LS27 and DS450 Underway

[Ritmo]

Dear AA friends,

Flew to Dallas again today to visit with my dealer. I spent a good part of the day listening to lots of music and comparing equipment. This was my second visit over the last month.

The equipment:

- McIntosh C48 and MC302
- ARC LS27 and DS450
- Boulder CD Player/Server
- Wilson Sasha
- Kimber Select ICs/Sp cables

The music:
- Chris Botti - Boston Pops
- Yo Yo Ma
- Eric Clapton
- Fourplay
- Jennifer Warnes
- Peter White
- Diana Krall
- Elton John

McIntosh Combo - Very dynamic. Very solid bottom and lively. Presentation was very good with front row presence - this surprised me a bit. Handled dynamics very well. I did feel vocals were not as natural as with the ARC - personal taste I guess.

ARC Combo - Very liquid, velvety sound. Excelled in the mids and highs. Terrific (wide) soundstage and focused image. Very respectable bottom end but short on the power punch of the Mc. Maybe of couple of rows back - but not too far back. Both female and male vocals - very nice, natural. Piano, trumpet and guitar strings sounded awesome - as Alberto would say - delicious. Could listen to this for hours and hours.

ARC LS27 with MC302 - I hoped to get get the velvety smoothness and accuracy of the ARC gear with the bottom end kick of the Mc which I suspected/expected could the right combo. This would have been a reasonable setup but ultimately, I preferred the ARC combo. By the way, not an easy decision.

So, I'm going ahead with the ARC combo. That LS27 is a honey of a line stage. I'm a little concern with the bottom end of the DS450 but our fellow AA member Aerosmith has had the this amp with the Salon 2s and feels is a nice combo. So will see how the first few months go. It should take a few weeks for the gear to arrive. As you can imagine, lots of anticipation over the next month.

Will keep you posted.

Mike

[Masterlu]

Hey Mike,

Way to go! Sounds like a great match. Definitely one of lifes greater pleasures; awaiting new audio gear.

[Ritmo]

Thanks Ivan! Cannot wait.

Mike

[Still-One]

How was the Boulder CD player. Is this the 1021? I would really like to spend some time with that product but it is a bi pricy near $25k.

JIm

[BlueChiaro]

Congrats, Mike...I listened to an ARC/Ayre combo, today, with Sophia 3s, and it was beautiful. I'm awaiting Sophia 3s, so I stopped in to get a taste of what hasn't been delivered, yet. Unfortunately, I'm not sure exactly what pieces I heard as I just threw Lee Ritenour's "Rit's House" CD in and listened. Anyhow, great choice, and much pleasure when it arrives.

Robert

[Ritmo]

Jim - That's the one. Rock solid with beautiful craftsmanship.

Thanks!

Mike

[Ritmo]

Robert - ARC with the Sophias sound terrific. My dealer has a pair of the S3s in Aston Martin orange that look pretty radical.

Thanks,
Mike

[cmalak]

Mike...congrats on the new ARC gear. What speakers will you be driving with the LS-27/DS-450 combo? Looking forward to read more of your impressions on this pairing once you have it set up at home. Congrats and good luck

[Ritmo]

Cyril - Revel Ultima Salon 2s. A very neutral and dynamic speaker but very power hungry.

Thanks!
Mike

[cmalak]

Mike...got it. Let us know how the DS-450 (and the LS-27) mate with the rest of your system when it all gets set-up but especially what you think about the DS-450 driving the Salon 2s. Thanks