NEW! Srajan's (6moons) review of the Clari-T:

Vinnie R. · « **on:** 16 Jun 2005, 03:19 pm »

All,

Here is a 6moons follow-up review of the Clari-T (with the Zu Druids and AKG K1000 headphones) by Srajan of 6moons:

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/redwine2/followup.html

Quote from: Srajan

The Zu Druids are the perfect Clari-T speakers. Once you hear this combo, you will scratch your head and other prickly appendages. In this context and even at party levels, the Clari-T operates in cruise control. It rewards with impeccable detail retrieval, fast reflexes, microdynamic nuances and (with proper care!), a completely unhyped, relaxed, easy-peasy presentation that's transparent as hell and capable of subtleties that escape most affordable tube amps due to noise.

I couldn't be happier today!

Many thanks to Srajan and Michael Lavorgna of 6moons, and to all my customers! A special thanks to miklorsmith, who put the Clari-T + Druid bug in Srajan's ear... you guys kick ass!

gary · « **Reply #1 on:** 16 Jun 2005, 04:08 pm »

Great news Vinnie... congrats.

Gary

Jon L · « **Reply #2 on:** 16 Jun 2005, 04:57 pm »

Congrats, Vinnie on great reviews. What are the specific differences between standard and custom clari-T described?

I'm glad Srajan finally listened to us K1000/SI users and tried it out. I'm still a bit puzzled about some of his reservations, but I keep forgetting that my K1000 is modded "nude," which completely resolves any issues of "meats on bones" or bass. Hopefully, Srajan can try something similar..

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?action=gallery;area=browse;user=1086

miklorsmith · « **Reply #3 on:** 16 Jun 2005, 05:12 pm »

The reviews get better and better. This one is the truest to my experience of any yet. Probably because he was reviewing my system! Except for the CDP and cables of course. I don't have any Stealth Indras anywhere in sight, which I seem to recall cost about as much as the amp, pre, and speakers combined.

You're the real contributor, Vinnie. Your cost-conscious vision has given us all great happiness.

ndpjr · « **Reply #4 on:** 16 Jun 2005, 05:27 pm »

Vinnie,

Congratulations! A great review of a great product. Looking forward to more reviews like this one and more Red Wine Audio products coming up.

Dmason · « **Reply #5 on:** 16 Jun 2005, 05:53 pm »

I cannot imagine a more thorough, balanced, and impressively well written review. Even the pix are artful. Congrats!! The word is hereby, OUT.

Maybe it is time to give the Druids a try. Where there's smoke, there's fire!! Maybe even one of these New Order minimalist tube pre's. The EE MiniMax has had my eye for some time, as a tube roller's sonic sandbox. I am also interested in the Welborne Lab Ultrapath, battery powered tube pre amp.

miklorsmith · « **Reply #6 on:** 16 Jun 2005, 06:33 pm »

You get some Druids and I'll start Operation DarkStar. The name alone is worth the price of admission. I'm scraping nickels from my worn piggy to jump into the pool with y'all. Too many reports of refreshment to stay away.

Tube roller's sonic sandbox - nice! We playin'! No sand in the pool though.

Note 6moons is planning a review of the $9k Definitions. This is the model above the Druid in the Zu line. Six ten-inch drivers per side - Two passives and four amplified. With a Clari-T with two sets of outputs, a certain reviewer's 6 watt amp could be put to unprecedented greatness.

Think we can persuade Srajan to build some OB's? I'd LOVE to hear the comparative between these three!

Dmason · « **Reply #7 on:** 16 Jun 2005, 06:52 pm »

Srajan is apparently aware of Doppler distortions and diffractional EM effects emanating from the vicinity of a certain gravitational anomaly, yes.

These two configurations, the stellar Druid and its anti-constellation, the DarkStar, represent much of the best of all worlds, in speakers. One is off the shelf, the other is off the chart, and requires prior experience in the raising of rare butterflies from egg state to adult. As none of us have advanced degrees in Entomology, we have the thread on this Circle. If we organize, we can escape the pull into the swirling vortex of mediocrity, and Live.

They represent by far, the greatest potential for the ClariT amp, IMO.

Zero · « **Reply #8 on:** 16 Jun 2005, 06:56 pm »

Congrats on the review Vinnie.

Paul_Bui · « **Reply #9 on:** 16 Jun 2005, 06:59 pm »

Congrats to Vinie and all, even before I go read the review. I too have been eyeing the Definitions.

powerbench · « **Reply #10 on:** 17 Jun 2005, 10:44 am »

The Beat goes on!!

Vinnie R. · « **Reply #11 on:** 17 Jun 2005, 10:47 am »

Thanks guys!

JLM · « **Reply #12 on:** 17 Jun 2005, 10:54 am »

Congrats Vinnie!

I've always felt that the stock Clari-T was a heck of stop-gap solution in my case (speakers with deep bass and a very friendly 90 dB/w/m efficiency rating and I'm a speaker guy who doesn't like spending much on amplification).

Based on these reviews I'm wondering if a tubed buffer would be the answer to tone/imaging issues while offering ideal impedance matching. Decware sells such a little beast for $400 with a volume control. Imaging, speed, quality, service, practical, understated, without over the top tube warmth is the Decware hallmarks (sort of the tube version of Red Wine Audio).

Perhaps a few tweaks to the Clari-T and the tubed buffer would be just the ticket?

Vinnie R. · « **Reply #13 on:** 17 Jun 2005, 11:13 am »

Quote from: JLM

Perhaps a few tweaks to the Clari-T and the tubed buffer would be just the ticket?
..

Hi JLM,

Thanks!

I'm thinking battery-powered active preamp stage ala DACT CT101 can be the ticket to bliss! I recently built one for a customer to feed into his custom Clari-T, and it was dead silent, had adjustable gain (0, 6, or 12dB), took care of any impedance matching issues....and sounded VERY nice fed with my Monica 2 dac!

Not that tubes can't be used, but they add some noise

Now, the Welborne labs battery tube preamp looks promising

miklorsmith · « **Reply #14 on:** 17 Jun 2005, 03:23 pm »

My Modwright is very quiet. No noise from the listening chair, even with 101 db speakers. Thus, the choice of Which pre is key.

JLM · « **Reply #15 on:** 17 Jun 2005, 04:50 pm »

Link please to DACT CT101, thanks.

Vinnie R. · « **Reply #16 on:** 17 Jun 2005, 05:01 pm »

Quote from: JLM

Link please to DACT CT101, thanks.

http://www.dact.com/html/line_stages.html