The Musical Fidelity AMS 35i thread

[plastic penguin]

These are worth a listen with the MF 35i. http://wilson-benesch.com/2010/05/arc-loudspeaker/

Have heard the cheaper Square Ones with a Caspian monobloc set-up and sounded stunning.

Cheers, PP, that's another very interesting proposition.

Now I have to find a dealer near London that stocks them ... argh! :wall:

Matt

Will this one do? http://www.unilet.net/loudspeakers/wilson-benesch-en.html

 

[matt49]

Will this one do? http://www.unilet.net/loudspeakers/wilson-benesch-en.html

It will do very nicely, sir. Only 30 mins drive from me. I'll give them a call.

Funny they'd escaped my notice. Maybe thay really are 'the hidden hifi store' ...

:cheers:

Matt

 

[toyota man]

the 35i is due a dem as Cno and co really sing its praises and I havn't to my knowledge heard a class a amp I am not sure it will have the power to deliver the goods I may if I realy like it go up to the 50w or even the 100w AMS power amp with the ams pre amp but thats a lot of ££££££££ and would not please she who must be obeyed I think she would notice some thing which was heating the house

Toyota man,

I have a hunch that when you hear the AMS35i you'll find its current delivery gives you power and dynamics in spades. I heard the new Krell S-550i, which is 275W per channel, and the AMS35i easily equals it in terms of punch and grip. Also its bass goes really deep.

Happy hunting!

Matt

Hi Matt if that is the case then I will have the amp of my dreams and will not have to sell my sole to the devil :cheers:

 

[plastic penguin]

Will this one do? http://www.unilet.net/loudspeakers/wilson-benesch-en.html

It will do very nicely, sir. Only 30 mins drive from me. I'll give them a call.

Funny they'd escaped my notice. Maybe thay really are 'the hidden hifi store' ...

:cheers:

Matt

Nice one. They're a good bunch there. Good luck Matt.

 

[toyota man]

Hi Ben k I love my m6i and would love a bit more of the same I am hoping that the pre power combo improves on what to me is a realy great amp the 35i is due a dem as Cno and co really sing its praises and I havn't to my knowledge heard a class a amp I am not sure it will have the power to deliver the goods I may if I realy like it go up to the 50w or even the 100w AMS power amp with the ams pre amp but thats a lot of ££££££££ and would not please she who must be obeyed I think she would notice some thing which was heating the house

If you like the amp, but it doesn't have enough power, it would be cheaper to change the speakers than going 50W Class A.......and I know just the ones.

are they any good in a small room 3 mtrs x 4 mtrs the scm 40s are sealed boxes and deliver a fine proformance with scale and bass weight I must admit that I loved the r 700 but they are to big for my room they sounded fantastic but took up far to much space see my avatar

 

[Ben K.]

I've never heard a class A amplifier but would really like to as they are suppose to sound really good. My question to cno and others who have them is, I like to play my music at fairly high volumes and so do these class A amps, with relatively low power output compared to ss, give out loud room filling volumes while remaining composed?

 

[iceman16]

Matt

You're more than welcome to visit me in Wales if you got the chance:rockout:

 

[toyota man]

I've never heard a class A amplifier but would really like to as they are suppose to sound really good. My question to cno and others who have them is, I like to play my music at fairly high volumes and so do these class A amps, with relatively low power output compared to ss, give out loud room filling volumes while remaining composed?

My question to I like it loud very loud while not destorting

 

[CnoEvil]

Are they any good in a small room 3 mtrs x 4 mtrs the scm 40s are sealed boxes and deliver a fine proformance with scale and bass weight I must admit that I loved the r 700 but they are to big for my room they sounded fantastic but took up far to much space see my avatar

The Reference Series are front ported and have boundary compensation....the 203/2s would do very nicely. :shifty:

 

[toyota man]

Are they any good in a small room 3 mtrs x 4 mtrs the scm 40s are sealed boxes and deliver a fine proformance with scale and bass weight I must admit that I loved the r 700 but they are to big for my room they sounded fantastic but took up far to much space see my avatar

The Reference Series are front ported and have boundary compensation....the 203/2s would do very nicely. :shifty:

:cheers:thanks for that I will give them a listen

 

[matt49]

I've never heard a class A amplifier but would really like to as they are suppose to sound really good. My question to cno and others who have them is, I like to play my music at fairly high volumes and so do these class A amps, with relatively low power output compared to ss, give out loud room filling volumes while remaining composed?

Hi Ben,

Based on my experience of recent auditions of Class A amps, the answer is: yes. I've recently heard Luxman, Accuphase, Pass Labs and Musical Fidelity, all played at loud volumes. They were all smooth and unstressed. And because the Class A sound is so smooth and fluid, you can turn them up louder without experiencing any distortion and fatigue.

Class A amps have the sonic virtues of valves and Class AB, without the shortcomings of either. Class A amps have the smooth tunefulness of valve amps, but unlike valve amps they can go loud and give good bass grip. Class A amps have the grip and dynamics of Class AB amps, but they don't suffer from the crossover distortion that's endemic to almost all Class AB amps and makes them fatiguing to listen to.

There is a downside: Class A amps tend to be expensive, and they waste huge amounts of energy.

Matt

 

[CnoEvil]

I've never heard a class A amplifier but would really like to as they are suppose to sound really good. My question to cno and others who have them is, I like to play my music at fairly high volumes and so do these class A amps, with relatively low power output compared to ss, give out loud room filling volumes while remaining composed?

With relatively sensitive speakers (89-91 db) that have a minimum impedance of 3-4 Ohms, the 35i sounds more like 200W.....the Class A design makes the amp sound incredibly dynamic, with huge reserves of current.

I can play mine in a large room louder than I can tolerate.

 

[Ben K.]

