Tube guy wanting to try SS amp?!?

FullRangeMan · « **Reply #60 on:** 3 Nov 2019, 02:28 am »

Do you see any prob? These brands are similar in price.

mresseguie · « **Reply #61 on:** 3 Nov 2019, 02:41 am »

Has anyone heard the CI Audio amplifier? It's $1495.

https://www.thesoundadvocate.com/2019/10/channel-islands-audio-pc4-mk-ii-passive-controller-and-c100s-amplifier/

Wind Chaser · « **Reply #62 on:** 3 Nov 2019, 03:48 am »

Quote from: planet10 on 3 Nov 2019, 02:21 am

I wouldn’t touch a Decware.

Why?

planet10 · « **Reply #63 on:** 3 Nov 2019, 03:56 am »

A lot of reasons, but i will not elucidate them here.

dave

FullRangeMan · « **Reply #64 on:** 3 Nov 2019, 04:10 am »

The transformers are too small.

khill · « **Reply #65 on:** 5 Nov 2019, 12:44 am »

So, after much obsessing (and research) I decided to try a STM Cherry King amp. If it’s as good as everyone claims I’ll probably list it and move up the food chain in the Cherry lineup. Will report back once I have some quality listening time with it.

Tyson · « **Reply #66 on:** 5 Nov 2019, 12:46 am »

Quote from: khill on 5 Nov 2019, 12:44 am

So, after much obsessing (and research) I decided to try a STM Cherry King amp. If it’s as good as everyone claims I’ll probably list it and move up the food chain in the Cherry lineup. Will report back once I have some quality listening time with it.

DAC amps are very nice. I'm not a class d guy (I'm a tube guy), but if I were to switch, the DAC amps are what I would pick.

Let us know how you like them!

khill · « **Reply #67 on:** 5 Nov 2019, 12:50 am »

We shall see?!? I have to be honest...everyone I know that is into this hobby is a tube guy so I’ve never spent much time with many SS amps other than an old GFA555 and a couple of gainclones which I actually kind of liked?!?

JLM · « **Reply #68 on:** 5 Nov 2019, 12:51 pm »

Quote from: mresseguie on 3 Nov 2019, 02:41 am

Has anyone heard the CI Audio amplifier? It's $1495.

https://www.thesoundadvocate.com/2019/10/channel-islands-audio-pc4-mk-ii-passive-controller-and-c100s-amplifier/

Owned CIA VMB 40 watt chip based mono-blocks and their original 100 watt digital mono-blocks a few years back. Thought they sounded very similar. With the right tubes a much more expensive Prima Luna Dialogue Premium sounded slightly better. Also owned an older CIA passive preamp, but impedance matching to interconnects caused highs to suffer. Stepped attenuators at the mono-blocks sounded much better (back in my audio hair shirt days).

Freo-1 · « **Reply #69 on:** 5 Nov 2019, 01:12 pm »

One SS amp worth looking at is the Primare A34.2. They can be had for 1200.00 USD or so. They sound quite good.

Tyson · « **Reply #70 on:** 5 Nov 2019, 05:23 pm »

Quote from: khill on 5 Nov 2019, 12:50 am

We shall see?!? I have to be honest...everyone I know that is into this hobby is a tube guy so I’ve never spent much time with many SS amps other than an old GFA555 and a couple of gainclones which I actually kind of liked?!?

IME, the DAC amps are as good as (and in many cases much better) than most SS amps out there today. Especially for the amount of power they bring to the table. The only SS amps I can think of that easily beat the DAC in sound quality are low watts, like Pass' First Watt SIT amps or their BA3 amps. However you only get 25 watts from those puppies.

With the DAC amps, you lose some of that tonal beauty but you gain a heck of a lot in terms of punch, dynamics, and overall 'jump' factor. Music is really lively through those amps, while also not sounding bright or harsh. It's a neat trick he's been able to pull off with those amps

mresseguie · « **Reply #71 on:** 5 Nov 2019, 06:28 pm »

Quote from: JLM on 5 Nov 2019, 12:51 pm

Owned CIA VMB 40 watt chip based mono-blocks and their original 100 watt digital mono-blocks a few years back. Thought they sounded very similar. With the right tubes a much more expensive Prima Luna Dialogue Premium sounded slightly better. Also owned an older CIA passive preamp, but impedance matching to interconnects caused highs to suffer. Stepped attenuators at the mono-blocks sounded much better (back in my audio hair shirt days).

JLM,

Thanks.

I had to Google look up 'audio hair shirt days'. I have never heard or seen a reference to this before. So long as you don't count the need to turn on components in a certain order (to avoid a 'pop'), I'm pretty sure I've avoided this situation. My wife is a bit (okay, more than 'a bit') of a technophobe, so I try to make sure I provide an integrated amp for her use. In this case, it's the Nuprime IDA-8. It's always on.

mresseguie · « **Reply #72 on:** 5 Nov 2019, 06:33 pm »

This thread has gotten pretty long, but I kinda think no one has mentioned SS amps designed around the IceEdge 1200as2 module. There are offerings from Nord Acoustics and Apollon Audio.

Have any of you DAC amp folks compared the two side by side? (I'm curious to know.)

Michael

Tyson · « **Reply #73 on:** 5 Nov 2019, 06:47 pm »

Quote from: mresseguie on 5 Nov 2019, 06:33 pm

This thread has gotten pretty long, but I kinda think no one has mentioned SS amps designed around the IceEdge 1200as2 module. There are offerings from Nord Acoustics and Apollon Audio.

Have any of you DAC amp folks compared the two side by side? (I'm curious to know.)

