AudioCircle
Other Stuff => Archived Manufacturer Circles => Red Wine Audio => Topic started by: -Richard- on 12 Jun 2006, 03:30 am
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The Signature 30 arrived on Friday afternoon...it was playing in my system
within 5 minuets of opening the box~
Out of the box the Signature 30 sounds perfect!!!!!
Come on Richard. Out of the Box...perfect?
Perfect...this does not sound like any amp I have ever heard.
Deb: "It sounds like a SET tube amp that is perfect!!!", "I never heard that
layering before in that musical piece", "I never knew there was a second voice
in that song" "Fantastic detail", "...smooth, very smooth..." "the horns sound
fantastic" and so on~
Deb is NOT an audiophile...but she does listen to music with extraordinary sensitivity~
I have several SET amps in my house...actually the best SET I have ever
heard...thanks to Roger Modjesky...and the best SEPentode I have ever
heard...even Roger likes it (he did not design it)...
I cannot take the Signature 30 out of the system...it is addicting...seductive...
beguiling...fantastic...
Here is what it sounds like with 7 hours of play time on it: imagine the best
SET tube design...but with every issue worked out to perfection...that is
what is sounds like...PERFECT!!!!!
The most emphatic characteristic is the BALANCE!!!!! extraordinary balance of
the entire gamut of the frequency...creating a thoroughly ORGANIC musical
presentation...fluid...palpable...prese nt...
The second most emphatic characteristic is its ability to pull apart any dense
musical fabric to reveal the complex layering in a 3 dimensional holographic
presentation...and yet still hold everything together as a single continuous
flow of music...
The third most emphatic characteristic is the upper frequency resolution...
delicate, lovely, easy, completely non-fatiguing...no glare what-so-ever...
For Deborah any hint of Solid State or push pull tube or unsophisticated
pentode tube implementations results in bleeding ears...her tolerance is zero...
Deborah LOVES THIS AMP...SHE IS TRULY IN LOVE WITH IT!!!
The bass on my double B200 Open Baffles is startling powerful...full, rich, musical...
The next characteristic I would like to point out is what the British call pacing or
rhythm...this amp latches onto the rhythm of any music and allows it to gather
incredible momentum...the Signature 30 gets out of the way...there is no amp
there...only...MUSIC...THROBBING...PULS ATING...in a thoroughly NATURAL
presentation...
The Signature 30 is a revelation...and it is straight out of the box~
The remote control works flawlessly!
I will report back after I have had a chance to allow it to burn-in for at least
100 hours~
Congratulations, Vinnie...the Signature 30 is a masterpiece!!!!
When reviewers get ahold of this amp they are not going to believe the level of
refinement it exhibits...it is the best audio bargain on the planet...
Warmest Regards ~Richard~
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Well, yeah OK. But did you like it? :lol:
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Richard,
It's great to read your comments on the Sig-30, especially with the amps you have to compare it to. It sounds like Vinnie really nailed this one with it's sound and appearance. Mine is supposed to ship Monday 06/12 and you've made me even more anxious to hear it. It will now seem like a long wait. I'm really happy you and Deb are enjoying it so much and I look forward to sharing the same experience.
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I think it is interesting to note that right out of the box Richard and I both notice that there is no disconnect in refinement shifting gears between the Signature 30 and the other amps, Music Reference 45 in Richard's case, and Korneff 45 in mine. That this thing can hang with those amplifiers right out of the box should tell you something, and the 45 tube is well known as audio crack, it is that addictive, and it is also well known that Roger Modjeski, and Jeff Korneff dont exactly suck at amp design either. This a compari example right out the gate is probably the best review one could offer. Off to a VERY impressive start here.
Glad you also hear what I am hearing, Richard. The best solid state amp I have ever heard, methinks. Dense mixes such as full orchestra, forte, ala Williams, Prokofiev, etc., are like staring through a clear window, such is the resolution, and ease of the brain making sense of it all. Piece of cake for the brain to disseminate bucketloads of instrumention and arrangement information with this thing. It has opened up quite abit just being left to play most of the day. It may possibly be in line to offer a new standard of resolution, who knows. Different, that's fo shoo!!
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I forgot to mention...that the quiet of the Signature 30 is uncanny~
A strange quiet really...as if it had just rained...and the rain has stopped and
the wind has finally disappeared...everything outside is sparkling...
and because everyone ran for shelter the streets are empty~
You open the window...and the clean air enters...but there is this quiet...
this uncanny quiet that makes you linger by the window looking out into
the lovely light that is gathering now...
That quiet suspends the music as if the players were transfixed by what they
were playing...as if they were playing in their own dreams...a playing not possible
in normal time...as if they are playing out of time...dream time~
Dmason is right yet again...no preamp necessary with the Signature 30...
Vinnie has created a fully realized amplifier that is totally self-contained...
nothing to add but the music!!!!
It is strange Dmason to think of you and I listening to the same magic amplifier...
this is a wonderful year for audio...Vinnie has distilled the millions of hours
he has spent solving circuit problems and developing his "inner" ear for
what he knew he was capable of, but needed time to bring to fruition...and now
he has done it!!!! I am very very proud of him...and thrilled with his accomplishment!!!
Hi ndpjr...you are in for an amazing experience...this amp has it all...and something
else besides...it is so right...it is so beautifully realized that you finally find yourself
wishing for nothing else but to listen to music...of course...I do not know what
speakers you have...I have a simple Open Baffle panel with 2 Visaton B200
drivers on it...the lower driver has a simple inductor "choke" that cuts off
frequencies above 100 Hz at 6 db's per octave...and it is a perfect match...
PERFECT!!!!
