Amphion Argon 3LX - Canor Audio Virtus A3/Hegel H400/something else?

[SuyashMoorpana]

Hello everyone.

I recently purchased the Amphion Argon 3lx floor standing speakers (https://amphion.fi/products/argon3lx/) with which I would like to add an amplifier.
I already own a Blusound Node streamer and a JL audio E110 subwoofer which will be paired to my setup.

I have boiled it down to the 3 following options

Option A - Canor audio Virtus A3 Integrated amp (Also demoed in person with my speakers)

VIRTUS A3 • Performance Line | Canor Audio

canor-audio.de

Which on paper creates a picture perfect system with
Dense and lush mids
Tight/controlled lows with the Jl audio E110 + my speakers
Smooth fatigue free highs
and good detail and full sounding system at low SPL levels which is Imp to me.

Option B - Hegel H400
(https://www.hegel.com/en/products/integrated/h400)
I havent heard this but something pulling me towards this is superb damping factor of this amp and 250 watts of output which is likely to have superb authority and control over the lows.
Unfortunately tho - As much as I have read about this online - The trade off is leaner mids which I dont think I would like to loose on.

Option C would be M6 Pre + power amp

Musical Fidelity M6s PRE Preamplifier

Buy Musical Fidelity M6s PRE Preamplifier in India with Free Shipping, GST Invoice, EMI Option and Official Warranty from The Audio Co.

theaudio.co

Musical Fidelity M6s PRX Power Amplifier

Buy Musical Fidelity M6s PRX Power Amplifier in India with Free Shipping, GST Invoice, EMI Option and Official Warranty from The Audio Co.

theaudio.co

Problem with this is - I do get into seperates but I would be needing a DAC along with this setup and increasing my budget is not something I would want to do unless there is a HUGEE diff in the performance.

Room size - 30X12 attached layout below

Love listening to live music - vocals - emotion - instruments - Qawalli
Very rarely do I listen to bass heavy tracks

I would appreciate new suggestions from anyone and everyone who knows what Amphions would sound good with.

Thank you!

 

[oldmonk]

Good speakers those..congratulations!!

Try a good pre amp + an Indian made power amp minimum 200W to 250W at 8 ohms which is stable upto 2 ohms.

I would go with a home demo and choose what fits the room and speakers best..

You be the judge

 

[rwnano]

Hello everyone.

I recently purchased the Amphion Argon 3lx floor standing speakers (https://amphion.fi/products/argon3lx/) with which I would like to add an amplifier.
I already own a Blusound Node streamer and a JL audio E110 subwoofer which will be paired to my setup.

I have boiled it down to the 3 following options

Option A - Canor audio Virtus A3 Integrated amp (Also demoed in person with my speakers)

VIRTUS A3 • Performance Line | Canor Audio

canor-audio.de

Which on paper creates a picture perfect system with
Dense and lush mids
Tight/controlled lows with the Jl audio E110 + my speakers
Smooth fatigue free highs
and good detail and full sounding system at low SPL levels which is Imp to me.

Option B - Hegel H400
(https://www.hegel.com/en/products/integrated/h400)
I havent heard this but something pulling me towards this is superb damping factor of this amp and 250 watts of output which is likely to have superb authority and control over the lows.
Unfortunately tho - As much as I have read about this online - The trade off is leaner mids which I dont think I would like to loose on.

Option C would be M6 Pre + power amp

Musical Fidelity M6s PRE Preamplifier

Buy Musical Fidelity M6s PRE Preamplifier in India with Free Shipping, GST Invoice, EMI Option and Official Warranty from The Audio Co.

theaudio.co

Musical Fidelity M6s PRX Power Amplifier

Buy Musical Fidelity M6s PRX Power Amplifier in India with Free Shipping, GST Invoice, EMI Option and Official Warranty from The Audio Co.

theaudio.co

Problem with this is - I do get into seperates but I would be needing a DAC along with this setup and increasing my budget is not something I would want to do unless there is a HUGEE diff in the performance.

Room size - 30X12 attached layout below

Love listening to live music - vocals - emotion - instruments - Qawalli
Very rarely do I listen to bass heavy tracks

I would appreciate new suggestions from anyone and everyone who knows what Amphions would sound good with.

