Well, its official- Lunar Eclipse for Signature 30.2

IronLion · « **on:** 28 Nov 2007, 02:49 am »

Surprised nobody else mentioned this earlier, but I guess I'm going to be the first to congratulate Vinnie on winning one of I believe five Lunar Eclipse awards that have been given out by Srajan over at 6moons. He hasn't published the full review yet but has indicated his intention of giving this rare award to Vinnie's Signature 30.2 in his best of 2007 section. As a current Signature 30.2 owner, I think Srajan is right on- this amplifier is awesome. Congratulations Vinnie!

Vinnie R. · « **Reply #1 on:** 28 Nov 2007, 03:29 am »

Quote from: IronLion on 28 Nov 2007, 02:49 am

Surprised nobody else mentioned this earlier, but I guess I'm going to be the first to congratulate Vinnie on winning one of I believe five Lunar Eclipse awards that have been given out by Srajan over at 6moons. He hasn't published the full review yet but has indicated his intention of giving this rare award to Vinnie's Signature 30.2 in his best of 2007 section. As a current Signature 30.2 owner, I think Srajan is right on- this amplifier is awesome. Congratulations Vinnie!

Hi IronLion,

THANK YOU!

I woke up to this news this morning (http://www.6moons.com/industryfeatures/bo2007/srajan.html), rubbed my eyes to make sure that I was fully awake and not just seeing things or misreading the text, and almost fell off my chair!

The review is still in progress and I know Srajan Ebaen is really putting in a HUGE effort with it... I cannot thank him / 6moons enough. This will be the fourth 6moons Lunar Eclipse Award since 6moons started in 2002. To say that I am honored is an understatement!

Now is a good time for me to announce that Red Wine Audio is going through a big "growth spurt." I am in the process of looking for a larger facility to move to, hiring addional employees, acquiring new dealers, and developing some really exciting new products for 2008.
Of course I am working crazy hours to keep up with the new orders as well as upgrades for my loyal customers, so it has been quite a balancing act! In other words, with growth comes the growing pains, but this is all well worth the effort and I am looking forward to what the future holds. These are exciting times!

Thanks again,

Vinnie

nonoise · « **Reply #2 on:** 29 Nov 2007, 12:21 am »

Vinnie:

When I can afford the upgrade, I'd like to go the full package route since I like the new look and the soft touch start/stop feature and the faster charger. However, I also have the 3S source selector unit and would like to know if you plan on offering a cosmetic upgrade as well so they can have that 'matching look'.
If you have considered this, can you offer a ballpark figure as to how much that would entail?

Thanks in advance and once again, congrads on the accolades and the 'Lunar Eclispe' award.
Well deserved.

nonoise

Vinnie R. · « **Reply #3 on:** 29 Nov 2007, 12:50 am »

Quote from: nonoise on 29 Nov 2007, 12:21 am

Vinnie:

When I can afford the upgrade, I'd like to go the full package route since I like the new look and the soft touch start/stop feature and the faster charger. However, I also have the 3S source selector unit and would like to know if you plan on offering a cosmetic upgrade as well so they can have that 'matching look'.
If you have considered this, can you offer a ballpark figure as to how much that would entail?

Thanks in advance and once again, congrads on the accolades and the 'Lunar Eclispe' award.
Well deserved.

nonoise

Hi Nonoise,

Thank you!

Regarding the Signature 3S, this product has been discontinued. I have no plans to have the new "30.2" style" enclosure made for them. The next product will be the Isabella, which will offer input select switching... and then some!

If the new style front plate is something that you really want, I can try to get my local machine shop to make this custom for you. It would be very cool looking with the Signature 30.2! Contact me at: vinnie@redwineaudio.com and we can work this out.