Let us know your experiences, ndpjr...you will not be disappointed.
Warm Regards ~Richard~
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Rich, you're insanely good with wordplay! reading your review made me wanna get one pretty damn badly, even though i haven't had time to spend with my current setup.
Rich, do us all a favor and go write reviews for some magazines. Please do!
I wanna hear this thing so badly!!!!!!!!!
carson
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Out of the box the Signature 30 sounds perfect!!!!!
Come on Richard. Out of the Box...perfect?
Perfect...this does not sound like any amp I have ever heard.
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Hi Richard,
Thanks for posting your (and Deb's) initial impressions. I just responded to Dmason's post about his initial Sig 30 impressions as well....sounds like you guys are happy campers and there is nothing better than waking up to reading such posts! 8)
The DACT remote control stepper motor kit is designed and built by AC Manufacturer Bent Audio (John Chapman) and while it isn't cheap, it is brilliantly executed! The controller board for it is only "ON" when you actually use the remote....otherwise it is in sleep mode. It is also nice and responsive (as is doing business with John....he is a class act!). I'm glad it is functioning as it should....flawlessly! :wink:
Thanks again for making the time to post your initial impressions, and please keep us informed as you acquire the burn in time on your Signature 30 with your B200 OBs!
Mine is supposed to ship Monday 06/12 and you've made me even more anxious to hear it. It will now seem like a long wait. I'm really happy you and Deb are enjoying it so much and I look forward to sharing the same experience.
Hi ndpjr,
I will try my best to have it shipped out today, but I'm off to a slow start because I have been hit hard with emails and phone calls, so it not today it will ship out tomorrow. Either way, you'll have it by the end of the week. Thanks for your patience.
To everyone else who pre-ordered.....I am going in the order in which I received your pre-orders. I do not see a reason why they won't all be shipped out by the end of this week. I really appreciate all the pre-orders and your patience.
As always, I will email each and every one of you once it ships.
Thanks again!
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Hi Carson/Beatdownvictim,
Vinnie's new Signature 30 amp really is a revelation...its pairing with my
double B200 Open Baffles...the bottom driver using a simple 100Hz inductor...
is deeply seductive...and addicting and EXCITING, EXCITING, EXCITING!!!!!
The lightening speed and organic gestalt of the Signature 30's presentation
suits the Open Baffle's room loading characteristics...
Listening today to stringed instruments and piano...one clearly hears the resin
sliding along the surface of the bow and resonating violin or cello strings...
the "attack" of the piano as the keys are struck...or the use of the pedal to elongate
the vibrations of the struck steel strings inside the piano's wood cabinet...
The human voice is warm...and human...as Dmason said...this is not hifi!!!!
"You can tell a great deal about an amp by the way the piano sounds"...Deb remarked
today..."sometimes it sounds false...artificial...dimenished...this sounds totally real
to me...like a real piano..."
Agreed...Deb studied the piano when she was a child~
I want to point out that Deb loves the way the amp looks...she is a highly sought after
graphic designer with an enviable client list...her word: "elegant"...
Deb loves the remote control...when you press the plus or minus sign the
volume control moves...very c-o-o-l !!!!! Now Deb does not have to get
up to change the volume during the day...her design "studio" is part of the
living space where our audio resides...
Music is so compelling with the Signature 30 that Deb and I are rediscovering
our entire collection of CD's...
One more thing I would like to share with everybody...and this is the least
believable thing I have ever said about any audio product: I don't know why yet...
but every performance I am hearing sounds perfect to me...I am not exaggerating...
it is as if the performers came together during one of those magical confluences
of creative synergy...as if they were on fire with tremendous energy perfectly
matched by a precision of skill that is strangely uncanny...surreal sounding~
I am going to guess and say it is the dreamlike quiet that pervades the music
merging with the astounding speed and clarity of the dynamic presentation
that is creating these preternatural musical events...even the spaces between
the notes sound "real"~
Perhaps Dmason can expand on this~
Once music lovers discover this amp, Vinnie's life is going be a living hell meeting
the demand for it...this is a world-class amplifier that sets a totally new standard
of performance...high priced tube or solid state or digital amp designers will
shake in their shoes when they hear this~
The revolution in audio continues...and Vinnie is leading that revolution...
I am most interested in hearing the feedback from others with the same
and different systems from my own as they acquire this audio treasure.
Warmest Regards -Richard-
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Agreed. I have just spent the entire day listening to music. What a loser on such a nice day? Sorry, I couldn't find it in me to go anywhere outside the livingroom. I like Richard's comment about every performance. Every performance is suddenly like it is for me, happening live, in real time. Spacial cues are obvious as hell, and check this: the ambience and space of the sound stage for orchestral are thrown up as if an image from a projector, by the dipole effect, and the effect of control exerted on the B200's. The resolution has been jacked up into an area I personally have not heard. Folks, this amp is green and is therefore at its worst right now. At its absolute worst, as new, it is beginning to astound me completely. I almost want to quit my job and see where a six month listening adventure takes my psyche. I know that sounds dumb and soooo SoCal, but I was thinking such thoughts this aft. So much fun to listen to. The old usual warhorses are a total thrill. Listened to Telarc "Pix at an Exhbix" and weeeooo! Highly musical, with dynamics right out the window. Massed strings and that low bowing are truly organic sounding, all the harmonic cues per note in the low register of the cello is RIGHT THERE WITH YOU. Fascinating perspective this thing allows. I could immediately identify whether a piano was a Steinway or Bosendorfer in orchestral recordings, and could tell the difference between Steinway and Baldwin, rather quickly, in American jazz recordings. It is almost like my musical ear now has eyes. There is a thought for you.
