Best amp for lsi m705

cusco69

I am very happy with the m705s with my accuphase e406. Used amps are hard to come by here and new amps are way too expansive due to the high tax. Any contribution from this forum would be greatly appreciated so that I can keep my eyes and ears open to seek out any opportunities in vietnam. If I was in south, saigon the used market is so much alive there, but that's 2 hours flight away.:sad:

cusco69

Well, let me rephrase my question: there are very little choice of high power amps here in the north as most are still using those mu`multi channel karaoke amps. Mcintosh amps do pop up once in a while but no chance to audition. I have never used or heard the sound of it and do not know if it matches the m705s. Any one with that combination or have heard the combination? All feedback welcomed. What other amps would make the 705 really sing? Budget for next year is around 4k

Face

It depends on what kind of sound you're looking for. What do you want to change from what you have now?

cusco69

I am listening to music in the living room and does not play it loud due to accoustic limitations. I am going for details and a little warmer voice. The accuphase has a little bright voice especially for the lady voices. I am not sure which amp to get and in no hurry to change as I had just got the speakers changed . Just need to know so that I can be on the look out for it, as mentioned good hifi is hard to come by in my area. Thanks in advance for all contribution.

[Deleted User]

I found that tube amplification worked extremely well with your LSIM 705s. I do remember an audio shop out North, I believe it was in Hai Phong area/Hanoi area. In the South, like you stated, the 2 channel scene is vibrant and very alive. There are some great audio shops in Quan Nhat/Quan 3 districts, in which I believe, will ship. I still have their websites and will give you the information later. You could do the usual and purchase the name brands such as Unison Research or have your tube amp custom made to specs.

If I were you, you owe yourself a chance to fly to Saigon and listen to these amps/speakers in person. While there, go enjoy the coffee at Ca Phe Cua So(Windows Cafe) or Highland Cafe, gosh the coffee there is horrible and expensive. LOL. Anyhow, several places have the speakers setup properly, which will let you know the full potential of your setup. Just stay away from the Tannoy's and Sonus Faber stuff, it ruined things for me. Remember to bring your music collection with you, I would not use any Dam Vinh Hung CD's as reference, as I found Vu Le Quyen has much better recording. But of course, you seem to have very fluent English, bring your favorite American/England artists.

Cheers and have a wonderful night,
Halen

ravaneli

what are the choices that you have? Can you buy from US? I know shipping is ultra expensive but may still be better than local tax.

cusco69

Thanks Halen and ravaneli
I ship my accuphase from US and it cost me $450. I have to pay another 15% tax and that bringd the price close to buying local. But as mentioned they are in the south so what I save are traveling time and expenses which amounts to 20-25% of the price. I dare not trust the shops in the south to send it without auditioning or inspecting the goods. Another problem with shopping online is not many are willing to ship to vietnam. I ordered a long list of item off ebay, locking banana plugs, music cds and and and ..... but 90% got red tags for non shipments to my address.
Any way I would wait for your link in haiphong which is 3hrs drive from my place. Thanks Again Halen.
As mentioned I am looking for details, analitical details with a little warmth for vocals. Thanks in advance for all the coming suggestions.

[Deleted User]

Cusco69,

There was a place called Tien Dat that made custom tube amps and several other places. There were several other places that I went to and have to find their business cards to remember. However, I do know one right off and the place is called Anh Duy Audio. I went to the one in the First District on Pasteur Road in Saigon(HCM City). The website is

http://www.hifi-gallery.com/vn/product.aspx?cid=134&iid=406

The place out North is at the Capital (Hanoi). Once again, their items are not too shabby. hahaha. More money then my pocket could hold going overseas.

I have had the chance to hear Unison Research hooked up to the LSIM 705s and it sounds fantastic. With that said, I also liked the sound of Yaqin Tube amps, which you could get from your Neighbor up North (China).

A side note. The Sonus Faber is just stupid beautiful. But prefer the Usher Audio Be/Diamond tweeter over the Ring Radiator that Sonus Faber uses.

Lastly, do you know any Custom's Agents in Vietnam? Bypass the tax..... hahaha

Halen

[Deleted User]

By the way, my family roots are from Mong Cai, Quang Ninh.... Just now noticed your location..

