[justjed]

Just got my Candela delivered yesterday, couldn't be more pleased! It's beautiful, obviously, and it's big. Hooked it up to the Khartago SE Extreme, plugged it in, let it warm up for about twenty minutes, and played some Dire Straits. Flat, lifeless, no dynamics, pretty much exactly what I expected. After about 2 hours of vinyl, my face hurt from grinning. This thing is GREAT!! Certainly worth the wait!

For the last 14 years, I've been using a Jolida JD5T tube hybrid preamp, with a pair of Gold Lion 12AX7s, and it sounded pretty good. But, the Candela has a wider, taller, deeper presentation than the Jolida can manage even with decent tubes, and it's not even burned-in yet. Tomorrow it's going to get a real workout, strictly vinyl, as my CD player crapped out, and I don't really care enough to replace it just yet.

THIS is the sound I was hoping for!

[AlexG]

Glad you liked the mighty Candela! Is a very nice preamp that play music in spades…give it about 20 hours for the output caps to open up…doesn’t need much! Enjoy..

Best,
Alex

[opnly bafld]

Glad you liked the mighty Candela! Is a very nice preamp that play music in spades…give it about 20 hours for the output caps to open up…doesn’t need much! Enjoy..

Best,
Alex

Do you know the gentleman that designed the most excellent Candela?   

[AlexG]

Do you know the gentleman that designed the most excellent Candela?   

Well, I think I know who he is…actually is me!

Best,
Alex

[justjed]

I'm very pleased! The way it plays with the Khartago is spectacular. Clean, quiet, and precise, with a nice shot of tube magic. My LPs have never sounded better!

[justjed]

Glad you liked the mighty Candela! Is a very nice preamp that play music in spades…give it about 20 hours for the output caps to open up…doesn’t need much! Enjoy..

Best,
Alex

This was the last piece I needed to finish my system. I'm one who believes the preamp is generally more important than the power amp, as it has the most impact on the sound, especially when tubes are involved. Coming from a tube hybrid preamp, there wasn't much tube shock from the Candela. Aside from that, it's already better at everything than the Jolida. I like the no-feedback design philosophy, and the overall simplicity of the design. Nothing that isn't needed to do the job. I also appreciate the component choices. Very nicely done, sir! And the overall build quality is as expected, which is to say, superb.

I've spoken with people who really dislike JJ tubes. I've heard a few examples, mostly 12AX7s, in gear that wasn't very memorable, and neither was the sound. That being said, I like the presentation of the JJs in the Candela better than either the Gold Lions, or the gold-pin re-issue Tung Sol 12AX7s, in the Jolida. I'm not in any kind of hurry, but curious as to how the Candela responds to tube rolling?

This one is already a keeper!

[JMW73]

This was the last piece I needed to finish my system. I'm one who believes the preamp is generally more important than the power amp, as it has the most impact on the sound, especially when tubes are involved. Coming from a tube hybrid preamp, there wasn't much tube shock from the Candela. Aside from that, it's already better at everything than the Jolida. I like the no-feedback design philosophy, and the overall simplicity of the design. Nothing that isn't needed to do the job. I also appreciate the component choices. Very nicely done, sir! And the overall build quality is as expected, which is to say, superb.

I've spoken with people who really dislike JJ tubes. I've heard a few examples, mostly 12AX7s, in gear that wasn't very memorable, and neither was the sound. That being said, I like the presentation of the JJs in the Candela better than either the Gold Lions, or the gold-pin re-issue Tung Sol 12AX7s, in the Jolida. I'm not in any kind of hurry, but curious as to how the Candela responds to tube rolling?

This one is already a keeper!

There is a whole thread on this cirlce about tube rolling with a lot of responses.

[jpv]

I have been using the Northern Electric 12AU7 tubes recommended by Klaus. They have been quiet and reliable for the past 3 years.
 

[justjed]

I recently brought home a Denon DP-1700 TT. It's a Japan home market model, so I needed a 120-100VAC step down transformer. Once that came in, it was all about set-up. That done, I played with it a little for the last week or so. Today, it got a real audition. Cartridges are Ortofon Quintets, Red, Blue, and Bronze, phono pre is a Darlington Labs MP-8B, along with a DL SU-7 head amp. Verdict? The Denon is better than the pre-Mk2 SL-1800 it replaced. Much better!

The Candela simply left me smiling! Along with the Khartago, and a pair of KLH Kendall towers, it presented a variety of rock, from standards like Steely Dan and Dire Straits, to the Dixie Dregs, Pat Metheny and a good selection of progressive rock, with plenty of air, really good depth, excellent width and height, and a very pleasant overall tonal balance. The stock JJs remind me of the non-gold pin re-issue Tung Sol 12AX7s. Good enough bass, good enough highs, midrange a little lean, at least in my room. Certainly not bad, but nothing to write home about. Otherwise, the Candela is excellent! I'll roll tubes soon enough. For now, I'm just enjoying the music.

Aside from tubes, I'm done! I'm not looking for anything better. After decades of used and vintage electronics, this is a system I can grow old with.....

Bravo, @AlexG, very nicely done!

Klaus, very much appreciated, and certainly worth the wait!