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No, you guys don't sound So Cal .... more like Marin County :P ! How about some free verse now? :roll:
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Raja
Let me clarify: I wouldnt JUST be listening all the time. There would be time to surf, bike, meet girls, weave some new straw, find my avatar, all that other stuff as well. Dude.
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My Zu Druids just read this post and they are now dying to get paired up with the Signature 30. Sounds like I may have to do what they say :D
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Richard and Dmason,
Hey guys, I don't have a Sig 30 yet, but I still get the personal performance sometimes.
Last night, a certain IMO very attractive female singer, seemed so real, so in the room, on the Bs x 2, that I almost, out loud, asked her what she was doing after the show. :lol:
I think I need to start saving my pennies for a Signature 30.
Lin
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Richard and Dmason,
Are you guys using the amp with or without a seperate preamp?
Right now, I am using the Druids with a Modwright pre and a Wavelength 300b amp. And I'm just curious how the 30 would fair straight with no tubes.
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It fares best on its own merits, in my opinion. I pulled the tube pre amp out because it seemed to get in the way and I love the added flavor of that thing. With the non oversampling battery powered Monica DAC and the Signature 30, I am into a new sound now that I honestly could live with long term. Noise floor is a moot concept at this point in it all, and lends this dreamlike ease to the music, which just floats along.
I have zero interest in anything but music at this point, and could say my system and ears have had an epiphany of sorts. I am feeling that the new amp fills all the major corners, and I always love tube amps sound, but to get this kind of jump in an SET type amp, one word: Kronzilla. ex: The KR tubes would take six weeks to get to you and cost you more than the Signature 30. It is a virtual SET sound. With real crunch, real visceral power, like a velvet hammer. SET of the gawds. Two dimensions, not three. A killer compromise in this way, and likely the best solid state amp this tubehead has yet heard. Heard em all. Listened all day and all night today. Lovely. Exceedingly happy. Thank you Vinnie.
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Dmason's prose are so concentrated and full of energy and clarity that
I find it hard to think of anything to add to his sage insights~
There is something that emerges from Vinnie's Signature 30 that I am not hearing
with my admittedly highly refined and texturally rich SET tube amps...and that is
this thrilling sense of energy that "supports" and infuses itself within the musical
fibers...as if the music was being heard under very unusual circumstances...
such as heightened awareness~
It is not just a matter of presence...that is there of course...a visceral palpable
presence that you could easily touch with your mind~
It is an energy that wafts off the music...like a powerful undertow in the crashing
surf...that pulls you out into itself...an energy that translates as thrilling...you
have no choice...you sit there spellbound by the thrill of the sound~
It is surreal...more than real...and that is what is so terribly seductive...after
a short time you feel you cannot live without it~
It is like qualities of light...have you ever noticed that there are days when the light
is so penetrating...so full of energy...that everything appears as if you are in a dream...
every object shines with a unique vibration that sets it apart from everything else...
and yet the world of vibrating forms appears as a single radiance...it is like that~
The music vibrates with a radiance that is almost not of this world...you hear the
music the way the music wishes you could hear it all of the time...but rarely do~
Please keep in mind that both Dmason and myself are trying very hard to give
everyone a clear insight into what we are hearing...it is not easy finding the words
to describe something inherently new...a new kind of presentation...
It is not simply a matter of which amp is "better"...having lived with the Signature 30
amplifier for 3 days now I find it impossible to want to give it up...it is terribly
seductive...it is like a lover that always appears fresh and young and vibrant~
And the synergy with 2 B200's per OB panel is also at work here~
I am not hearing a sum of parts here...I am not hearing a series of additions
that are adding up...rather it is totally organic experience...a gestalt...the music
comes at you as one radiant thrilling experience~
The Signature 30 sets the music in motion!
Warm Regards ~Richard~
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I had mentioned 2 dimensional.
Richard suggested I try an upsampling source at about the same time I watched a movie DVD last night. The high rez DVD source added the third dimension. The ambient synth soundtrack was more interesting than a very good film, "Fire Wall," and now I am going to find a decent universal player to try. Even the CD convertor in my warhorse Sony sounded fantastic, the Signature 30 had some way of enhancing its sound, which is somewhat a mystery to me. Highly dimensional sound, upsampling, and DSP applied to a single B200.
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So Richard...
I gather you like the Sig 30 almost as much as the JVC F10 you were shilling this time last year??? LOL
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I am speechless.
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Richard,
I'm not that experienced in the fact that I have not listened to a large number of amps and preamps. The first step I took early in 2004 on amps that were not mass marketed was a Korneff 45SE. Compared to what I had listened to for years and had heard before and pairing it with some efficient speakers by Bob Brines, FT1600 MKII's, I felt it was the best I had heard.
Since then I've gotten a Clari-T that had a similar sound to me in the mids as the Korneff and really stood out because of it's black background, speed and detail. It was different in ways from the Korneff and better in some ways. I could say the same for the TAD-60 that I had as far as sounding different in ways and better in some areas. I had Vinnie make a dual mono Clari-T that I later had Jensen copper PIO caps installed in and with its battery power and the Jensen caps it was "very" close to the sound of the Korneff and is still the amp I play most of the time.
If I had the Jensens installed in the Teac that Vinnie modded for me instead of the Mundorf Silver Supreme then I think I would of had an amp that may have topped the Korneff in all areas and I would be touting that amp as the best that I personally have heard. That's why your report on the Sig-30, since it uses the Jensen PIO caps, is interesting. The 45SE is a sound I really like and to think of that sound with 30-watts instead of 2.5 watts is something I look forward to hearing.