Michael

I've heard both for fairly extended time periods. It was in different, but reference level systems. IMO the DAC amps are a clearly better.

khill · « **Reply #74 on:** 8 Nov 2019, 07:16 pm »

So, I have been listening to my new STM King and I have to say it does sound really nice. From what I an remember with my limited exposure to SS amps it probably sounds the best. But with this being said, I still like the sound of my little Dennis Had Inspire SEP amp. Something else I am thinking is that Mr. Had may have one of the biggest bargains in hifi as I have had some very highly regarded tube amps in my system and they never stay?!? One that comes to mind that I wish I had hung on to was a Raven Blackhawk SE. I loved that amp for different reasons but decide to keep the Firebottle as it sounded best in my room at the time. Anyway, I’m going to listen to the Cherry for a few weeks then decide what I want to do. I may keep it for my bedroom system because it is really a nice amp, just don’t think it’s enough to displace my SE tube gear in the reference system.

khill · « **Reply #75 on:** 8 Nov 2019, 07:20 pm »

Quote from: khill on 8 Nov 2019, 07:16 pm

So, I have been listening to my new STM King and I have to say it does sound really nice. From what I an remember with my limited exposure to SS amps it probably sounds the best. But with this being said, I still like the sound of my little Dennis Had Inspire SEP amp. Something else I am thinking is that Mr. Had may have one of the biggest bargains in hifi as I have had some very highly regarded tube amps in my system and they never stay?!? One that comes to mind that I wish I had hung on to was a Raven Blackhawk SE. I loved that amp for different reasons but decide to keep the Firebottle as it sounded best in my room at the time. Anyway, I’m going to listen to the Cherry for a few weeks then decide what I want to do. I may keep it for my bedroom system because it is really a nice amp, just don’t think it’s enough to displace my SE tube gear in the reference system.

I’ll have to edit this when I’m sitting in front of a computer. Can’t convey a message very well from a cell phone?!?

Tyson · « **Reply #76 on:** 8 Nov 2019, 08:21 pm »

Quote from: khill on 8 Nov 2019, 07:16 pm

So, I have been listening to my new STM King and I have to say it does sound really nice. From what I an remember with my limited exposure to SS amps it probably sounds the best. But with this being said, I still like the sound of my little Dennis Had Inspire SEP amp. Something else I am thinking is that Mr. Had may have one of the biggest bargains in hifi as I have had some very highly regarded tube amps in my system and they never stay?!? One that comes to mind that I wish I had hung on to was a Raven Blackhawk SE. I loved that amp for different reasons but decide to keep the Firebottle as it sounded best in my room at the time. Anyway, I’m going to listen to the Cherry for a few weeks then decide what I want to do. I may keep it for my bedroom system because it is really a nice amp, just don’t think it’s enough to displace my SE tube gear in the reference system.

I have the Dennis Had SEP amps (monoblocks) in my reference system downstairs. They are quite possibly the bargain of the century.

I also have several other very good SET amps that I rotate through my system, a Type 45 amp, a 2a3, a 300b and a 6C33C all run pure SET. I still like my Dennis Had SEP amps best in my big system downstairs. I rotate the other SET amps in my upstairs system, they match really well with the Klipsch Forte IIIs I run up there.

khill · « **Reply #77 on:** 8 Nov 2019, 08:30 pm »

I’m glad I’m not the only to realize the seeming GREATNESS of his gear?!? It really is that good I guess because I’ve not been able to replace it with “anything” yet?!? I’m think I’m going to email him to build me a “cost no issue” amp before he stops building them. I bet he is in his 80’s?!?

Tyson · « **Reply #78 on:** 8 Nov 2019, 08:39 pm »

Quote from: khill on 8 Nov 2019, 08:30 pm

I’m glad I’m not the only to realize the seeming GREATNESS of his gear?!? It really is that good I guess because I’ve not been able to replace it with “anything” yet?!? I’m think I’m going to email him to build me a “cost no issue” amp before he stops building them. I bet he is in his 80’s?!?

The basic circuit he uses is amazing. I've replaced every small cap in my amps with Miflex KPCU caps and bypassed all the larger caps with more KPCU's, as well as replaced all the input and output wiring with UPOCC copper wire, replaced the binding posts & RCA jacks with top line Furutech connectors, replaced the IEC with pure copper iEgo connectors, after all that they perform at a VERY high level.

Plus I love the fact that you can roll anything from an EL84, to EL34's, 6CA7s, KT77S, KT66, 807, KT88, 6550 or KT120's in this amp, as long as you use the appropriate rectifier.

khill · « **Reply #79 on:** 8 Nov 2019, 09:01 pm »

Quote from: Tyson on 8 Nov 2019, 08:39 pm

The basic circuit he uses is amazing. I've replaced every small cap in my amps with Miflex KPCU caps and bypassed all the larger caps with more KPCU's, as well as replaced all the input and output wiring with UPOCC copper wire, replaced the binding posts & RCA jacks with top line Furutech connectors, replaced the IEC with pure copper iEgo connectors, after all that they perform at a VERY high level.

Plus I love the fact that you can roll anything from an EL84, to EL34's, 6CA7s, KT77S, KT66, 807, KT88, 6550 or KT120's in this amp, as long as you use the appropriate rectifier.

You are correct about the rectifier tube! I used every combination known to man and the biggest jump in Sonics came when I added a Sophia 274B mesh plate in the pre and Sophia blue glass 274B in the amp. Soooo much AIR around instruments. I just can’t believe the performance you get from his offerings?!? I’ve TRIED HARD to replace this combo and spent a lot of money trying to do so and nothing can best it?!? After buying this SS amp I’m just going to stick with Inspire gear as I’m not going to the 5-10k range for an amp when I get this much out of a 2k amp. That’s why I’m going to have him build me cost no object amp then be done with the front end.