S2R Questions

[Cafad]

I thought I might just throw in a more general topic thread instead of starting a new one every time I've got a question for Mike or Bill.

 

OK, current question:

 

What amps do you recommend for the S2s and are those amps the same as the ones you would suggest for the ML1,2 and 3?

 

Also, has anyone else tried Redgum amps with any Lenehan iteration speakers?  I have, and I'm pretty happy with the combo, but I thought I'd ask around to see if anyone else has tried it.

 

Cheers,

 

Cafad.

[bhobba]

Hi Cafad

 

Yea tried Redgum amps with my ML3 - its an OK amp - but I think others are better.

 

Added Later:

See the post below for a link to an in depth review I did ages ago.  Like I said an OK amp - I personally preferred others like the NAKSA - but that's probably a personal preference thing - there was nothing nasty in it or anything like that.

 

The two best I have heard are the Arion 500 and Weston Topaz - but I have mentioned it so many times its probably redundant.

 

Thanks

Bill

Edited May 18, 2013 by bhobba

[Cafad]

Do you remember which model Redgum you tried Bill?

[bhobba]

Do you remember which model Redgum you tried Bill?

 

RG120:

http://www.stereo.net.au/forums/index.php?/topic/39376-redgum-rg120/

 

Thanks

Bill

[Once was an audiophile]

I thought I might just throw in a more general topic thread instead of starting a new one every time I've got a question for Mike or Bill.

 

OK, current question:

 

What amps do you recommend for the S2s and are those amps the same as the ones you would suggest for the ML1,2 and 3?

 

Also, has anyone else tried Redgum amps with any Lenehan iteration speakers?  I have, and I'm pretty happy with the combo, but I thought I'd ask around to see if anyone else has tried it.

 

Cheers,

 

Cafad.

ml2 reference i only heard once with Quad 2-40 power amps http://www.tradingpost.com.au/Entertainment-Electronics/Sound-Systems-Components/Amplifiers/AdNumber=AD004153547  pretty good for a commercial design.

[A J]

+1 for the Naksa (with ML1s)

[bhobba]

+1 for the Naksa (with ML1s)

 

The NAKSA goes well with all of Mikes speakers - I have it in my system at the moment and enjoy it.  Very nice and easy to listen to amp for long periods and extremely good value.  

 

Hugh will probably hate me - I have gone over to the dark side and like my class D Arions better.

 

A little birdie told me Hugh has tweaked the design and our own JD now thinks its a much better amp.  Would get one myself but have been getting a lot of gear lately and feel like a bit of a rest.

 

Had a chat to Mike and am getting a 250W Arion in to keep around at least for a while - I was really amazed when I heard it and how good it sounded for the money.  Might arrange a bit of a GTG with my amps and see what others think.  The only trouble is there always seems to problems with my Naquadria and Mikes cables - would like to somehow get it into the mix but it may not be possible.  That's a pity because it is a very good amp but may have to on-sell it soon because its no use having an amp you cant use.    

 

Thanks

Bill 

Edited May 18, 2013 by bhobba

[woadl]

ml2 reference i only heard once with Quad 2-40 power amps http://www.tradingpost.com.au/Entertainment-Electronics/Sound-Systems-Components/Amplifiers/AdNumber=AD004153547  pretty good for a commercial design.

Hi Mario, its the Quad Eighty's I run with my ML-2 R.  They look similar but have 4 KT-88 per mono block,  by the way I'm loving the Toppers on my ML-2 best upgrade I have done so far

[Once was an audiophile]

Hi Mario, its the Quad Eighty's I run with my ML-2 R.  They look similar but have 4 KT-88 per mono block,  by the way I'm loving the Toppers on my ML-2 best upgrade I have done so far

Thanks for correcting me         

[Cafad]

RG120:

http://www.stereo.net.au/forums/index.php?/topic/39376-redgum-rg120/

 

Thanks

Bill

 

OK, my working theory at the moment is that the more laid back and smoothly bassy nature of the S2 gells very well with the powerful, smooth bassy nature of the Redgums.  I think the RG175 monos are a different design to the RG120 too (not certain since I haven't seen the inards of the 120) so they may sound a little different. 

I may have to force you to try them again if and when I get back to Brissy, just for the sake of completeness mind!