Thanks for the replies guys. I am thinking long term about my next upgrade which is a long a way off but I'm considering a big "final" step as opposed to a number of smaller upgrades over a long time. Rather than build up to the final system maybe just save up and go for it as the next one. It would seem that class A maybe the way forward but we'll have to see.

 

[matt49]

Thanks for the replies guys. I am thinking long term about my next upgrade which is a long a way off but I'm considering a big "final" step as opposed to a number of smaller upgrades over a long time. Rather than build up to the final system maybe just save up and go for it as the next one. It would seem that class A maybe the way forward but we'll have to see.

Cheers, Ben.

I really think your plan to do a big "final" upgrade is sensible. Save up and take the time to do some thorough research. As well as doing auditions at dealers, I've found it incredibly helpful (in one particular instance) to listen to a fellow forum member's system. Depends whereabouts you are, of course ...

Happy hunting!

Matt

 

[plastic penguin]

There is a downside: Class A amps tend to be expensive, and they waste huge amounts of energy.

Matt

[/quote]

That's one reason I wouldn't consider Class A amp. I generally have mine on for about 6 hours a day.

 

[matt49]

That's one reason I wouldn't consider Class A amp. I generally have mine on for about 6 hours a day.

In which case, Devialet ... >)

 

[Ben K.]

There is a downside: Class A amps tend to be expensive, and they waste huge amounts of energy.

Matt

That's one reason I wouldn't consider Class A amp. I generally have mine on for about 6 hours a day.

[/quote]

Just how much more power do they consume compared to ss?

 

[Macspur]

There is a downside: Class A amps tend to be expensive, and they waste huge amounts of energy.

Matt

That's one reason I wouldn't consider Class A amp. I generally have mine on for about 6 hours a day.

[/quote]

As hard a decision as it was, that was a major factor for me changing my Sugden IA-4.

Mac

 

[CnoEvil]

Just how much more power do they consume compared to ss?

That is not a straightforward qustion. SS amps come in a variety of Classes, which includes Class A, which gives off at least half its power as heat (and a 35W amp gets to about 35 deg C). It is drawing almost full power from the mains from the minute it's switched on.

There is also Class AB, Class B and Class D. How much power AB uses, depends on how much it is biased in A.....it can get quite close.

Class D is by far the greenest alternative, and is the one to go for, if you think it sounds as good.........my problem is that I don't think it does.

 

[James7]

Good to see a thread devoted to a pure Class A amp thriving so well. Certainly not in a place financially to afford the AMS35i so my question is out of curiosity / planning for that lottery win. But has anyone any experience of the MF amp with MartinLogan speakers, the Ethos say? I imagine they might make an excellent combination. And secondly, has anyone heard the 35i with Vivid loudspeakers, the V1.5 for example, which I again could well imagine being a sympathetic match.

 

[matt49]

Good to see a thread devoted to a pure Class A amp thriving so well. Certainly not in a place financially to afford the AMS35i so my question is out of curiosity / planning for that lottery win. But has anyone any experience of the MF amp with MartinLogan speakers, the Ethos say? I imagine they might make an excellent combination. And secondly, has anyone heard the 35i with Vivid loudspeakers, the V1.5 for example, which I again could well imagine being a sympathetic match.

James,

I'd been asking myself the same question, and wondering about demoing the AMS35i with Martin Logans. The problem for me is that the ML's are too big (i.e. too deep) for my room.

I'm afraid I couldn't live with the look of the Vivids, though I'd be interested to hear them.

Matt

 

[James7]

Yes the Vivids' looks are going to divide people. Incredibly spry, clean and detailed - I heard them driven by a valve amp, cannot remember which, to excellent effect. Not the best choice for something similarly clean, even bright, like Devialet, but as I say potentially a very good match for AMS. ML similar - a shame you cannot fit them in. I think electrostatic panels nprmally need a bit of air around them, and some effective damping behind if fairly close to a rear wall.

 

[CnoEvil]

Good to see a thread devoted to a pure Class A amp thriving so well. Certainly not in a place financially to afford the AMS35i so my question is out of curiosity / planning for that lottery win. But has anyone any experience of the MF amp with MartinLogan speakers, the Ethos say? I imagine they might make an excellent combination. And secondly, has anyone heard the 35i with Vivid loudspeakers, the V1.5 for example, which I again could well imagine being a sympathetic match.

My "hunch" is that they would make a sympathetic match......if you get to hear it, let us know.

 

[Ben K.]

Just how much more power do they consume compared to ss?

That is not a straightforward qustion. SS amps come in a variety of Classes, which includes Class A, which gives off at least half its power as heat (and a 35W amp gets to about 35 deg C). It is drawing almost full power from the mains from the minute it's switched on.

There is also Class AB, Class B and Class D. How much power AB uses, depends on how much it is biased in A.....it can get quite close.

Class D is by far the greenest alternative, and is the one to go for, if you think it sounds as good.........my problem is that I don't think it does.

Thanks for the detailed answer. I used to own a class D rotel power amp which had brilliant grip and control over the speakers but I didn't really like the sound overall. Not sure if it was the "rotel" sound I didn't like or maybe because it was class D. It was all get up and go and I prefer a smoother more laid back sound. My brother now has it in a bi amp rotel system through mission speakers and he loves it.

 

[CnoEvil]

Thanks for the detailed answer. I used to own a class D rotel power amp which had brilliant grip and control over the speakers but I didn't really like the sound overall. Not sure if it was the "rotel" sound I didn't like or maybe because it was class D. It was all get up and go and I prefer a smoother more laid back sound. My brother now has it in a bi amp rotel system through mission speakers and he loves it.

The best Class D I've heard is from Bel Canto......but it generally leaves me cold, due to a presentation that I find a bit sterile and analytical. It works well in Active Subs.