Cheers,
Halen

cusco69

hi Halen
Its 150km from my place. I do go there once every couple of months. Are there good shops up there? M?n Cai is much better than Hatu at least prices are cheaper and the air is cleaner. Hatu is a coal mining town. Its black everywhere due to the coal dust.
I will find time to shop around once I
have settled in. Just moved here a year ago.

[Deleted User]

I have not been to Mong Cai and my parents generation have not been there since pre 1954. Now back to the amps. I also have the same speakers that you do and solid state just does not do it enough justice. That is, in my opinion. There are many tube amps out there that will make your speakers sound much more involving. The more affordable one, such as Yaqin, did a pretty good job. A Yaqin such as this.

http://www.hi-end.on9mart.com/cart/Yaqin_MS-20L.html

Of note, I am only using that website to show you the model.

cusco69

Thanks Halen
What would be a good tube amp for a budget of $3000? I can sell the accuphase for btn 2 to 2.5k and maybe a little top up to make it to $3000 to get a better amp new or used. I would certainly try to audition as many as possible but had never really gone into tubes before. Another concern would be the constant unexpected power cuts/failures here, would that affect the life of the tube? Not forgetting the voltage fluctuations from 190-220 volts almost constantly despite me putting in a voltage stabilizer.

ravaneli

Don't go tube, friend, big waste of money. For 3000 you can get a fantastic solid state amp. Will be much more accurate in reproduction and much more powerful. If voices are bright find an equalizer and tame the high frequencies. Even 3db will do.

Look at this guy for example

http://www.parasound.com/halo/a21.php

I personally think emotiva is good enough but their cosmetics are kind of tasteless. Halo from Parasound looks great and is virtually noise free.

tonyb

ravaneli wrote: »

Don't go tube, friend, big waste of money. For 3000 you can get a fantastic solid state amp. Will be much more accurate in reproduction and much more powerful. If voices are bright find an equalizer and tame the high frequencies. Even 3db will do.

.

Thats your advice ? Find an equalizer ?

Granted 3 g's can buy a good amp SS or Tube. Amps have different sound characteristics so to tame some higher freq., look for a warmer sounding amp with some musicality. On the SS side, Belles, B&k, Pass Labs, McCormack, Bat, musical fidelity, and dozens more. Tubed, Rogue, Manley, Cary, Vac, Wolcott, Moscode, and dozens more too. I use a hybrid tubes/ss, Butler amp with good results so thats also an option. The amp world is your oyster in the 3 g range.

marvda1

are you just looking for an integrated amp or power amp?
if power amp, what would you be using as a preamp?

cusco69

First I have no experience or hybrid. Second my concern about the unstable voltage and third life of tubes and the endless types of tubes for different sound characteristic. I am really weary going into tubes. I would rather go pre-power ss. But again I need help to select the right combinations to get the right warmth and clarrity that I am looking for. I am in no hurry now as I had just spent 10g on the 2 sy~systems. I am getting all your feedback to keep an eye on the market. If there is one that pops up and the price is right I would jump right in.
So whether tubes, integrated or pre-power, I really đơn't know. I am still very new to hifi and just hope to get help here to get a sy~system at a reasonable price within by budget.
Well THANKS again for all your contributions so far, but keep the recommendations comming as I am taking notes here.

Dawgfish

I can also attest that tubes and LSiMs are a match made in heaven. Don't listen to post above saying that tubes are a total waste of money, that post is totally off the mark. In fact I find the opposite to be true from a price/performance ratio. You have to spend quite a bit more on a SS system that will get close to the sound of a moderate tube based system most of the time based on my experiences.

Having said all of that, your concerns about voltage fluctuations and tube amps is a legitimate one. I am in the process right now of reapairing one of my tube amps from this very same issue and that was with it plugged into a power conditioner. Giving the conditions that you state, I would probably lean towards a warmer solid state amp or a tube/solid state hybrid amp as the others have suggested. I own a couple of them (Anthem Amp-2 SEs) and they are great amps. I wouldn't sweat the tube issues with the hybrid amps. They are essentially solid state amps with tube input stages to give them a little extra warmth. The smaller signal tubes that are used with hybrid amps and tube preamps for that matter are much less vulnerable to voltage spikes than are power tubes in a tube power amp. They also tend to last much longer than power tubes and do not need to be biased like power tubes.