I'm just looking for that extra little detail, bass, tone or a particular sound that I personally like. I'm sure there are amps that a person can hear that will always be the best they have heard no matter how many others they will listen to because it just had that right sound for that person. If you are fortunate enough to know it at the time and hang onto that amp then you eliminate a lot of expense and time. As I get more experience by listening to other amps and equipment I know that a particular amp that sounded great to me may be bettered as I'm more aware of what really appeals to me and more experiened in the different sound and tone of various types of amps and speaker combinations. That's why audio is so interesting to me.
I enjoy your reports and your enthusiasm and wish I could express the sound of amps and speakers in such a way as yours.
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Would be interesting is any of you proud owners could do some a/b tests with other amps or integrated amps to tell us the differences. This way we would have a reference of the sound versus something we already know the sound signature.
This Sig30 looks like a killer!
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No, you guys don't sound So Cal .... more like Marin County :P ! How about some free verse now? :roll:
I don't know anyone in Marin County that writes like Richard up here (and I've met Frances and Ed Mayes of 'Under the Tuscan Sun' fame when they lived nearby)...good stuff, my man :thumb:
.....and Enzo, if anyone is guilty of shilling the JVC F10 last year and the year before - it was more likely me. I thought it offered humungous sound quality for $200.00 with My MMG Maggies....alas, it was not built for the long haul, the fan gave up the ghost, and I tossed mine about 6 months ago. Something I think highly unlikely to happen with the new RWA Signature 30 (besides, Vinnie's 'customer service dept' :wink: is apt to be more responsive than JVC's was to issues)
As many have found with these new digi amps, they have some intoxicating virtues (imaging, which is a hard concept for me to previously fathom, is oftentimes uncanny).
Rave on, fella's. Congrats Vinnie on what appears to be a real winner :)
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Is there a power rating spec into 4 ohms? 2 ohms? Thanks
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Vinnie, I didn't notice any options for a 2nd or 3rd input availability - is it?
For us vinyl guys...and those that might want AM/FM/Satellite/Whatever-the-hell-else invented in the future :wink:
Thx, John / TCG
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Mr Chair guy, are you driving a set of mmgs with the sig30?
The marin guy slur was quite errudite, btw.
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Mr Chair guy, are you driving a set of mmgs with the sig30?
The marin guy slur was quite errudite, btw.
Yep, I know the Marin comment was in jest...my reply was supposed to sound like a gentle ribbing, too :)
I run my MMG's with another amp now...but they are being modded by Sonic Craft (on their way back to me) with outboard crossovers, new SonicCaps and Alpha Core industors. I have a TEAC A-L700P here to see if they work / can be driven by the ame Tripath chip in the MMG's revised guise...and then will think hard about Vinnie's new Signature 30.
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sorry ot
just picked up some perfect smgs last night for a song.
They are sucking all of my lowfi 100watters dry.
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ndpjr wrote
I had Vinnie make a dual mono Clari-T that I later had Jensen copper PIO caps installed in and with its battery power and the Jensen caps it was "very" close to the sound of the Korneff and is still the amp I play most of the time.
If I had the Jensens installed in the Teac that Vinnie modded for me .....
Vinnie,
When the work load settles a little could this (the PIO caps) be an option for Teac owners who may have difficulty springing the cash for a Signature 30?
Jim
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Rave on, fella's. Congrats Vinnie on what appears to be a real winner
Hey ChairGuy,
Thanks!
Regarding driving the MMGs, I'm not so sure how well the Sig 30 would drive them. Those speakers need POWER...probably a solid 50 watts minimum. I'm sure it will do the trick at moderate volume levels, but when you want to play at louder levels, 30 watts (from any amp) is probably not going to cut it with Maggies. I haven't tried it so I could be wrong...
The Sig 30 does not have multiple inputs, so a preamp would be needed or a simple passive switch box. For example, I suppopse I could offer a simple switch box with a DACT input select switch.
Is there a power rating spec into 4 ohms? 2 ohms? Thanks
Hi clearsound,
The power rating of the TK2051 chipset does not appear to be spec'd at 4-ohm unless it is ran in "paralled output" mode, where it is spec'd to be 75watts at 0.01% THD+N. The TK2051 chipset used in the Signature 30 is NOT ran in paralled output mode.
Regarding being ran with a 2-ohm load, it is not spec'd for this anywhere and doing so is probably not a good idea and will probably cause it to overheat and go into protection mode.
The Signature 30 is certainly more powerful than the Clari-T (30watts vs. 6 watts) and can drive less efficient speakers to more satisfying levels than the Clari-T can, but it is by no means a monster power amp. Well, to very high efficiency speakers it probably is :mrgreen:
When the work load settles a little could this (the PIO caps) be an option for Teac owners who may have difficulty springing the cash for a Signature 30?
Hi Jampot,
With the space in the Teac, this is certainly a possibility :wink:
All,
Three more Signature 30s shipped out today and more are being built 8)
There are also professional reviews that are in the works and I'll mention names soon enough.
Thank again for all your continued support!
Best regards,
[/quote]
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Now that the subject of what speakers are suited for the Sig30, I have to jump in. I tried my Clari-T on my VMPS RM40s a while back. They worked but just barely. You could tell that there was just not enough power to drive them. In fact, everyone claims the RM40s need a lot of something - watts or amps, not sure which and not sure I know the difference.
But, the fact is, the RM40s sounded most intriguing on the Clari-T. So much so that I hope to get the Sig30 when the finances allow.
My question is given the eff. rating of the RM40 is 92 dB, should this combo work?
