REF 150 with Summit-X

[Clarifixer]

Anyone have the combination of an Audio Research REF 150 with the Summit-X's?

I just bought the amp, barely broken in and sight unseen at this moment, and am looking to start the speaker auditioning journey. The ML dealer here in town suggested when I get the amp, I should bring it over to their demo facility for audition. Very reasonable and flexible, I think!

Preliminarily, though, I'd like to hear anyone's input on the synergy, or lack of it, with this pairing.

[bzr]

If the dealer had an ounce of flex he'd let you audition in your own home, they aren't cheap.

[cmalak]

So I believe Marck in your Ref 75 and Summit X posted that he is using the Ref 150 with his CLXs and thinks they do a good job driving the speakers. Here is his comment:

Originally Posted by Marck1973

I am using the Ref150 with my CLX and it is an amazing amplifier. It drives my speakers with no issues so with the Summits it will be fine.
BTw I have the ref40 preamp too.
M.

However, in the following post, Kev, mentions that he had the Summit Xs for 12 months and first drove them with a Plinius 125wpc SS amp and thought that was fine but when he went to the Sanders Magtech amps (500 wpc of Class D amplification I believe) that that made a huge difference to the better. Here is his quote:

Originally Posted by bzr

I lived with the Summit X's for 12 months. The first amps were Plinius 125w bi-amped, I thought they did a great job with the load until i upgraded to Sanders Magtech 500w -8 ohm, that really made them sound like I'd upgraded. Beware of the power!

I know you have your heart set out on the Summit Xs but personally I really do think they do their best with high-powered SS amps with high damping factor. You should definitely take up the ML dealer on his offer and take your Ref 150s over for a demo but also do yourself a favor and ask him to hook them up to his preferred amplification in the store (my guess will be high powered SS and probably Magtech as Kev pointed out as those are pairings often seen in audio shows) and compare the two.

There are many great speakers you can drive with the Ref 150s (they will do a great job on most speakers and they will probably do a decent job with the Summits but my guess is they won't get the best out of them). Again, only a guess on my part so there is no substitute for auditioning yourself.

Finally, if you are open to other speaker options, let us know what some of your listening preferences are and I am sure many ARC (and non-ARC owners) here will chime in with suggestions.

Good luck no matter what you decide and congrats again on the Ref 150.

[Clarifixer]

Originally Posted by cmalak

There are many great speakers you can drive with the Ref 150s (they will do a great job on most speakers and they will probably do a decent job with the Summits but my guess is they won't get the best out of them). Again, only a guess on my part so there is no substitute for auditioning yourself.

Finally, if you are open to other speaker options, let us know what some of your listening preferences are and I am sure many ARC (and non-ARC owners) here will chime in with suggestions.

Good luck no matter what you decide and congrats again on the Ref 150.

I listen almost exclusively to chamber and orchestral classical music (Mahler is a favorite) usually in the 75-85 dB range and rarely much over 95 dB in full orchestra climaxes. My wife thinks it's VERY loud! Sometimes some blues and rock, but at about the same volume.

Listening space is part of a very open arrangement but is essentially a 16-1/2 x 17-1/2 corner area that extends another 15 feet in both directions. Ceiling is unfortunately 8'. Speakers are currently Snell C-IV's from the early 90's, eight feet apart, toed-in slightly with the sweet spot centered about nine feet from the speaker plane. New speakers will be a huge difference.

I am not tied into the ML's but really like the super transparency for orchestral music. No anemic low end, please. My budget is about $15-20K for speakers, so there should be plenty to choose from. Any suggestions?

[cma29]

Originally Posted by Clarifixer

I listen almost exclusively to chamber and orchestral classical music (Mahler is a favorite) usually in the 75-85 dB range and rarely much over 95 dB in full orchestra climaxes. My wife thinks it's VERY loud! Sometimes some blues and rock, but at about the same volume.

Listening space is part of a very open arrangement but is essentially a 16-1/2 x 17-1/2 corner area that extends another 15 feet in both directions. Ceiling is unfortunately 8'. Speakers are currently Snell C-IV's from the early 90's, eight feet apart, toed-in slightly with the sweet spot centered about nine feet from the speaker plane. New speakers will be a huge difference.