Tube Preamps with solid state or hybrid amps usually sound fantastic. You get the tube midrange warmth with the solid state bass. You can easily find both in your price range. Some tube preamps that I like are Anthem/Sonic Frontiers, Rogue, Conrad Johnson, Acoustic Research, Cary, BAT, YS Audio, Odyssey, etc. Pair the pre with a good warmer sounding solid state or hybrid amp like from Anthem, B&K, Parasound, Odyssey, Belles, etc. and you have the potential to have a great sounding set-up.

ravaneli

while the most expensive tube manage to get accurate enough and powerful enough, they can't escape the fundamental problem of waste of money. If you could make a tube amp that does not distort AT ALL, it will sound like a solid state amp, so why pay 5 times the price for a product that requires a lot of maintenance.

Technically speaking, yes, each amp has unique sound characteristic, but, unlike speakers, their signatures are so much alike that human ear can't detect the differences, at least not between most SS amps. And remember, manufacturers build amps not so you like them, but so they reproduce the source as accurately as possible.

My girlfriend is in Vietnam now, her dad died, but I know the life in Vietnam and I would hate to see the community steer you in the wrong direction like they do with most newcomers.

Solid state amps amplify the source extremely accurately, their price is reasonable, and they are very reliable. If the highs sound bright, the reason is your speakers, or perhaps the source itself is bright. I can't stand most classic music. Either way, most receivers offer a way to tune down the highs, and if need be get a preamp. But for me the purpose of an audio system is to be as transparent as possible, and play everything as is.

Dawgfish

Raveneli I don't have anything against you personally, but your beliefs in most things two channel audio are misguided at best. This is the last time I'm going to get in a conversation about these things with you because you believe what you believe and I believe what I believe. No arguing either way is going to convince each other either way and I have no problem with that.

What I do have a problem with is you telling the OP that the rest of the community is steering him in the wrong direction. I find it ironic that many, many folks have came to the same conclusions about audio over the years trying out different things and finding out what really works and what doesn't. I also find it ironic that you are giving advice on tube equipment when you in fact have no experience with it. How do you really know? So many people from so many different areas and walks of life have came to very similiar positions over what works in audio, but yet you are the lone voice of reason on these matters? I am not a conformist, never have been and never will, but I have come to realize that most of the advice that most of the long standing members here have to say is good and sound advice. It comes from many, many years of trial and error. I have come to these conclusions after many years of trial and error myself. It's kind of like when you don't believe what your parents are saying when you are younger, but after you get older and live life for a little bit you begin to realize that most of the things they are saying are correct. Maybe you will come to this conclusion about audio and maybe you wont. I really don't care either way. i just care when you try to make it out that we are misleading the OP when in fact we are putting our collective experiences together to help the OP with what he is trying to achieve.

Cusco69 sorry for getting off-track on your thread. I'm just trying to point out that many have given you good advice here on this thread despite what one poster thinks.

[Deleted User]

Cusco69,

My last advice to you. Neu ma ban that su la ban. The best route to take is to let your ears be the judge. I will be honest, even if you have the best matching solid state or tube based amp, your room setup will not work. Given the amount of time that I have spent in Vietnam and the typical house, you simply have too many reflective surfaces. The energy surge and loss, I could understand completely, but it is not as bad as it used to be. I also understand, it is still bad in places, such as yours.

I do not care what I kind of equipment you may end up with, acoustically, your listening room will never give you what you are looking for without further treatments. But... The fact remains and I stand by, tubes, do indeed sound better.

Your audio journey will consist of so many factors that range from experience to experience seeking. I hold no bias to any given equipment, speaker or wire. I do enjoy the humor that some members try to pass off as facts. When it comes down to a two channel audio setup, it becomes very personal. I have nothing against EQ's but again, I will not indulge anyone that advises it as a solution.

Slow down, take your time, and experiment all the possibilities. I have tried countless solid state amps, name the price range, it is very likely, I have tried it. Let me put it simply. If you are a critical 2 channel guy, then you must have some form or ability to decipher the difference between solid state v solid state, DAC's and Tubes. But then again, I understand your constant voltage problems. So.. take care of your room treatment first, it will make a world of a difference and be a hell of a lot cheaper.

Halen

txcoastal1

oops

txcoastal1

Listen to Halen, he hit the nail on the head

I have a room that I have pushed around 20K worth of equipment, but the ceilings are high, windows, and glass front cabinets that 'cause major acoustic havoc....move the gear to another room and there is sonic bliss.

