[RoadTripper]

I wish all recordings were as live as Fleck's. Don't know how they do it. The amp is pretty good for Reference Recordings HDCDs as well. Some of the string basses I heard last night were unbelieveably rich and musical. The overall orchestra was the best I have ever heard.

I have 30 hours on it.

OTOH, I listened to Celine Dionne's Christmas album last night and I discovered that either due to the recording or the amp, that she needs a fair bit of added coloration to get her voice to be half way decent. By that, I mean that devoid of any help from coloration, she has a bit of a grating sound. Kind of like a loud Norah Jones.

I doubt it is the amp because Diana Krall is just as rich sounding as you can imagine on the amp. No stridency whatever.

[TheChairGuy]

Seminarian,

Bring the Clari-T to CES / T.H.E. coming up and hook it up in a few hi-efficiency rooms there...watch the jaws drop  

Could be fun - what's it weigh - 2.5lbs?  You can squeeze it into your Southwest Airlines flight bag easily enough....

[smargo]

Bring the Clari-T to CES / T.H.E. coming up and hook it up in a few hi-efficiency rooms there...watch the jaws drop

I am going - should I bring mine? Seriously? I would if Vinnie ok'd it. Not sure - maybe the speaker people would let us hook it up or the cd people.

By the way I am amazed how good vinyl sounds with this amp - is that sacreligious?

Regards,
smargo

[smargo]

I've read that the Clari-T may lack bass weight and treble extension

As Dmason has said and I also reiterate - the bass is wonderful - tight, articulate, and controlled  - no it is not subterranian (good spelling) - but you don't miss it- because everything else is there.

smargo

[Dmason]

Divan Dude,

Funny you should mention that; I am hoping to be able to get away for three or four days in sunny Vegas just around the time of CES, coincidently. If so, I will be bringing it with me to see if I couldn't plug it in somewhere. Louis Omega will be there, and I'd like to show him my old car. I would like to hear Clari-T with things like Reimer, Daedalus, Avantgarde, Cain$Cain Ben, where it could really strut its stuff. I feel it would in no way be out of touch with ANY of these designs.

For liquid, live sounding fusion, try the new remastered Weather Report, "Heavy Weather."

[Paul_Bui]

I intend to wait a few more weeks to post my impressions on the Clari-T which will be more broken in by then.  For the last 30 days there have been several major component changes to my system.

The "old" setup consisted of Underwood Mod 1 Shanling SCD-T200, Decware
Signature SV83S monoblocks, Autoformers, DD's 1.3/FE206E, cryo-CAT6 cables.

Then the FirstWatt F1 came to replace the tube monoblocks.  Two weeks later
the FTA2000s arrived and started break in, being driven by the racing F1.

The Clari-T arrived last week and I used it to drive either the FTA2000s or 1.3/206E with different results.  The more efficient speakers are, the better Clari-T performs.  

I will arrange a more complete comparison of the three amps driving either 1.3/206E or Ed's Horns.   The FTA2000s is best matched with the F1, so it wouldn't be fair to use them for the shoot-out.

Nevertheless, I can say this:   The Clari-T has a relaxed way in the midrange that I find romantic.  Bass and highs extension is much better on the 96db 1.3/206E than the 88/90db FTA2000s.  OTOH, the F1 always manages to control the voice coil superbly.  It, however, isn't as forgiving as the Clari-T on lesser recordings.  I like both for their own virtues.

[lcrim]

Paul_Bui:
What are DD's 1.3/FE206E and FTA2000s ?  Could you please give some details?  I have read about the Pass F1 amp but I'm not familiar w/ these speakers.

[Paul_Bui]

Larry,

Please see http://www.fostexspeakers.com/fostex.html for David Dicks' 1.3 enclosure containing Fostex FE206E driver.  See http://geocities.com/rbrines1/ for Bob Brines' FTA2000 speakers using Fostex F200A drivers.

Please feel free to ask questions after you're done reading the two websites.

Paul

[JLM]

Paul I think you mistyped.  The David Dicks 1.3 use the 96 dB/w/m  Fostex FE206E driver don't they?

[Paul_Bui]

Jeff, thanks for correcting me.  I have just edited the previous message.  Just got a new laptop and played with wireless router a bit, so I must be carried away.

Let us know your search for the amp that drives FTA2000s best.  As for me and my room, the F1 is the answer.  The Clari-T and SV83S will handle anything else, as far as the single driver concerned.

[RoadTripper]

I'm thankful that $400 for the Clari-T isn't a lot of money. I just listened to an Albany Records Troy State Savings Bank recording of the Albany Symphony and this amp now has me sold again, but way past where I was a few days ago. You might get sick of me telling you about every recording I hear on this thing.

If you have 96db sensitive speakers like my Omega Grande 8R, you need to save up the $400 and get the Clari-T.  

You may recall my earlier posts where I waxed eloquent about the JVC ES1SL. What I said, I stand by. But this battery/Clari-T is way, way past it. I guess I should try a bad recording and see how much I like it.