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Sem,
For the high esteem I hold for both products, I'd guess the available power would still be marginal and THE limiting factor of performance. I tried a modded Clari-T with my very amp friendly 89 dB/w/m speakers and this was the case. Moving up to 30 or 40 wpc did provide a major wake up call. But with VMPS potential dynamic range, multiple drivers, and complex crossovers I would expect things to not go so well. Going from 6 to 30 wpc adds 6 dB of gain. In a 2,000 cu. ft. (typically sized American living room) you should be able to touch 106 dB.
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There are also professional reviews that are in the works and I'll mention names soon enough.
Ok, here is the first :)
http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/redwine4/30.html
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...You have Srajan quoting you on his preview of the Sig 30... that's a pleasant change. (from the scores of letters from 'I wannabe like Srajans' who write in congratulating themselves on now having just sold their 3m.o. *whatever* so they could buy the new *whatever* that Srajan has just reviewed and loved.)
Oops, do i sound a little sour.. why actually i am a little - just because he never posted MY letter. I simply, maybe unfairly, pointed out that the Jamos Reference 909's noted on his site as coming up for review had ripped of the open baffle description on Bert Doppenbergs site. Not to mention that the speakers appeared very similar to Berts Quasars. My letter was however overall positive - i am keen to read the review, given i can't find any on Berts Quasar design... plus, 6 Moons has such a wide spread influence, if the review went well this might influence sales for Bert and his much cheaper DIY option!
Which leads me back to why I am talking about this on this thread... a good review from Srajan may bring good fortune to Vinnie!
So what i really wanted to say is congratulations to Vinnie on scoring this review... Good on Richard and Dmason for helping this happen... and thanks for the enthusiastic reviews we have all be waiting to read.
Now to come clean.... I can't wait to read Srajans review! He writes brilliant, informative and entertaining reviews and I am eager to hear his impressions of the Sig 30 compared to the Yamamoto and F3. Almost as much as I want to hear the Sig 30's themselves- alas there is no way they will drive my current speakers .. but maybe if i get some Zu Druids or Gallos Ref 3s? :wink:
(Actually those open baffles discussed here seem interesting... that Darkstar thread is just so daunting though.)
So Vinnie, even though you didn't choose to get your buddy over at Omega Speaker Systems to design you that sweet wooden housing, all the best with the Sig30!
(you will let us know before you put the price up right?)
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There are also professional reviews that are in the works and I'll mention names soon enough.
Ok, here is the first :)
http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/redwine4/30.html
Is this a pre-review? I didn't see a second page or the review itself.
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Is this a pre-review? I didn't see a second page or the review itself.
Yes, Srajan likes to do "teasers" like that. There will be an actual review posted sometime what will follow the introduction.
It will be very intriguing to read his comparisons between the Signature 30 and Firstwatt F3. I saw the F3 at CES in a static display. What a beautiful amplifier.
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Is this a pre-review? I didn't see a second page or the review itself.
Yes, Srajan likes to do "teasers" like that. There will be an actual review posted sometime what will follow the introduction.
It will be very intriguing to read his comparisons between the Signature 30 and Firstwatt F3. I saw the F3 at CES in a static display. What a beautiful amplifier.
He did the same thing with his Melody 1688 review but mentioned at the bottom that part 2 was to follow. I am not a fan of the way he does it now and hope he changes his format. Thanks for the confirmation Grover.
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So what i really wanted to say is congratulations to Vinnie on scoring this review... Good on Richard and Dmason for helping this happen... and thanks for the enthusiastic reviews we have all be waiting to read.
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Hi fu_man,
Thanks! Yes, and a very BIG THANKS to Richard and Dmason for posting their initial impressions of their Signature 30s here!
(you will let us know before you put the price up right?)
But of course! :wink:
Srajan should have the Signature 30 within 2 weeks. I hope it makes it safely to Cyprus. Too bad I can't hand carry it! 8)
No matter if he ends up really enjoying the Sig 30 or not, I'm very thankful for Srajan/6moons interest in trying it. :)
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My Signature-30 arrived Thursday 06-15-06 and it was hard to get past just looking at it. Vinnie did a great job in making it a really attractive amp, very stylish looking and not overly done.
My components are a modded Jolida JD100A cdp, Red Wine Audio Scott-Nixon DAC and Bob Brines FT1600 MKII speakers. The Sig-30 is "very" detailed and with the Jensen copper PIO caps the sound is very smooth. The Jensens take the harshness off of the highs but do not get in their way, it just allows them to be fully heard without being fatiguing. It produces a nice, clean high and the mids are great, especially vocals. Where some say that the Clari-T was a little shy on the bass they will have no concerns with the bass on the Sig-30. The bass is very strong, tight and clean sounding. The Sig-30 has a overall sound from the bass to the highs that most anyone would be extremely happy with.
I have a dual mono Clari-T that Vinnie modded as much as possible and got it initially with Auricaps. Last year Vinnie installed the Jensen copper PIO caps and it made all the difference in achieving the type of sound I was wanting. I had heard the term "filled the room with sound" concerning certain amps before but did not feel I had ever experienced it until the Jensens were installed. They gave the music such a full, warm (but not lush) sound that I was sold on the Jensen caps. They accomplish the same for the Sig-30 even though they haven't broken in yet, which took about 200 hrs on the dual mono. I have a Korneff 45SE amp and just
from the initial sound of the Sig-30 it will have all of the great sound of the 45SE with a blacker background, even more bass,speed and detail as it gets more hours on it.
Vinnie, you did a "great" job with the Signature-30. The combination of parts used, custom board, the look of the amp and the long play time with battery power has made a really standout unit. I think if a person is looking for a more warm, smooth, detailed and fast responding amp then the Sig-30 is definitely worth a try. I believe it will be one of those amps that will be hard for a person to ever part with as it is going to be difficult to find an amp that gives the sound of the Sig-30 with the benefit of battery power and remote control if a person wants it.
