#21
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Richard Vandersteen brought his M5-HPA amps to Gifted Listener Audio in Centreville, VA last Thursday. Tom, the owner had a pair of Quatro Wood CTs (which he ordered for his store when I ordered mine) Richard could hook up to. Suffice it to say the sound was very nice. This amp was made for the Quatro Wood CT. I plan on adding the monoblocks into my system this summer after I get a power conditioner or regenerator this spring.
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Primary System (Always in flux): Analog Source: Rega RP10 Phono Preamp: Bryston BP2/PS3 Digital Software: Roon, Tidal Streaming Digital Music Server: Melco N1A/2 Digital Sources: Totaldac d1-twelve SE MkII (factory upgraded from MKI) with "live power" 4 output power supply, Oppo UDP-205 Preamplifier: Rogue Audio RP-9 (factory upgraded from RP-7) Amplifier: Vandersteen M5-HPA Speakers: Vandersteen Quatro Wood CT w/IsoAcoustics Gaia 1 feet Cabling: WW Platinum Starlight 7 digital wires, Totaldac Gigafilter USB filter, AQ Sky XLR, AQ Fire RCA Speaker Cables: AudioQuest Oak spades ---> bi-wire spades Power Cables: Esprit PC (for DAC), 2 WW Platinum Electra PC (Preamp/Phono Preamp), AQ NRG10 (Melco N1A/2), AQ Blizzard (Quatro Wood CT built-in subs) Power Conditioning: 2 AQ Niagara 1000, 3 Oyaide R1 outlets Sound Treatments: 23 ASC Tube Traps and 10 Panels |
#22
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I put down a deposit to take delivery of these in June. I will post impressions in August.
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Primary System (Always in flux): Analog Source: Rega RP10 Phono Preamp: Bryston BP2/PS3 Digital Software: Roon, Tidal Streaming Digital Music Server: Melco N1A/2 Digital Sources: Totaldac d1-twelve SE MkII (factory upgraded from MKI) with "live power" 4 output power supply, Oppo UDP-205 Preamplifier: Rogue Audio RP-9 (factory upgraded from RP-7) Amplifier: Vandersteen M5-HPA Speakers: Vandersteen Quatro Wood CT w/IsoAcoustics Gaia 1 feet Cabling: WW Platinum Starlight 7 digital wires, Totaldac Gigafilter USB filter, AQ Sky XLR, AQ Fire RCA Speaker Cables: AudioQuest Oak spades ---> bi-wire spades Power Cables: Esprit PC (for DAC), 2 WW Platinum Electra PC (Preamp/Phono Preamp), AQ NRG10 (Melco N1A/2), AQ Blizzard (Quatro Wood CT built-in subs) Power Conditioning: 2 AQ Niagara 1000, 3 Oyaide R1 outlets Sound Treatments: 23 ASC Tube Traps and 10 Panels |
#23
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Quote:
I had the pleasure of hearing Yong's system in January. Very detailed with a super low noise floor. These amps will surely take it to the next level. |
#24
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The M5-HPA has 150 watts per channel compared to the AHB2's 100. So combined with the built-in subwoofer amp my system will put out 400 watts/channel (8 ohms). Given the excellence of the AHB2, I'll probably get Benchmark's DAC3 which is a sort of DAC/Pre to use with a different pair of speakers.
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Primary System (Always in flux): Analog Source: Rega RP10 Phono Preamp: Bryston BP2/PS3 Digital Software: Roon, Tidal Streaming Digital Music Server: Melco N1A/2 Digital Sources: Totaldac d1-twelve SE MkII (factory upgraded from MKI) with "live power" 4 output power supply, Oppo UDP-205 Preamplifier: Rogue Audio RP-9 (factory upgraded from RP-7) Amplifier: Vandersteen M5-HPA Speakers: Vandersteen Quatro Wood CT w/IsoAcoustics Gaia 1 feet Cabling: WW Platinum Starlight 7 digital wires, Totaldac Gigafilter USB filter, AQ Sky XLR, AQ Fire RCA Speaker Cables: AudioQuest Oak spades ---> bi-wire spades Power Cables: Esprit PC (for DAC), 2 WW Platinum Electra PC (Preamp/Phono Preamp), AQ NRG10 (Melco N1A/2), AQ Blizzard (Quatro Wood CT built-in subs) Power Conditioning: 2 AQ Niagara 1000, 3 Oyaide R1 outlets Sound Treatments: 23 ASC Tube Traps and 10 Panels Last edited by ylee; 02-19-2018 at 12:28 AM. |
#25
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So 9 months after I ordered them, the M5-HPA monoblocs arrived at my dealer today and I went by after work to pick them up. Vandersteen had supply chain challenges given how hot the economy has been and how much his suppliers were booked with preexisting orders. I now have them installed in my system.