[Dmason]

Paul,

If you could tell us abit more about your thoughts on the David Dicks 1.3 with the FE206E.

Personally, I am thinking about a project speaker expressly for the Clari-T, with a mind to serious orchestral listening. Electronic ambient music a la Eddie Jobson, Tangerine Dream et al, is  equally jaw-dropping...

I am considering the Decware modified 206 in something like Dicks' BR, or is it a DBR (?), and have also been researching backloaded horns and sealed cabinets with a sub, both designs using the Fostex FE168ESigma 6.5" drivers.

I agree with Seminarian, the combination of the Clari-T and singles is truly awe-inspiring. This is a destination combo as far as I am concerned. I will be posting for sale a variety of audiophool-approved equipment in the coming weeks to help fund The Lowther Research Foundation.

[Paul_Bui]

Seminarian, congrats on matching the Omega speakers with the Clari-T.  I think it does the same magic to DD's 1.3/206E.

Dmason, the 1.3/206E combo has been good enough that I didn't feel itchy to try Decware's modified driver.  But if I were you I would look into Bob Brines' FT1600 design (http://www.geocities.com/rbrines1/index.html), and he offers 4 levels of builds, from plans to fully assembled speakers.  I've heard it's better than the HDT for less money, and I think the HDT betters the 1.3/206E.  I know of one person who decided to sell his HDT right after his FT1600 arrived (http://www.decware.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=diy&action=display&num=1097644432).

Back to the 1.3/206E combo, it may have some shouty and beaming issue especially with the tube monoblocks according to someone with keener ears, but I enjoyed it so much (especially after the F1 arrived which made it even way better) until the FTA-2000s arrived.  By the way, I'd been using the Autoformers to match the 1.3/206E's impedance with that of the the monoblocks (4 ohms).  You should communicate with the StevenH from the Decwarwe Forums who have both HDT and FT1600.  Den (DrN) another Decware Forum member has also received the FT1600 and very happy.  I predict all three speakers (1.3, HDT, FT1600) will work beautifully with the Clari-T, not to mention Ed's Horns and Omega and Cain&Cain's Abby.  Oh, life is full of choices.

[Dmason]

Paul,

I had had some emails with Bob B. a few months ago, and the FT1600 MkII was in the running, but I wanted to use the FE168E~ with it. I could now as I have EQ in the digital domain.

 I will look up those posts in the Dec. forum. I would go for the FTA2000 in a heartbeat, heck, I even have a pair of F200A, which is frustrating, because there just isn't enough juice with the Clari-T, and new speaks are expressly for the Clari-T. Not quite sure what to do with them.

[Vinnie R.]

All,

I just wanted to thank you again for providing feedback on your impressions of the Clari-T-Amp, along with a great discussion on speakers used and comparisons to other amps used.  This thead is alive and well and this is what it is all about!

Yesterday I was able to hear a good turntable and phone stage feed the  Clari-T-Amp to power a pair Lowther drivers in custom horn cabinets...WOW!  Now I MUST get a pair of high efficiency single-driver "crossoverless" speakers!  

I spoke with Louis from Omega last month (a really nice guy BTW) and at some point, we need to hook up because I'm jus itching to hear the Clari-T-Amp with a pair of Grande 6's or 8's.  He has been really busy with his new building and I've been busy as well, but hopefully we'll be able to meet soon.  Now that Seminarian confirms a great match with the Clari-T and Omegas, sound noise needs to be made about this on the Omega Forum  

Cheers!

Vinnie

[cjr888]

I know this has been well covered for the JVC, but for the little battery powered Tripath, what are the rough hours required for full break-in, and do people find vast differences between 0 hours and extensive break-in like the JVC?

Easy to gets mixed up with people's reports on the various class-D implementations, the Tripath, the JVC, etc.  If this has been well covered in another post, a link will suffice....

[Vinnie R.]

I know this has been well covered for the JVC, but for the little battery powered Tripath, what are the rough hours required for full break-in, and do people find vast differences between 0 hours and extensive break-in like the JVC?

Easy to gets mixed up with people's reports on the various class-D implementations, the Tripath, the JVC, etc.  If this has been well covered in another post, a link will suffice....

Hi Chris,

This is covered in the FAQ of my webpage: www.geocities.com/vinnie822

To sum it up, the Clari-T-Amp (like all Tripath-based amps) takes a good 50 to 100 hours to open up and sound its best.

I think Dmason's Clari-T has the most mileage so far since he has had it for the longest and uses it religiously     The break in period is rather long, but you will be rewarded...

Regards,

Vinnie

[JLM]

Paul,

As you know the FTA-2000 don't lack bass and use a Fostex F200A full range driver (90 dB/w/m, 8 ohm, 30 - 20,000 Hz) in Bob Brines designed/built mass loaded transmission line floorstanding cabinets.

I've tried the Decware Torii ($1500 12 wpc EL34 tube integrated), JVC RX-ES-1SL ($200 100 wpc digital/hybrid 5.1 receiver), DIY chip amp, and my $700  6 year old Rotel 100 wpc stereo receiver.

