McCormack(s) vs. McIntosh for Martin-Logan SL3
Dave Bachmann
0.5 which drives a pair of SL3. I keep hearing on the newsgroups that I need
more power to make the SL3s really sing (tho they sound mighty sweet to me
now). I'd like a little advice on the various options I see:
Option #1: Add another DNA 0.5 and bi amp the SL3s with each amp having a
dedicated speaker. Not many are available on the used market right now, but
they seem to show up every month or so.
Option #2: Upgrade to a DNA 1 or even a DNA 2. The DNA 1 is a bit more
common than the 0.5 on the used market and I have found a DNA 2 Deluxe
(across the country) at a seemingly fair price.
Option #3: Move to a Mac, likely the MC-352. This one at least I can demo at
home from the same dealer that supplied me the SL3s.
Option #4: Krell KAV250a - an amp I've never heard, but the same dealer has
in stock and can supply as a demo.
There's obviously a wide variety of prices under consideration here, but I'd
like to hear from anyone who has explored any of these combinations.
TIA,
Dave
Trevor Wilson
"Dave Bachmann" <dave.b...@NOSPAM.mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:8llit8$s8b$1...@slb6.atl.mindspring.net...
> I currently have a McIntosh C-38 supplying the sources for a McCormack DNA
> 0.5 which drives a pair of SL3. I keep hearing on the newsgroups that I
need
> more power to make the SL3s really sing (tho they sound mighty sweet to me
> now). I'd like a little advice on the various options I see:
> Option #1: Add another DNA 0.5 and bi amp the SL3s with each amp having a
> dedicated speaker. Not many are available on the used market right now,
but
> they seem to show up every month or so.
**Not a great option, considering the impedance of the Logans. I assume you
are intending to bridge. A better solution would be to bi-amp, these
speakers.
> Option #2: Upgrade to a DNA 1 or even a DNA 2. The DNA 1 is a bit more
> common than the 0.5 on the used market and I have found a DNA 2 Deluxe
> (across the country) at a seemingly fair price.
**This would probably be better than bridging, but (perhaps) not as good as
bi-amping.
> Option #3: Move to a Mac, likely the MC-352. This one at least I can demo
at
> home from the same dealer that supplied me the SL3s.
**I don't think so.
> Option #4: Krell KAV250a - an amp I've never heard, but the same dealer
has
> in stock and can supply as a demo.
**I think that there are (much) better value products available, to you (I
assume you reside in North America). The Canadian made Bryston, is
exceptional value for money and is tough enough to cope with the Logans.
Also, consider the New Zealand maunfactured Plinius, as this product also
represents great value, for US residents. Even better is the Aussie built,
ME, but this product is presently not available in the US (although, that
may change by 4th qtr, this year).
Much better, though, is to find a technically qualified person, who can
rebuild the bass section of the SL3's. The bass is, by far, the weakest part
of this product. A new bass driver, in a correctly aligned enclosure will
work wonders, for this speaker. Unfortunately, this is beyond the range of
the DIY'er. SL3's will respond to speaker cable changes, more readily than
many other products. Consider this also.
--
Trevor Wilson
www.rageaudio.com.au
Dave Bachmann
Much thanx for your prompt response, and you're right is your assumption -
I'm in the Seattle area. A few comments/questions on your post:
I had planned on biamping the 2 DNA 0.5s in the first option driving the
bass with one side of each and the panels with the other. One of the less
expensive solutions, a simple doubling of power, and a common sonic
signature.
What is the issue with using a Mac?
Our local dealers don't carry the Bryston 4B-ST which I would be quite
interested in. Likewise, I've heard of Plinius, but don't have anything
local to audition. The only reason I'm looking at the Mac is the feeling it
might mate with the pre and I mentioned the Krell only as that's what one
dealer was pushing.
I'd be interested in learning more on the bass mods to the SL3 if you have
further details.
Thanx again!
"Trevor Wilson" <tre...@rageaudio.com.au> wrote in message
news:UDsf5.12124$4p3....@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
Trevor Wilson
> Trevor -
>
> Much thanx for your prompt response, and you're right is your assumption -
> I'm in the Seattle area. A few comments/questions on your post:
>
> I had planned on biamping the 2 DNA 0.5s in the first option driving the
> bass with one side of each and the panels with the other. One of the less
> expensive solutions, a simple doubling of power, and a common sonic
> signature.
**That would seem to be an excellent low(ish) cost exercise.
>
> What is the issue with using a Mac?
**I feel that Mac's are greatly over-rated (ie: Too expensive for the
performance offered) The models fitted with autoformers (output
transformers) may demonstrate an excessively high output impedance, thus
causing frequency abberations, with the ESL panels.
>
> Our local dealers don't carry the Bryston 4B-ST which I would be quite
> interested in. Likewise, I've heard of Plinius, but don't have anything
> local to audition. The only reason I'm looking at the Mac is the feeling
it
> might mate with the pre and I mentioned the Krell only as that's what one
> dealer was pushing.
**The small Krells are a little 'wimpy' IMO. A better bet, might be to
secure (say) an old KSA100, or similar model. Second hand, these amps are
great value for money. Their owners often sell them cheap, so they can buy
'the latest and greatest', even though the latest models offer little in the
way of tangible improvements.
>
> I'd be interested in learning more on the bass mods to the SL3 if you have
> further details.
**Very difficult. I've done a few SL3's, but the bass drivers, I used are
obsolete. In any case, the crossover must be re-worked and the enclosure
will require modifying. A job best left for a professional.
--
Trevor Wilson
www.rageaudio.com.au