[dukja]

First post, not sure if it is in the right forum.   

I am auditing a pair of Sierra-1 from Ascend Acoustic.  With all my current amps: Aleph 3, Rotel RA-970BX, and Pioneer receiver SX-950.  The mid-range sounds recessed and much less flesh than I would like.   I am used to TOTL headphone such as HD-800 and Hifiman HE-6 so I am quite sensitive to the tonality and detail. I like Sierra driven by Aleph3's best: clear, transparent, detailed high without any hint of edge (unfortunately, Sierra 1 at higher volume sounds edge to me).  The soundstage is wide and accurate.  The bass is tight with authority.  But Aleph3 is only 30W at 8ohm, so I only enjoy it at lower volume.  Rotel has much more flesh and fullness, but the bass is puffy and high freq is less quality and grainy.  I am not too much into Pioneer's sound and the speaker post is pain to connect so it wasn't used often.

BTW, my aleph 3 is directly connect to my DAC (Audio-GD DAC-19 or Ref-7, single-ended).  I use 24-bit digital volume control in Foobar2k without ill effect.  I do have DCB1 and Lightspeed passive preamp to use, but I am much preferred direct connection when I use my HE-6 headphone from speaker post.

So I am thinking either Odyssey Cyclops, Khartago, or legendary Forte Model 3 (mode to class A) or Model 4 with limited budget (<$1k,  )I did the total re-cap on my Aleph 3 and Pioneer, so I am comfortable with some tweaking.  And I am not sure if I absolutely need to go integrated or I may be open to Amp directly.  My music preference is in classical (piano, violin, and some symphony), New Age, Soundtrack (Hans Zimmer, etc), and female vocal (e.g. Marry Black).  My room is about 30x15.

Thanks a lot for pointing a right track to hunt down either a amp or integrated.

[Freo-1]

Forte is an excellent choice.  See if you can find a Threshold S200 with optical bias.  I had one that was refurbished by Jon S. of Vintage Amp repair.  Many think that it was the best sounding of the S series amps.  The Mills emitter resistors make a huge difference.

[dukja]

Thanks a lot for the pointing.  I had lots to read about Threshold history.    Could you briefly educated me the difference "ordinary" S200 and optically biased one?  I image the bias pot is optically controlled like those used in LightSpeed passive preamp?    Just read about it at DIYaudio.  It is auto-adjust bias.  Is there big SQ  difference over the "none optical biased" one, or are all S200 auto biased?

Also, in addition to Audiogon and ForSale forum here (I notice lots of goodies here,  ), is there other reliable channel to get these legend amp?  Thanks!

[Freo-1]

Thanks a lot for the pointing.  I had lots to read about Threshold history.    Could you briefly educated me the difference "ordinary" S200 and optically biased one?  I image the bias pot is optically controlled like those used in LightSpeed passive preamp?    Just read about it at DIYaudio.  It is auto-adjust bias.  Is there big SQ  difference over the "none optical biased" one, or are all S200 auto biased?

Also, in addition to Audiogon and ForSale forum here (I notice lots of goodies here,  ), is there other reliable channel to get these legend amp?  Thanks!

There are both auto and non auto biased S200's.  The one I had was non auto biased, so I had to set it manually.  The change out of the Mills resistors on the emitters on the output transistors was huge. 

[werd]

I would be looking for a dual mono SS pre to drive that Aleph 3 properly.  Could be tubes but you want a bit of gain with those speakers.   

[dukja]

There are both auto and non auto biased S200's.  The one I had was non auto biased, so I had to set it manually.  The change out of the Mills resistors on the emitters on the output transistors was huge.

Thanks a lot for the info.  So the auto-bias is just convenient.  And thanks for the tip on changing out Mills resistor.

I would be looking for a dual mono SS pre to drive that Aleph 3 properly.  Could be tubes but you want a bit of gain with those speakers.   

"Dual mono pre"!  Wow, this is my first time heard about such idea.  Not sure this will solve the underpower issue, but I'll check it out.   

[dukja]

Spent a few more weeks with New Phil.  Sierra-1 is going back.   I am getting more and more knowing NP's potential.  And I switched back to Aleph 3, and I knew I cannot switch back.   

New Phil scaled up really well with Aleph 3.  And I did a SPL calculation and measurement. With about 70dB listening level, I had about 20dB of headroom so this 30W Aleph is more than enough for me. my

And I have tried my DCB1 buffer as preamp.  While DCB1 makes the high end sweeter, but basically I lost resolution and some bass impact.  In the end, I still love my Audio-GD's DAC driving Aleph 3 directly.  With New Phil I only needs about 20dB digital attenuation, which does not seem to be problematic for my 24-bit DAC playing 16-bit CD.

[edwyun]

If you like the Aleph 30, why not try to find an Aleph with higher power - like the Aleph 2?  Sometimes hard to find but they are out there.

[dukja]

Mine is Aleph 3 and I could build some ~50W Aleph J.  However, what I tried to say was that even the 30W of my Aleph 3 is enough for my needs.  Just tried to sum up this thread. 

The high quality bass of New Phil driven by Aleph is very satisfying...   The entire sonic spectrum is full and well balanced.  I will not have any appetite to pursue new speaker for quite awhile.

I would love to build it and use it in the winter time, 300~400W dissipation will be cozy.  But the coming Summer makes me hesitate a little bit.   

[edwyun]

I would love to build it and use it in the winter time, 300~400W dissipation will be cozy.  But the coming Summer makes me hesitate a little bit.   

I know how you feel, I'm dissipating about 900W at idle.  Great in the winter, sometime brutal in the winter.  But uh so good.