nOrh SE9 vs ASL Wave 8's and Bottlehead Foreplay

Arctos · « **on:** 7 Jan 2003, 02:42 am »

Greetings,
Well, I guess my title pretty much sums it up

. Any opinions on which option will sound better?

Each option has similar power output, cost and bang-for-the-buck reputation.

Thanks in advance for your assistance,

RDS

Marbles · « **Reply #1 on:** 7 Jan 2003, 02:52 am »

Also take a look at the Mapletree Audio Design products as well.

They are in the same price range and look pretty good.

See their new forum here.

nathanm · « **Reply #2 on:** 7 Jan 2003, 03:48 am »

Well geez, wouldn't you know I just bought 2/3s of the stuff you mentioned right there! I just got the SE9 today and have been listening to it for a little while. Bought a pair of used ASL Wave8s from some dude on this board, so those are on their way too. Those will have to be used with my NAD pre for the time being, though. Eventually my plan is to get 5 of them for home theater and use Pyramids for speakers. If the Pyramids are simply AS good as the 3.0 drums then I will be satisfied. If they are better, well then that's just icing on the cake, aina?

I don't wanna give any formal descriptions just yet, but suffice it to say that I am very pleased with the SE9 so far - I've been cooking up some stir fry vegetables over this baby and they are delicious!

Also, it's much more beautiful in person than the pictures suggest (now if only I could do this test with Laetitia Casta). Heavy little beast, too.

Arctos · « **Reply #3 on:** 8 Jan 2003, 02:35 am »

Thanks for the info guys,
Marbles, those pre's look pretty nice, but are a little more than the foreplay. The Foreplay looks like a nice beginner project, and the reviews are great.

Nathanm,
I will look forward to your comparison when you receive your Wave 8's. Actually, please check your PM's, as I have another question for you regarding them.

I hope I can get some more feedback!!

Regards,

RDS

nathanm · « **Reply #4 on:** 22 Jan 2003, 06:19 pm »

I'm expecting delivery on a set of same-brand tubes for my Wave 8s but I'll give my take on these amps anyway. The thing is that one of them has a Svetlana tube in there instead of the Ei and consequently that amp is much louder than the other. (I think the Svetlana is 10 watts instead of 8 or something.) Right now I'm compensating with the crossover's gain pots.

The first thing that's quite obvious is that the SE-9 has a much better build quality than the Wave 8s. It's considerably heavier (much larger transformers) and more solid whereas the Wave 8 has a very no-frills feel, the case is quite hollow. If you are into that whole vibration control stuff the Wav 8s sure could use some. The SE-9 has mirror-finished stainless steel, very stiff switches and a smooth volume knob. As well it should, as it is about twice the price, has two inputs instead of one, and is an integrated amp, not a monoblock.

So even though they are different animals I can say that each has a somewhat warm, forgiving tone to them. In a general sense I prefer the sound of tubes to my NAD 3225 integrated. Both amps worked well on my nearfield computer speaker setup using the Norh 3.0 wood drums.

I will try to compare the two sonically when I get the new tubes, but my gut feeling is that they are on an even keel as far as sound goes, but the SE-9 offers more features and is much better looking IMO. The Wave 8s look like a 'project box' kinda thing, but that's not necessarily an insult. The black chassis is a bit flimsier than I imagined. It's funny, but they look exactly like the little brothers of my MB-100 monoblocks! I should take a picture, it's cute. The silver front panels are practically identical!

MaxCast · « **Reply #5 on:** 22 Jan 2003, 10:16 pm »

I have a Foreplay and a pair of Waves. I also have the nOrh sm6.9's which are 87dB efficient. To me the combo sounds great. Obviously not the last word in bass control but when I listen to music which dosen't contain movie soundtrack bass I love the sound. It plays surprisingly loud, louder that I expected before a little clipping. I just back off just a bit.

nathanm, I agree. They look like a natural on top of my Leamps too. I originally bought them to bi-amp the 6.9's but I don't think I will be doing that anymore.

If I were looking at the Waves/Foreplay vs. the SE9 I think I would go with the SE9. Why? I don't know, I never heard the SE9 but everyone that has it loves it and it is only $400 delivered.

Arctos · « **Reply #6 on:** 23 Jan 2003, 04:16 am »

Thanks guys,
It sounds like the SE-9 is the way to go. I must admit to enjoying a piece if equipment more if it looks cool!! My problem now is that I have become an audio equipment addict! I already have 2 systems, both moderately priced (one for 2 channel and H/T, the other for dedicated 2 channel). Now I want to purchase a pair of used MB-100's/LeAmps and a Channel Island VPC-1 for another system, as well as setting up a tube-based system. What the heck am I going to do with all these? I don't know, but it would satisfy an inner need.

Guess I have alot of justifying to do!

Regards,

RDS

rtsy · « **Reply #7 on:** 6 Mar 2003, 10:04 pm »

I have the OEM of the nOrh SE9, the T.S. Audio 34.1. It's a wonderful amp for the money with a wonderful midrange and since it's wired as a SET, sounds much more than it's 9wpc output.

My only complaints are a lack of dynamics/oomph since it has a passive pre-amp. Since you have the NAD to use as pre however, you'd have the option of getting more dynamics via that.

Also use sensitive speakers. My 6Ohm, 86db speaker is a good match tonally but a bad one in terms of efficiency.