What amp for your Salk Speakers?

srb · « **Reply #120 on:** 14 Dec 2012, 05:22 pm »

You can also just first type the text you want and highlight it, then click the Insert Hyperlink button and paste the URL into the URL field.

Steve

robcentola · « **Reply #121 on:** 20 Sep 2013, 10:42 pm »

I just found out my new Peachtree Nova Pre/220 is sitting at my doorstep! Now just waiting for the good folks at Salk to create my Song Towers and I'll be in total BLISS!

mirekti · « **Reply #122 on:** 24 Jan 2015, 04:41 am »

Hi all, I plan on getting SS8 and would like to pair them with the Emotiva XDA-1L monoblocks.
Is anyone using this combination? I guess combining class A and SS8 should put me in heaven.

Lizard84 · « **Reply #123 on:** 2 Feb 2015, 04:48 pm »

I use a McIntosh MC7270 to power my WOW1's. a little overkill possibly but it sounds wonderful.

rollo · « **Reply #124 on:** 2 Feb 2015, 05:02 pm »

Quote from: Lizard84 on 2 Feb 2015, 04:48 pm

I use a McIntosh MC7270 to power my WOW1's. a little overkill possibly but it sounds wonderful.

Very good choice. Another to consider is Conrad Johnson tubed gear. Great tonality and harmonic structure to be had. Not a CJ dealer.

charles

I.Greyhound Fan · « **Reply #125 on:** 2 Feb 2015, 07:03 pm »

Quote from: DMurphy on 5 May 2012, 02:23 am

I gotta be honest here. We may well have been listening to the same amp, or a very similar amp, as you auditioned. And I also doubt very much that there is a dramatic difference in the sound of Frank's amps as they continue to be refined. I spoke with Frank at some length last Saturday, and he mentioned that he had obtained a volume-compensated switching preamp that could be programmed to produce a sequence of ramdomly selected A-B-X (where X is no change from the previous amp or other device) changes among sources to test scientifically wheter listeners could really hear differences between devices (be they speakers, preamps, or amps). It can be a humbling experience, as Frank was willing to admit, particularly when it comes to electronics rather than speakers. This is an endless debate. I don't doubt the sincerity of people who say they can hear major differences between amplifiers. But if those amps are operating within their power limitations, I would bet just about any amount of money that listeners couldn't pass a properly controlled blind ABX test. In any event, I have full confidence in the neutrality of Frank's amps--I'll be using his electronics to run my Philharmonic speakers at the Captial Audio Fest in July.

I can tell you that there is a dramatic difference between the AVA Synergy and R amps. The R amps are more dynamic, have more air, transparency and depth to the music. I got to hear them at Frank's. Bass and treble are totally different between the amps. The Synergy amps also sounded a little darker to me. Both amps are a major improvement in sound compared to the older 550 amps.

I was able to bring my Parasound A21 amp over to Frank's to compare and both the Synergy and R amps sounded much different and better. Even my 23 year old Son easily heard the difference.

Lizard84 · « **Reply #126 on:** 2 Feb 2015, 07:28 pm »

Quote from: rollo on 2 Feb 2015, 05:02 pm

Very good choice. Another to consider is Conrad Johnson tubed gear. Great tonality and harmonic structure to be had. Not a CJ dealer.

charles

Thanks, I've never had the opportunity to listen to to any CJ gear although I welcome the thought. My system is a hybrid of sorts, The MC7270 is SS of course but my preamp is a Modwright LS-100 tube pre.

SCompRacer · « **Reply #127 on:** 2 Feb 2015, 08:11 pm »

Quote from: nemir on 17 Apr 2012, 11:25 pm

What speakers do you have?

What amp/pre-amp for stereo? What about surround?

Salk SS8's. My home theatre and two channel are separate. Two channel, Audio Research Reference 3 pre, Bottlehead Eros phono, re-capped KSA-250 amp. Two subs to shore up the low end as I have an open 10,000 cubic feet main level.

Prior, I tried some Wyred sx 1000 mono blocks.

Vulcan00 · « **Reply #128 on:** 3 Feb 2015, 08:30 pm »

I purchased a Parasound A51( 400 watts RMS x 5 @ 4 Ω- Circuitry designed by legendary John Curl, - Current capacity 60 amperes peak per channel )amp, with intent to setup a Surround system. Personal conditions have changed my home conditions to a single apartment. Therefore the surround system died an I have been listening to only 2 ch of the A51 amp. I have it set up in a good dedicated room with GIK treatments and it sounds great at the volume level I can listen.

My question is do you think I should go to a dedicated 2 ch amp and preamp ?

Harrison

srb · « **Reply #129 on:** 3 Feb 2015, 08:50 pm »

Quote from: Vulcan00 on 3 Feb 2015, 08:30 pm

My question is do you think I should go to a dedicated 2 ch amp and preamp ?