Initial impression is they are a spot-on match for the Quatro Wood CT, as Richard Vandersteen intended. The combo is somehow more detailed and more smooth sounding compared to my AHB-2, which is an outstanding amplifier. I will post more impressions after a significant amount of burn-in.
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Primary System (Always in flux): Analog Source: Rega RP10 Phono Preamp: Bryston BP2/PS3 Digital Software: Roon, Tidal Streaming Digital Music Server: Melco N1A/2 Digital Sources: Totaldac d1-twelve SE MkII (factory upgraded from MKI) with "live power" 4 output power supply, Oppo UDP-205 Preamplifier: Rogue Audio RP-9 (factory upgraded from RP-7) Amplifier: Vandersteen M5-HPA Speakers: Vandersteen Quatro Wood CT w/IsoAcoustics Gaia 1 feet Cabling: WW Platinum Starlight 7 digital wires, Totaldac Gigafilter USB filter, AQ Sky XLR, AQ Fire RCA Speaker Cables: AudioQuest Oak spades ---> bi-wire spades Power Cables: Esprit PC (for DAC), 2 WW Platinum Electra PC (Preamp/Phono Preamp), AQ NRG10 (Melco N1A/2), AQ Blizzard (Quatro Wood CT built-in subs) Power Conditioning: 2 AQ Niagara 1000, 3 Oyaide R1 outlets Sound Treatments: 23 ASC Tube Traps and 10 Panels |
#26
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I heard the M5-HPA monoblocks at RMAF 2017 and two weekends ago at a dealer event, both times on Quatro CT’s. The entirely solid state amps sounded very transparent with a lot of weight, yet they had a certain ease to them and a realistic amount of bloom. Of course, they are not quite as delicate or refined as the M7-HPA but they do have similar balls. Synergy with the Quatro is, as you would expect, off the charts. The amps are a tremendous value, they are worth a lot more than what Richard is charging. I would say if you have the Quatro CT or 5A Carbon, you should buy a pair before he raises the price, and run with them. They are that good.
Ken Last edited by PlanarSpeakerFan; 11-21-2018 at 03:12 AM. |
#27
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Congratulations on the new amps!!!
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Kevin |
#28
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Primary System (Always in flux): Analog Source: Rega RP10 Phono Preamp: Bryston BP2/PS3 Digital Software: Roon, Tidal Streaming Digital Music Server: Melco N1A/2 Digital Sources: Totaldac d1-twelve SE MkII (factory upgraded from MKI) with "live power" 4 output power supply, Oppo UDP-205 Preamplifier: Rogue Audio RP-9 (factory upgraded from RP-7) Amplifier: Vandersteen M5-HPA Speakers: Vandersteen Quatro Wood CT w/IsoAcoustics Gaia 1 feet Cabling: WW Platinum Starlight 7 digital wires, Totaldac Gigafilter USB filter, AQ Sky XLR, AQ Fire RCA Speaker Cables: AudioQuest Oak spades ---> bi-wire spades Power Cables: Esprit PC (for DAC), 2 WW Platinum Electra PC (Preamp/Phono Preamp), AQ NRG10 (Melco N1A/2), AQ Blizzard (Quatro Wood CT built-in subs) Power Conditioning: 2 AQ Niagara 1000, 3 Oyaide R1 outlets Sound Treatments: 23 ASC Tube Traps and 10 Panels |
#29
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My system sounds so musical with these amps. The AHB-2 sounded great. the M5-HPA sounds phenomenal.
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Primary System (Always in flux): Analog Source: Rega RP10 Phono Preamp: Bryston BP2/PS3 Digital Software: Roon, Tidal Streaming Digital Music Server: Melco N1A/2 Digital Sources: Totaldac d1-twelve SE MkII (factory upgraded from MKI) with "live power" 4 output power supply, Oppo UDP-205 Preamplifier: Rogue Audio RP-9 (factory upgraded from RP-7) Amplifier: Vandersteen M5-HPA Speakers: Vandersteen Quatro Wood CT w/IsoAcoustics Gaia 1 feet Cabling: WW Platinum Starlight 7 digital wires, Totaldac Gigafilter USB filter, AQ Sky XLR, AQ Fire RCA Speaker Cables: AudioQuest Oak spades ---> bi-wire spades Power Cables: Esprit PC (for DAC), 2 WW Platinum Electra PC (Preamp/Phono Preamp), AQ NRG10 (Melco N1A/2), AQ Blizzard (Quatro Wood CT built-in subs) Power Conditioning: 2 AQ Niagara 1000, 3 Oyaide R1 outlets Sound Treatments: 23 ASC Tube Traps and 10 Panels |
#30
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Best, Ken |
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