Help needed amplifiers for Blade Meta 2

[Descartes]

If they have a signature it is written in invisible ink.
Keith

LOL

 

[Defi]

A joke so nice it humours twice

 

[WaveCollapser]

What's people opinion on driving big Blades One with Wiim Amp Ultra? Blade One is relatively easy load with 91db sensitivity, I have non-meta version, but from what I remeber sensitivity should be similar, thugh at least old ones dip to 2 ohm at some frequencies. I'm currently have Bel Canto/Densen combo, but want to switch to hardware with Tidal Connect and room EQ capabilities. I impluse bought Wiim Amp Ultra already which should arrive tomorrow, the other option I consider is to get Bluesound Node (non-icon) and pair it with one of the Apollon stereo amps, but it's like 4 times the price of Wiim

 

[steve59]

so you're driving your $30k speakers with a $600 amp/pre/dac? I'm sure you'll love it.

 

[WaveCollapser]

so you're driving your $30k speakers with a $600 amp/pre/dac? I'm sure you'll love it.

Not yet, but will try tomorrow. How much you suggest I should spend? Will $100k be enough or no?

 

[RexrothPigeon]

is there something like an impedance mismatch but with money? because otherwise who gives a crap

 

[steve59]

whatever you think. If I can't hear a difference don't waste the money. We all have our point when the gain's are no longer worth the cost. Is why I buy used

 

[tineared]

Not yet, but will try tomorrow. How much you suggest I should spend? Will $100k be enough or no?

Make sure you familiarize yourself with how the amp handles full volume.
Hate to see the tweeters get fried

 

[Chrispy]

What's people opinion on driving big Blades One with Wiim Amp Ultra? Blade One is relatively easy load with 91db sensitivity, I have non-meta version, but from what I remeber sensitivity should be similar, thugh at least old ones dip to 2 ohm at some frequencies. I'm currently have Bel Canto/Densen combo, but want to switch to hardware with Tidal Connect and room EQ capabilities. I impluse bought Wiim Amp Ultra already which should arrive tomorrow, the other option I consider is to get Bluesound Node (non-icon) and pair it with one of the Apollon stereo amps, but it's like 4 times the price of Wiim

Easy load for what spl at what distance?

 

[antcollinet]

so you're driving your $30k speakers with a $600 amp/pre/dac? I'm sure you'll love it.

That is at least the correct way round. Spend money on speakers, not electronics. If the amp has enough power it will sound as good as any other amp with enough power.

Though I have to admit - if I'd spent 30K on speakers I'd spend probably another 2K on purify or hypex amplification to ensure the question of performance and power is taken fully off the table.

 

[WaveCollapser]

Easy load for what spl at what distance?

say the distance is 2.5m and I don't listen loud, last time I measured spl while listening music, it was peaking at 85-86 db, rarely at 90

 

[Paul7777x]

If you haven’t bought one yet I’d suggest one of these. All you’ll ever need and the marvellous RP too.

Lyngdorf TDAI-3400 - Lyngdorf Audio

lyngdorf.steinwaylyngdorf.com

 

[antcollinet]

say the distance is 2.5m and I don't listen loud, last time I measured spl while listening music, it was peaking at 85-86 db, rarely at 90

Under those circumstances, the Wiim has more than enough power. At your high end of 90dB** you might be peaking at around 100W (even with 10dB headroom for transients)

**Bear in mind 90dB can damage your hearing. Maximum listening time per week at 90dB - is about four hours.

Deafness and hearing loss: Safe listening

WHO question and answers on safe listening.

www.who.int

 

[steve59]

While I'm aware the rule of thumb on this site is all amps sound the same, the higher resolution speakers and speakers with unusual current draw do manage to bring out the worst in budget components. I sold my Revel Salon 2's because my 250/425 wpc amps I had didn't have the necessary headroom to provide the dynamics that make music fun. While the Blades are a bit easier load than the Salon 2's I nearly sold my pair of blades also because the music was lacking the low volume dynamics with so many different amps I tried.

Honestly, while I used to believe in spending as much as I could on the speakers. Today if I had $16,000 for a pair of used KEF Blades I'd probably get the Reference 3 instead and buy the best amp I could with the savings. Again, if somebody can't hear the difference then the speakers are likely overkill anyhow.

Now that I've shown how foolish I am I'd like to add I've heard much more affordable systems sound amazing because of the care spent treating and setting up the listening room.

 

[Paul7777x]

Too true.

Tens of thousands on speakers and amps without room correction is so daft it’s absurd.

 

[WaveCollapser]

>While I'm aware the rule of thumb on this site is all amps sound the same

When I was in my headphone searching journey 15 years ago, I tested my ATH-W5000 with many different amplifiers expecting it will perfrom the sameish regardless which one I use (apart from impedance mismatch between OTL tube lamps and low impedance headphones such as W5000 of course). Surprisingly when I listened back to back to multiple amplifiers and switched it to Burson HA-160d - it sounded like shit, really audibly worse than a few other amps, which names I don't remember now, that I tried few minutes before that.
So yeah, speakers/headphones has the biggest impact on the sound, amplifiers have some for sure, though not as big, and DACs - I personally never were able to hear difference between them.
I recieved Wiim btw, need to match the spl with my current setup and run some non-blind tests The wiim itself is a good looking box at least.

 

[Oddball]

While the Blades are a bit easier load than the Salon 2's I nearly sold my pair of blades also because the music was lacking the low volume dynamics with so many different amps I tried.

Looks like you need some subs. It's really like chicken and beef type of difference. Even with the biggest towers.

 

[Chrispy]

say the distance is 2.5m and I don't listen loud, last time I measured spl while listening music, it was peaking at 85-86 db, rarely at 90

Sounds like the amp should be sufficient. I used to play stuff a lot louder than that, but more in that range these days

ps curious, what were the 250+ wpc amps?

 

[quattro98]

Not yet, but will try tomorrow. How much you suggest I should spend? Will $100k be enough or no?

How does it sound? The Ultra has a reasonable amount of power. For a reasonable price, a Hypex or Purifi amp provides a lot of power, taking that off the table.

 

[Audio Science Pal]

What's people opinion on driving big Blades One with Wiim Amp Ultra?

WiiM Amp Ultra Streaming Amplifier Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the WiiM Amp Ultra stereo streaming amplifier. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $529. I was surprised how heavy and solid feeling the Ultra is for its size. I upgraded its firmware which went smoothly and rather fast. I was pleasantly...

www.audiosciencereview.com