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In Reply to: RE: The "Audio Research SP-10 Club" posted by westchr@tx.rr.com on June 7, 2009 at 18:34:50:
westchr,
It is is again interesting to note that you have followed the pattern of most of the SP10 owner's with whom I've crossed paths in that you've had an SP8 also. Also parallel to your path is that I also had an Oracle Delphi II, then changed changed in the early 90's to the Oracle III/SME V. By reputation, the Koetsu Rosewood you're using must be very nice!
The D70 too is another of my favourite Audio Research amplifiers and that list includes the astounding D250/II Servo you mention as well as the M100's ( monoblock cousin to the D115).
Not knowing the Magnepan 20.1 speakers, I looked up the TAS review by Donald Saltzman, who's writing I don't know. He does mention a certain aspect of amplification:
Magnepan 20.1 TAS
http://www.integracoustics.com/MUG/MUG/reviews/TAS_mg20.1_pt3.pdf
S> ",..bi-amplification is best accomplished with identical amplifiers. A few words are in order about amplification. Simply put: the more power, the better. The speaker is very low in sensitivity, with a factory rating of 85dB (and that seems generous). While use of the active crossover seems to lessen the power requirements, I don’t believe you will experience the full capabilities of the speakers without at least 300 watts per channel into a 4-ohm load. You will certainly hear music with a less powerful amplifier, but it won’t come to life in the same way. My VTL 450s are up to the task, as are other higher-power tube and solid-state amplifiers."
I don't know Mr. Saltzman, but if the "more power the better" is to be believed, then your amplifier choices are in the right mode. My personal favourite among the ones you mention is certainly the D250/II Servo. It's been awhile since I heard one- about 10 years, but I still feel it and the M100's were the best sounding tube amplifiers ARC made until the REF 210. I'm reasonably certain that a fully refurbished D250 will represent a noticeably smaller investment than the VM 220 or VT 200's. The last ready to use D250 Servo I saw for sale was $2,700.
D250:>
http://www.stereophile.com//amplificationreviews/413/index2.html
-which does however, include a serious caveat given the design of the 20.1's:
S> "Tubed amplifiers in general behave poorly into very low-impedance loads, and although I did not have a pair of ribbon speakers such as the Apogee Scintillas to try with the D-250, I doubt that the D-250 would fare much better with them than do other high-powered tube amps. (The problem, usually, is not merely mediocre sound, but limited power output and a tendency to pop fuses.)"
I am actually a fan of the D200/300/400 series and a D400/II with 400W into 4 ohms complies with Saltzman's "at least 300W" advice, but if you can find one and put it into good nick, in my view the D250/II Servo would be a very satisfying pairing with the SP10- the D250 may be close enough to the "300W into 4 ohms" world. Having had good luck with the solid state D130- and facing $1,000 to spend on the D115, I've thought of changing the D115 to a 100.2. I heard the SP10/D250 combination when these products were current, with Wilson speakers and this was a superb combination. One of my serious audio epiphanies was in 1985: Well-Tempered Turntable > SP8 > D70 > Acoustat 2+2's- amazing. And, guess what LP was all the rage then for demonstrating then? Yes-- Jazz at the Pawnshop !
I'll be very interested to learn what you decide and how it worked!
Cheers,
Bambi B
[ARC: SP8, SP10, LS3, D115, D130]
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Follow Ups
- Amplification for Audio Research SP-10 and Magnepan 20.1's - Bambi B 06/8/0906:19:12 06/8/09 (0)
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