Best Amp for PMC speakers

[Black Label]

Those truely are Phantom speakers

 

Indeed they are, so incredibly transparent you needn't even close your eyes when listening to have them disappear like you were there in the studio 

[b@ndicoot]

Someone needs to tell him his speakers have been flogged!

[richard260]

looks like they forgot the speaker cables

[betty boop]

I think those MFs blew em off their stands  

[Brain Amp]

In my impression PMC's are friendly in terms of amps 

But I am only interested in their twenty/twenty5's

[blakey72]

Exposure amps are a very good match for the PMC's too. That's what I started out with. Victor at Stereophonic suggested the two as he had been running the combo for some time. I had the Exposure 2010s2 running them at 75w/ch with no problems in a 4mx4m room. I moved to the Plinius 9200 for the same reason you are thinking. More power = better performance. 

 

To tell you the truith, I don't think the extra 125w made that much difference. They are tighter, more controlled but I wouldn't say $5000 more. I do love the Plinius with them and probably wouldn't go back to the Exposure (that is involved in other duties atm) however if you can pick up a nice cheap second hand 2010 and want to save some money, give it a try. 

 

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/PLINIUS-HAUTONGA-INTEGRATED-AMPLIFIER-Ex-Demonstration-used-Immaculate-/222547275764?hash=item33d0d9eff4:g:kKYAAOSw3v5YsCXJ

 

http://classaaudio.com.au/index.php?id_product=143&controller=product

 

I did try a few Redgum amps with them but didn't enjoy. Just too much bass. @Cafad Might have something to suit. I know he has a few amps the size of a small car...

[Jeddie]

I'm back on the amp hunt.

I've read in another thread that its not necessarily more power, but more current? Anyway I'm confused on what I should buy to improve my system?

Budget would be $2000ish. I really prefer integrated not seperates. New or 2nd hand is fine.

 

Since I really don't know what I should be buying, I would really appreciate if you guys could shortlist a couple of Integrated amps for me to look for?

[Peter Sherriff]

10 hours ago, Jeddie said:

I'm back on the amp hunt.

I've read in another thread that its not necessarily more power, but more current? Anyway I'm confused on what I should buy to improve my system?

Budget would be $2000ish. I really prefer integrated not seperates. New or 2nd hand is fine.

 

Since I really don't know what I should be buying, I would really appreciate if you guys could shortlist a couple of Integrated amps for me to look for?

I use Cyrus amplification with my PMC GB1s and it's a great match, @Carlton Audio Visual have got a traded-in Silver 8XP integrated listed in the Clearance section of their website at a decent price at the moment which might be worth a look and gives you possible upgrade options down the track.

[blakey72]

I'll short list it for you:

https://audiofix.com.au/store/electronics/77-exposure-2010s2d-int-amp-silver.html

 

You'll never look back.

[Irek]

I have auditioned recently Rega integrated. It was fast, very fast, perfect for classical music, not so good for relaxing. Very impressive. My choice for second system.

[audio_file]

@Jeddie which PMCs are you running at the moment? I see this thread goes back a couple of years.

 

I have used my PMC Twenty.23 on multiple amplifiers, all with good results.

I don't think they need a lot of power, the tonal match is more important.

 

In order of my preference:

Cyrus Pre2 DAC + Stereo 200 - Good balance between  mid range and treble, good detail and control.

Naim Nait XS2 + Flatcap XS - Best mid range detail and stronger bass, but at the expense of the tonal balance of the Cyrus, boosting the treble a bit.

Lavardin IS - Fluid relaxing sound with a softening of all the hard edges, without sounding warm.

Musical Fidelity A3.2CR pre and power - Good balance (just under the Cyrus), about the same detail and almost as much control as the Cyrus.

[audio_file]

Maybe this would help:

If I think of a good song I'd play on each of those amplifiers, it would be:

Cyrus - Dire straights - Money for nothing

Naim - Michael Jackson - Smooth criminal

Lavardin - Agnes Obel - Riverside

Musical Fidelity - Belinda Carlisle - La Luna

[Irek]

4 hours ago, audio_file said:

Maybe this would help:

If I think of a good song I'd play on each of those amplifiers, it would be:

Cyrus - Dire straights - Money for nothing

Naim - Michael Jackson - Smooth criminal

Lavardin - Agnes Obel - Riverside

Musical Fidelity - Belinda Carlisle - La Luna

Great comparison, I like all your music choices. 

