Lipinski L-707s - what amplifier?

[Robobo1]

(Note: I posted this in high end but I don't think anyone is going to bite... and you all would have more interest in these monitors anyway I feel.)

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I am thinking about purchasing a pair of Lipinski L-707 monitors. I heard them at AES a few years ago, and even though it was on the show floor I was very impressed. I do mostly jazz and classical recording... with the occassional crossover project thrown in (jazz/hip hop, jazz/classical, etc.).

I plan to use the monitors at home for listening and in the studio on sessions (I do studio work as a freelancer - the "night" gig if you will - so the monitors will live at home most of the time).

I am curious to know what amplifiers you L-707 users are using... and what you'd recommend for my situation.

I currently own two Bryston 2B-LP amps, which I use bridged on my nasty large JBLs. Will these suckers work?

I do NOT plan to purchase a subwoofer, for many reasons... during sessions I can switch to the full range system in the studio when needed. For listening, it's a crappy environment anyway, and I'm a renter... so I'd rather wait and get a sub that will match a room I plan to reside in for a while.

Thanks so much!

[vnt001]

Although 2B-LP's will work, you may be impressed by running an audiophile amp.

My buddy has the Lipinski's and runs a PASS X250...one word AMAZING!

Great amp, however you may have to find one used as the new 250.5 is a load more money$$$.

[bob katz]

Answer: A VERY BIG ONE! I compared many amps including all the Brystons, the Evo model digital amp, and the Lipinskis, which are very revealing, showed a transistor grain. Or else the bass was not tight enough or powerful enough. Or there was not enough power.

I ended up spending mucho bucks on the Pass X250, and I'm very happy. But what happens when I move to surround, scheduled sometime this year? I can't afford it and the room would heat to high heaven.

I'm hoping that the new Lipinski class D amps will fill the bill. I'm anxiously awaiting a sample to audition "when they're ready". Reportedly Andrew was trying to equal or better the sound of the X250 in a digital amp and he claims he succeeded.

BK

[Robobo1]

Originally Posted by bob katz

Answer: A VERY BIG ONE! I compared many amps including all the Brystons, the Evo model digital amp, and the Lipinskis, which are very revealing, showed a transistor grain. Or else the bass was not tight enough or powerful enough. Or there was not enough power.

I ended up spending mucho bucks on the Pass X250, and I'm very happy.

BK

Hmmm... I definitely can't afford the X250... way out of my league for now (on top of the Lipinski purchase). But I DON'T want to half-ass this, and I feel like I'm already skimping by going without a sub.

Any other suggestions? How about that Evo? Looks like I can get some of the Evos for under $1000 used on audiogon.com.

I wonder how much the new Lipinski digital amp will run...

[bob katz]

Originally Posted by Robobo1

Hmmm... I definitely can't afford the X250... way out of my league for now (on top of the Lipinski purchase). But I DON'T want to half-ass this, and I feel like I'm already skimping by going without a sub.

Any other suggestions? How about that Evo? Looks like I can get some of the Evos for under $1000 used on audiogon.com.

I wonder how much the new Lipinski digital amp will run...

I liked the midrange and high end of the Evo. I had the dual mono (stereo) unit and i think it just did not have enough power supply "poost" to give a solid, deep bass to my liking. But two Evos might fit the bill. The new Lipinski digital amp will be ready within a week I just heard and he's sending me the first pair to try this week. I'll report my findings. They are monoblocks, too. It's not that I believe in "mono-block magic". After all, my X250 is a stereo unit. But price-performance-wise, the chances are that the power supply of a well-designed monoblock will have sufficient current to adequately take care of the bass response of each channel.

BK

[Robobo1]

Originally Posted by bob katz

I liked the midrange and high end of the Evo. I had the dual mono (stereo) unit and i think it just did not have enough power supply "poost" to give a solid, deep bass to my liking. But two Evos might fit the bill. The new Lipinski digital amp will be ready within a week I just heard and he's sending me the first pair to try this week. I'll report my findings. They are monoblocks, too. It's not that I believe in "mono-block magic". After all, my X250 is a stereo unit. But price-performance-wise, the chances are that the power supply of a well-designed monoblock will have sufficient current to adequately take care of the bass response of each channel.

BK

Bob... thanks for spending time on this.

Here are my thoughts...
- I'll try the Bryston 2B-LPs. When each is bridged I should be able to get enough wattage into 4ohms, but not enough to preferably cover transients according to what I've read.

- Or I'll sell the two 2B-LP amps and try to pick up two Evos or two Lipinskis, depending on cost. Maybe the original Lipinski amps will come down in price when the digital amps are introduced.

- Or I'll buy that Cervelo carbon road bike I've been eyeing

It's so hard to purchase your own high-quality playback gear without making extreme compromises. Where do you start? Is it worth combining lower-quality components with higher-quality ones (weakest link in the chain syndrome) until you can build the system to your specs? What do you do if you can afford to purchase an entire upper-end mediocre system, versus one or two components of a high-end system? Wait? Save? Go for it?