Hi All,
I have been absorbing a lot of great info on this site for the last few weeks and appreciate all of your terrific knowledge sharing and the supportive culture that exists here. :bowdown:
I am new to high-end audio - starting from scratch - and have decided to build out my system with Martin Logans in a two-phased approach due to budget constraints. Phase 1 – I am in process of acquiring some slightly used vantages and I just purchased a used Matinee for a very good price. I next need to purchase an AVR that can power both – Vantages/Matinee. During Phase 1, I will mostly be listening to music with limited HT. For Phase 2 – I will round out the system with a proper amp (maybe a sunfire – I am also looking at butler audio’s TDB 5150 - thoughts on this one?) a Descent i and surrounds TBD for full HT.
Two questions: First – I originally was going to get a couple of purities, but then I decided to move up several notches (to avoid regret and a future itch to upgrade as per some of your posts) to the vantages. However, I had already pulled the trigger on the used Matinee. I am now somewhat concerned about the ideal sonic compatibility between the Vantages and the Matinee as well as if the Matinee will produce enough power for me when I roll out the HT in Phase 2. Having a little buyers remorse here when I consider the motif/stage alternatives and some of your thoughts on the importance of centers…
Second: And perhaps more importantly the AVR. I want a new AVR that has all of the latest bells and whistles to use for Phase 1 which will ultimately move into a pre-amp spot for Phase 2. I have been looking at the Denon 3808 or 4308 (as per some of your comments about Denons working well with MLs) but I am concerned about it’s ability to power my Phase 1 set-up. I have read through a number of posts where some have indicated that the Denon 3808 should power the Vantages fine as a temporary solution, but I have concern reconciling the following statements from the ML Vantage manual and the Denon 4308 manual:
From the ML Vantage Manual:
“...it is important that the amplifier be stable operating into varying impedance
loads: an ideally stable amplifier will typically be able to deliver nearly twice its rated wattage into 4 Ohms and should again increase into 2 Ohms.”
From the Denon 4308 Manual (also in the 3808 manual):
“Use speakers with an impedance of 6 to 16 ohms… Protection Circuit – If speakers with an impedance lower than specified (for example 4 ohms speakers) are used for an extended period of time with the volume turned up high, the temperature may rise, activating the protection circuit…If the protection circuit is activated again even though there are no problems in the ventilation around the set nor in the connections, the set may be damaged.”
I know that MLs can go down into the 1 ohms range depending on music type and volume and I don’t want to damage my Denon in the interim. Thoughts?
I also realize that I am not going to get the kind of sound quality that Vantages are capable of until I get the amp in Phase 2 but I am just not in the market for an amp at this point and want the newer features on the AVR.
Thanks in advance for any assistance you can provide me! Looking forward to receiving my Vantages!:music: and learning more from you all!
I have been absorbing a lot of great info on this site for the last few weeks and appreciate all of your terrific knowledge sharing and the supportive culture that exists here. :bowdown:
I am new to high-end audio - starting from scratch - and have decided to build out my system with Martin Logans in a two-phased approach due to budget constraints. Phase 1 – I am in process of acquiring some slightly used vantages and I just purchased a used Matinee for a very good price. I next need to purchase an AVR that can power both – Vantages/Matinee. During Phase 1, I will mostly be listening to music with limited HT. For Phase 2 – I will round out the system with a proper amp (maybe a sunfire – I am also looking at butler audio’s TDB 5150 - thoughts on this one?) a Descent i and surrounds TBD for full HT.
Two questions: First – I originally was going to get a couple of purities, but then I decided to move up several notches (to avoid regret and a future itch to upgrade as per some of your posts) to the vantages. However, I had already pulled the trigger on the used Matinee. I am now somewhat concerned about the ideal sonic compatibility between the Vantages and the Matinee as well as if the Matinee will produce enough power for me when I roll out the HT in Phase 2. Having a little buyers remorse here when I consider the motif/stage alternatives and some of your thoughts on the importance of centers…
Second: And perhaps more importantly the AVR. I want a new AVR that has all of the latest bells and whistles to use for Phase 1 which will ultimately move into a pre-amp spot for Phase 2. I have been looking at the Denon 3808 or 4308 (as per some of your comments about Denons working well with MLs) but I am concerned about it’s ability to power my Phase 1 set-up. I have read through a number of posts where some have indicated that the Denon 3808 should power the Vantages fine as a temporary solution, but I have concern reconciling the following statements from the ML Vantage manual and the Denon 4308 manual:
From the ML Vantage Manual:
“...it is important that the amplifier be stable operating into varying impedance
loads: an ideally stable amplifier will typically be able to deliver nearly twice its rated wattage into 4 Ohms and should again increase into 2 Ohms.”
From the Denon 4308 Manual (also in the 3808 manual):
“Use speakers with an impedance of 6 to 16 ohms… Protection Circuit – If speakers with an impedance lower than specified (for example 4 ohms speakers) are used for an extended period of time with the volume turned up high, the temperature may rise, activating the protection circuit…If the protection circuit is activated again even though there are no problems in the ventilation around the set nor in the connections, the set may be damaged.”
I know that MLs can go down into the 1 ohms range depending on music type and volume and I don’t want to damage my Denon in the interim. Thoughts?
I also realize that I am not going to get the kind of sound quality that Vantages are capable of until I get the amp in Phase 2 but I am just not in the market for an amp at this point and want the newer features on the AVR.
Thanks in advance for any assistance you can provide me! Looking forward to receiving my Vantages!:music: and learning more from you all!