[audio_file]

I forgot to mention the power ratings for those four amplifiers in 8 ohms:

Cyrus Pre2 + Stereo 200 - 175W

Naim Nait XS2 + Flatcap XS - 70W

Lavardin IS - 45W

Musical Fidelity A3.2CR pre + power - 130W

[att23]

I have my PMC 20.23 pairing with Hegel integrated H200.  Very very satisfied.  

Not sure if synergy with source and cabling also attributed to my preference of Hegel over Rega elicit r. 

Edited September 12, 2018 by att23
Grammar

[magical]

On 10/09/2018 at 8:51 PM, PSherriff said:

I use Cyrus amplification with my PMC GB1s and it's a great match, @Carlton Audio Visual have got a traded-in Silver 8XP integrated listed in the Clearance section of their website at a decent price at the moment which might be worth a look and gives you possible upgrade options down the track.

Absolutely agree. Cyrus & PMC seem to work really well together. I once tri-amped the PB1 speakers with Cyrus power amps & it was wonderful,  but real expensive. 

[Bunno77]

In that sort of price range I liked the Primare i32 with the Twenty.23 PMCs. 

Not sure how they compare with your speakers but can find the i32s used for your price. 

Plenty of other good suggestions already though. 

As blakey said though the big wigs of PMC use Plinius. 

[blakey72]

I have an amp on the way to match a cd player I recently aquired. This may just pip the Plinius in sound quality. I'll report back after a few long lazy listening sessions.

 

180w/ch of Sansui goodness.

 

 

 

[betty boop]

On 10/09/2018 at 9:33 AM, Jeddie said:

I'm back on the amp hunt.

I've read in another thread that its not necessarily more power, but more current? Anyway I'm confused on what I should buy to improve my system?

Budget would be $2000ish. I really prefer integrated not seperates. New or 2nd hand is fine.

 

Since I really don't know what I should be buying, I would really appreciate if you guys could shortlist a couple of Integrated amps for me to look for?

did you ever end up trying musical fidelity ? I found the Ob1 a great match with a5 integrated this would be under $2k budget. might even pick up a m6 integrated for the sort of money...

 

if wanting cyrus ... you'd need some with oomph....

[Jeddie]

On 04/12/2018 at 6:39 PM, betty boop said:

did you ever end up trying musical fidelity ? I found the Ob1 a great match with a5 integrated this would be under $2k budget. might even pick up a m6 integrated for the sort of money...

 

if wanting cyrus ... you'd need some with oomph....

I have been checking the classified closely but nothing that is black and within budget.

There was a peachtree nova which I thought about.

 

Yes MF is on my list, but it would be the M3si. Hopefully its got enough power. 

Also the Exposure Blakey72 mentioned is a contender.

Cyrus gets a mention, but for me its one of the brands I don't seem to warm to for some reason?

 

Going to wait till the xmas sales start and buy then (hopefully).

[wen]

I would seriously consider the Exposure that Blakey72 mentioned, Anderw at Audiofix could/might lend/try/buy one?, read the review on stereophile, compelling, but hearing one with your speakers is the way to go, i went from a 80wpc $3000+ amp to an old exposure 2010, 50wpc, amazing amp, have been grinning ever since

[betty boop]

1 hour ago, Jeddie said:

Yes MF is on my list, but it would be the M3si. Hopefully its got enough power. 

you need A5/A308 and would have to get over the black fetish ! 

 

otherwise a m6 of any vintage. they came in black.

 

I dont think realise perhaps quality of the Ob1 its way way above a m3i level amp...

[blakey72]

On 05/12/2018 at 9:58 PM, wen said:

I would seriously consider the Exposure that Blakey72 mentioned, Anderw at Audiofix could/might lend/try/buy one?, read the review on stereophile, compelling, but hearing one with your speakers is the way to go, i went from a 80wpc $3000+ amp to an old exposure 2010, 50wpc, amazing amp, have been grinning ever since

Oh god I want another 2010

[audio_file]

Is it really that good? Doesn't the 3010 sound better?

Oh god I want another 2010 [emoji53]

[blakey72]

5 hours ago, audio_file said:

Is it really that good? Doesn't the 3010 sound better?

No. The 2010, 2010s, 2010s2 and 2010s2d sound different. Better to my ears.