Thanks again,

Vinnie

Vinnie R. · « **Reply #4 on:** 29 Nov 2007, 01:43 am »

Very positive feedback has been coming in via email (as there are those who lurk on the forums here, but are not into posting). Here is one that I just received a few minutes ago (with permission to post):

Quote

Hi Vinnie,

As you may remember, I purchased a new 30.2 amplifier (integrated version) from you last month. Although I am normally just too busy to supply feedback on equipment, I just felt it would be grossly unfair for you not to hear from a jaded audiophile customer how special your amp really is. I have owned everything from behemoth Pass Labs amplifiers to SE tube amps, always loving some aspect of the sound, but never completely satisfied. I can say that I finally am completely mesmerized by the quality of sound I am getting with your 30.2, as hooked-up to my Silverline 17.5 loudspeakers.

I'm impressed with the 30.2 because in my system it does all the following on a very high level:

1) natural warmth of tone
2) no electronic edge or glare, but extreme purity
3) very revealing and detailed - smooth, but it does not at all sound "closed-in".
3) very powerful bass response- I'm most surprised by the power of the 30 watts on tap - it is even able to drive my friends very inefficient 83db Usher BE-718 speakers to high levels, and he was amazed!

Thanks for designing this amp! It's reassuring to know that there are still some great products both designed and built in the good old USA!

Tom Haleas
Woodridge, IL

Here is feedback from my new dealer in Monoco -- Sound Galleries: http://www.soundgalleries.com/

Quote

Hi Vinnie,

The Sig 30.2 finally turned up today and my first impressions out of the box are very positive.

I've quickly tried it with both the Saadhana's and Podiums and it only took a few minutes for me to tell that it is a significant upgrade to the Sig 30.

There is more than a subtle difference in the amount of natural warmth you've added. I say 'natural' because it enables instrumental timbres to sound natural and lifelike on both these speakers.

Just based on my very short time with the Sig 30.2 I would recommend it highly for use with either of these speakers and any other speaker which can also sound incredibly lifelike; but where you have to be careful with the electronics you couple it with...

I haven't yet mentioned the improved ergonomics of the 30.2, which I'm also very happy with. The touch sensitive on/off switch, solid gold plated speaker binding posts, etc. are all very welcome improvements...

I think your new line of products should work out very well for both of us.

Thanks

All the best

Geoff

We also have a new dealer in the USA -- ALO Audio. They have been our iMod dealer
for quite a while now and manufacture some of the best interconnects I have heard!

They just ordered a batch of Signature 30.2s, and posted them on their website:
http://aloaudio.com/store/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=52&products_id=145
Of course I am still having them built... busy, busy, busy!

Sorry to get off topic regarding the 6moons review

Best regards,

Vinnie

Bucky · « **Reply #5 on:** 29 Nov 2007, 06:43 pm »

Congrats... Any other professional reviews planned?

Vinnie R. · « **Reply #6 on:** 29 Nov 2007, 07:49 pm »

Quote from: Bucky on 29 Nov 2007, 06:43 pm

Congrats... Any other professional reviews planned?

Thanks, Bucky!

Tone Audio magazine will have a Signature 30.2 review in their February 2008 issue:
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=46654.msg428254#msg428254

Others will follow in 2008... I'll keep you all posted what is ahead.

Best regards,

Vinnie

Zero · « **Reply #7 on:** 29 Nov 2007, 08:03 pm »

Not just a garage-boy anymore...... our Vinnie is growin' up

richidoo · « **Reply #8 on:** 29 Nov 2007, 08:07 pm »

Vinnie, congrats on the Lunar Eclipse Award. You are in some superb company there!

I have you on my short list for my next amp. I'm already addicted to a battery powered amp (10W>4R), but I need a little more power. 30.2 and 70.2 look very interesting!
Rich

pardales · « **Reply #9 on:** 29 Nov 2007, 08:37 pm »

Congratulations!

Alwayswantmore · « **Reply #10 on:** 30 Nov 2007, 12:09 am »

Fantastic Vinnie! As an early adopter, I'm glad to see you're "crossing the chasm," and on the path to greatness. BTW: Save a 30.2 upgrade for me. I still hope to pull the trigger after I'm finished building the new house.

