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The Apogee ribbons speakers are a very challenging load for amplifiers with their sub 2 ohm impedance. It seems to me that the Devialet may be a good match for these speakers. Does anyone here have any experience with this combination?  I did not see it listed in the SAM library.
(20-Jul-2017, 02:47)CGabriel Wrote: [ -> ]The Apogee ribbons speakers are a very challenging load for amplifiers with their sub 2 ohm impedance. It seems to me that the Devialet may be a good match for these speakers. Does anyone here have any experience with this combination?  I did not see it listed in the SAM library.

I don't see why a devialet would not be a good fit and there are apparent quite a few people who are using it with electrostatic planar speakers. 
The dip down to two ohms should not be a problem. 

Concerning SAM and the absence of profile for Apogee, I may be wrong, but I seem to remember having heard or read that SAM is working and in its current design is made for electrodynamic transducer, which may explain the absence of SAM profiles. In particular, if you look Arnaud the Martin Logan speakers that have a SAM profile, they all have a electrodynamic woofer. 

Jean-Marie
I guess since SAM measurements are made with a laser measuring driver displacement, it kind of has to be? That's all I've ever seen of he measurements being done anyway.
I used to drive my active Apogee Divas with a two Krell KSA200b amps (one channel for mid-treble and one channel for bass, there is still a conventional crossover between tweeter and mid using the Apogee DAX) These worked well, but doubled power into each halving of speaker impedance, which I don't think the Devialet does, though I am fairly sure a 1000 pro would be fine.
Having said that there is an enthusiast driving Duettes with 211 valve SET amps, which are probably be clipping a lot of the time and he is happy.
I can't remember if we ever linked to this on the forum:

http://www.hifi-advice.com/blog/review/d...mplifiers/

This review featured the Apogee Duetta Signature speakers with the 200. Looks like they got a good result overall.

Guillaume
(20-Jul-2017, 18:43)GuillaumeB Wrote: [ -> ]I can't remember if we ever linked to this on the forum:

http://www.hifi-advice.com/blog/review/d...mplifiers/

This review featured the Apogee Duetta Signature speakers with the 200. Looks like they got a good result overall.

Guillaume

Thank you. It seems that the 220 or 1000 should have no problem driving the Apogees.
I use my Devialet with Perigee FK1's that have ribbon tweeter/mids. Same manufacturer as the current owner of Apogee Acoustics. Although not like an Apogee Scintilla, they do dip very low. Devialet doesnt break a sweat Smile
Thanks a lot for the link Guillaume, you have solved an old problem for me.

In the 1990's, the highlight of attending UK Hi Fi shows was listening to demonstrations of Apogee speakers, inevitably driven by massive Krell amplifiers. The Apogees had a reputation for being very difficult to drive. Best in show sound for me, but way out of my budget. Then in 2009, I saw a pair of Apogee Caliper Signatures for sale on Ebay. I could not help myself, I had to bid and succeeded.

Once I got them home, the next problem was amplification. At the time I was using very efficient speakers, Audio Note ANE's and flea powered amps. However I did have a 60w Musical Fidelity amp in the bedroom system. The Apogees are designed for bi amping/wiring and I did not have suitable bi wire cable or jumper leads, but I was able to power the drive units individually to show that they worked. Unfortunately, on being returned to the bedroom system the Musical Fidelity amp had developed a problem, it played normally for ten minutes or so and then the volume ramped up and refused to answer either the remote or the volume knob on the amp. A few weeks later the amp made a one trip to the Council rubbish dump. The Apogee reputation as an amp killer was sealed in my mind.

Disillusion and a change in financial circumstances lead to the Apogees being relegated to to the rear hallway, where they have been gathering dust ever since. A year ago, my finances having improved I bought a Devialet 120, which I later had upgraded to a 220 Pro. There was no way that I was going to risk the Devialet by trying to hook them up with the Apogees.
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Then a few months back you posted a link to the Hi Fi Advice site which had a review of Devialets driving Apogee Duettas and Divas. I dusted the Calipers off, inserted jump leads and found that the review was spot on. Devialets do indeed drive Apogees and drive them well. The Audio Notes are now the speakers gathering dust and I am thoroughly enjoying the Apogees.

For those interested, new Apogees ares still available, made to order - for a price. If you see a second hand pair for sale, then these can be very good value. Updated replacement ribbons and crossovers are available from restorers, such as Jon at Reality Audio in the UK, [url=http://www.reality-audio.com]www.reality-audio.com


You could end up with a refurbished pair that sound better than the originals.

Thanks again.

The Sofa Has Ears.
(20-Oct-2017, 11:48)The Sofa Has Ears Wrote: [ -> ]Thanks a lot for the link Guillaume, you have solved an old problem for me.

In the 1990's, the highlight of attending UK Hi Fi shows was listening to demonstrations of Apogee speakers, inevitably driven by massive Krell amplifiers. The Apogees had a reputation for being very difficult to drive. Best in show sound for me, but way out of my budget. Then in 2009, I saw a pair of Apogee Caliper Signatures for sale on Ebay. I could not help myself, I had to bid and succeeded.

Once I got them home, the next problem was amplification. At the time I was using very efficient speakers, Audio Note ANE's and flea powered amps. However I did have a 60w Musical Fidelity amp in the bedroom system. The Apogees are designed for bi amping/wiring and I did not have suitable bi wire cable or jumper leads, but I was able to power the drive units individually to show that they worked. Unfortunately, on being returned to the bedroom system the Musical Fidelity amp had developed a problem, it played normally for ten minutes or so and then the volume ramped up and refused to answer either the remote or the volume knob on the amp. A few weeks later the amp made a one trip to the Council rubbish dump. The Apogee reputation as an amp killer was sealed in my mind.

Disillusion and a change in financial circumstances lead to the Apogees being relegated to to the rear hallway, where they have been gathering dust ever since. A year ago, my finances having improved I bought a Devialet 120, which I later had upgraded to a 220 Pro. There was no way that I was going to risk the Devialet by trying to hook them up with the Apogees.
[/url]
Then a few months back you posted a link to the Hi Fi Advice site which had a review of Devialets driving Apogee Duettas and Divas. I dusted the Calipers off, inserted jump leads and found that the review was spot on. Devialets do indeed drive Apogees and drive them well. The Audio Notes are now the speakers gathering dust and I am thoroughly enjoying the Apogees.

For those interested, new Apogees ares still available, made to order - for a price. If you see a second hand pair for sale, then these can be very good value. Updated replacement ribbons and crossovers are available from restorers, such as Jon at Reality Audio in the UK, [url=http://www.reality-audio.com]www.reality-audio.com


You could end up with a refurbished pair that sound better than the originals.

Thanks again.

The Sofa Has Ears.

Wonderful news!  Smile

Guillaume