[Rafal]

HI Everybody,

I'm thinking of possibly getting this amp (used) http://www.divertech.com/asl1001dt.html .Can you comment on it's quality and performance? What other tube amps is it comparable to?

Thanks,

Raf

[Wind Chaser]

A former ASL dealer told me they dropped the line because they had far too many quality related issues resulting in dissatisfied customers.  If you're looking for a tube amp, Almarro (also an Asian product) is far a better bet in both quality and performance.  Decware (USA) also makes some excellent tube amps that don't cost an arm and a leg.


John

[eric the red]

Assuming that it's the newer silver model with remote that you're looking at, I have that exact amp. I got mine for $750.00 used and think it's a great amp. Tube rolling is fun and easy, it's got plenty of guts, has high quality binding posts and a sub out, plenty of power along with the triode switch plus it looks great. I've owned a lot of amps (including the Audiomat Arpege discussed in the enclosed thread) and I won't be selling this one for awhile. I'm sure tublver will chime in here as he owned one, but I don't know how you could do much better for a tube integrated at the prices the 1001 DT goes for used. Here's a link on a discussion about a few tube integrateds:
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=27572.0

[eric the red]

A former ASL dealer told me they dropped the line because they had far too many quality related issues resulting in dissatisfied customers.  If you're looking for a tube amp, Almarro (also an Asian product) is far a better bet in both quality and performance.  Decware (USA) also makes some excellent tube amps that don't cost an arm and a leg.


John

John have you heard either the ASL or Almarro amps? Have you had a chance to directly compare the Almarro and ASL amps side by side in regards to quality and performance?

[acresm22]

I can't speak directly about the AQ1001 DT, but I am currently using an ASL AQ1005 300B SET and I think its a great amp. A friend also has an ASL Tulip, and my impression from both these amps is that the build quality if very high and the sound is excellent. No reliability issues with either, although I have replaced one hum pot on the AQ1005.

I've owned the Almarro A318A in the past, and I prefer the sound of the AQ1005....the Almarro was good too, but it didn't have the midrange presence and detail that the ASL has, nor the high end extension. This could just be the 300Bs over the Almarro's 6c33 Russian triodes, but that's what I'm hearing, FWIW. Bass performance with both the ASL and the Almarro is great, from what I remember of the Almarro.

One other thing....I've listened to quite a few tube amps, both push-pull and SET, on my very efficient Klipch LaScalas, and the ASL amps (both the AQ1005 and the Tulip) are among the quietest I've heard in my system.

D.

[Rafal]

A former ASL dealer told me they dropped the line because they had far too many quality related issues resulting in dissatisfied customers.  If you're looking for a tube amp, Almarro (also an Asian product) is far a better bet in both quality and performance.  Decware (USA) also makes some excellent tube amps that don't cost an arm and a leg.


John

What about something from Primluna, Rogue or Synthesis? Do you guys know how they would compare (in similar price point)?

[eric the red]

How about a used Prima Luna Prologue 2 off of Audiogon? You wouldn't lose much (if anything) if you didn't like it as their resale value is very steady.

[Tubo]

I can't speak directly about the AQ1001 DT, but I am currently using an ASL AQ1005 300B SET and I think its a great amp. A friend also has an ASL Tulip, and my impression from both these amps is that the build quality if very high and the sound is excellent. No reliability issues with either, although I have replaced one hum pot on the AQ1005.

One other thing....I've listened to quite a few tube amps, both push-pull and SET, on my very efficient Klipch LaScalas, and the ASL amps (both the AQ1005 and the Tulip) are among the quietest I've heard in my system.

D.

I have the ASL AQ1005-DT also, and agree with Acresm's comments. Run it with WE 300B's, sounds great!

Also owned the ASL Wave-8's for several years. Great sounding little monoblocks, never had any quality issues with them. Sold them recently for more than I paid for them originally!

[Rafal]

I'm still tinking of this ASL amp. Do you know if one of the inmuts can be made to bypass the pre-amp section? I would like to be able to use it with a different amp If I want to.

Cheers,
Rafal