Best Amp for PMC speakers

[Jeddie]

Bought some PMC OB1's from SNA back in Feb. Best speakers I've owned.

 

I'm running a Cambridge audio 651A with them (75w at 8 ohms). But I can't help thinking they need something more? My gut tells me they need more power to really shine.

 

Or maybe its not just power, it might be a better match in amps? Or it is both?  ie more power and better match?

 

Can I ask you guys to suggest a 'better' matching amp?

 

Preferably from people who have owned PMC, not just what you 'think' would be better. Real world experience please.

 

Your thoughts?

Edited July 9, 2016 by Jeddie

[Jonny]

Bryston would be the obvious one. Have heard lots of people say Naim as well.

[betty boop]

I've heard musical fidelity and cyrus do well. particularly musical fidelity

[Luc]

Work backwards from this model, they'd all drive them with one eye closed>>> Click

[extract]

Running my PMC OB1i through Wyred4sound SX1000 mono blocks. Seems to do the job quite well.

[blakey72]

Plinius mate. The managing director of PMC runs Plinius monoblocks on his. Tells you something...

[Black Label]

If you have the space (I don't anymore) I have a Musical Fidelity Nu Vista pre / power combo sitting around boxed up that I intend to sell. Am Sydney based and could be made available for demo if curious.

 

 

 

[betty boop]

 

If you have the space (I don't anymore) I have a Musical Fidelity Nu Vista pre / power combo sitting around boxed up that I intend to sell. Am Sydney based and could be made available for demo if curious.

 

 

 

 

 

 

oh wow ... and with the requisite cables and all ...

[sjay]

Musical Fidelity, Bryston, Ayre, Plinus all server PMC well. PMC's just want good honest clean power, a little more than they are rated for.

 

For the OBI1's you need at least 250w @8ohm. They are rated for 300w @6ohm.

 

I was mostly running MF amp, 450w @4ohm and they loved the power. Never really got past 55% volume with that mono setup. Other tipos of merit are work on your speaker placement and if you can get away with it, throw in some room treatments because they help quite a lot.

 

hope this helps and may you enjoy them in good health

Edited July 9, 2016 by sjay

[Black Label]

Yep beautiful stuff, Chord Signature. Probably need to sell it also as fear my baby kid is going to destroy everything  . See the Dynaudio listing in my signature for more info ha ha

[betty boop]

http://www.stereo.net.au/forums/index.php/topic/107310-fs-bryston-4bsst-power-amp-and-bryston-bp26-pre-amp-with-bryston-mps2-power-supply/?p=1663179

 

great combo going here ! 

[betty boop]

Yep beautiful stuff, Chord Signature. Probably need to sell it also as fear my baby kid is going to destroy everything  . See the Dynaudio listing in my signature for more info ha ha

 

nah... we went through the kiddy phase twice and kids and hifi do mix...no need to throw out baby with bath water ! or is that hi-fi hehe

[TOPSHELF]

I'm with betty here, let the little one grow up around the amps, 100's of cds a TT and heaps of records. I think my 2 and a half year old lad who to be fair is "full on" has turned the amp off twice, rarely touches the cd's and has never been near the TT or records. It's about familiarity we don't hide these things from him more I've always shown him.

[ChupaChups]

Plinius mate. The managing director of PMC runs Plinius monoblocks on his. Tells you something...

I totally agreed with blakey's comment. I've heard this combo, PMC Fact 5 driven by Plinius pre & power, it sounded absolutely gorgeous! Highly recommended. 

[blybo]

I'm with betty here, let the little one grow up around the amps, 100's of cds a TT and heaps of records. I think my 2 and a half year old lad who to be fair is "full on" has turned the amp off twice, rarely touches the cd's and has never been near the TT or records. It's about familiarity we don't hide these things from him more I've always shown him.

+1. My 5&6 yo girls can take the arm off an LP at then do of a side, turn over, clean and queue up the arm ready for daddy to drop the needle. They have grown up with music systems and have respect for my gear, hence they never try to drop the needle without my checking first [emoji41][emoji41][emoji41]

[Guest yamaha_man]

+1. My 5&6 yo girls can take the arm off an LP at then do of a side, turn over, clean and queue up the arm ready for daddy to drop the needle. They have grown up with music systems and have respect for my gear, hence they never try to drop the needle without my checking first [emoji41][emoji41][emoji41]

 

You're far different to l, would never let kids (or women/anyone i know) anywhere near my system.

