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Other Stuff => Archived Manufacturer Circles => Mapletree Audio Design => Topic started by: rockadanny on 11 Jul 2007, 04:14 pm

Title: Mapletree Pre with Bel Canto S300 (or M300)?
Post by: rockadanny on 11 Jul 2007, 04:14 pm

Anyone try this combo yet? I am considering trying the Bel Canto S300 in my currently system - satisfyingly warm and full-bodied tubed CDP and pre (2A SE). I hate the idea of adding "ICE" to my pleasantly warm (though still detailed) system, but from what most/some of what I've read it sounds like these may not add much coolness, if any. If that is true, I might try one.

Title: Re: Mapletree Pre with Bel Canto S300 (or M300)?
Post by: saisunil on 11 Jul 2007, 05:08 pm

You may want to consider uncolored source - i.e. a CD player without tubes - totally transparent.
There are a few TRL (tube research labs) CD Players +/- $500 to 1100 on audiogon - pick any one of them - NV900 is highly recommended - I have one. It is close to as transparent as a CD player gets without killing the musicality.

I have heard Mapletree Pre - it is not question warm and very musical and Bel Canto S300 perhaps on the opposite spectrum - it could be an interesting match.

Cheers
Sunil

Title: Re: Mapletree Pre with Bel Canto S300 (or M300)?
Post by: rockadanny on 12 Jul 2007, 12:13 pm

OK. How about has anyone tried any Class D amps with a Mapletree pre?

Title: Re: Mapletree Pre with Bel Canto S300 (or M300)?
Post by: WEEZ on 12 Jul 2007, 01:59 pm

There is an S300 for sale for $850 on the 'Gon right now. That might be a way to try it in your system...but don't sell the Ultra 550; my guess is you'll be re-listing the S300. :)

(no affilliation; and YMMV....)

WEEZ

Title: Re: Mapletree Pre with Bel Canto S300 (or M300)?
Post by: rockadanny on 12 Jul 2007, 07:24 pm

Thanks WEEZ. I suspect I'll have to agree with your suspicion.

Title: Re: Mapletree Pre with Bel Canto S300 (or M300)?
Post by: topround on 12 Jul 2007, 08:22 pm

I heard my Mapltree Ultra 4 SE with the channel islands D200 mono blocs and it had really great synergy.
I have been tempted many times to sell my VTL and get the channel islands.
If I had the money I would have both here in my system. Without a doubt. :drool:

Title: Re: Mapletree Pre with Bel Canto S300 (or M300)?
Post by: hartwerger on 14 Jul 2007, 03:11 am

I mated the Ice H20 digital amp with the Ultra 4A when I had Magnepan 3.6s.    I thought they worked quite well together.    Warm tube magic with clean detail and the Maggies telling all. 

Title: Re: Mapletree Pre with Bel Canto S300 (or M300)?
Post by: Vapor Audio on 14 Jul 2007, 03:26 am

I'm selling my S300 right now for $850 shipped ...

My experience with ICE stuff is they're a perfect amp to use if you want to add 'color' to a system with a certain pre, since they're so neutral to begin with. 

Tell ya what, buy this S300 from me and if you don't like it in 30 days I'll buy it back. 

Title: Re: Mapletree Pre with Bel Canto S300 (or M300)?
Post by: rotarius on 15 Jul 2007, 07:02 pm

Quote from: rockadanny on 11 Jul 2007, 04:14 pm

Anyone try this combo yet? I am considering trying the Bel Canto S300 in my currently system - satisfyingly warm and full-bodied tubed CDP and pre (2A SE). I hate the idea of adding "ICE" to my pleasantly warm (though still detailed) system, but from what most/some of what I've read it sounds like these may not add much coolness, if any. If that is true, I might try one.

The s300 input impedance is only 10Kohm.  It won't mate well with a tube pre.  My line 2 worked *ok* with an amp input z of 20Kohm but the dynamics increased using a 50Kohm input on the same amp (bryston xlr and rca inputs).

Title: Re: Mapletree Pre with Bel Canto S300 (or M300)?
Post by: rockadanny on 15 Jul 2007, 11:51 pm

Rotarius - I was askeered of that.

Title: Re: Mapletree Pre with Bel Canto S300 (or M300)?
Post by: fredgarvin on 18 Oct 2007, 07:40 pm

If you are still looking, the wyred4sound ice amp has a buffered input at 100k so would work fine with tubed pre's.

Title: Re: Mapletree Pre with Bel Canto S300 (or M300)?
Post by: rockadanny on 19 Oct 2007, 11:16 am

Fred,
Thanks for the suggestion. Nice that they offer multiple options for power. However, I've decided to skip the "D" class amps for now. Thanks again.