Congratulations Vinnie and thanks.
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As I break in my revised/upgraded MMG's, I'm using the efficient TEAC A-L700P 30 watter instead of my 150watt Class A/B monoblocks.
Got news for you folks...at least in my 12 x 15' room...there's MORE than enough oomph to drive the MMG's is on tap with the stock TEAC. 12 noon on my PAS-4 tube preamp is deafening. I think some 'frictional' losses have been ameliorated by the change out of cap, inductor, binding posts, perhaps making 30 watts more capable than previously...but, so it is. Sounds decent, too, as it breaks in.
Sooooo Vincenzo, the Signature 30 may well be a good possibility for an amp mate to the baby Maggies. As the one input thingee doesn't quite cut it for me...do you still mod the TEAC? (I noticed it no longer appears on your site). And, do you now use some meaty caps in the mod :?: ...that may have been the missing ingredient when I tried LoanWolf's version last year. I see that you employ some trick paper-in-oil caps in the Sig 30 (are you learning some new tricks as you round into your retirement years at the ripe old age of 25? :wink: )
John / TCG
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Hi Chairguy,
As a former owner of Maggies...1.6's...I think the Signature 30 might
be a killer amp for it...IT IS SO DYNAMIC!!!!!...it charges the air with
a pulsating throbbing presence that turns Jazz vocals and instrumentals
into something extraordinary...and blues and rock&roll is beyond
belief...this is not like any "digital" amp I have ever heard...it seems
to operate in a sonic zone all its own...refined and dynamic at the
same time...very very seductive...and the detail would stimulate your
Maggies to yield everything it is capable of...
The Maggies need a little persuasion to sing at its best...the Signature 30
is very very persuasive!!!!!!
When you raise the volume it doesn't just get louder...the uncanny
transparency of the musical presentation keeps its composure...
which presents a devilish desire to want to hear blues and rock as
it was meant to be heard...I am going to get in trouble with the
Signature 30...even Deb can tolerate music at levels unthinkable
with any other amp...
Hope you are well, Chairguy, and enjoying the unfolding of Spring...
Warm Regards ~Richard~
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I have been listening to the Signature 30 today, gratefully lent by Dmason for me to try. He pointed out that it was brand new with under 20 hours on it, but it sounds very mature, I have read that the tripath amp takes along time to break in. People note the warmth and smooth nature of the sound, but also I would like to point out this velvety hammer of bass I was particualy fond of with synth bass, not dance or electronica, but vintage synth bass with Moogs and the like. An analog synth that sounds analog, listening to the remastered stuff from the 1970's, and Richard's comment about the upward spiral of the volume control. This thing sounds great with the engine running!! I have no idea how to write even a little mini review, but suffice it to say that this thing really is special. My only amplifier is a SET PX-25, and so my ears are tuned in to the big triode sound, and I can only say that my ears suffered no real tube withdrawal with this digital amp. I dont even want to say it mimicks a tube amp because to me at least, it has its very own sound, an open and bottomless sound, like this abyss, created by (I suppose) the otherworldly low noise levels, do something that affects the psychoacoustic interpretation of the music. This is a very nice sounding AND LOOKING amp. I didnt know Vinnie was still a "kid." Scary.
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Jiffyboob,
You did write a good review. It's all about how you hear the sound and the synergy of components that you have. The bass is "velvety" without being bloated or exaggerated. It's a very true bass that is smooth yet accurate. The Signature-30 has a warm, smooth sound that is very similar to "some" tube amps yet it is very clean and robust. This amp gives the benefits of a triode amp but without the lack of bass or rolled off and bloated bass that "some" tube amps provide. The Signature-30 so far has provided great sound and tone with the detail, speed and precision that t-amps can provide. The Sig-30 is a real winner.
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Where some say that the Clari-T was a little shy on the bass they will have no concerns with the bass on the Sig-30. The bass is very strong, tight and clean sounding. The Sig-30 has a overall sound from the bass to the highs that most anyone would be extremely happy with.
Vinnie, you did a "great" job with the Signature-30. The combination of parts used, custom board, the look of the amp and the long play time with battery power has made a really standout unit. I think if a person is looking for a more warm, smooth, detailed and fast responding amp then the Sig-30 is definitely worth a try. I believe it will be one of those amps that will be hard for a person to ever part with as it is going to be difficult to find an amp that gives the sound of the Sig-30 with the benefit of battery power and remote control if a person wants it.
Hi ndpjr,
Thank you VERY much for posting your initial impressions of your Signature 30!
I really appreciate the early feedback that I have received from you, Dmason, Richard, and Jiffyboob! I hope once you guys have put the hours on the amp (100+ hours) that you can post again. :)
A few other Sig 30s have been shipped last week (a few to customers who are not audiocircle members. I hope they will sign up and join the party :birthday: ). I am going to have to start making another batch of Sig 30 boards. This is the most time consuming step (hand soldering all those surface mount parts), but in the end I am very confident of the quality and this is one reason why I decided to offer the 5 year warranty.
Got news for you folks...at least in my 12 x 15' room...there's MORE than enough oomph to drive the MMG's is on tap with the stock TEAC. 12 noon on my PAS-4 tube preamp is deafening. I think some 'frictional' losses have been ameliorated by the change out of cap, inductor, binding posts, perhaps making 30 watts more capable than previously...but, so it is. Sounds decent, too, as it breaks in.
