Yep. DIY 400s. Going to sell the AVA amp while I wait for my other amps to be completed. Transformers finally came in.
You kno, Jim seemed to have the same experience as he originally drove Exoticas with Frank's Ultravalve, but found a 600r made the speakers sound better. What is odd to me is that I had the opposite experience with the less efficient HT2s. I preferred the Ultimate 70 to the NCore. May also be sub implementation. I didn't use a sub for music on the HT2s. I suppose that the new speakers with subs react a bit differently, but I cannot think of an actual physical reason why. Just audiophoolary.
I do miss some of the air I got from my Mullard XF2s, but the bigger soundstage and separation in the instruments is worth it. Really hoping the 110 watts the new tube amp will provide will give me the best of all worlds. I will be really conflicted about selling the Ultimate 70. I love the sound, but I have no room for another tube amp. I have a Dodd EL84 amp at work. When the power supply blows, I guess I will need a new amp or someone to fix his design, but for now it works and sounds great. Sigh. Decisions.