Tomorrow I am picking up a BC204 stereo amp from Marc Mickelson of SoundStage. It will be used to drive the main channels of the Alon speakers via the DAC output of the TacT RCS 2.2X, which is fitted with the Aberdeen Signature power supply.
This will allow a direct comparison with the TacT S2150 amp. Both the S2150 and BC204 are 150 watts per channel into 8 ohms, so there should be no advantage of either amp in terms of power delivery (the speakers are a nearly resistive 8 ohm load). So the only variables will be the amplifiers themselves, the DAC card (used with the BC204), and the interconnects (XLR from RCS to BC204, AES/EBU from RCS to S2150).
Since I only have one DAC card, the sub towers will have to be driven by my other S2150 amp. The Crown is better suited for that role but the TacT amp handles them quite well given their 2 ohm nominal impedance. While I have the S2150 driving the subs, I'll take some measurements with the correction filter implemented within the S2150 -- it's pretty cool to see in-room bass measure perfectly flat! For shits and giggles, I'll also turn the microphone 90 degrees, making the L sub front and the R sub rear, and take a measurement with the "rear" sub delayed and reversed polarity, and without delay with normal and reverse polarity.
Given the differential in cost, size, and weight between the BC and TacT amps, the S2150 is the clear underdog heading into this comparison. With any luck I will also be receiving a hot-rodded S2150 from Anthony at Aberdeen while the BC204 is still on hand -- maybe the madman from Las Vegas will be able to even the odds
More to follow...
Thanks to Bingenito and Gilbert Yeung for this opportunity. Also to Marc for meeting me half way to make the exchange.