Restek Challenger and Magnepans

[hoopsontoast]

Just picked this amp up, a hefty beast. Ooodles of power! Plenty for the MMG's. Will be interesting to see how it compares with using the Icon Audio LA3 as a pre and power/main in with the Restek!

I was looking at the big Japanese Battleship amps like the TA-F770ES or Denon PMA-2000AE but a deal fell though and thought I would give this a go! 8)

Was certainly doing well last night on Hot Chip, Orbital and Ulla Dub Ulla WOTW Remix Album :dance:

Not quite as good with rock, a bit of Wolfmother and Audioslave but then they are still only about 20 hours old.

 

[plastic penguin]

I'm so so envious. I've been trying to locate the Challenger for years.

Sorry, can't answer your question, but can you give us a low-down (blow-by-blow) on the Restek's sound quality, please?

http://www.whathifi.com/forum/hi-fi/restek

 

[hoopsontoast]

Not sure there was a question in there :rofl:

But its hard to describe, not really noticing any real change in the presentation over the Icon LA3/Quad Elite combo apart from the extra control in the bass. Maybe the soundstage is not quite as defined, but I did find that a particular strength of the LA3 Pre-Amp.

Certainly promising, I think I will give the LA3/Challenger combo a go tonight.

 

[plastic penguin]

Not sure there was a question in there :rofl:

But its hard to describe, not really noticing any real change in the presentation over the Icon LA3/Quad Elite combo apart from the extra control in the bass. Maybe the soundstage is not quite as defined, but I did find that a particular strength of the LA3 Pre-Amp.

Certainly promising, I think I will give the LA3/Challenger combo a go tonight.

Okay, it's clearly early days... please keep us abreast.

Thought the question was in the title?

 

[hoopsontoast]

I guess it was more of a statement.

I had seen that other people on the net had used the Restek with Magnepans before, seems a good match in terms of actually getting them moving, not that the Quad did to badly to be honest.

 

[plastic penguin]

Sorry, didn't realise you had the Mags at the time of posting.

Anyhooo, tonally, how does the Restek compare to the Quads?

 

[hoopsontoast]

As I say, I have not really noticed a big difference tonally to be honest, vocals aremaybe slightly more recessed/lightweight so maybe that could be described as less warm.

I did not notice that the Quad was particularly un-natural in its presentation either, bit of a bargain for the money really.