Amp for Alon Model IV Speakers

[davidbeinct]

I just got these, they were sitting in my brother's closet for several years. Speakers are currently being driven by my old Acoustat TNT-120. I am plenty happy with the sound but that amp is getting long in the tooth, I wonder if a newer amp might do better?

My thoughts are:

Peachtree 220,
Emotiva XPA-2 2nd gen,
Pair of Emotiva XPA-100.

Any other thoughts? The designer of these speakers is a big tube fan and recommends tubes, but I'm not sure I want to go down that road.

 

[ski2xblack]

Probably not. That amp is kind of a classic (Strickland? Hafler? Not sure who's baby that amp is, but there are some knowledgeable audio historians lurking aournd, hopefully they'll chip in). It's probably far less expensive to service than to replace, assuming parts are still available.

I have no idea how such old tech would compare to a new Emo (or, if it were my ducats, ATI). If it works and you're happy with it now, I say rock on and don't worry about it.

Tube gear is best approached with considerable baseline knowledge, so read up before you jump in. If you must dabble, I recommend the DIY route. You'll learn more and spend less that way.

 

[davidbeinct]

Probably not. That amp is kind of a classic (Strickland? Hafler? Not sure who's baby that amp is, but there are some knowledgeable audio historians lurking aournd, hopefully they'll chip in). It's probably far less expensive to service than to replace, assuming parts are still available.

I have no idea how such old tech would compare to a new Emo (or, if it were my ducats, ATI). If it works and you're happy with it now, I say rock on and don't worry about it.

Tube gear is best approached with considerable baseline knowledge, so read up before you jump in. If you must dabble, I recommend the DIY route. You'll learn more and spend less that way.

Thanks for the reply. Actually Acoustat were their own "baby" first, then Hafler bought them. There's a guy in FL, former Acoustat engineer, who will recap them and spruce them up with newer RCAs and speaker binding posts for relatively short money, although by the time you factor in shipping you're not far from a new Emotiva (I will look up ATI, but I'm guessing same applies).

 

[ski2xblack]

For ATI, check out classicaudioparts.com. They sell "B-stock" ATI, which seem more like overstock than b-stock in my own experience-mine looks flawless- for ~50% off retail, full warranty. Even so, they cost more than Emo, but may scratch other itches (e.g. 7 year warrany, made in US).

 

[RichB]

I found this for B-Stock Parasound A21:

Parasound Halo A21 2 Channel Power Amplifier

- Rich

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I don't know if it's worth the effort both measurements and tester confirmed very strong coloration by Alon IV speakers, especially noticeable in critical mid-range....
Changing the amp will not make them sound any better. IMHO should get new speakers instead....
If money was no object in my limited listening experience I have not heard anything better than Jim Salk's Soundscape 8...
FIY: Same engineer who worked on them also worked to make Philharmonic Audio speakers which cost considerably less...

And in the important midrange, the NHT [3.3] was decidedly less colored. There was an intermittent, but not particularly subtle, nasality to the Alón's midrange. For me, this was its major flaw. I could not eliminate this coloration with straight-on, toed-in, or intermediate positioning. It clearly seemed to originate from the rear radiation of the Alón's midrange. No such anomaly marred the NHT's midband.—Thomas J. Norton

Source: Acarian Alón IV loudspeaker Thomas J. Norton, December 1993 | Stereophile.com

 

[davidbeinct]

Actually that's not been my experience with these speakers. They have a sweet midrange and an expansive soundstage. The suckout exhibited in those measurements is not bothering me in my room.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Actually that's not been my experience with these speakers. They have a sweet midrange and an expansive soundstage. The suckout exhibited in those measurements is not bothering me in my room.

Well, each to his/her own or to rephrase - the SQ is the ear of the listener....
Still, I think it wont hurt to audition one day the speakers I had mentioned above.... You might be surprised... Who knows..

I don't much about vintage amps, but a) the specs on these speakers make them rather demanding on amp so having 2-3 ohm stable amp is a necessity...

My advice to you if don't get hung up too far on electronics as speakers will affect the 95% of sound.