DynAudio Contour 20 Speakers

[Infared]

Hi…
I have a pair of DynAudio Contour 20 Speakers (which I love).
I am currently powering them with a 40+ year old Bob Carver C-500 power Amp (yes…I bought it new..LOL!). It is steered by a Schiit Freya Plus PreAmp with NOS tubes. . I do not listen at loud volumes. I would say that my loud listening would be classified as very moderate in most circles. I live an an apt. So I am considerate. I am NO EXPERT…just a guy on the bus. My perception of the Contour 20s is that they need a bit of power (not that efficient). My current vintage amp puts out 250 wpc @8ohms. ..and I enjoy listening to this set-up very much…but wonder if more modern amps will give me "more"?
So..my question is: If I run two Nelson Pass Amp Camp Amps in balanced Mono mode (one amp per speaker), what can I expect compared to my current set-up?
Thanks!

 

[Zen Mod]

ACA, parallel mode

4R is tough for ACA in classic bridge

 

[Infared]

Thanks
I am not sure what your note means..I will try to sort it out. LOL!

 

[wwwtttwww]

I will say it straight.

It is a no go.

1. ACA output power is too low for your speakers, even with two;
2. Your speakers need more power and control. ACA cannot do it.

 

[Zen Mod]

Thanks
I am not sure what your note means..I will try to sort it out. LOL!

I meant - bridged ACA doesn't have enough current capability to drive 4 Ohms Dynaudio

you can try with parallel connected ACA, and that may work if your SPL needs aren't too high

btw. Babelfish M25 is making wonders with Contour 1.3 MkII and Contour 1.8 MkII

 

[Infared]

I will say it straight.

It is a no go.

1. ACA output power is too low for your speakers, even with two;
2. Your speakers need more power and control. ACA cannot do it.

I kind of suspected that...but I have never had an A type power amp...so that is why I am here asking. Thanks.

 

[Infared]

Sorry....I am a simple guy and do not know a lot about building amps. I am assuming that this may be good information for me...but I have no idea what it means. LOL! It might as well be in code!!!!
Could you elaborate what this means???
"btw. Babelfish M25 is making wonders with Contour 1.3 MkII and Contour 1.8 MkII"
The first time I have been to this site was today...so pardon my old-man slowness.

 

[TungstenAudio]

The Babelfish M25 is an evolution of the First Watt M2, which is available in DIY form as the M2x on the diyAudio store. The M2 is a 25 Watt class A amplifier by Nelson Pass, which has been authorized to be offered for DIY builders. It is well suilted for both 8 Ohm and 4 Ohm speakers.

The Bablefish version is from the Mighty Zen Mod, a rather notorious character who frequents these forums. I should let him describe it.

 

[Zen Mod]

There is thread about

Or few, in fact ....... so no need of me repeating my self

Wasn't meant as blatant advertisement plug , more like information that in some cases Dynaudio speakers don't need mucho Watts, even if they always need mucho Cojones

 

[Infared]

The Babelfish M25 is an evolution of the First Watt M2, which is available in DIY form as the M2x on the diyAudio store. The M2 is a 25 Watt class A amplifier by Nelson Pass, which has been authorized to be offered for DIY builders. It is well suilted for both 8 Ohm and 4 Ohm speakers.

The Bablefish version is from the Mighty Zen Mod, a rather notorious character who frequents these forums. I should let him describe it.

OK…thank you so much for explaining…in a way that I can understand I really appreciate it….I will look into this a little further.

 

[Infared]

There is thread about

Or few, in fact ....... so no need of me repeating my self

Wasn't meant as blatant advertisement plug , more like information that in some cases Dynaudio speakers don't need mucho Watts, even if they always need mucho Cojones

Hi…OK…the CampAmp is a kit…which I could certainly build. It is a well-established kit. There are instructions, lots of support media etc. I am not an electronic tech….so…when I go to The Store, search M2X and a set of circuit boards is all that is there…LOL! …I am lost.
It’s like showing me the engine for a car that I can build…
It’s cool that you guys are so smart, though!

 

[Extreme_Boky]

ACA is more than enough to drive your speakers to levels that will definitely suit your needs. I have 4-ohms Contour 1.3 and had 0 issues with a single ACA driving them. I had tube aficionados at my place who simply would not believe it was a two gain stages amp, with a single power transistor in its output.

Then I built Aleph J and polished it to perfection over the period of almost a year. It is a differential input amplifier with great bandwidth and very high input impedance. Amazing sound and superb bass control. It is a true high-end amplifier. Skip ACA and go straight to Aleph J.

 

[Russellc]

I would go Aleph J here too. You get your boards, and read the build guides, order your parts and a chassis. In the build threads are examples of the build of course but others who are building posting during the process. Read and ask questions until the whole assembly process is clear in your head and fire up the iron.

I had no background in this (obviously) but I can solder and ID parts. If you can follow directions you will end up with a nice amp.

Russellc