Hi ChairGuy,
Thanks for trying your Teac with the MMGs. Actually, there is another ac member "onemug" who tried his RWA/Omega Lotus power amp with his Maggies and said it actually drove them too! Naturally, you can only bring the volume up so much with 6 watts of any amp into Maggies, but the 30 watts will definitely give you more. If your room is not too big and you don't listen at loud levels, 30 watts of an amp that can provide the current should do the trick. The stock Teac's power supply is limited in output current and runs out of steam. Going with the SLA batteries gives not only stronger bass, but better bass quality.
I took down the link to the Teac mods because I wanted to focus on filling Signature 30 orders (along with incoming modded Olive orders, the endless iMod orders, and still some custom Clari-T's for those who find 6 watts to be plenty :wink: ). I can still offer the Teac mods for those interested. The link is here:
http://www.redwineaudio.com/Teac_AL700P_mods.html
I was using Auricaps, but the PIO caps (or the Mundorf Silver/Oils) make it even better....quite a bit better!
When you raise the volume it doesn't just get louder...the uncanny
transparency of the musical presentation keeps its composure...
which presents a devilish desire to want to hear blues and rock as
it was meant to be heard...I am going to get in trouble with the
Signature 30...even Deb can tolerate music at levels unthinkable
with any other amp...
Hi Richard,
Go ahead...crank it up! :drums: Let the music come alive and enjoy those OBs! And if what Dmason has been looking into in regards to a new, special "green" OB 8" driver coming out, we might have even more tone coming our way! I hope this comes true!
Hi Jiffyboob,
Thanks for posting your impressions of Dmason's Sig 30!
Yes, I am still a kid at heart but I seem to be aging quickly. Must be those solder flux fumes and little parts that are causing my syes to bug out, and my back is getting hunched over :lol:
Okay...I have family coming over today and Jen and I need to get ready for the company. Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there!
Have a good one!
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Regarding driving the MMGs, I'm not so sure how well the Sig 30 would drive them. Those speakers need POWER...probably a solid 50 watts minimum. I'm sure it will do the trick at moderate volume levels, but when you want to play at louder levels, 30 watts (from any amp) is probably not going to cut it with Maggies. I haven't tried it so I could be wrong...
Well, Vinnie, just this once I think you are wrong! :)
I've been very, very happy with my modded Teac driving my Maggie 1.6's to levels that are loud enough to overpower any conversation in a 20 x 26 x 13-foot room. For hours on end.
I'm somewhat embarrassed to reveal that I use 3-meter Monster cable Z3 for speaker cables -- embarrassed because it may be overkill. But they sound better than the zip cord I was using. And I got 'em half-price used from another audiophilia sufferer. Vinnie's coax interconnects also improve the sound.
With that Teac, the volume control is in the input, and I get distortion from my outboard USB DAC (over-driving it) before I hit the stops in the Teac. Your setup is likely to have better source than mine (an Edirol UA-5 driven by a Macintosh computer via iTunes) but I have no complaints with the Teac/Magnepan combination.
I have not tried to drive larger Maggies. A friend down the block has a pair of Maggie twos, but the next real step up would be three-sixes.
(I will be happy to post my impressions here if someone wants to ship me some 20.1's. You're almost certain to need more power for those, but it's worth a shot...)
(I still read Stereophile magazine for the music reviews, but the hardware reviews have been boring since Vinnie has been slamming them out of the ball park! Game over! Problem solved!)
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Re Maggies: Vinnies RWA/Lotus did indeed drive the 3.6's. Maggies may be low in impedance but they are pretty flat/resistive and low power likes that. I even run a few SET's on them from time to time. Loud is a relative term. I wish everyone had a Radio Shack SPM. It would be easier to recommend an amp if someone said "I like to listen to around 80db." I also think alot of people would be surprised how loud 80 to 90 db is. The Lotus's 10 wpc into 4 ohm is fine for alot of the music. I am seriously considering the Sig 30 though as it should play 4 to 5 db louder for those other times and from all reports so far, it's a fantastic sounding amp.
Vinnie, I would be using it on the Omegas mostly, and I have not seen a 4 ohm spec on the Sig 30. Would it be happy hooked up to a fairlly flat 4 ohm load, kept within it's power rating?
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Anyone know when the full review comes out. I like the 6 moons site a lot but the teasers are well, a tease.
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Hi watersb,
Good to see you here again and thanks for posting. I can't believe I forgot that you are one of my customers using Maggies with your RWA modded Teac. :oops: I'm glad it is working out and giving you enough output.
Hi onemug,
Yes, I have tested the Signature 30 using a 4-ohm load and it will be fine (kept within its power rating as you mentioned). Thanks for posting about the Lotus/Maggie 3.6 combo. I am still dumbfounded that it is pushing them :o
Hi kbuzz3,
Srajan should have his Signature 30 for review sometime next week. He usually gets right to work on reviewing so I would think the review will be out in July. I don't want to rush him though :wink:
Thanks for all your posts!
Vinnie
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...Srajan should have his Signature 30 for review sometime next week. He usually gets right to work on reviewing so I would think the review will be out in July. I don't want to rush him though icon_wink.gif
Ho no, not him. I can barely contain myself with all the nice comments in this thread and now Srajan is going to publish his comments, man ho man, last time he publised the review of the Audio Technica W1000 that was it, I had to have those. This guy is worst for the wallet than a women! :lol:
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Silly question - is this a digital or analog amp? Been toying with the idea of getting a used TACT pre and am wondering if this amp can pair up with the digital pre (and remove the need for a DAC)
Thanks in advance!
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Silly question - is this a digital or analog amp? Been toying with the idea of getting a used TACT pre and am wondering if this amp can pair up with the digital pre (and remove the need for a DAC)
Thanks in advance!
