Vinnie Rossi's Clari T Amp

smargo · « **on:** 12 Dec 2004, 03:22 am »

It seemed appropriate that now that the amp is in production that a specfic thread I think is needed to report on this amp in it's current form.

I received the amp on wednesday and probably only have 15 or so hours on it. I mean nothing in terms of break-in. First off this has to be a winner.
There is so much that sounds right with this amp and I can't believe something this small sounds so big.. (Maybe Vinnie can post some pictures).

It has a really nice passive volume control, it is battery operated and surprise, it is driving my polk lsi 9s very well which are 88db into 4 ohms.
(My room is not that big and i play at moderate levels)

I'm very surprised at how it sounds so far (shouldn't be because vinny does great work) but are you kidding me with this price. Its too cheap for what you are getting. But let me go back and listen and let me report in a couple of days. Perhaps Dmason can keep us updated as well as i believe he has a unit and is really enjoying it.

Regards,
Stewart Margolis

Dmason · « **Reply #1 on:** 12 Dec 2004, 03:49 am »

Smargo,

Glad you approve!

Look at it this way: today is the WORST you will hear this amp sound.

Mine is starting to really work its way in now, after about a month. Faster by far than I figured on because, --and ask anyone who owns a Carver ZR--the damn things take 3 months, no less, to really start playing music. Real music. That is being left on 24/7. I naturally concluded it would take far longer with Vinnie's Clari-T but GOOD NEWS< it is taking far less time. Just in the last few days, it is sounding far more grown up, it is sounding "larger" and especially on great productions.

The first couple watts are where the music is hiding, and in this respect, in my opinion, I would say the little Clari-T kicks the snot out of the Carver Black Mambo amps. My ears are getting very spoiled.

Vinnie R. · « **Reply #2 on:** 12 Dec 2004, 04:01 am »

Quote from: smargo

I received the amp on wednesday and probably only have 15 or so hours on it. I mean nothing in terms of break-in. First off this has to be a winner.
There is so much that sounds right with this amp and I can't believe something this small sounds so big.. (Maybe Vinnie can post some pictures).
...

Stewart,

I'm very happy to hear that you are enjoying your new Clari-T-Amp, and I appreciate you posting your opinion. Yes, there is a long break-in time, but your patience will really pay off. I have confirmed this using it in my system, and Dmason has as well with his system. While 88dB is not ideal matching with the Clari-T-Amp, I'm sure it does the trick if you don't have a large room or play at LOUD levels

BTW, I am working on a webpage for the Clari-T-Amp that will have pictures and a lot of info about the product, including FAQs. It will be finished in the next day or so, and I will post the link.

In the meantime, you can see http://photos.yahoo.com/vinnie822 for some pics.

Enjoy!

Vinnie

RoadTripper · « **Reply #3 on:** 12 Dec 2004, 04:02 am »

Rather than start another thread on the same topic, I figured I would chime in here and comment about my Clari-T amp which arrived yesterday.

I couldn't wait to get the listening room where this thing is supposed to be and hooked it up anyway.

So with zero break-in, I have to say I like what I hear. There is a ton of detail, and strangely, there is a removal of coloration that apparently was milking up the sound. So, with the color lifted, voila, there are the instruments, more naked!

Drums on Bela Fleck Live Art were extremely easy to follow. Pick any player in the ensemble and listen to that one guy.

Diana Krall (Nat King Cole knockoff) was kind of unreal. Her guitarist (and his amp) sounded very much like a jazz tube amp sound. Grain and grit are not what I am hearing. How can this thing be so smooth? Breakin?? Really?

Nora Jones (#1) was totally natural with out the bite that the JVC was giving me before.

Haven't listened to much orchestral yet. Vinnie, get ready for ChairGuy's order. If he liked the JVC as much as he did, he needs to get on board.

RoadTripper · « **Reply #4 on:** 12 Dec 2004, 04:12 am »

Another thing, with the Bela Fleck Live Art (all Fleck's recordings are IMHO just outstanding recordings) it seemed that I was put on the stage with the band. Wooten's bass tonalities and his bass speed are quite amazing.

I have a problem. A technical one. I tell friends now that I have a battery operated chip amp. They give me a blank stare. So, what can I say, in the first place, is the advantage of no AC power? And secondly, what is the deal with a chip amp? How do they work?

Looking at that little box sitting there and hearing it, I feel like a genius. So, if I could throw in a little technical lingo, my brilliance may be more obvious to my acquaintances.

Finally, if Louis at Omega is reading this, he has to get some credit 'cause his speakers work really well with this amp.

ooheadsoo · « **Reply #5 on:** 12 Dec 2004, 04:28 am »

How much power are we talking about here? 15w right? Any pricing info would come in handy as well.

smargo · « **Reply #6 on:** 12 Dec 2004, 04:42 am »

Would you believe 6 watts in 8 ohms and 10 watts into 4 ohms. The amp sells for $399 plus shipping. A steal for what it sounds like so far and the workmanship.

smargo

ooheadsoo · « **Reply #7 on:** 12 Dec 2004, 04:47 am »

Oh. Well, I guess I won't be getting this guy any time soon...

