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Post by SteveC on Nov 22, 2015 17:00:02 GMT
Chris, you are correct. I have the two-box Karan Reference II preamp and the box beneath the turntable is the separate power supply.
The specs of the Estelon XA state that power amps from 20W should be used.They are often demonstrated, paired with Vitus amplification and various reviews I have read say that they are a nominal 6 ohm load, dipping to 3.5ohms at 60Hz. Reviewers have stated that they do sound better with a bit of juice and the 350W/8ohm CJ Premier 350 seems a good pairing! I tend to listen with the volume control on the Karan preamp set to 12 o' clock and that is sufficient to fill the room with music.
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Post by MartinT on Nov 22, 2015 20:25:43 GMT
Big bass drivers tend to need plenty of current capability to keep them under control. your CJ seems ideal for the job.
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Post by shuggie on Dec 1, 2015 21:33:08 GMT
I enjoyed a couple of hours today in Steve's living room, listening to the Estelons. Much to my surprise, I found them to be elegant and graceful looking things, hiding their bulk very nicely. More importantly, they do sound rather splendid, particularly when fed tunes from Steve's dCS stack. They are definitely speakers that sound instantly 'right' and It will be very interesting to see whether Steve ends up with these, the Avalons, or TADs. I'd be very happy indeed with the Estelons.
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Post by MartinT on Dec 3, 2015 22:31:10 GMT
I spent the afternoon at Steve's very nice new house and listened to his loan Estelons. The listening room is quite a bit larger than mine and the listening distance not as near-field as I'm used to. Nevertheless, the system made great music and it's the first time I've been really impressed with dCS components, which sounded more musical, fluid and alive than previous incarnations I've heard.
The Estelons took a little time to wake up, being slightly polite at lower volumes. They are all-round good with excellent female vocal rendition, tonally neutral and with the ability to soar with a great singer. Anyone who knows me realises that I will dismiss a system in an instant if it can't do midrange well. These certainly can. They can also do scale with the C-J power amp driving them well.
I thought I heard some ride cymbal splashiness on one CD but it didn't recur on later material. Bass was good and potent, if without the huge air moving ability of my Ushers (a fair comparison since the Estelons are getting on for twice as expensive as the Be-20s). Treble was fine and very sweet on some SACD material we played.
I know that Steve will be listening to the TAD CR-1s next week and that will truly be a battle royal. Whichever he ends up with, he will have achieved his objective of greater scale than the previous Avalons provided.
Thanks for the music and the outstanding sarnie, Steve!
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Post by John on Dec 5, 2015 8:16:55 GMT
I think if you are spending at this level then you have to try a few speakers in your system and give yourself plenty of time with them so that you know you can live with them
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Post by MartinT on Dec 5, 2015 8:22:49 GMT
Agreed, John. I've suggested that Steve try the Usher Be-10 or 20. The Estelons, TADs and Ushers all do great things with different orders of merit and Steve will be able to hone in on what ticks his boxes.
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Post by shuggie on Dec 5, 2015 10:02:11 GMT
I threw Steve a few suggestions, for example the top model from Kudos which I heard doing very good things at Signals. One really left-field speaker that I'd love to hear in a room and system like Steve's is the KEF Blade 2. I find myself unexpectedly captivated by the little KEF LS50s (at lest when augmented by VertexAQ Picos) and reckon that the Blades might be a really good 'budget' alternative to stuff like the Avalons, Estelons etc. They'd have to be really good to better those Estelons, though.
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Post by jandl100 on Dec 6, 2015 9:57:11 GMT
If MBLs are within budget I'd certainly recommend a listen. I've never regretted my purchase, in fact every day I sing hosannahs that they are a part of my life.  -- and you can get them in gloss white, too.  |
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