Edited July 11, 2016 by yamaha_man

[blybo]

You're far different to l, would never let kids (or women/anyone i know) anywhere near my system.

My gear would best be described as Mid-Fi compared to yours. Mines also in the family room and I want my wife and kids to gain my love for quality playback as much as the music itself.

They don't touch my gear in the HT room

[TOPSHELF]

Other benefits of keeping your system in place is you get to keep your sanity, your child grows up with music on and the idiot box off. They also learn to look after things.

Sorry for going off topic here it's just that there are times when my son is in bed and my wife and i'll put on some music and we would share a bottle of red and the days events. It keeps you sane.[emoji4]

Edited July 11, 2016 by TOPSHELF

[HIFIDROP]

2x8w 300b monoblocks

passive preamp,horn speakers  wavelength USB DAC for you pc,and FLAC,MP3 files,& good cd,sacd player,

sale off that big boys,you dont need  that for beautiful music,

[Al Leece]

I have W4S mono-blocks on my OB1 speakers - wonderful combination. I tried both the 250W models and the 500W and either will do the job nicely. To be honest, though, almost anything 100W and over gives great sound with them; they are not difficult to drive. They do sing with more power, though. If your budget is not huge you could do a lot worse than getting some class D mono's, especially if your current amp can do pre-amp duties.

[audio_file]

I'm not sure why everyone always recommends more power for everything.

I've seen the same recommendation for my PMC 23s, but in my experience they don't gain much from power, but more from a good tonal match.

 

I've tried my PMC 23s on a few combinations:

Naim Nait XS2 (70W)

Musical Fidelity A3.2 CR pre + power (130W)

Rotel RB-991 (200W)

 

The Naim gets the best results by far, the speakers and amplifier both have a surefooted rhythm, and the mid range is detailed and textured.

The higher power might give 1-2% stronger bass (it's not much trust me), nothing else.

 

I don't think these PMC speakers need a lot of power, and would work well on a push pull tube amplifier, perhaps even a single ended.

 

I'm not sure how similar my 23s are to your OB1s though. I've tried the 22s and 24s on my system as well, and both sounded brighter than the 23s and for those I'd rather go for a Roksan Caspian M2 or an Electrocompaniet integrated.

 

I've spoken to PMC a few times, and every time they only recommend Bryston, I've never heard them recommend Plinius.

 

 

[ChupaChups]

On an open forum like this one, everyone has an opinon or suggestion including myself.   At the end of day, let your own ears be the judge according to your buget. is akin to choosing a wife, you have to live with it.  Auditon as much as you can, short listing and revisit to narrow your choice. Better still home demo if allowed. Good luck.

[rantan]

On an open forum like this one, everyone has an opinon or suggestion including myself.   At the end of day, let your own ears be the judge according to your buget. is akin to choosing a wife, you have to live with it.  Auditon as much as you can, short listing and revisit to narrow your choice. Better still home demo if allowed. Good luck.

 

This is worth repeating......so I did

 

Personally, I don't particularly like PMC speakers but with that said, I always find they sound exponentially better with a lot of ( quality ) power behind them.

[b@ndicoot]

I had the OB1i not tht long ago. I had brystons 4bsst2 on them with an ARC pre amplifier.

The weak link was the Bryston IMHO..

If going Bryston your far better off with the 14Bsst2.. Although 10K they are a great amp.

There is no doubt that the more power you give them the better they are.

Also, and once again only my opinion they are one of the hardest speakers to get right.

I think my main problem was being on a wooden suspended floor. I couldnt get the Bass right out of that transmission line design.

Forum member Max headroom has my old OB1's on the end of some emotiva mono blocks, is his system they sound far far better than what I could do with them.

I would go with al's suggestion and grab one of those big mofo MF integrateds.

Edited July 21, 2016 by b@ndicoot

[roh008]

Those truely are Phantom speakers

 

If you have the space (I don't anymore) I have a Musical Fidelity Nu Vista pre / power combo sitting around boxed up that I intend to sell. Am Sydney based and could be made available for demo if curious.