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Thread: New Amplifier for Serria 2EXs

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2021
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    4

    Default New Amplifier for Serria 2EXs

    I am in the process of updating the amp for my Serria 2EXs. I was running them with a Cambridge Audio CXA81 but I moved it to another room. I am wondering what about Hybrid amps (like Rouge Audio/Vincent Audio) or Schiit Freya + preamp with a separate amp (Vidar/Aegir/others?). (I am currently playing with a cheap hybrid amp from Aiyima and like it but it has limitations).

    I really liked the combination of the Cambridge and 2EXs for certain music, especially acoustic, well-recorded, high res stuff (I usually stream from Amazon High res) but I sometimes found less ideal recordings and some rock/pop tracks a little fatiguing in the high end from time to time. It felt very detailed and resolving I might be looking for something airier on top with warm mids and tight controlled bass (not sure).

    Any advice on Hybrid setups with hybrid tube amps. I'm not sure what to expect from tubes. Any experience with specific amp combinations with the 2EX would be greatly appreciated!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2015
    Location
    Houston, Texas
    Posts
    1,390

    Default Re: New Amplifier for Serria 2EXs

    I run a Rogue ST100 (not hybrid, but tube) amp with my Towers. Previously I was using the Rogue Atlas Magnum II (the pure amp, not the integrated). Rogue make excellent equipment and are also well reviewed. Customer service is first rate (like Ascend).

    That said, I've not heard their hybrid model but would assume it is up to similar standards. Since the tubes they use are 12AU7, they aren't power tubes and won't get overly hot. Stock tubes in both my amps were very good (JJ's) and pretty neutral. One of the good things with tubes is you can "roll" them to change the sound. NOS can be expensive, especially for big names like Mullard, Brimar, Amperex. That said, plenty of new tubes, including reissues, are readily available for reasonable cost (I get mine from https://vacuumtubevalues.com/preamp-tubes/). As I recall, most of my small tubes are Genelax Gold Lions. l
    * LG OLED65E6P, BenqHT2050A
    * Anthem AVM90, Rogue ST100, VTV Pascal 7 ch
    * Sierra Towers/Horizon (all ELX RAAL), S2EXv2 surrounds, HTM200SEx4 heights, Rythmik E15HPx2
    * VPI Classic 1+ (VTA & Fatboy Gimbal), PE Eagle/RR, VAS NOVA, Soundsmith Paua, Manley Chinook, Bob's Devices SUT, SugarCube 1 mini
    * Oppo 203 & 103D, EverSolo DMP-A6
    * miniDSP Flex, Audiosensibility & Blue Jeans cables, Symposium & Isoacoustics, GIK
    * For RDJ: Anthem MRX720, Sierra LX, Luna Duo v2 center, CXNv2, TBD

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    SouthWest of Cleveland
    Posts
    1,924

    Default Re: New Amplifier for Serria 2EXs

    I've run my EX's on 3 different amps:
    1. ADCOM GFA-5500//200 watts @8ohms//350watts @4ohms. This was also modded by a company out of St. Louis for enhanced sonic performance. It sounded great with smooth highs, great bass and detailed mids. The amp started to produce a whooshing sound in one channel so I was able to sell it and replace it with....
    2. Audio by Van Alstine DVA SET 120 amp. 60 watts @8ohms//120w @4ohms. I was skeptical at the lower power rating, but it had plenty of power and it sounded fantastic, better than the ADCOM. I was fortunate enough to be able to replace it with......
    3. A pair of Van Alstine DVA M225 Mono amps. These are next level. 225W @8ohms//around 350W@4ohms. These have truly transformed the sound. More flesh on the bones, soundstaging/imaging, depth of soundstage(front to back). These are end game for me. They are being compared to megabuck amps like PASS. Did I mention dynamics? Off the chart! Not inexpensive and definitely entering high end territory, but compared to what some of those other high end nameplates charge it is a bargain.
    Ed

    * Sierra-2EX's W/V2 crossover upgrade
    * (2) Rythmik F12's
    * Parasound Halo P6
    * Audio by Van Alstine DVA-M225 Monoblock Amps
    * MiniDSP 2x4HD For Sub calibration
    *World's Best Cables Canare 4S11 speaker cables

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Manhattan Beach, California
    Posts
    7,032

    Default Re: New Amplifier for Serria 2EXs

    FWIW, in the Ascend Acoustic demo room, Dave has two amps:

    an ATI 180X. The X is the number of channels. In the demo room it is an 1804. 4 channels as this is the amp that is setup to do A/B comparisons using the Van Alstine ABX Switch Comparator.

