LSi M 705 Thinking of Upgrading the AMP - Suggestions

josephp732

I have been running a dedicated 2 Channel Audio System that I purchased new for about three years now. Polk LSi M 705 powered by a NAD C375BEE 150W x 2 integrated amp.

I find at moderate listening levels the NAD does a good job. When it warms up it's does well on some of my reference music like Stevie ray Vaughan's - Tin Pan Alley, James Taylor's - Gaia, Donald Fagen's - Nightfly, most of my Jazz stuff is pretty good, Sonny Rollins, Miles Davis, etc...

My issue is two fold - I will be moving the system to a much larger space about 3 times the size of the current listening area and I find that when I want to push the system and move into some of my rock reference material, the NAD can't really get it's teeth in to and when asked to really drive a song at loud volume, the amp has a tendency to "harden up" and it really can sound cluttered with busier tracks.

I borrowed a friends Peachtree Audio Grand Integrated X-1 Integrated Amplifier, 440W x 2, and boy did the amp take control of the 705's woofers. The bass line exploded in Dire Straits - Heavy Fuel and Spiderbait's version of Black Betty was a a bit insane. BUT - going back to my previous mentioned reference material the Peachtree sounded a bit cold and the sound stage too distinct (the woofers, mid's and tweeter sounded too separated) - even with the front-end tubes engaged on the Peachtree, I missed the warmth of the NAD.

So as I start to look for an upgrade path (I am open to going to a separate amp and pre-amp), I was wondering what kind of advise the forum members could offer? My budget is around $3.5k.

marvda1

take a look at the kinki ex-m1 integrated at about $2200
http://hifiknights.com/reviews/aplifiers/kinki-studio-ex-m1/

josephp732

Thank you for the link. I have read through some very positive reviews. Have you heard the EX-M1?

marvda1

yes, i do own the amp. here is a link to my review and others.
https://www.kinki-studio.com/news

marvda1

biased, no drink, unbiased three drinks in

marvda1

i bet this preamp and skip's dayens mono blocks would be to die for. if it's enough power.
https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis983h4-supratek-chardonnay-stereo-tube-preamplifier-14430-tube

http://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/184117/dayens-ampino-monoblocks#latest

josephp732

I am not sure I can properly ventilate a singled ended class A tube amp! But it would incredible to have some first hand feedback on some amp choice's with the 707's - 100% I will pay for the drinks - maybe Bruichladdich Black Art single malt?

marvda1

josephp732 wrote: »

I am not sure I can properly ventilate a singled ended class A tube amp! But it would incredible to have some first hand feedback on some amp choice's with the 707's - 100% I will pay for the drinks - maybe Bruichladdich Black Art single malt?

preamps run nowhere near as hot as power amps.

josephp732

Sorry - I was referring to the MastersounD BoX, I am not sure if I could ventilate properly. Skip - what should my next step be?

josephp732

I don't need a DAC, phono is a big plus, remote is a nice to have. Marvins Kinki integrated seems very interesting. If I was to up the budget - how do think your McIntosh would drive these?

I have a friend that will let me borrow his Anthem STR amp 400w x 2 (though he not very enthusiastic about carting over 60lbs)- I was thinking of testing this by using my NAD as a pre-amp.

josephp732

Thank you Skip - sent you a PM with my contact info.

shs

I am driving my 705s with a D-Sonic amp and like it very much. Plenty of power.

halo

@josephp732 - The McCormack DNA-125 and Cary CPA-1, available in the flea market from yours truly, are a great combo to drive the 705's!

https://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/183988/cary-audio-design-cpa-1-stereo-preamp#latest

https://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/183989/mccormack-dna-125-stereo-power-amp#latest

You get the tube pre sound without having to mess with the tubes,

mpitogo

I can tell you without a doubt the LSiM 707 will come alive with McIntosh equipment. I currently have my pair running with a C47 pre and an MC452 amp, the results are amazing. I was previously using the same pre with a Rotel RB-1590 it’s like night and day. I could not believe the effortless and authoritative bass coming out of the builtin subs.