[Lenehan Audio]

OK, my working theory at the moment is that the more laid back and smoothly bassy nature of the S2 gells very well with the powerful, smooth bassy nature of the Redgums.  I think the RG175 monos are a different design to the RG120 too (not certain since I haven't seen the inards of the 120) so they may sound a little different. 

I may have to force you to try them again if and when I get back to Brissy, just for the sake of completeness mind!

Hi Jeff Indeed the S2 will work very well with a variety of amps ! Driveability is excellent so 20 watts of Valve will produce very good results as long as you don't want to play Rage at big levels.

You all know I'm a power nut so my recommendation is SS and the most quality power you can buy. Two very good mid price power amps that come to mind are Hugh's Naksa 100 and our Arion S-250 100watts per channel and 250 watts respectively.

With $1000at hand The Plessis S1 works very well but ultimately I think you need to spend around 2-3K if it's going to be a new amp.

Another good plan is second hand power amps like Rotel ,NAD, and Arcams ! With a little breathing on they can be an excellent buy.

You have more of an idea here than I Jeff with the mid price ($1200-$2000) integrated's I use the Plessis S1 almost exclusively for these purposes. Regards. Mike Lenehan

'

[Cafad]

I can see the Plessis S1 working well on the S2s, that one I had was a strong performer.  I think the Burson PI-160 would do a good job too (although mine is on tour at the moment so I can't confirm that for a bit).  The Anthem 225i was all right but sounded a bit overly damped in the bass I think (but I'll have to give it a second run to be sure), I have another integrated on order that I have high hopes for so we'll see how that works out. 

 

There are many decent SS amps out there around the $2K mark that should do a good job but for now the Redgums (and soon, I hope, the Bursons) are doing a grand job.

 

Thanks for the tube suggestions guys, but for some reason tubes just don't do anything special for me.

[bhobba]

I may have to force you to try them again if and when I get back to Brissy, just for the sake of completeness mind!

 

Hi Jeff

 

I think the best idea is to see what amps can be got when you come down so you can hear them for yourself.  The Plessis Mike mentioned didn't impress me greatly - good value - absolutely - excellent amp to start with - for sure - but way too slow for this boyo.

 

Thanks

Bill

[Cafad]

Hi Jeff

 

I think the best idea is to see what amps can be got when you come down so you can hear them for yourself.  The Plessis Mike mentioned didn't impress me greatly - good value - absolutely - excellent amp to start with - for sure - but way too slow for this boyo.

 

Thanks

Bill

 

Well it depends what you are used to too Bill, the Plessis S1 is not exactly in the same league as the amps you listen to on a regular basis.

[bhobba]

Well it depends what you are used to too Bill, the Plessis S1 is not exactly in the same league as the amps you listen to on a regular basis.

 

So I discovered, so I discovered.  The cheapest amp I have heard that did it for me was the Patek.  I also liked your Burson.  I really would like to hear the Daynes Ampino that Decky has upgraded - it may be up to it from what I hear - hint hint - I believe you have one.

 

Thanks

Bill

Edited May 19, 2013 by bhobba

[Cafad]

Don't worry Bill, I haven't forgotten.  I should know within a fortnight if I'm coming back down in June or July, if not I'll box it up and post it down to you.  Either way you'll get to hear it before the winter is out.

[bhobba]

Hi Jeff

 

Ditto with the Arion 250.  If you cant make I will get the Arion up to you. Its the best value amp I have heard - so far anyway.

 

Thanks

Bill

[Cafad]

Oooooh  , I'll have to add those to the power amp addicts thread.  Thanks Bill!!!!!!!

[dralj]

I am running a Rotel 991B 200W per channel, 8 ohms into my S2R's with an NAD m51 and they go great. Wonder whether a little more power might squeeze out some more goodness. Will follow this thread with interest although I don't think there are too many off these speakers in the market as yet.

[whizzbang]

Hi Bill,

I'm keen to hear the Lenehan gear with the Big Naquadria amp. Unfortunately, the Lenehan cables aren't compatible.

Btw, I really like the sound of many different cable types, but there is no choice but to stick with low capacitance types with the Naquadria SS amps. You can pretty much plug any cable into a valve amp and get good sound - unfortunatley this is not the case with the Naquadria high speed SS amp.

