Question Which amp for driving Acoustic Energy AE120 MkII ?

[BenWatts]

Dear all,

I could not find a thread mentioning quite good association with a pair of Acoustic Energy AE120 mkII.

Would you have some suggestion around 1k?
Living good with tiles and plasterboards on both walls and roof.
Hundreds of books on the walls and some frames.
Most of the time, I listen jazz, prog metal and some unplugged artists (voice and guitar or piano). But classical music as well, pop songs… for 5% of the time.

These ones seem interesting, what would you recommend ?
A good phono preamp and a aptx chip would be appreciated :

- NAD C389
- Cambridge CXA81 mkII (no phono input)
- Audiolab 6000A
- Advance Paris x-i75 (can’t tell why but I am not confident in this device)
- REGA Brio R (no Bluetooth but a good phono preamp)
- Musical fidelity M2si (enough power for a large living room?)
- Heed Obelisk SI30: too much expensive for me (twice my budget) keep on lurking on potential special offers.

No 20k MacIntosh for the moment nor the three next lives.

Thank you in advance for your help.

All the best

BenWatts

 

[landco]

Which amplifier is suitable for this acoustic system is a question like “Which car is suitable for this radio” 🤦‍♂️
Any modern transistor amplifier works fine with any modern speaker systems, “better or worse” is a question for the speaker and your room

 

[Dom]

Add Cyrus to that list.

The book shelf AE speakers i have heard through a Cyrus amplifier sounded full of energy.

Maybe the speakers sound that way regardless, I don't know.

 

[BenWatts]

Et

Which amplifier is suitable for this acoustic system is a question like “Which car is suitable for this radio” 🤦‍♂️

Not that simple.
Try a pair of Klipsch and Attol in50 and it would drill your ears.

 

[BenWatts]

Add Cyrus to that list.

The book shelf AE speakers i have heard through a Cyrus amplifier sounded full of energy.

Maybe the speakers sound that way regardless, I don't know.

Yeah Cyrus! How could I have forgotten this one?!
A HD one maybe.

I read a lot of positive feedbacks on forums but the feedback from What Hifi is not really good.
Always tricky to try an association amp and speakers without the room.

 

[landco]

Try a pair of Klipsch and Attol in50 and it would drill your ears.

The problem is your speakers and your listening room, not the amplifier.

 

[Al ears]

Yeah Cyrus! How could I have forgotten this one?!
A HD one maybe.

I read a lot of positive feedbacks on forums but the feedback from What Hifi is not really good.
Always tricky to try an association amp and speakers without the room.

The only one available for around £1k is the Cyrus One HD

 

[BenWatts]

The problem is your speakers and your listening room, not the amplifier.

At first : the room.
Then the amp and speakers association.

I agree. But as I wrote; some association doesn’t work.

I would like to drive my speakers with an Aethos but I cannot afford a 4k amp.
A Heed Obelisk would be good but it’s 2k.
The good solution would be a Cyrus One HD.

I pay a lot of attention to the Cambridge AX81 mkII. My turntable has a preamp. So no worry on the missing phono input.

 

[Revolutions]

If you like the Aethos, you could try the Elicit mk5 or Elex mk4.

I own the Elicit & it’s a fantastic amp. Can maybe find one for £1500 or less 2nd hand.

 

[Al ears]

If you like the Aethos, you could try the Elicit mk5 or Elex mk4.

I own the Elicit & it’s a fantastic amp. Can maybe find one for £1500 or less 2nd hand.

That might depend on where the OP happens to live.
He mentions 1k but not what currency but, whatever, he's unlikely to find those Regas for his budget.

 

[Fandango Andy]

Dear all,

I could not find a thread mentioning quite good association with a pair of Acoustic Energy AE120 mkII.

Would you have some suggestion around 1k?
Living good with tiles and plasterboards on both walls and roof.
Hundreds of books on the walls and some frames.
Most of the time, I listen jazz, prog metal and some unplugged artists (voice and guitar or piano). But classical music as well, pop songs… for 5% of the time.

These ones seem interesting, what would you recommend ?
A good phono preamp and a aptx chip would be appreciated :

- NAD C389
- Cambridge CXA81 mkII (no phono input)
- Audiolab 6000A
- Advance Paris x-i75 (can’t tell why but I am not confident in this device)
- REGA Brio R (no Bluetooth but a good phono preamp)
- Musical fidelity M2si (enough power for a large living room?)
- Heed Obelisk SI30: too much expensive for me (twice my budget) keep on lurking on potential special offers.

No 20k MacIntosh for the moment nor the three next lives.

Thank you in advance for your help.

