Oneinthepipe, I am relatively new to this forum and have been in touch with Jim Salk thinking about purchasing a pair of HT2-TL speakers.
I currenly have an Ayre C-5exMP cd player and wanted your opinion on an amp and preamp to go with the TLs. I am cosidering the
Audio by Van Alstine Insight either 260 or 440 and the Transcendence Eight Preamp. I originally was thinking about the ModWright 9.0 SE Signature and the new KWA 100 amp. Any thoughts on which combo might be better for the TLs and the Ayre 5xe? I understand that the ModWright combo would cost more. How does the 440 sound with the Salks? Your reply would be most appreciated. Music Lover
I wish that I could be more helpful, but I am not familiar with the Ayre CDP. Additionally, I have only used AVA gear with my HT2-TL. I know that there are other excellent electronic manufacturers in addition to AVA, but I cannot compare the AVA gear to the ModWright gear with the HT2-TL speakers. I have listened to the ModWright Transporter in a system that is composed of outstanding electronics, speakers, and with excellent room acoustics, and I thought that the Transporter was outstanding (which I attribute, although perhaps incorrectly, to the Transporter's DAC and output stage).
When I was at RMAF the weekend before last, I listened to a lot of systems in hotel rooms in a very short amount of time with unfamiliar music and less than ideal room acoustics. Some systems, where I expected extraordinary sound, sounded grainy, and I suspect that the electronics were the problem. I assume that manufacturers demonstrate their equipment with other manufacturers' equipment that best compliments their offerings, but in many rooms, the sound was intolerable, IMO, whether the cause was electronics or speakers or a combination thereof, and many of those systems were very, very expensive (i.e., way more than a Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S). The Salk/AVA gear and the gear in a few other rooms produced clear, inviting music. There were not any other components anywhere near the price that sounded as good as the AVA components or the Salk speakers. The Salk ST RT/AVA UltraValve/preamp/DAC combo was a "show-stopper".
http://www.avguide.com/blog/the-greatest-bargain-the-rocky-mountain-audio-festSince you are considering AVA gear, perhaps you might consider speaking with Frank. He has his own preferences, obviously, but he doesn't oversell, by any stretch of the imagination, and he gave me good advice. Also, if you speak with Frank, you might keep in mind that his is also a custom shop, and he will provide certain options that are listed on his site, such as double-die output devices, and other options, such as installing two phono boards or a phase inverter bridge in a preamp, that are not listed on his site. Frank offers a 30 day trial if you don't like the equipment.
The Insight 440 is great with the HT2-TL, and the Salk and AVA gear is well-matched, IMO.