I believe the A51 has a single power supply common to all 5 channels, as opposed to amplifiers that have a separate power transformer and power supply capacitors for each amplifier channel board. The output devices are identical between the A51 and A21 (8 per channel), but you actually have more power supply available for stereo when only using 2 of the A51's 5 channels (2.2 kVA transformer and 164,000 uF capacitance for the A51 vs. 1.2 kVA transformer and 100,000 uF capacitance for the A21).

If I were to swap for the equivalent 2 channel amp, I wouldn't do it because of better performance (the A51 operated as a stereo amp may actually have a slight edge), but the difference would likely be small and I would probably personally sell the A51 and buy a used A21 if I thought I could put ~ $1500 back in my pocket. You would also save a bit on electrical operating cost as 3 additional Class A/B biased channels would not be wasting 150% additional idle power consumption when not in standby.

Steve

Big Red Machine · « **Reply #130 on:** 3 Feb 2015, 09:36 pm »

Here's a blast from the past of amps I have used on 7? different Salk models.

Monarchy SM70 monos
PS Audio GCC500 modified by Underwood
Moscode 401HR
Wyred SX1000 monos
Wyred SX500 monos
Wyred ST250
Dodd 120 monos
BAT VK500
Pass Labs X350.5
Sunfire 600
Rowland 201 monos
Belles 150A Refs as monos
TAD Hibachi monos
Dared VP-20 monos
VTL ST85
Cherry 4800A
Cherry Plus
ATI 602
PS Audio Delta 250 monos
Hafler 9130
Hafler SE240
Hafler XL280
Electrocompaniet AW220
Jolida JD202A
AVA something auditioned
Xindak ? 200 wpc
TRL Samsons
AVA Synergy 450
Electrocompaniet AW180 monos (presently)

David C · « **Reply #131 on:** 3 Feb 2015, 10:22 pm »

BRM
all I can say is wow! Your wife must be the most forgiving wife on the planet. Which amp was/is your favourite?

Enjoy
David

jtwrace · « **Reply #132 on:** 3 Feb 2015, 10:31 pm »

Quote from: David C on 3 Feb 2015, 10:22 pm

BRM
all I can say is wow! Your wife must be the most forgiving wife on the planet. Which amp was/is your favourite?

Enjoy
David

Probably this one.

Quote from: Big Red Machine on 3 Feb 2015, 09:36 pm

Electrocompaniet AW180 monos (presently)

kingdeezie · « **Reply #133 on:** 3 Feb 2015, 10:39 pm »

Currently using Manley Neo Classic 250s on my Exotica 3s. The Manley Classic 250's were the best match for my old speakers that I found, going to let the E3s break in before I decide if I am going to switch out to something different or not.

Big Red Machine · « **Reply #134 on:** 4 Feb 2015, 12:14 am »

Quote from: David C on 3 Feb 2015, 10:22 pm

BRM
all I can say is wow! Your wife must be the most forgiving wife on the planet. Which amp was/is your favourite?

Enjoy
David

Like what I have but have a large soft spot in my heart for the Dodd 120 monos.

sfox7076 · « **Reply #135 on:** 4 Feb 2015, 12:41 am »

Those Dodd 120s almost never come up used...

sfox7076 · « **Reply #136 on:** 4 Feb 2015, 01:08 am »

My list:

Oultaw 7000
AVA Insight 240/3
AVA Ultra 550
AVA Ultimate 70
Dodd EL84 Amp
NCores
1625 tube amps

jd3 · « **Reply #137 on:** 4 Feb 2015, 02:22 pm »

I'm still behind Pete in number of Salk's owned (6) and in amps used, but here's my list (in no particular order):

Yamaha RX-673
Pioneer HT Receiver (10xx something)
Forte 5
Red Dragon M500’s
Outlaw 7500
Outlaw 7125
Unison Sinfonia
Yamaha RX-A1000
Denon AVR-1613
Luxman 505u
Pass 30.5
Pass 60.5’s
Pass INT-150
Pass 250.5
Pass INT-30A
McIntosh MAC-6700

Big Red Machine · « **Reply #138 on:** 4 Feb 2015, 03:29 pm »

You're sick John, you need help.

Quote from: jd3 on 4 Feb 2015, 02:22 pm

I'm still behind Pete in number of Salk's owned (6) and in amps used, but here's my list (in no particular order):

sfox7076 · « **Reply #139 on:** 4 Feb 2015, 03:49 pm »

I don't know how to count the speakers. I have owned: SongTowers RT, SongSurrounds (still have these), 1 SongCenter, SongSurround IIs (still have these), HT2-TLs, 1 HTC and Excoticas.