Thank you!

Suppose you borrow a few different amplifiers before buying?

 

[sreejithsreedharan]

I tried the Amphion Argon 3S in my room with my Hegel H190, and I really liked the combination. I have also heard the Argon 3LX with an Audio Note tube amplifier at an audio show in Dubai. However, I preferred the sound with the Hegel amp—perhaps because the setup at the show wasn’t optimal. The 3S (bookshelf speakers) truly astonished me with their control over the low end, and I didn’t find the mids to be recessed in any way.

Thanks,
Sreejith

 

[square_wave]

Hegel is a very good amplifier brand. I have heard them a few times on various setups and I have never heard this "lean midrange" that you talk of. There are of course mids-forward amplifier designs out there. Compared to those, Hegel will sound more balanced. The amp does not aim for "tube warmth". Great control over speaker drivers too. They also don't rely on global feedback in the design. This directly contrasts with many tube amps (looser, more bloom) and some “so called musical” solid-state designs that aim to sound like tube amplifiers.

I have less expereince with the Amphion speaker. Have you spoken with the dealer to understand what will work for your music taste ? If Amphion strays a little into the colder territory in terms of tone, maybe Hegel is not the amp for you.

If the Canor audio Virtus A3 Integrated amp sounds great, why not pick it up ?

 

[SuyashMoorpana]

Good speakers those..congratulations!!

Try a good pre amp + an Indian made power amp minimum 200W to 250W at 8 ohms which is stable upto 2 ohms.

I would go with a home demo and choose what fits the room and speakers best..

You be the judge

Thank you buddy!
Appreciate your help, will look into this option.

 

[SuyashMoorpana]

I tried the Amphion Argon 3S in my room with my Hegel H190, and I really liked the combination. I have also heard the Argon 3LX with an Audio Note tube amplifier at an audio show in Dubai. However, I preferred the sound with the Hegel amp—perhaps because the setup at the show wasn’t optimal. The 3S (bookshelf speakers) truly astonished me with their control over the low end, and I didn’t find the mids to be recessed in any way.

Thanks,
Sreejith

Noted. I will definitely try and get a demo of the H400.
thank you!

 

[SuyashMoorpana]

Hegel is a very good amplifier brand. I have heard them a few times on various setups and I have never heard this "lean midrange" that you talk of. There are of course mids-forward amplifier designs out there. Compared to those, Hegel will sound more balanced. The amp does not aim for "tube warmth". Great control over speaker drivers too. They also don't rely on global feedback in the design. This directly contrasts with many tube amps (looser, more bloom) and some “so called musical” solid-state designs that aim to sound like tube amplifiers.

I have less expereince with the Amphion speaker. Have you spoken with the dealer to understand what will work for your music taste ? If Amphion strays a little into the colder territory in terms of tone, maybe Hegel is not the amp for you.

If the Canor audio Virtus A3 Integrated amp sounds great, why not pick it up ?

Thank you for sharing your experience with the Hegel amps. Unfortunately I have never heard one.

View attachment 95870

Lean midrange I speak of is only in comparison to the Canor A3 not in general. (Even that unfortunately is only through online sources)
Also the Canor on paper seems to perform better at low SPL levels which is very imp to me as I shared earlier.
I know Hegel is a superb brand for what it does and offer.
Maybe the diff bw them is only 5-10% but at this price you expect a lot from your system and I am only trying to find what would suit me the best in my budget. I do not have a lot of experience with a lot of HIFI systems so guidance is really appreciated.

Maybe whatever I read online is all a waste of time and unreliable but this is the only source to gain more knowledge in this field.

I would close on the Canor anytime soon. But it still would be wise to evaluate and consider a few options and be sure of what I put my money into instead of regretting later.

 

[SuyashMoorpana]

Hegel is a very good amplifier brand. I have heard them a few times on various setups and I have never heard this "lean midrange" that you talk of. There are of course mids-forward amplifier designs out there. Compared to those, Hegel will sound more balanced. The amp does not aim for "tube warmth". Great control over speaker drivers too. They also don't rely on global feedback in the design. This directly contrasts with many tube amps (looser, more bloom) and some “so called musical” solid-state designs that aim to sound like tube amplifiers.