I am not tied into the ML's but really like the super transparency for orchestral music. No anemic low end, please. My budget is about $15-20K for speakers, so there should be plenty to choose from. Any suggestions?

I recommend the Magnepan 20.7s dipole speakers for your type of music, listening levels and amplifier. They are full range speakers that can reproduce bass drum in RR orchestral recordings with authority while providing remarkable transparency.

I have mine in the basement with 8 ft ceilings and they work really well. With the oval bases installed I have a few inches of clearance.

[magoo]

Originally Posted by cmalak

So I believe Marck in your Ref 75 and Summit X posted that he is using the Ref 150 with his CLXs and thinks they do a good job driving the speakers. Here is his comment:



However, in the following post, Kev, mentions that he had the Summit Xs for 12 months and first drove them with a Plinius 125wpc SS amp and thought that was fine but when he went to the Sanders Magtech amps (500 wpc of Class D amplification I believe) that that made a huge difference to the better. Here is his quote:



I know you have your heart set out on the Summit Xs but personally I really do think they do their best with high-powered SS amps with high damping factor. You should definitely take up the ML dealer on his offer and take your Ref 150s over for a demo but also do yourself a favor and ask him to hook them up to his preferred amplification in the store (my guess will be high powered SS and probably Magtech as Kev pointed out as those are pairings often seen in audio shows) and compare the two.

There are many great speakers you can drive with the Ref 150s (they will do a great job on most speakers and they will probably do a decent job with the Summits but my guess is they won't get the best out of them). Again, only a guess on my part so there is no substitute for auditioning yourself.

This debate goes on & on, but after owning my Vantages for about 5 years now, and after trying them with both tubes & SS I really don't think you'd be disappointed by 150w of ARC power. I recently changed from an Accuphase E450 (180w of ss at 8ohms, excellent amp) to the Cary/Manley combination in my sig, and I could not be happier! The Accuphase sounded wonderful in many ways, but it always sounded like *Hi-Fi* on the Logans, which are revealing enough to let you hear every change upstream. The Snappers are only 100w, yet have absolutely no problem driving the speakers, and the sound is the sound of *music*. I found the Logans ever so slightly bright & aggressive in the treble with SS, now it's a delight to these ears at least.

Good luck in the search

[bzr]

I would choose the 20.7's over the X's as well. But they too enjoy power......

[bzr]

Originally Posted by magoo

This debate goes on & on, but after owning my Vantages for about 5 years now, and after trying them with both tubes & SS I really don't think you'd be disappointed by 150w of ARC power. I recently changed from an Accuphase E450 (180w of ss at 8ohms, excellent amp) to the Cary/Manley combination in my sig, and I could not be happier! The Accuphase sounded wonderful in many ways, but it always sounded like *Hi-Fi* on the Logans, which are revealing enough to let you hear every change upstream. The Snappers are only 100w, yet have absolutely no problem driving the speakers, and the sound is the sound of *music*. I found the Logans ever so slightly bright & aggressive in the treble with SS, now it's a delight to these ears at least.

Good luck in the search

For me the Magtech was the best match with the X's. I also tried the McIntosh 2301's on them as well.

[hifinutt]

I have been using for several years some beautiful belles mb200 monoblocks with my summit x
they have pretty high damping factor of about 3000
I am just about to try a class a amp with damping factor of 80 !! will let you know how I get on
reading a review of the ethos I note they said the ethos are very sensitive and sounded good even with icon audio mb845 amps

I have often thought about the magtech , I am sure the ref will sound sublime with the summit

[cmalak]

Originally Posted by magoo

This debate goes on & on, but after owning my Vantages for about 5 years now, and after trying them with both tubes & SS I really don't think you'd be disappointed by 150w of ARC power. I recently changed from an Accuphase E450 (180w of ss at 8ohms, excellent amp) to the Cary/Manley combination in my sig, and I could not be happier! The Accuphase sounded wonderful in many ways, but it always sounded like *Hi-Fi* on the Logans, which are revealing enough to let you hear every change upstream. The Snappers are only 100w, yet have absolutely no problem driving the speakers, and the sound is the sound of *music*. I found the Logans ever so slightly bright & aggressive in the treble with SS, now it's a delight to these ears at least.

Good luck in the search

That's why there is no substitute for auditioning the gear together and comparing it with a SS alternative that is a current delivery champ and the OP can then make up his own mind.