The Torii sounded best, but exagerated the bass and couldn't pass 20 - 50 Hz warble tone test.  Break in was a bit scary with pops and humming the first week.

The JVC, as Ed Schilling would say, sounds stupid good for the money as it tries to provide the best of tubes and solid state and did better on the warble tones.  If it wasn't built so cheap I'd snatch one up.

The chip amp held a great deal of promise, but the power supply hum was quite noticable and it picked up local 94.9 FM even worse.  Did even better with the warbles.  Hopefully these problems wouldn't be found in a commerically produced chip amp.  I want to like these as I'm attracted to their simple designs.

My old Rotel passes the warbles with flying colors, but sounded the worse of the bunch by far.  This was the workhorse of the bunch, the rest being race horses in comparison.

I've concluded that I need 40 - 100 wpc solid state power amps with a tube somewhere in the signal path.  And my limit of $1500 for pre and power amp leaves the F1 out.  Next I'd like to try a $1150 50 wpc Blue Circle CS integrated or a $1195 50 wpc Unison Unico P.

[TheChairGuy]

Vinnie,

Given the remarkably decent tunes I'm getting from the lowly Sonic Impact and a 7aH SLA battery, I am thinking highly of getting a Clari-T (after the new year some time).

As you mentioned, the difference in sound with a fully charged SLA and a somewhat depleted SLA is fairly substantial.  I am finding that out with each firing up of the little SI.

I'm pairing the SI with a Vandersteen 1c (90db) and there is adequate volume for my needs.  It'll probably serve the same with a Clari-T here unless I start thinking of other hi-eff transducers (I've decided the single driver units I've heard are not my cup-o-tea as they lack upper end response....my hearing in that region seems to be pretty good for a 41 year old)

Anyhow, my question and or problem....  My home office (where I toil daily unless traveling) is my listening room.  I am getting over 60 hours of play time with the 7aH battery...seems about 30 before there is noticable drop off in quality.  With the 1.3 aH battery you package with the Clari-T, I'd get only about 5-6 hours of quality tunes in.

All too often, my days are 10-12 hours long.

I guess you chose a 1.3aH battery for small size, weight and possible portability, but it won't seem to work out well for my needs...and possibly some others.   I know not every product fits every need, but is there a way of addressing this issue?

Incidentally, I'm finding the character of sound of the lowly SI, in partnership with the Vandy's and a fully charged SLA to be about as good as my departed ES1sl....and better then the newer F10.  I hear nuances that I never heard with either JVC...so I am very interested in the Clari-T pairing  

Thx, John / TCG

[Vinnie R.]

Anyhow, my question and or problem.... My home office (where I toil daily unless traveling) is my listening room. I am getting over 60 hours of play time with the 7aH battery...seems about 30 before there is noticable drop off in quality. With the 1.3 aH battery you package with the Clari-T, I'd get only about 5-6 hours of quality tunes in.

All too often, my days are 10-12 hours long.

I guess you chose a 1.3aH battery for small size, weight and possible portability, but it won't seem to work out well for my needs...and possibly some others. I know not every product fits every need, but is there a way of addressing this issue?

 ...

Hi John,

Have you measured the voltage of your fully charged battery and that battery after 30 hours (when you start to notice a loss of quality)?
I'd like to know these voltages...

I 'suggest' that the max listening session out of the Clari-T-Amp is 6 hours, but it mainly depends on your speaker load and how loud you play.  I have driven my 6-ohm 90dB speakers at loud levels for 6 hours, and found the battery voltage dropped from ~13.2V (fully charged) to about 12.1V.  At 12.1V, the amp still plays fine, but as the voltage drops lower and lower, there will be some point (based on the speaker and volume you are playing at), the power rail will drop and you get clipping.  

Everyone has a different setup and plays at different volumes, so I decided to be really conservative with my 6-hours max recommended time before recharging.  If you were to measure the output voltage after 6 hours and find it to be above 12V, it does not hurt to play longer.  You can play down to 11V and still be okay, but your max power before clipping will decrease (which you shouldn't even notice until you crank up the volume and find that point where clipping results).  I don't recommend you discharge the battery below 11V, as SLAs don't like to be deep discharged.

BTW everyone, if you want to measure the battery voltage of the Clari-T-Amp, do the following:

With the charger connected to the back of the Clari-T, turn the unit OFF and unplug the charger from the 120Vac line, and then connect your voltmeter terminals to the + and - terminals on the back side of the charger.  This is the battery voltage.  When you are finished taking your reading, you should plug the charger back into the 120Vac line, because leaving the charger unplugged and the amp off will slowly discharge your battery  

Incidentally, I'm finding the character of sound of the lowly SI, in partnership with the Vandy's and a fully charged SLA to be about as good as my departed ES1sl....and better then the newer F10. I hear nuances that I never heard with either JVC...so I am very interested in the Clari-T pairing  

 ...

If you are enjoying the SI, you'll love the Clari-T-Amp.  There really is no comparison, but I will say that for $30, the SI is a tremendous bargain  

Regards,

Vinnie