Diablo Utopia & D120

[Jean-Marie]

Going to audition the phantoms and D120 also probably a D200 as well. If I prefer to go down the D120/200 route I was wondering if the D120 be enough to drive the diablos in a small room?
The D120 can be bought at a very good price 2nd hand now although the D200 is good as well but with the D120 I can stretch for a 2nd hand Diablo more comfortably.
I see a couple of members with the diablos running them with D200 but none with the D120
This upgrade is going to last me for a very long time and I want to get it right, but hopefully I will be happy with the phantoms but the diablos is always my dream speakers.

I know someone who is driving a pair of diablo from a D Premier (240W) in a very large room and we were barely cranking it up to -3 dB. There is only 3 dB between D120 and the D Premier.

I also drive 88dB / 2.83 V/ 1m speaker with a D120 in a fairly large room without feeling limited. The Diablos are 89 dB / 2.83 / 1m.

Bottom line is: if you can go for the 200, go for it because it has more inputs (in particular a much better phono input), can evolve to a D400 etc... but if budget is really tight, I don't think you would feel really frustrated if you go the D120 route.

Best regards,

Jean-Marie