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #8 on:** 12 Dec 2004, 08:13 am »

Quote from: Seminarian

Haven't listened to much orchestral yet. Vinnie, get ready for ChairGuy's order. If he liked the JVC as much as he did, he needs to get on board

I'm definitely thinkin' about it, but right now I'm trying to optimize set-up for the Maggies. However, right now, I have the 90db Vandy's set-up....so I'll give the Sonic Impact a try first. If I get that serious taste of what you Clari-T devotees are saying, I just may spring for one.

The price is definitely right and the package is too dang cute & purdy not to consider

I totally agree on Bela Fleck's stuff....great recordings (I have a bunch and just bought 'Uncomon Ritual'...on Sony Classical label. Talk about strange hearing a Banjo, Stand-up Bass and Mandolin together - but somehow pulled off) for peanuts, usually.

Dmason · « **Reply #9 on:** 12 Dec 2004, 01:40 pm »

I find it really interesting that Bela Fleck comes up. Just last night I was mentioning to mttbsh, (also expecting a new Clari-T any day,) that 'Flight of the Cosmic Hippo' and UFO TOFU were in fairly high rotation with the new amp because the amp was so good at tracking the percussion and particularly Victor Wooten's unreal bass, and, yes the fact that you could listen to the individual musician's efforts with no problem. The staccato string passages in the Finale to Beethoven's 9th Symphony, 'Ode To Joy' are out of this world. This amp is a delight with classical music, and busy, percussive instrumental stuff which is well produced. --I plan on removing the vocal tracks to "Opera Babes" because they get in the way of the outstanding backing tracks.

RoadTripper · « **Reply #10 on:** 13 Dec 2004, 01:31 am »

I have started listening to some symphonic music. Right now it's a Shostakovich symphony (15) and this Clari-T amp is going to take some getting used to.

I have heard detail before but this is different. You no longer have to pick the detail out of a jumble of players. They are just there.

One thing to listen for during symphonic stuff is vibrato. Can you hear it clearly? Sure, you can tell that the player is or isn't using vibrato, but how well can you hear it?

Ideally, you should be able to not just identify an instrument as, say, a flute, or a trumpet, but you should be able to say that trumpet sounds like some specific named instrumentalist. Or you should be able to say that this violinist on this violin concerto is using this particular Stradivarius, or whatever. This amp is close to that.

Hearing these symphonies is so relaxing because you don't have to strain to hear anything.

The ultimate test is massed violins, however. I usually use Barber's Adagio for Strings because they get to sawing away mightily in the upper registers and I have heard it sound like a cheap Victrola before. I will do that test when I find the CD and dig it out of the box in which it is buried.

For now, I plan on enjoying this thing until it breaks in.

For those who know, what qualitative changes are coming once the break in starts to happen?

tianguis · « **Reply #11 on:** 13 Dec 2004, 02:26 am »

Seminarian:
I modded a T-Amp, thanks to Vinnie's generous posts. It's not a Clari-T, but your description of the sound is exactly what I've been experiencing: kinda spooky, takes some getting used to.
I was listening to some Ben Webster (sax) stuff, and not only could I hear his breathing but also the modulation of his breath as the tone of the sax changed. Talk about vibrato! I also heard the same on an old LP of Brubeck at Carnegie Hall with Paul Desmond. Noticed the same with some Stravinsky choral music I've performed. The same with classical (!) synthesizer. Attacks are lightning fast, decays realistic. Timbral accuracy is the best I've heard.
Break-in? Hard to say. I had several hundred hours on the T-Amp before mods, only about 50 since re-capping and changing wiring. It just gets mellower and develops more weight. Initially, there was some "digititus" (edge) which goes away.

Regards,
Larry Welsh

Vinnie R. · « **Reply #12 on:** 13 Dec 2004, 03:00 am »

Quote from: Vinnie R.

Stewart,

I'm very happy to hear that you are enjoying your new Clari-T-Amp, and I appreciate you posting your opinion. Yes, there is a long break-in time, but your patience will really pay off. I have confirmed this using it in my system, and Dmason has as well with his system. While 88dB is not ideal matching with the Clari-T-Amp, I'm sure it does the trick if you don't have a large room or play at LOUD levels

BTW, I am working on a webpage for the Clari-T-Amp that will have pictures and ...

All,

I have a webpage for the Clari-T-Amp up and running :

http://www.geocities.com/vinnie822

Here you will find a detailed product description, ordering info, as well as a FAQ section (which I will add Q+A's to as I get questions).

Just X out the annoying pop up that you get

. I don't plan to use geocites forever

Again, I really appreciate everyones support and feedback!

