Amps for Raidho D3's

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The best of the best !!!!
 
Mike, something different to consider from one of the long term amp designers, but not a "reviewer flavor of the month", the Music Reference RM-200. Roger's reputation for great tube amps goes back to his days with Beveridge in 1978. His classic RM-9 and RM-10 have both been audiophile favorites for almost 25 years. This recommendation is based on if the heat from the quad of KT-88's or 6550's will not be an issue for you in South Central Florida. I have owned one of Roger's amps for over a decade and have never had an urge to move it. Music Reference RM-200 Vacuum Tube Amplifer.
 
Jack,

Music Reference amps are supposed to be phenomenal. A friend recommends them highly to me and I plan on trying them in the future.
 
Joe, I have never heard the RM-200, but I have heard the classic RM-9 and own an RM-10. If you want to hear one I would watch A-Gon and pick up a used RM-9. With it you can use KT-88's, 6550's and even EL-34's. I keep watching the site in hopes of picking up an RM-9 at a fair price. Unfortunately most of them are going for several times what there new price was. I picked up my RM-10 for $500 in mint condition and now Roger is selling them for over $2400. This would be a good deal on the RM-9 in todays market. Music Reference RM-9 MK1 Excellent, great sounding versatile 100 watt Tube amplifier | Tube | Fairfax, Virginia 22030 | AudiogoN - The High-end Audio Community
 
Jack said:
Mike, something different to consider from one of the long term amp designers, but not a "reviewer flavor of the month", the Music Reference RM-200. Roger's reputation for great tube amps goes back to his days with Beveridge in 1978. His classic RM-9 and RM-10 have both been audiophile favorites for almost 25 years. This recommendation is based on if the heat from the quad of KT-88's or 6550's will not be an issue for you in South Central Florida. I have owned one of Roger's amps for over a decade and have never had an urge to move it. Music Reference RM-200 Vacuum Tube Amplifer.
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Thanks Jack! I will definitely look into those. One problem though - tubes and Raidho's don't mix. The D1's were completely uncontrolled with my ARC REF 250's - and they are superb amps that tame my big Aida's and even Revels! But when I put them on my Raidho's, there was more flab than an old lady getting out of the tub.

Do you have any Solid State favorites?
 
Mike, the Music Reference amps are not "tubey" at all. I have owned Roger's amps and preamps and they are dead neutral. From talking to Richard Vandersteen about them, he found them to have much more bottom end control with his speakers than did the ARC's or the CJ's. If you want to look at "classic" SS amps, them I would look at the AVA Fet Valve amps avahifi - Fet Valve 400R and 600R Hybrid Power Amplifiers and the Belles Reference Series 350a. Both of these designers go back over 30 years. Another option would be any of the current Parasound amplifiers designed by John Curl or Nelson Pass's current series which the guys at Tone Audio seem to love.
 
Mike congrats on your D3 purchase, once you decide on amps and preamp match it with the Valhalla 2, then you are rolling. Oh then use the Valhalla 2 with the Aida and ARC gear and tell us the outcome.
 
Mike...congrats on the D3. I replied to your PM but in case you did not see it, the 520 and D'Ag Mono combo should work well from an impedance matching perspective. In fact, any amp with the 520 should work well from an impedance matching perspective. It's output impedance of 10 ohms means it can drive anything. There should be no tonal aberrations due to imppedance mismatch between the preamp and amp. Whether they will do it for you as a combo sonically is a different story and only you can answer that once you hook them up to the D3s with your cabling in your room (unless your able to borrow said combo from a local dealer to demo in your setup which obviously would be the ideal way to go if possible before pulling the trigger). Good luck!
 
Jack said:
Mike, the Music Reference amps are not "tubey" at all. I have owned Roger's amps and preamps and they are dead neutral. From talking to Richard Vandersteen about them, he found them to have much more bottom end control with his speakers than did the ARC's or the CJ's. If you want to look at "classic" SS amps, them I would look at the AVA Fet Valve amps avahifi - Fet Valve 400R and 600R Hybrid Power Amplifiers and the Belles Reference Series 350a. Both of these designers go back over 30 years. Another option would be any of the current Parasound amplifiers designed by John Curl or Nelson Pass's current series which the guys at Tone Audio seem to love.
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Thanks Jack!
 
cmalak said:
Mike...congrats on the D3. I replied to your PM but in case you did not see it, the 520 and D'Ag Mono combo should work well from an impedance matching perspective. In fact, any amp with the 520 should work well from an impedance matching perspective. It's output impedance of 10 ohms means it can drive anything. There should be no tonal aberrations due to imppedance mismatch between the preamp and amp. Whether they will do it for you as a combo sonically is a different story and only you can answer that once you hook them up to the D3s with your cabling in your room (unless your able to borrow said combo from a local dealer to demo in your setup which obviously would be the ideal way to go if possible before pulling the trigger). Good luck!
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Thanks Cyril! I knew you would know!
 
iamhifi said:
Mike congrats on your D3 purchase, once you decide on amps and preamp match it with the Valhalla 2, then you are rolling. Oh then use the Valhalla 2 with the Aida and ARC gear and tell us the outcome.
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Thanks! I am also considering Raidho's new line of cables called Ansuz.
 
Mike...another suggestion to consider is the Soulution 530 integrated. Should be able to drive the D3s very well (125wpc into 8ohms, 250wpc into 4ohms, and 500woc into 2ohms) and more importantly damping factor of >10,000 (vs. ARC Ref 250's DF of 10), which will take those woofer bins on the D3 and make them it's beeeehaaaatch! (errr....excuse my swiss french :D). One box solution (a big box but one box nonetheless
soulution530_1211_002.gif
) and you know the preaamp and amp portions will match perfectly. One less set of cables and should come in well under the 520/D'Ag mono combo. Just another thought to consider.
 
cmalak said:
Mike...another suggestion to consider is the Soulution 530 integrated. Should be able to drive the D3s very well (125wpc into 8ohms, 250wpc into 4ohms, and 500woc into 2ohms) and more importantly damping factor of >10,000 (vs. ARC Ref 250's DF of 10), which will take those woofer bins on the D3 and make them it's beeeehaaaatch! (errr....excuse my swiss french :D). One box solution (a big box but one box nonetheless
soulution530_1211_002.gif
) and you know the preaamp and amp portions will match perfectly. One less set of cables and should come in well under the 520/D'Ag mono combo. Just another thought to consider.
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Thanks Cyril - I can always count on you! Scary smart. The 530 is definitely an option. How does the 501/520 combo stack up against the 530 in your opinion (spec wise).
 
Mike said:
Thanks Cyril - I can always count on you! Scary smart. The 530 is definitely an option. How does the 501/520 combo stack up against the 530 in your opinion (spec wise).
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Output specs between the 501 monos and the 530 integrated are essentially identical (output power, THD distortion, slew rate, damping factor...) all the same. The 530 literally looks like a 520 pre and a set of 501 monos rolled into one case!
 
I know that at some of the trade shows, Raidho speakers are demoed with big tube amps. I'd like to hear the D3 with CJ ART monos. Any opinions?
 
I have heard D3s with Burmester 911s. It was magnificent!! That Burmester stack/D3s made my system sound broken! :huh:

Also heard D1s with T+A PA 3000 HV! That was really nice, smooth and articulate as well.
 
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