All the best

BenWatts

You need to know what suits you, there is no substitute for an audition. From your list, I would certainly give the Audiolab 6000A a try, and would also consider a Marantz Stereo 70.

 

[BenWatts]

I am considering these 6000A (2x50w) and Elex Mk4 but it’s a bit pricey for me.
I live in France 1k is roughly the same in GBP, USD or EUR. GBP is a bit more expensive. It gives an idea.

Dealing with a listening I cannot bring my living room to the shop. I detailed the size (tiles and plastblocks), walls with hundreds of books and large frames … but it will always be different from a living room to another.

Could not find a Cyrus one HD in the shops in my town nor on line.
The more I wait, the more I save.
Within three years : Arthos!
;-)

 

[BenWatts]

Sorry for those questions but I would like to be sure I will get the best of my setting.

My pair of Acoustic Energies AE120 mkII have a 6ohms resistance.
Would you recommend a Rega Brio mk1 to drive them with an 8ohms resistance and only 2x50watts?

Thank you in advance.

 

[jy999]

Around here the 6000A comes in sale as open box specials. I also got mine at a local shop for about 20% lower than anything I could find online. I'm sure if you good you'll find similar deals on several of the models you mentioned.

Electronics for less Canada has good open box pricing but not sure if they send your way. Shipping in Canada sucks and is expensive

 

[BenWatts]

Do I have to understand you would not recommend. a Regarder Brio (2x50w, 8 ohms) to add to my AE120^2 and go for an A6000?

AE120²​

Drive Unit: 130mm paper cones
Tweeter: 25mm fabric dome
Frequency Range: 39Hz – 26kHz
Sensitivity: 89dB
Peak SPL: 116dB
Power Handling: 200w
Crossover Frequency: 300Hz, 2.7kHz
Impedance: 8ohms
Design: 3-way
Grilles: Slim, cloth magnetic fit
Dimensions (mm): 950 x 165 (185*) x 250 (270*) (HxWxD)
Spike Thread Size: M8
Weight: 19kg (each)
Finishes: Black and Walnut vinyl veneer

 

[nopiano]

Ben, this didn’t get a reply, but a 50 watt Rega Brio is good for 89dB sensitivity speakers.

 

[BenWatts]

Thank you for this reply.
I have an opportunity for a 200€ used one in my neighborhood

 

[Al ears]

Ben, this didn’t get a reply, but a 50 watt Rega Brio is good for 89dB sensitivity speakers.

I would agree, 50wpc would be perfectly adequate for those speakers, they are pretty efficient.

 

[BenWatts]

You make me saving 1700€ !
I was about to go for all in one amp with Bluetooth optional board for roughly 1700€ + 350€ pour the additional board.

Then a used REGA Brio at 200€ would do the job.
My listening room is 50sqm.

 

[My2Cents]

You seem to have put the cart before the horse.
What is your source?
If you read the following article, I'm firmly in the 'source first' camp.
I also believe in room treatment/organization as much as practically possible.

System Hierarchy: How To Allocate Your HiFi Budget

System Hierarchy | How Should I Allocate My HiFi System Budget? | HiFi Audio System Budget Guide | Expressive Audio | HiFi, Home Cinema & Multiroom Experts

expressiveaudio.com

 

[BenWatts]

Thank you for your link. Be sure I will read it meticulously.
Actually, I am a total beginner. I bought a pair of cool speakers 4 years ago after had been offered a turntable. I added a 40yo amp.

The result was not excellent. Not that bad but not good.
I swapped the speakers to be more adapted to my living / listening room (tiles, plats blocks, books and frames on walls) of 50m2.

Now I would like to swap my amp.
My own not source for the moment is a turntable.
Then I would add a streamer (Deezer premium) and lately a CD player.

I am super happy of my Acoustic Energy. They are perfect to my ears (softer than my Klipsch).

I am a bit worried about the 2x50watts for these speakers in a 50m2 room.

I may be wrong and open to learn. Especially on this forum.

BTW :
I am a listening room first, then the balance between amp and speakers. Then the source (LP’s only for the moment but Deezer premium tomorrow and CD’s the next day).

 

[Dom]

I would place the speakers close enough together so it isn't a sonic mess.

Remember, your speakers should present the sound as a whole organic theater. Otherwise things like cymbals and hi hats can sound weird, too wide if you like.

 

[BenWatts]

The point is to find the best association with my speakers not their positioning.

 

[BenWatts]

The answer for me is the Heed Obelisk SI3.
Carefully listened in a nice shop downtown. Order placed yesterday evening. Can’t wait !
Just have now to save a bit to find a streamer.