-Vinnie

RoadTripper · « **Reply #13 on:** 13 Dec 2004, 05:01 am »

I just wanted to add an important factor in this new listening experience that I had overlooked.

I am listening at low volume levels at the present. I would guess, since my SPL meter is packed away in the garage, that the avg. level is no higher than 65db with peaks not much above 75db.

My tinnitus is roaring away right now but in spite of that I can hear this music fine. That is what I am looking for.

Thanks for this amp, Vinnie.

doggie · « **Reply #14 on:** 14 Dec 2004, 01:01 pm »

Hi Vinnie,

I have a question. In your FAQ you said that:

"Unlike most conventional amplifiers, the L/R Negative (-) speaker binding posts of the Clari-T-Amp are not tied to GND or each other. Therefore, make sure that the equipment that you are connecting to them to DOES NOT tie these terminals together."

Would you say that this pretty much rules out wiring this amp for headphones? A headphone jack always ties the two output grounds together. Does this apply to the standard Tripath amp also or does this have something to do with the diodes that you have put on the output?

Thanks a lot.

Paul

smargo · « **Reply #15 on:** 15 Dec 2004, 07:12 pm »

It's not 300bs, its not el34s, its not tubes nor solid state, it's not yin nor yang. it's not light nor dark. It's not brittle nor lush, it's timing is not fast nor slow. It's not wet nor dry. It's CLARIT Y.

I have been using this amp for about a week and have about 35 hours or so on it. This amp is so damn transparent. This amp's stereo perspectives are astounding. There is absolutely no, none, zilch electronic hash or artifacts. All of that is gone. (That does take some getting used to)

You are just left with the recording - for better or worse. That is all you are left with. Can you handle that? The good recordings will get you to say, finally, an amp that does what everyone has been talking about for 15 years. Finally an amp that says " You finally have made the right decision ". There is no questioning here. You will know within a weeks time what i am talking about.

Every instrument is seperated from each other. There isn't any blurring.

There is no glare, not distortion, even the clipping is not really clipping - it compresses if played to loud with insensitive speakers.

This amp eats, chews, and spits out loogies to a lot of amps that i have owned, both tubes and solid state and i'm willing to bet a lot of others that have held promises, only to dissapoint.

This is a tribute to vinni rossi as i bow down to you on a job well done.

It's only 6 or 10 fricking watts - so chose your speakers carefully- but not that carefully, remember, i"m using polk lsi9's that are 88 db with 4 ohm loads and i have a certain threshold where everthing is divine.

To compare this amp with the likes of tosh, panny, jvc, sony, etc. is pathetic, because it so far above that dreck. (that we all our trying to tweak to perfection) You don't have to do it anymore. Your dream has come true, but be patient when it arrives.

regards,
smargo

brj · « **Reply #16 on:** 15 Dec 2004, 07:55 pm »

Quote from: smargo

To compare this amp with the likes of tosh, panny, jvc, sony, etc. is pathetic, because it so far above that dreck. (that we all our trying to tweak to perfection) You don't have to do it anymore.

I've been reading about this amp with great interest and appreciation, but your above statement overlooks one capability found in many of the digital receivers... a fully digital path from (digital) source to speaker wire with no DAC's to muddy up the audio chain. It would be very interesting indeed if that capability could be added to the Clari-T.

Dmason · « **Reply #17 on:** 15 Dec 2004, 09:08 pm »

smargo wrote, "So choose your speakers carefully..."

I want to take that point further: this amp is good enough that it absolutely deserves the very best and most appropriate speakers you can find for it. The Clari-T affords its owners an opportunity to seriously upgrade their listening experience with the addition of high sensitivity speakers.

I am seriously thinking about a pair of full-range, full-size Buschhorns with the Fostex 208Sigma, or Lowther Medallions for this little gem. Something that can demonstrate properly the coherency and dymanics of the Clari-T. Yes, it is very appropriately named, turns out.

Vinnie R. · « **Reply #18 on:** 15 Dec 2004, 09:10 pm »

[quote="brjI've been reading about this amp with great interest and appreciation, but your above statement overlooks one capability found in many of the digital receivers... a fully digital path from (digital) source to speaker wire with no DAC's to muddy up the audio chain. It would be very interesting indeed if that capability could be added to the Clari-T.[/quote]

brj,

The digital receivers that you mention are NOT fully digital from source to speaker.

They take the digital input from you source and do a D/A conversion inside the amp, then then convert it that analong signal to a digital to be amplified (Class D or Class T style), and then the amplified digital signal is filtered to recover the analog signal to be fed to your speakers.

To my knowledge, there are no "fully digital" amplifiers....yet

-Vinnie

RoadTripper · « **Reply #19 on:** 15 Dec 2004, 09:47 pm »

So, my bad recordings pile is gonna' grow! Great. Just what I wanted. But, the plus side is my good recordings pile may be all I need.

One question. Does 60 mins. to recharge indicate a problem? That's what kind of time I am seeing when recharging.

Great sound, though.