[Andre Kas]

Hello everyone from Ukraine.

I recently purchased a used PMC MB2i.

Need help choosing a power amplifier.

The preamplifier will be Shindo. The room has an area of 30 sq. m. with minimal acoustic treatment. I listen to music at low volume. I appreciate the musicality (especially in the midrange), high resolution, and the width and depth of the soundstage.

I am considering: 1. Pass Labs in class A (then what power will be enough?).

2. Pass Labs in class AB (what power is enough?).

3. Bryston (what model?).

4. Plinius (what model?).

5. Others.

[FullRangeMan]

Hello everyone from Ukraine.

I recently purchased a used PMC MB2i.

Need help choosing a power amplifier.

The preamplifier will be Shindo. The room has an area of 30 sq. m. with minimal acoustic treatment. I listen to music at low volume. I appreciate the musicality (especially in the midrange), high resolution, and the width and depth of the soundstage.

I am considering: 1. Pass Labs in class A (then what power will be enough?).

2. Pass Labs in class AB (what power is enough?).

3. Bryston (what model?).

4. Plinius (what model?).

5. Others.

I could use a GaN-FET amp very transparent and no heat.
https://shenzhenaudio.com/products/s-m-s-l-pa400-power-amplifier?_pos=2&_sid=e9eb9eb60&_ss=r

[mresseguie]

Hello everyone from Ukraine.

I recently purchased a used PMC MB2i.

Need help choosing a power amplifier.

The preamplifier will be Shindo. The room has an area of 30 sq. m. with minimal acoustic treatment. I listen to music at low volume. I appreciate the musicality (especially in the midrange), high resolution, and the width and depth of the soundstage.

I am considering: 1. Pass Labs in class A (then what power will be enough?).

2. Pass Labs in class AB (what power is enough?).

3. Bryston (what model?).

4. Plinius (what model?).

5. Others.

Welcome to AC!

Nice speakers! Are the PMC speakers (91dB; 4 Ohms) replacing the Aspara HL1 speakers (Frequency Response: 35 - 25000 Hz; Sensitivity: 102 dB)?

Your listed amplifier is a Shindo Montille. Could you describe its sound and what you like and/or dislike about it?

I'm afraid I can't offer input of Pass Labs or Plinius amps since I haven't heard them in my system (only in demo rooms). Recently, I have been researching the Coda S5.5 for my 95dB speakers. It's rated @ 50W Class A @ 8 Ohms. I suspect the S5.5 would be adequate for your 91dB PMC, but Coda does offer the more robust Coda Number 16 with 100W Class A.

Michael

[Andre Kas]

I could use a GaN-FET amp very transparent and no heat.
https://shenzhenaudio.com/products/s-m-s-l-pa400-power-amplifier?_pos=2&_sid=e9eb9eb60&_ss=r

I have a very negative attitude towards chinese products. For personal reasons.

[I.Greyhound Fan]

I am a Pass Labs guy.  Just about any of the pass amps 25 wpc or higher will work.  Pass amps do well with tube preamps.  They have a totally different sound than Bryston.  Pass is usually a more rounded organic sound than Bryston.  Both are excellent.

If you listen at low volumes, make sure the amp sounds good at low volumes.  The preamp surely plays are great roll in this in my experience.

[Andre Kas]

Welcome to AC!

Nice speakers! Are the PMC speakers (91dB; 4 Ohms) replacing the Aspara HL1 speakers (Frequency Response: 35 - 25000 Hz; Sensitivity: 102 dB)?

Your listed amplifier is a Shindo Montille. Could you describe its sound and what you like and/or dislike about it?

I'm afraid I can't offer input of Pass Labs or Plinius amps since I haven't heard them in my system (only in demo rooms). Recently, I have been researching the Coda S5.5 for my 95dB speakers. It's rated @ 50W Class A @ 8 Ohms. I suspect the S5.5 would be adequate for your 91dB PMC, but Coda does offer the more robust Coda Number 16 with 100W Class A.

Michael

Thanks Michael.
Shindo amplifiers (Masseto and Montille) will work with Aspara in the second system. For emotionally appealing listening to jazz, chamber music.
For large orchestras, rock, electronic music I am assembling a system with PMC.
The Montille amplifier has a very good sound, perfectly conveys emotions, timbre properties of each acoustic instrument, the human voice is transmitted fully and excitingly. But this applies only to highly sensitive acoustics. Unfortunately, such acoustics (high-quality) are very few.
I will never sell Shindo amplifiers. I had a hard time getting them (I think I'm the only one in Ukraine who has them).

