry is installed. and that's what is responsible for Dynaudio being notorious as difficult load speakers. complex crossovers waste a lot of amp's power. but you must not panic now. you don't need a power plant to move Dynaudio speakers. I've got Dynaudio Focus 110 which is powerd by Pathos Classic One mkIII amp. it's rated 70W pc into 8 Ohm and 130W pc into 4 Ohm and my usuall listening level remains between 15 and 25 on a 100 digital volume scale. if I want to rock I would go to 35- 45. and for classical music which is usually recorder with a huge dynamic range it would be 50-60...

so, whichever amp you chose know that you'll definitely be ok with 50W pc into 8 Ohm. but make sure that its given power rating into 8 Ohm load doubles (or gets very close to double) into 4 Ohm load i.e. 50W into 8 Ohm then 90-100W into 4 ohm. that characteristic (power doubles when resistance halves) suggests a perfect current source and Dyns can definitely take advantage from that. you'll get better control over bass. it's going to be faster and taunter.

good hunting Satchi

 

[Anonymous]

thank you everyone, specially to oldric, for your comments and suggestions. This whole hi-fi hobby has taken up a considerable amount of my free time as well as of my spare spending money. Aside buying music (cds, etc.) there are always new (and pre-owned) gear to research about and to consider. I guess there will probably be no end to this madness🙂

Many thanks guys!

 

[Anonymous]

Hi, nice to see a fellow Audience 52 owner here in Manila. I too, had trouble pairing an amplifier with them as they were power hungry. I went up the curve from my Rotel RA-04 to a preowned Power Amp (Adcom) to my present set up: a Musical Fidelity A3Cr power amp (120 watts at 8 ohms, 180 watts at 4 ohms which is the impedance of the Dynes) with a Musical Fidelity X-pre, where I'm presently in audio nirvana. Hence, my recommendation: only an amp with more than 100 watts power will get you the max of our Audience 52s. Your best bets: preowned amps (you can scout at our local Manila sites: www.pinoydvd.com or www.wiredstate.com - but you have to register at both to view the trading/sale sections) For Musical Fidelity gears, you can contact Melvin Chua - cp 09179420961 or tel 02-4375529), his shop in Cubao goes by the name DCM, he has both brand new and pre-owned Musical Fidelity. I look forward to seeing you at our local audio websites.

 

[Anonymous]

Have you had a look at the Musical Fidelity M3i. I have one powering my Proac's which are similar sensitivity, although different sounding speakers. I demo'd them with the Dyn 42's and thought they were quite a good match too. If you can find one it might be worth considering.

If you want to work with digital inputs right now a great amp is the HK990 which can be had for under 1000 pounds. It includes a built in DAC with excellent processing.

http://www.audioaffair.co.uk/Harman-Kardon-HK-990-Integrated-Amplifier/product_3473

Mick

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Rick, Anton, & Mick, thanks for the inputs! I shall check out your suggestions. Was just very busy the past three weeks because of a government examination that I had to take.

As for the Musical Fidelity M3i, I've been reading up on it as well. I even went to the both of Mr. Melvin Chua during the Manila Audio show last November. From what I learned, the M3i is not rated for 4ohms. Does this really matter? I also learned that it is already being manufactured in Taiwan and not in the UK. Again, does the country where the amp is manufactured matter?

Lastly, the reason why I'm seriously considering the Roksan Kandy K2 is that it's been rating well on both the WhatHifi and Stereophile magazines. I think it already has a phono input already.

 

[MUSICRAFT]

Hello newbie here. Recently acquired a new (old stock, unopened box) pair of Dynaudio Audience 52 speakers. I'm wondering if any of you could kindly suggest a current (brand new) integrated amplifier for the pair. I am looking at a price range of 700 - 1,000 Pounds. I've been reading through all the forums and the integrated amp that matches it is the Arcam A85. Unfortunately, this model has already been discontinued. I'm a bit hesitant to buy a pre-owned A85 because there is no local Arcam distributor (that offer repair service in case something unfortunte happens) in my current country of residence. Would the Roksan Kandy k2 be a good match for my A52s? Any other suggestions would be highly appreciated. many thanks

Hi satchi.music

What other source component(s) and amplifer do you currently use? What do you generally listen to? I hope you'll not mind me also asking however where are you based please?

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

Hi Rick, thank you for your interest. This is actually my first audio set up. I've always liked music and late last year I decided to invest in a decent hi-fi set-up. As of today, I only have the Dyns, a pair of speaker stands (china made), a 1980's Yamaha Natural Sound integrated amplifier, cheap speaker wires and interconnects, ipod, and an old dvd player which I use as my cd input. After I purchase my amp, I hope to acquire the following: 1. cd player, 2. music server/player (olive?) or dedicated computer + dac 3. dac for my ipod 4. turntable (big maybe) I listen to the followiing genres: 1. Jazz 2. House, electronica, chill, ambient 3. Rock, alternative. 80's music Since I have to stick to a budget, I am constrained to slowly build up my system. I realize that the speakers I got are more difficult to drive than other brands in the same price and performance range (4ohms 86db). I now have to spend around 30% more on an amp as compared to a speaker rated at 8ohms that has a lower requirement. I am currently based in Manila, Philippines. Many thanks Rick. - satchi

Hi satchi.music

Your welcome.

I am sorry for this late reply as this thread slipped my mind

Anyway i'll highly recommend the NAD C356BEE amplifier or if you are happy to consider used/discontinued components then look at the superb NAD C370 integrated, NAD C160 (pre amp)/NAD C270 (power amp). All of these NAD amplifiers will suit the types of soundtracks you listen to and the amps finely judged tonal balance will also help in accomodating many source components. These NAD amplifiers will energise the excellent Dynaudio Audience 52's and also have the ability to happily bounce them around the room

Btw, there is a NAD distributor in the Philippines called Hi-Hi Plus Asia Inc. who are also based in Manila. This should give peace of mind.

As for cabling you don't need to spend too much. For interconnects i'll suggest using basic red/white ones (which come supplied with many components) and for speaker cables standard 79 - 500 strands OFC type. These cables are more then good enough and can be happily used with these components and beyond regardless of price.

Btw, just to clear i don't deal in any used components.

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[Anonymous]

Wow, I am really glad I found this thread because I am looking for an amp to go with my Dyn 52's as well.

I am thinking of either an Arcam a85 or maybe an arcam p90 in a passive amp set up.

Suggestions? The amp has to be 220v and available in the states...hence the switchable Arcams. I plan on buying it used in the states and bringing it out of the country.

My source is a Devilsound Dac.

Satchi, what did you finally decide on?

Thanks

 

[Anonymous]

Creek Evolution 5350 is a good match for your Dyn 52SE.

 

[CnoEvil]

As for the Musical Fidelity M3i, I've been reading up on it as well. I even went to the both of Mr. Melvin Chua during the Manila Audio show last November. From what I learned, the M3i is not rated for 4ohms. Does this really matter?

The MF M3i is 76W into 8 Ohms and 137W into 4 Ohms, as well as providing 25 Amps of current...so I'm not sure there should be a problem.

Cno

 

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[roger06]

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