In my case less is not always more, more is definitely more! I’ve also run an MA5200 integrated without the autoformer, powerguard will come on and heatsinks will get hot, Class A hot. The MA5200 is quite comfortable running the previous gen LSi25 which is mainly an MTM with a builtin powered subs.

joecoulson

I have 705’s and went from two Linn LK240’s running them to four of them and they sing!
Marantz as a pre
They don’t need a lot of power to sound good, but they need a little more to sound amazing.

rntlee

Keep the amp, upgrade your speakers.
I have 705’s and have enjoyed them on Mcintosh gear. On a whim I bought a pair of JBL 4311wx’s at a local auction for a fraction of the price of my 705’s. Almost 50 year old speakers, hooked them up to my Mac amps just to listen and oh my, what I’ve been missing!...the polks sound very nice, polite even but the old JBLs have an excitment and live sound the polks lack. The 705’s are now up for sale.

josephp732

Thanks everybody for the advise and commentary. A special thanks to Skip for testing equipment for me.

I wound up spending considerably more than I had budgeted. After testing some of my friends gear and going to a few local shops, I took the plunge and purchased a T+A PA3000HV 300Wx2 Integrated Amplifier, T+A MP3000HV Multi Source Player and a Music Hall MMF-9.3 Turntable with the Goldring Eroica LX MC cartridge.

I have not had a chance to set-up the integrated yet, as need the help of a friend because of the weight - when I do get this set-up this week-end I will post a first review and some pictures.

If your not familiar with this equipment here is a review that was written by the abso!ute sound: http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/ta-pa-3000-hv-and-mp-3000-hv/

joecoulson

Congrats!!! Awesome gear!

marvda1

josephp732 wrote: »

Thanks everybody for the advise and commentary. A special thanks to Skip for testing equipment for me.

I wound up spending considerably more than I had budgeted. After testing some of my friends gear and going to a few local shops, I took the plunge and purchased a T+A PA3000HV 300Wx2 Integrated Amplifier, T+A MP3000HV Multi Source Player and a Music Hall MMF-9.3 Turntable with the Goldring Eroica LX MC cartridge.

I have not had a chance to set-up the integrated yet, as need the help of a friend because of the weight - when I do get this set-up this week-end I will post a first review and some pictures.

If your not familiar with this equipment here is a review that was written by the abso!ute sound: http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/ta-pa-3000-hv-and-mp-3000-hv/

you might have just out stripped your speakers. start saving for the upgrade.

codycatalist

DSkip wrote: »

Correct. I’ve got a lot of amplification at my disposal right now too. MastersounD, North Star, T+A, McIntosh, B&K, audible illusions, Dayens, Norma, Marvins Kinki....

Meh just pass me that B&K would ya? No point in letting it sit there =P

mrloren

codycatalist wrote: »

DSkip wrote: »

Correct. I’ve got a lot of amplification at my disposal right now too. MastersounD, North Star, T+A, McIntosh, B&K, audible illusions, Dayens, Norma, Marvins Kinki....

Meh just pass me that B&K would ya? No point in letting it sit there =P

no kidding

mpitogo

Congrats! Talk about busted budget $3.5k hehe. You better be getting some orgasmic sounding T&A from your T+A!

josephp732

I have been running the new system pretty non-stop for the last week and all I can say is it's 100% completely different - and I am blown away. There is so much depth and clarity - this wound up being a fantastic match for my speakers. (BIG THANKS TO SKIP - now somebody needs to buy his T+A integrated!)

As I was unboxing and setting up I was amazed with the build quality and each T+A piece feels like a solid block of aluminium, as an added bonus the T+A MC phono module was installed in the integrated amp, normally a $1,600 option. So I was able to return the external phono pre-amp that I purchased.

I did run a new dedicated 30 amp 10 gauge service line from the panel for this system, I have the integrated amp plugged directly into the wall and the other components going to a Furman PST-8D, the MP3000HV has two power cables one for the digital side and one for the analog side, so I spit the power connection between each isolated bank. The only other A/C plug in the system is the adapter for the turn table. The system is dead quite.

The T+A PA3000HV allows for bi-wiring and in software you can "join" the A and B terminals and the speaker selector switch. In the T+A manual it recommends low frequencies use the A terminals and mid & high frequencies use the B terminals, so that is the way I wired up the Polk speakers.

Very hard to stop the ear to ear smile!

joecoulson

Wow. Looks great man. Congrats.

Milito

Very nice.

halo

Slick looking setup! Enjoy!

Clipdat

josephp732

Thank you! I couldn't figure out how to correct the image!