demo a 402 today

[-E-]

I love my 402 but would get rid of it in a NY minute for a pair of 501's

[ltleo]

Originally Posted by 2uberoller

I have separate discrete systems set up. I have my Mcintosh 2 channel system. I have a home theater in a dedicated room with a 10 foot screen/HD projector but don't laugh I am using the top of the line Yamaha Home theater receiver and it sounds very good with pardigm speakers for movies. I am about to put in my old Magnepan MGIII's in for the front left and rights. I have a whole house system and backyard system running off the sonos.

part of the fun, to see how much money we can waste to do the same thing that is already being done, lol

[1KW]

Originally Posted by ltleo

part of the fun, to see how much money we can waste to do the same thing that is already being done, lol

Sometimes my wife and son are watching a movie while I am listening to music, if two systems were combined we could not do both so I don't really see it as a waste of money

[f1 fan]

I love my 402 but would really like to have some 501`s. At the moment space is limited and the 402 does get the job done in more ways than one.

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by ltleo

part of the fun, to see how much money we can waste to do the same thing that is already being done, lol

The answer to that question is alot!

[salmtpa]

Originally Posted by ltleo

while the 402 was quick and hearty, I noticed with the double drums and strings, things seemed to get a little murcky. almost like you lost the deep black space between tones that I would get with the 501's. Now I am not saying that the 402 could not handle, just that I saw some of its limits. (also I must add that the totem winds are a 4ohm speaker and being that I own them they do take a power amp to control them, they if given that power will and do take you on a sonic ride)

once again I noticed that for notes and strings the 402 is wonderful, but when the deeper bass came in along with the uppers, It just seemd the 402 was loosing steam, more and more notes became congested, and you lost the space and blackness, where the 501's seemed to give you abis of not only darkness but space during the same tracks. With vocals I found during just vocals and strings the 402 gives a proformance unrival to none. But with more volume when you would add tracks that had more speed and more demanding bass, You will start to see some drop off in space. Now is this a deal breaker, not by any means. It is IMO just a amp giving you a ever so slight hint that, this is what we got.

so in closing I enjoyed my time with the402, not only does it look great, and to be honest I think it even looks better then the 501;s. The 402 is a very solid amp that gives you the life of tubes but the control of ss, while whit some demanding tracks towards the mid to upper levels you might get a hint of congestion, compaired to the 501's the 402 is a winner and should be on a short list of amps.

I've had the 402 for several years now and have not noticed any of the negative aspects you observed. For the most part they have driven Magnepan 3.6Rs, but Harbeth Compact 7s and Lipinski 505s have also done duty in my room. In all cases the 402 was clean, powerful, and fully coherent, with none of the congestion and sense of running out of steam that you describe. This is especially true of the Maggies, which are notoriously inefficient and current hungry. I often times play at levels approaching full output of the 402 (but have never had the Powerguard light come on) and the system just sings with no sense of strain. Maybe system synergy? I am using a fully balanced pre, that may have something to do with it.

[j3brow]

Originally Posted by salmtpa

I've had the 402 for several years now and have not noticed any of the negative aspects you observed. For the most part they have driven Magnepan 3.6Rs, but Harbeth Compact 7s and Lipinski 505s have also done duty in my room. In all cases the 402 was clean, powerful, and fully coherent, with none of the congestion and sense of running out of steam that you describe. This is especially true of the Maggies, which are notoriously inefficient and current hungry. I often times play at levels approaching full output of the 402 (but have never had the Powerguard light come on) and the system just sings with no sense of strain. Maybe system synergy? I am using a fully balanced pre, that may have something to do with it.

+1

[cougit25]

Originally Posted by two dot

I love the 402...

Love the single chassis design...

Love the sound...

Love the look...

Love the rack space...

I just wish I had extra money to buy another one....

[cougit25]

Originally Posted by salmtpa

I've had the 402 for several years now and have not noticed any of the negative aspects you observed. In all cases the 402 was clean, powerful, and fully coherent, with none of the congestion and sense of running out of steam that you describe. I often times play at levels approaching full output of the 402 (but have never had the Powerguard light come on) and the system just sings with no sense of strain. Maybe system synergy?

+2

Salmtpa, I hope it's ok that I edited your post.

[two dot]

I'm listening to mine right now... Sweet!!!

But, if I decide I need new PMC speakers... It might be for sale...