Hi murphy11,
It is an analog switching amp based on a Class-T (Tripath) chipset. The input must be analog (single-ended RCA...line-level).
Best regards,
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...Srajan should have his Signature 30 for review sometime next week. He usually gets right to work on reviewing so I would think the review will be out in July.
This guy is worst for the wallet than a women! :lol:
Well whatever you do, don't sleep with him. :wink:
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...Srajan should have his Signature 30 for review sometime next week. He usually gets right to work on reviewing so I would think the review will be out in July.
This guy is worst for the wallet than a women! :lol:
Well whatever you do, don't sleep with him. :wink:
Hahaha, well I didn't expect this one!
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Well whatever you do, don't sleep with him. :wink:
Hi Wind Chaser,
Thank you for your concern. I promise not to do so... I find my wife much more attractive :mrgreen:
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Hi Vinnie,
My comment was directed towards Loftprojection... that he might not want to sleep with Srajan. He might want to avoid women too. :)
John.
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Hi Vinnie,
My comment was directed towards Loftprojection... that he might not want to sleep with Srajan. He might want to avoid women too. :)
John.
Hi John,
My bad. Sorry for the confusion.
Cheers!
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Vinnie,
Without even having to see a picture, I'm totally convinced that your wife (or any man's wife for that matter) is more attractive than Srajan. :)
John.
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An AC member who got in touch with me a year ago stopped by for
another visit...traveling from Tucson, Arizona ~
Steven was kind enough to bring his beautifully designed Fi 2A3
monoblocks...Vinnie's moded Olive CD player/computer...enough
tubes to make a tube lover salivate...preamps, dacs and so on ~
I had on hand Vinnie's new Signature 30 and several SET tube amps
designed by Roger Modjeski ~
We sat and listened very carefully to all the combinations you can
imagine possible with the myriad equipment we had on hand ~
I cannot go into all the insights rendered during our total of 15 hours
over 3 days of careful listening ~
Steven has Zu Druid's which he likes very much...he never heard OB's
before...he purchased a pair of Visaton B200's on my recommendation
but has not had a chance to build a simple baffle for them ~
Steven was immediately taken by the OB's...actually he was amazed...
He sat almost hypnotized by the fully saturated wrap-around spatially
surreal holograph 3-D sound!!!
His legendary Fi amps sounded like they were designed specifically for
my OB's...a perfect synergy...they sounded extraordinary...with
remarkable texture and harmonic richness...
At some point we switched out the Fi's and switched in Vinnie's
Signature 30's...you could hardly hear a difference...and my Signature
30 is still green!!!!!
Steven loved it!!!!! His thoughts "Vinnie has a World Class amp
here...WOW!!!!" And Steven is an SET tube lover!!! He was incredibly
impressed...they rivaled the legendary Fi's!!!! Steven owns a Vinnie
moded Teac...insights: "NO COMPARISON!"
The Olive is stealth audio...while it is playing a CD it is actually copying
it at several times the speed of real time...so it finished copying each
CD played in only a few minutes...I kidded Steven by suggesting
he could travel to all his audio friends, play Vinnie's moded Olive for
them using their CD's...and while they sat mesmerized, Steven would
be copying their CD's amasing a huge collection of CD's...
all nicely stored in the hard-drive of his Olive!!!!
Vinnie was right...his mods render the Olive with a very refined sound...
lush, deep, silky highs, black background...another level entirely of
refinement that together with the Signature 30 makes music that sounds
as if it is directly from the gods!!! And they look great together ~
So far everyone who hears the Signature 30 is truly amazed!!!
Warm Regards ~ Richard ~
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Steven loved it!!!!! His thoughts "Vinnie has a World Class amp
here...WOW!!!!" And Steven is an SET tube lover!!! He was incredibly
impressed...they rivaled the legendary Fi's!!!! Steven owns a Vinnie
moded Teac...insights: "NO COMPARISON!"
Hi Richard,
I forgot to reply to your latest post:
Thanks for sharing with us your listening session with Steve! I am really happy to hear how much you are enjoying your Signature 30. And I have to agree with Steve's insights regarding the modded Teac vs Signature 30....no comparison indeed :green:
The Sig 30 orders have really been coming in these last two weeks and I just finished building a fresh batch of Sig 30 boards. More PIO caps, DACTs, batteries, remote control kits etc. are on the way so hopefully my lead times won't be too long. As of now, my lead time is about 3 weeks.
While building them takes up a lot of time, I must admit that I am really enjoying building each and every one of these amps. Everything comes together so nicely!
Srajan should be receiving a Sig 30 for his review any day now. I just hope it doesn't get held up in customs :shake:
Thanks again!
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ndpjr wrote
I had Vinnie make a dual mono Clari-T that I later had Jensen copper PIO caps installed in and with its battery power and the Jensen caps it was "very" close to the sound of the Korneff and is still the amp I play most of the time.
If I had the Jensens installed in the Teac that Vinnie modded for me .....
Vinnie,
When the work load settles a little could this (the PIO caps) be an option for Teac owners who may have difficulty springing the cash for a Signature 30?
Jim
Hello Vinnie....I'm wondering...those PIO caps...what would they add sound wise to the RW Teac ? Thanks....hope you can make Jim's/Hogg's Rave in July...in CT... :D
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Vinnie,
When the work load settles a little could this (the PIO caps) be an option for Teac owners who may have difficulty springing the cash for a Signature 30?
Hey Lonewolf!
They certainly will fit in the Teacs. Shoot me an email (vinnie at redwineaudio dot com) and we'll discuss doing this. :thumb:
Best regards,