ESP Concert Grand SI amp recommendations

[passion4audio]

I'm the proud owner of a set of these amazing speakers.

Currently I'm driving them with a Butler TBD-2250 amp, and the sound is good. However, I'd like to step up into a better amp.

I don't have the funds right now to step into a Shoreline, VAC, Concert Fidelity, Wavestream, etc.

I was wondering if anyone could make a good recommendation for me in the $5,000 and under (used) price point.

Thanks very much!

[Metralla]

Wow. Congratulations on owning one of the nicest speakers I've heard.

At CES a couple of years ago, two rooms were showing the ESPs. Alex Peychev with Mike Veretto had them in their smallish room and they sounded fabulous with the Manley amps, but less so with the Ampzillas. That was at THE Show.

At the Alexis Park, a well-known distributor (who I've forgotten) had a pair of ESPs in a much bigger room powered by valve amps, but I just can't remember the brand - somewhere around $12k.

I do recall talking to Sean McCaughan for quite a while and he explained some aspects of the Concert Grands - a very nice fellow. And we had a good listen too.

At the LA show they used the Concert Grands with Scott Frankland's Wavestream Kinetics amps - but I did not make it to that show. You know of them, and they are also pricey.

I do know that Dr. Sardonicus over at Positive Feedback (an owner of the original Concert Grands) liked them with the Boulder amps (as he should - they are well out of most of our price ranges) and also with the BAT VK-600 (out of your current price range too).

I know the ESPs are a fairly OK load (impedance at 6 ohms) and reasonably efficient, so a range of amps will work with them.

I've hung around with John Curl a few times at CES, and he's quite a character, but also a terrific designer. And the Parasound JC-1 is a pretty good amp that would easily drive the Concert Grands in high-bias mode (pure class A up to 25w). I think they could be a good used buy at around $4500 to act as a stop-gap until you get the right amp for those wonderful speakers. They would mostly hold their value if you got a good buy.

Mike Veretto (the ESP distributor) surely has some suggestions for you, but no doubt you've already spoken with him.

And as you know, Steve uses the Bodhrans in his home.

Again, you are a lucky man to own those speakers. I'm extremely envious. I'd love to see a picture of them in your room.

[TONEPUB]

When I had the ESP's in for review, Mike Veretto pretty much told me that I was an idiot if I didn't own his mega expensive Concert Fidelity amplifier and preamp.

However I think they are a much better speaker than that, and any good amp will certainly get you started. Another nice amp that you might find used for a reasonable price is the McCormack DNA 500.

Good luck on the hunt! You definitely have a great pair of speakers to build the rest of your system around!

[passion4audio]

:)

[passion4audio]

http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/1202/manley250.htm

[TONEPUB]

Nice setup!

Don't know if you have done this yet, but if you have a weekend with nothing better to do than move really heavy speakers around, try bringing those babies further out in the room if you can get away with it.

I know that Sean always seems to have them a lot further out in the room and when he was here, had them about 10 feet out from the back wall, which gave them even more of that "dissapear in the room" that the ESP's are famous for.

If you have already moved heavy speakers a lot, please disregard

:)

[vinyl anachronist]

Are those Shun Mook Spatial Control whatsits on the outside of the speakers?

[passion4audio]

Hi,

I did have them pulled out into the room. They did sound much better in that position.

The problem I have with keeping them there is I have two young children (ages 5 and 7) and this is our living room.

I "sacrificed" placement for the family (and for the safety of the speakers).

I plan on building a dedicated sound room in the future where I can "place" to my heart's content.

Surprisingly, they do sound good in this position - just not to the same level as when they were placed correctly further out into the room.

[passion4audio]

Shatki Hollograph Soundfield Optimizers.

Here's a link...

http://www.shakti-innovations.com/hallograph.htm

[TONEPUB]

I understand the kid thing fully! A dedicated room solved my problem too!!

Enjoy

[vinyl anachronist]

I understand the kid thing fully! A dedicated room solved my problem too!!

Enjoy

...or a dedicated building! ;)

I've found a sure way to keep kids away from speakers. Get a pair of Quad ESLs. Take off the socks. Then let the kiddies explore to their heart's content.

They'll learn.

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

[mikelakers]

:)

I see 4 audio dedicated power outlet on the back wall. :thumbsup: