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  #21  
Old 02-11-2018, 02:00 AM
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ylee ylee is offline
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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.
__________________
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
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  #22  
Old 02-18-2018, 12:20 PM
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ylee ylee is offline
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Location: Haymarket, VA
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I put down a deposit to take delivery of these in June. I will post impressions in August.
__________________
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
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  #23  
Old 02-18-2018, 10:35 PM
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cma29 cma29 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ylee View Post
I put down a deposit to take delivery of these in June. I will post impressions in August.
Very nice, Yong.

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.
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  #24  
Old 02-18-2018, 11:55 PM
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ylee ylee is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cma29 View Post
Very nice, Yong.

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.
While my Benchmark AHB2 is very detailed and musical in its own right, the M5-HPA is very refined while being equally detailed. While a solid state amp, Richard Vandersteen explained that it has very similar circuitry as his much more expensive M7-HPA with the primary difference being that it lacks the tubes of its more expensive brother. Interestingly enough, both the M5-HPA and the AHB2 use feed-forward correction, as explained by both companies. Should be an interesting comparison.

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.
__________________
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.
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  #25  
Old 11-21-2018, 01:07 AM
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ylee ylee is offline
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Location: Haymarket, VA
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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.
__________________
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
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  #26  
Old 11-21-2018, 03:06 AM
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PlanarSpeakerFan PlanarSpeakerFan is offline
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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.
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  #27  
Old 11-21-2018, 09:03 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ylee View Post
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...
Congratulations on the new amps!!!
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  #28  
Old 11-21-2018, 11:24 PM
ylee's Avatar
ylee ylee is offline
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Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Haymarket, VA
Posts: 587
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 4N6 View Post
Congratulations on the new amps!!!
Thank you!
__________________
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
Reply With Quote
  #29  
Old 11-21-2018, 11:26 PM
ylee's Avatar
ylee ylee is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Haymarket, VA
Posts: 587
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by PlanarSpeakerFan View Post
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
Indeed, the word from Richard is that prices are going to go up. They are already $800 more than what I paid.

My system sounds so musical with these amps. The AHB-2 sounded great. the M5-HPA sounds phenomenal.
__________________
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
Reply With Quote
  #30  
Old 11-22-2018, 08:34 AM
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PlanarSpeakerFan PlanarSpeakerFan is offline
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Location: USA
Posts: 1,564
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ylee View Post
Indeed, the word from Richard is that prices are going to go up. They are already $800 more than what I paid.

My system sounds so musical with these amps. The AHB-2 sounded great. the M5-HPA sounds phenomenal.
Congratulations on your M5-HPA monoblocks! They are phenomenal. Dream amps for sure.

Best,
Ken
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