My 2 channel system is in the hell room but have tempered the room with some (WAF) treatments and using JRivers DSP settings improves my listening environment greatly. When the kids get out of college and I take back over the theater room things will be much better.

Good luck on your journey

cusco69

Hi All
Its been a very interesting week reading all these feedbacks, comments, recommendations and debate about the different amps. I am so happy to be part of this polk community as everyone speak out without holding back which I think its healthy for newbies like me. I fully agree that my top priority is to get the accoustic treatments for the listening area, which I had started. Please keep this free speaking spirit and no holds writing going. Can never thank you guys enough. Have a great 2013 and long live POLK

F1nut

cusco69, I can tell you from first hand experience that the LSiM's sound good on Bel Canto SS gear and Audio Research tube gear, but if I had to pick I would go with Bel Canto because the sound was definitely better.

Another concern would be the constant unexpected power cuts/failures here, would that affect the life of the tube?

No, it will not as long as you turn the tube amp off until the power comes back steady. The problem occurs when a tube amp is turned off and on in rapid succession, but then again, SS amps don't like that much either.

Not forgetting the voltage fluctuations from 190-220 volts almost constantly despite me putting in a voltage stabilizer.

What brand/type of voltage stabilizer did you get? I take it this is not a power regenerator?

As for anything ravaneli has to say about audio and I hope to make this as clear as possible, IGNORE HIM BECAUSE HE DOESN'T KNOW A DAMN THING!!!

ravaneli

I actually agree that room acoustics are important. My own speakers sound rather different in my bedroom and in my living room. When I buy my next place i will definitely invest some money for treatments for one of the rooms. By the way, unlike the amp controversies and cable controversies and 5W distortion kill speakers controversies... I have never seen anyone dispute that room acoustics are important, so it could be taken as a safe investment.

cusco69

Hi F1
Thanks again. I am using local manufactured automatic voltage stabilizer rated at 10000va, which uses servo motor regulators. Suppose to keep voltage stable from 150v to 250v, but at times I still see the lights in the amp display dimming and blinking slowly. I have also using the Belkin surgemaster to protect the system.
As regard to the amp recommendations I am taking notes here and would take my time to travel around to try audition them with my own cds to compare with the accuphase. As it is now the e406itself is quite analytical and true to the imput source. Just looking for a little warmth in the vocals. If its going to cost an arm or leg than I would stay with this for a while to save up.
Happy New Year.

F1nut

I am using local manufactured automatic voltage stabilizer rated at 10000va, which uses servo motor regulators. Suppose to keep voltage stable from 150v to 250v, but at times I still see the lights in the amp display dimming and blinking slowly.

I'm thinking a power regenerator would serve you better. PS Audio makes some nice ones, but I'm unsure if they are capable of handling 220V. Probably says on their site.

I'm curious, what cables are you using?

I don't see a pre amp listed, what are you using?

cusco69

I have checked your recommended aps pure power and they do have 220to 240vac models, that would add another 3gs to my budget, :sad:.
As to the cables, I am using vdh mc magnum hybrid halogen free speaker cables (dont ask me what it means, recommended by the Polk speaker shop), audioquest mini to rca, and chord cobra ees rca for the cdp.
As for pre-amp, haha, I am not into that before, currently I am using only the accuphase e406 to drive the M705s.
Currently the amp recommendations are quite a list: F1nut-bel canto and audio research, Dawgfish-anthem/sonic frontier, rouge, conrad johnson, accoustic research, Tonyb- belle, b&k, rouge, manley, cary,vac and Halen-yaqin for testing and a taste of tubes. Thanks to all and would try to learn as much as possible on these recommendations and get a audition where possible.

F1nut

I have checked your recommended aps pure power

No, I suggested PS Audio, www.psaudio.com

As for pre-amp, haha, I am not into that before, currently I am using only the accuphase e406 to drive the M705s.

Got ya, I didn't realize it was an integrated amp.

Geoff4rfc

halenhoang wrote: »

Cusco69,

My last advice to you. Neu ma ban that su la ban.
Halen

I'm not sure what that means but it sounds pretty cool and I bet I could guess

cusco69

Ops sorry. I checked psaudio, they are the same power inverters to connect to dc then back to ac again to give pure, constant clean and protected ac voltage. Prices are the same too plus shipping will be 3g.
I am really learning a lot here, never knew that there are such products in the market, really interesting. Thanks again F1nut.