WD Kit for use with Elac BS244 - World-Designs-Forum

Steebo123 · #1 20th February 2012, 10:00 PM

Hi

Its 9 years since I built, whilst living in the US at the time, A WAD 2A3 amp, which I ran with full range PA modified speakers. A great set up at the time, but it had to stay in the US when we came back. 9 years later, back in UK since 2003, and after lots of Hi Fi buying and selling I am hankering after the smell of solder once more...

I am using Marantz CD and PM Pearl Lite, into ELAC BS244's, which I got at a good deal. They are very clear, but a little bright with this setup. I am in a small converted garage for a study. I would love to give the 84 a go, not least because of budget, but I suspect I would need the 88, even in a small room. The ELAC's are 88dB at 4 ohms, with a minimum of 3.5 ohms at 190Hz.

Thoughts and suggestions welcome!

Regards

Steve

bob orbell · #2 21st February 2012, 09:10 AM

Hi Steve, I tried a pair of these with my WA88 and Icon Audio MB90 amp's pluss a quad 405-2 some months back after reading a report in Hi-Fi world mag, it was said that they need a lot of power to make them sing and 80-90watts min. I did find them very good but feel that a good transister amp was better, both valve amp's did not quite make the mark, but the quad did, so I keeped my MA PLI00's which work VERY well with the 88, so I feel that the 84 will be a no no. BOB

Steebo123 · #3 22nd February 2012, 07:39 PM

Hi thanks for the advice. Question now is whether to keep the speakers or not!

david · #4 28th February 2012, 02:26 PM

Hi Steebo,
I have some Elac FS247s, which are the floor standers using the same Jet 3 tweeter and with the same sensitivity. Ignore all you hear about these being power hungry speakers. I used them with the original AD 300 b monoblocs, with 28 valve watts, and a Kit34 running KT88s.They sounded great with the no feedback 300b monos, and the KT88s drove them with absolute ease.

On the transistor front, I currently use some 20w per channel HK tranny amps, and have also successfully used a T amp with around 10 useable watts per channel.

The treble from the ribbon tweeter is many classes above the competition and really sings with valve amps. The bass is powerful and driving with say a KT88 and a bit loose with no feedback but still a wonderful sound overall.
David

bob orbell · #5 28th February 2012, 05:15 PM

Hi David, have you tried the BS 244 with your 20 watt amp.? it's nothing to do with the tweeter, if not I think you will be disopointed, a large floor stander will work on the end of low power amps, but small speakers even of the same power rating need more power, I have a soft spot for small speakers and all I have tried (and that is a lot) do work better with a lot of power, please don't ask me why, because I don't know but my ear's tell me so, and any how if Noel Keywood say's that the BS224 needs a lot of power, then so be it.BOB

david · #6 29th February 2012, 06:23 PM

Noel Keywood or whoever from HI Fi World tested my Elacs made exactly the same remarks and the tester's comments are not borne out in practice! They use the same tweeters and what appear to be the same bass /mid units.

Steebo123 · #7 1st March 2012, 08:31 PM

Great comments thanks. I have a small room, think I will try the KT88 kit

Steebo123 · #8 1st March 2012, 08:42 PM

Is there any way to get a look at the manual first ?

Edwin · #9 2nd March 2012, 10:37 AM

I can let you have the manuals for the KT88 main amp, the pre-amp and the power supply. They apply to the kits as they were just before World Designs changed hands, so there may be some differences though the general procedure must be virtually the same. If you want them, I would need to attach the PDF files to an email.