SU & Kudos Super 20's?

Posted by: Paulq on 30 June 2017

I had a pair of Kudos for a while paired with a Linn Akurate and Nord One UP 500 Power amp.  I liked them a lot but ended up moving them on because, if anything, they were a little too 'polite'.

I upgraded then to a Linn Active setup (Akurate DSM/Akurate 4200/Linn Katans) which I still have and do love but sometimes still have the same feeling. 

I am considering a number of options:

1 - Do nothing.

2 - Sell what I have and get hold of a decent SU and ex dem S20'S.

3 - Keep what I have and add in the Linn Exakt capability with Exakt compatible Super 20's.

I did meddle with an SU once before but at the time I was having all sorts of issues with my network and could never get the SU to play properly.  That's now all sorted thankfully.

So lots to consider but just wondered if anyone had heard the SU with the Kudos S20's and if they had a view.  I read one, now closed, post that included the view that the S20's were excellent with Linn stuff but didn't really come alive until paired with Naim.  I am sceptical about that as the Nord amp I had was a monster and pushed out around 400wpc so there was no lack of oomph in that department.

Any views? Thanks in advance.

Posted on: 02 July 2017 by Paulq
joerand posted:
Paulq posted:

I also think my original description of the S20's I had as 'polite' was wholly inaccurate, on reflection. What I really meant was maybe very revealing and a tad on the bright side. 

While I'd tend to agree with your latter assessment of the S20s, I hope your opinion is not being cowed by responses. 

I think the responses regarding the S20's are generally positive so there's not really any undue pressure there.  It's just a question of the best gear to partner them with and my preference is likely to be Nord/passive to begin with and, later, probably to add in an Exaktbox.

I was just keen to explore the opinions of Naim owners as they are a far greater authority on their options than I.

On your second point don't worry, I am not a bloke who's cowed by very much 

Posted on: 02 July 2017 by Paulq
sunbeamgls posted:
Paulq posted:
sunbeamgls posted:

Linn Exakt front end with Naim power amps into the S20s, could be the best of both Worlds.

Cymbiosis could demo such a system for you.

I'm thinking the along the same lines but with either Naim or Nord amplification. The sale of the A4200 should buy the new variant S20a's.

Adding a Nord amp could see me run the S20's passively for a while and then add in an Akurate 6 channel Exaktbox at a later date.  I think that would just about do it for the next 20 years.

Until I hear a 272/250DR that is....

You'll find a review on line that compares Akurate Exakt with NDS/555DR, 282/Supercap DR and 250DR both into S20s with one Linnie and one Naimist coming to the same conclusions, in their humble opinions of course  Not sure the 272, good though it is when I've heard it, can live with that.

Yeah I remember someone pointing me in that direction a while ago.  I did advise him the S20's were great 

Posted on: 02 July 2017 by Anto68
spacey posted:

Sorry but that's another preconception... 

Has anyone actually tried the combo? 

That's why I turned away from this forum, always read the usual stereotyped answers from the usual forumers; What's worse and boring is that they leave their opinions without ever real evidence.

Posted on: 02 July 2017 by Anto68
trickydickie posted:

 

Spending more on the source/amplifier and less on the speakers would be how I would spend my money.

I think investing a lot of money on excellent speakers is a good investment for life, and I also agree that the same is true for a good amplifier, but a source, especially like the 272, may prove inauspicious in the near future. A 272 can become obsolete in a few years as a superuniti.  An integrated dac can not be kept up to date

Posted on: 02 July 2017 by Paulq

Agree. That's why my likely next change will be a decent amp and one to keep. 

Posted on: 02 July 2017 by Silence Kills

I own a SuperUniti myself with a pair of Kudos C20. I heard both (amongst many others), C20 and Super 20 side by side to make a decision to buy speakers. I agree, that the Super 20 is probably too much speaker for the SU and I found out the the C20 matched better with the SU. The sound was richer with the C20 in combination with the SU - for me, at least.

So, you should listen to both with the SU.

Posted on: 04 July 2017 by Jonas Olofsson

I have used SU + Super 20 (with Chord Epic twin speaker cable) for years at our office and have friends with the exact same set up at their homes.

I think it's a magic combination for the money. Very very good. 

//Jonas  

 

 

Posted on: 04 July 2017 by spacey
Jonas Olofsson posted:

I have used SU + Super 20 (with Chord Epic twin speaker cable) for years at our office and have friends with the exact same set up at their homes.

I think it's a magic combination for the money. Very very good. 

//Jonas  

 

 

At last!! some actual real experience of the combination...