Bill Crampton the Naqaudria designer is very excited about the sound of the amps at present. With a few component changes (including some that have frequency limits into the GHz) the sound quality has improved significantly.

Edited May 20, 2013 by whizzbang

[kdoot]

I am running a Rotel 991B 200W per channel, 8 ohms into my S2R's with an NAD m51 and they go great. Wonder whether a little more power might squeeze out some more goodness. Will follow this thread with interest although I don't think there are too many off these speakers in the market as yet.

It just so happens that a week ago I got hold of a slightly older Rotel RB-990BX 200Wpc single-ended power amp which Mike had upgraded with better wiring and a couple of critical capacitors. This kind of power and refinement really makes a difference with my ML2Rs. If you're game, some similar mods on your amp might yield spectacular results.

 

Big solid state power amps are definitely my preferred match for all of the Lenehan speakers I've heard. 

 

PS: the schematic for the 991 is available online. It's very, very similar to the 990... so similar in fact that I'd suggest the single-ended inputs are likely to give a better sound for typical short lengths of input cables. The XLR inputs get run through AD711 op-amps to combine the phases before shunting them off through a couple of additional internal connections to the single-ended input stage.

Edited May 21, 2013 by kdoot

[dralj]

It just so happens that a week ago I got hold of a slightly older Rotel RB-990BX 200Wpc single-ended power amp which Mike had upgraded with better wiring and a couple of critical capacitors. This kind of power and refinement really makes a difference with my ML2Rs. If you're game, some similar mods on your amp might yield spectacular results.

 

Big solid state power amps are definitely my preferred match for all of the Lenehan speakers I've heard. 

 

PS: the schematic for the 991 is available online. It's very, very similar to the 990... so similar in fact that I'd suggest the single-ended inputs are likely to give a better sound for typical short lengths of input cables. The XLR inputs get run through AD711 op-amps to combine the phases before shunting them off through a couple of additional internal connections to the single-ended input stage.

I am not particularly technically savvy so I would need to get someone to do it if cost effective unless there is simple roadmap somewhere for doing the mods?

[kdoot]

I am not particularly technically savvy so I would need to get someone to do it if cost effective unless there is simple roadmap somewhere for doing the mods?

You just need somebody who can solder, and a couple of parts from Mike to do the input caps. The ribbon wiring replacement is a bunch more work though.

 

For the record, I wouldn't attempt it myself: I only know just enough to follow along with what's been done on the amp I have here. Yours just happens to be almost the same circuit.

[bhobba]

I'm keen to hear the Lenehan gear with the Big Naquadria amp. Unfortunately, the Lenehan cables aren't compatible.

 

Hear you mate.

 

Will be down in Canberra end October hopefully with both the ML1 and ML2 Limited.  We can check it out then along with the ML3 Reference my friend already has down there.

 

Just to be sure the cables didn't actually damage my Naquadria I took it to a tech to check out - its working fine.  Will see how it goes on my Limited with some cables other than Mikes, report on it, then sell it.  Nice amp - pity its not suited to Mikes cables - when Mike heard it he was impressed - thought it was up there with his Mac 501's - as did I.  But Bill Crampton said the design has moved on since then so it may no longer have the same issues. 

 

Thanks

Bill

[bhobba]

I am not particularly technically savvy so I would need to get someone to do it if cost effective unless there is simple roadmap somewhere for doing the mods?

 

You just need somebody who can solder, and a couple of parts from Mike to do the input caps. The ribbon wiring replacement is a bunch more work though. For the record, I wouldn't attempt it myself: I only know just enough to follow along with what's been done on the amp I have here. Yours just happens to be almost the same circuit.

 

Clay up the road from Mike can do that no problemo.

 

But my suggestion is spend a bit of time listening to some amps before making up your mind. I was so impressed with the 250W Arion Mike had in for a while I am getting one in myself.  You can hear that when it arrives as well as the Naquadria and NAKSA plus my Topaz monoblocks.  Mike is thinking of an amp GTG once my Limited's are up and running - that might be a good time.  If not anyone that is interested drop me a line and we can make some arrangements to hear some of my 'cadre' of amps.

 

Thanks

Bill

Edited May 21, 2013 by bhobba