    The main amp in that room is an ADA (Audio Design Associates) PTM-6150.

    The preamp/pre-pro is a Rotel. I don't recall the model number, but it has been in there for years as has the ADA.
    -curtis

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2021
    Posts
    4

    Default Re: New Amplifier for Serria 2EXs

    Now I want Van Alstine monoblocks with the Schiit Freya+ which gives me Tubes or not depending on the mode I use the preamp in. However, my entire budget is about $3K +/-.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2015
    Location
    Houston, Texas
    Posts
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    Default Re: New Amplifier for Serria 2EXs

    Yeah, those m225's look real nice.
    * LG OLED65E6P, BenqHT2050A
    * Anthem AVM90, Rogue ST100, VTV Pascal 7 ch
    * Sierra Towers/Horizon (all ELX RAAL), S2EXv2 surrounds, HTM200SEx4 heights, Rythmik E15HPx2
    * VPI Classic 1+ (VTA & Fatboy Gimbal), PE Eagle/RR, VAS NOVA, Soundsmith Paua, Manley Chinook, Bob's Devices SUT, SugarCube 1 mini
    * Oppo 203 & 103D, EverSolo DMP-A6
    * miniDSP Flex, Audiosensibility & Blue Jeans cables, Symposium & Isoacoustics, GIK
    * For RDJ: Anthem MRX720, Sierra LX, Luna Duo v2 center, CXNv2, TBD

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Posts
    30

    Default Re: New Amplifier for Serria 2EXs

    Just upgraded from Emotiva UPA-1s to a Buckeye 2-channel Purifi ET400A. Although the improvement in sound quality was not as significant as the one I experienced after upgrading from Sierra-1s to 2EXv2, everything sounds smoother and the sound stage seems deeper. It is definitely a better match for the 2EXv2 in that I am able to listen louder and for longer periods of time. I am very pleased.
    Speakers: EXv2 (mains), Horizon w/RAAL, Sierra-1 (surrounds), SVS SB 2000 Pro (x2)
    Source: MacBook Pro with Audirvana Studio
    DAC: Schiit Gugnir
    Preamp: Parasound Halo P6
    Amp: Buckeye 2-Channel Purifi ET400A
    AVR: NAD T-753v3i
    Cables: Blue Jeans XLR

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Manhattan Beach, California
    Posts
    7,032

    Default Re: New Amplifier for Serria 2EXs

    Quote Originally Posted by novaduckfan1 View Post
    Just upgraded from Emotiva UPA-1s to a Buckeye 2-channel Purifi ET400A. Although the improvement in sound quality was not as significant as the one I experienced after upgrading from Sierra-1s to 2EXv2, everything sounds smoother and the sound stage seems deeper. It is definitely a better match for the 2EXv2 in that I am able to listen louder and for longer periods of time. I am very pleased.
    I'm also using an amp with the ET400A with my LX's. Very happy with it.
    -curtis

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Posts
    30

    Default Re: New Amplifier for Serria 2EXs

    Quote Originally Posted by curtis View Post
    I'm also using an amp with the ET400A with my LX's. Very happy with it.
    Nice! What did you have previously, and what improvements did you notice (if any) with the Purifi?
    Speakers: EXv2 (mains), Horizon w/RAAL, Sierra-1 (surrounds), SVS SB 2000 Pro (x2)
    Source: MacBook Pro with Audirvana Studio
    DAC: Schiit Gugnir
    Preamp: Parasound Halo P6
    Amp: Buckeye 2-Channel Purifi ET400A
    AVR: NAD T-753v3i
    Cables: Blue Jeans XLR

  10. #10
    Join Date
    May 2015
    Location
    Houston, Texas
    Posts
    1,390

    Default Re: New Amplifier for Serria 2EXs

    As I recall, Curtis had an ATI A/B amp but I don’t recall which model
    * LG OLED65E6P, BenqHT2050A
    * Anthem AVM90, Rogue ST100, VTV Pascal 7 ch
    * Sierra Towers/Horizon (all ELX RAAL), S2EXv2 surrounds, HTM200SEx4 heights, Rythmik E15HPx2
    * VPI Classic 1+ (VTA & Fatboy Gimbal), PE Eagle/RR, VAS NOVA, Soundsmith Paua, Manley Chinook, Bob's Devices SUT, SugarCube 1 mini
    * Oppo 203 & 103D, EverSolo DMP-A6
    * miniDSP Flex, Audiosensibility & Blue Jeans cables, Symposium & Isoacoustics, GIK
    * For RDJ: Anthem MRX720, Sierra LX, Luna Duo v2 center, CXNv2, TBD

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