[Andre Kas]

Is there any thread for PMC owners where they recommend amplifiers? The search is not working for me, I'm new.

[mresseguie]

Is there any thread for PMC owners where they recommend amplifiers? The search is not working for me, I'm new.

Andre,

Thank you for your reply.

There is no dedicated PMC circle here. However, one of the moderators owns <I believe> more than one pair of PMC speakers. Try sending JakeJ a PM. I'll bet he'll be happy to chat about PMC speakers with you.

[Andre Kas]

Andre,

Thank you for your reply.

There is no dedicated PMC circle here. However, one of the moderators owns <I believe> more than one pair of PMC speakers. Try sending JakeJ a PM. I'll bet he'll be happy to chat about PMC speakers with you.

I would be very grateful.

[Ron D]

As far as Bryston choices either the latest cubed 14 or 7B monoblocks would likely work well though  I don't know what the synergy with your preamp will be like. I've used many tubed preamps with success with a variety of Bryston amps over the years.

I'm sure even the prior "squared" versions of those 2 amps will work as well though I have no idea as the availability of used Bryston amps in the EU. Best to review Bryston's distribution network for that part of the world

[JakeJ]

I have the PMC EB1i and it's just a couple of dB less sensitive and I use a pair of YBA Signature monos for excellent results.  Also would recommend any of the Pass Labs class A amps.

[FullRangeMan]

I have a very negative attitude towards chinese products. For personal reasons.

In this case there is some made in US GaN-FET amps but no low price as the SMSL.

[abk456]

I have MB2se's driven by a Bryston 14B3 with a Bp 17 3 pre amp. We listen mostly to acoustic music and jazz. The 14B3 drives the PMC's easily. The sound is natural and not overly bright but small details are revealed. I do not know what they would be like with heavy rock but we live in a timber house and the practical limit in our case is when the walls begin to vibrate!

[ArthurDent]

Greetings & Welcome to AC Andre 

[Andre Kas]

I have the PMC EB1i and it's just a couple of dB less sensitive and I use a pair of YBA Signature monos for excellent results.  Also would recommend any of the Pass Labs class A amps.

Thank you.
Do you think Pass Labs XA60.5 monoblocks would be suitable?
I would like to note that I tried Pass Х150.5 and it is a bit weak in the bass frequencies.

[JakeJ]

XA60.5 might not be enough.  Maybe look for a pair of XA100.x or XA160.x if you can swing it.  I had the X350.5 for a while and no shortness of bass there but a beast to move around.  I have a pair of Threshold SA/1 amps to restore and that will give me my 160 Watts of pure class A power for the foreseeable future.

[FullRangeMan]

I recently purchased a used PMC MB2i.

I was unaware your speakers are low impedance and low sensitivity as you dont posted.
Frequency Response: 20Hz-25kHz
Sensitivity: 91B 1w 1m
Recommended Amp Power: 250-900W
Effective ATL™ Length: 3m 10ft Impedance: 4 Ohms
Crossover Frequency: 380Hz & 3.8kHz
Unfortunately with these wild driving conditions and the complex 3-way crossover you will need a muscular amp of at least 300W or more, but if your room is small under 15M² 200W per channel might be enough.

The manufacturer itself recommends a minimum of 250W.
Obviously you will not want the power amp works at high power (distortion).

EDITED

[FullRangeMan]

By comparison if your speaker were a Full Range driver with no crossover direct from the amp like Lii Audio F18, you would only need a small tube amp under 10W usually SET as Wright Audio, Decware, Lampizator etc

https://www.lii-song.com/product/one-pair-18-inch-full-range-speakers-superb-scale-soundstage-with-new-imaging-f-18/

http://www.glowinthedarkaudio.com/lii-audio-f18.html

[Andre Kas]

Here are some photos.

[Andre Kas]

I was unaware your speakers are low impedance and low sensitivity as you dont posted.
Frequency Response: 20Hz-25kHz
Sensitivity: 91B 1w 1m
Recommended Amp Power: 250-900W
Effective ATL™ Length: 3m 10ft Impedance: 4 Ohms
Crossover Frequency: 380Hz & 3.8kHz
Unfortunately with these wild driving conditions and the complex 3-way crossover you will need a muscular amp of at least 300W or more, but if your room is small under 15M² 200W per channel might be enough.

The manufacturer itself recommends a minimum of 250W.
Obviously you will not want the power amp works at high power (distortion).

EDITED

Yes I agree. I will look for 250 Watts or more.
The room is 30 sq m.