I have less expereince with the Amphion speaker. Have you spoken with the dealer to understand what will work for your music taste ? If Amphion strays a little into the colder territory in terms of tone, maybe Hegel is not the amp for you.

If the Canor audio Virtus A3 Integrated amp sounds great, why not pick it up ?

DK ho much of this is true in real world exp tho.
But I was pretty happy with what I was hearing from the Canor tbh.

 

[square_wave]

DK ho much of this is true in real world exp tho.
But I was pretty happy with what I was hearing from the Canor tbh.

I have only heard some older models from Amphion many years ago and the sense I got was - very clear audiophile sound. The waveguide makes the upper mids and highs sound quite "present and articulate" due to controlled directivity. I found the tone a little (just a little) on the colder side but it is also very smooth without ever getting bright. The hegel is quite transparent and articulate so maybe the Canor audio will work better for you since it is a richer sounding amp and may help with musical flow perception. Also, you liked it. In a different system, the Hegel may be a better choice. If it was me, I would pair the Hegel with a dac that is on the warmer side. R2R, Tube dacs etc.

 

[morerajendra5678]

Thank you for sharing your experience with the Hegel amps. Unfortunately I have never heard one.

View attachment 95870

Lean midrange I speak of is only in comparison to the Canor A3 not in general.

I would always choose a speaker for its midrange. Given that Cannot A3 is hybrid, it should have smoother and wet midrange.

I would close on the Canor anytime soon. But it still would be wise to evaluate and consider a few options and be sure of what I put my money into instead of regretting later.

If someone is not adverse in using DSP, some minor deficiencies can be corrected in system using the DSP. Correcting deficiencies is better than listening to deficient system and regretting the purchase.

 

[morerajendra5678]

The waveguide makes the upper mids and highs sound quite "present and articulate" due to controlled directivity. I found the tone a little (just a little) on the colder side but it is also very smooth without ever getting bright.

For me if the highs are there just on the borderline, the tubes present in the canor hybrid amplifier will make them very rounded and transform them to enjoyable highs

 

[SuyashMoorpana]

I have only heard some older models from Amphion many years ago and the sense I got was - very clear audiophile sound. The waveguide makes the upper mids and highs sound quite "present and articulate" due to controlled directivity. I found the tone a little (just a little) on the colder side but it is also very smooth without ever getting bright. The hegel is quite transparent and articulate so maybe the Canor audio will work better for you since it is a richer sounding amp and may help with musical flow perception. Also, you liked it. In a different system, the Hegel may be a better choice. If it was me, I would pair the Hegel with a dac that is on the warmer side. R2R, Tube dacs etc.

Makes sense.
If you could guide me with your expertise, just out of curiosity are the built in DACs in these amplifiers comparable to proper separate DACs or they are just add ons. I am getting the Hegel 1 lac rs cheaper tho.

Shall I have this thought - That my money is going into 2 dacs out of which 1 is just a waste so I would rather increase my budget a bit and go for separates all together?

I apologise if these questions are too basic its just that I am trying to find my way here.
I can definitely listen and make out how good a system is but am not too good with the technicals.

Thank you again!!

 

[square_wave]

Makes sense.
If you could guide me with your expertise, just out of curiosity are the built in DACs in these amplifiers comparable to proper separate DACs or they are just add ons. I am getting the Hegel 1 lac rs cheaper tho.

Shall I have this thought - That my money is going into 2 dacs out of which 1 is just a waste so I would rather increase my budget a bit and go for separates all together?

I apologise if these questions are too basic its just that I am trying to find my way here.
I can definitely listen and make out how good a system is but am not too good with the technicals.

Thank you again!!

If I am in your shoes, I would stay away from amplifiers that comes bundled with Dacs. Get an integrated amp plus a separate dac. That way you can tune your system better. There is Leema acoustics available with Audio Dynamics in Bangalore. No dac inside. Sound and performance wise on the similar side of the fence as Hegel.

 

[square_wave]

Audio Dynamics also has Unison research. The Unico 90 is a integrated amp with no dac build in. Similar in price to hegel 400. That amp will be tonally similar to the Canor audio.