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #11 on:** 30 Nov 2007, 10:04 am »

Quote from: Zero on 29 Nov 2007, 08:03 pm

Not just a garage-boy anymore...... our Vinnie is growin' up

A long way from those first days, right Vinnie.

Great products...dealer network coming onboard....excellent reviews...happy customers....nice !!!

Congrats....and keep up the good work....

Chris

Vinnie R. · « **Reply #12 on:** 1 Dec 2007, 02:51 am »

Thanks, Guys!

Vinnie R. · « **Reply #13 on:** 8 Dec 2007, 02:07 pm »

The 6moons Signature 30.2 Review... now finished and posted:

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/redwine8/302.html (3-pages)

I want to thank Srajan for making all the time and effort to review our new Signature 30.2 in such detail, trying it with various pieces of equipment, reaching out to Signature 30.2 customers for their feedback (on page 3 of the review -- thanks to those who responded... much appreciated!), and awarding the 30.2 the fourth-ever 6moons Lunar Eclipse Award! I am very greatful!

DaveC113 · « **Reply #14 on:** 8 Dec 2007, 05:25 pm »

Congrats!!! I look forward to checking out a Sig 30.2 someday.

Dave

Vinnie R. · « **Reply #15 on:** 10 Dec 2007, 07:50 pm »

Quote from: DaveC113 on 8 Dec 2007, 05:25 pm

Congrats!!! I look forward to checking out a Sig 30.2 someday.

Dave

Thanks!

I'm am working on a new batch of units and am trying my best to keep the backlog down to just a couple of weeks. I am getting help with production and things are going very well.

Thanks again,

Vinnie

Dmason · « **Reply #16 on:** 10 Dec 2007, 08:13 pm »

I was just saying to Vinnie that it seems like yesterday, the long, looooong chats of contemplating walking out of a dead end job, forsaking a personal cubicle for a personal business. It may sound abit dramatic, but I feel the world of music is made better by things like the Signature 30, and all the people that take this krazy hobby to a labor of love, and are able to roll it into some juice. These people are rock stars in my opinion, because they take art, and science and make good things happen with it, and the byproduct is the filthy lucre of commerce. What could be better than that?

This new stuff is the result of choosing to make a choice. That was the kicker. To not choose, would have been a bad choice. Vinnie couldnt lose, or be a "loser," his term, because he already was a winner...The rest is history. Quite a little history, man. What do you do for an encore?

I am going to be very interested in hearing the full blown Vinnie spread with the teensytriodes run on batteries. The moment I heard the Sig30 with my weird little single tube pre amp, basically a single ended triode, with summed channels at the tube stage, I could scarcely believe what I was hearing. Aural sex it was. Now the improvement, and Srajan told me offline the differences werent all that subtle, maybe these amps are THE solid state amp to have.

Vinnie R. · « **Reply #17 on:** 14 Dec 2007, 01:34 am »

Quote from: Dmason on 10 Dec 2007, 08:13 pm

I was just saying to Vinnie that it seems like yesterday, the long, looooong chats of contemplating walking out of a dead end job, forsaking a personal cubicle for a personal business.

Hey Dmason,

I remember those days. It was a big step for me to just leave a good paying job with benefits, but to be totally honest, I have NOT looked back!

I thank you for your vote of confidence in me jumping ship...I didn't know the water was fine and I didn't even know it then.

Quote

The rest is history. Quite a little history, man. What do you do for an encore?

Hmmmm, retire early?

Naaahhhh... won't happen!

Quote

I am going to be very interested in hearing the full blown Vinnie spread with the teensytriodes run on batteries.

Isabella is coming. I've been so busy with the new amps and still need to put the time into getting Isabella all finished and perfected, but she'll be well-worth the wait! aa It is looking like February - March 2008.

Thanks for posting!

Vinnie

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #18 on:** 14 Dec 2007, 03:27 am »

Vinnie....

I was wondering...

....this and the other Lunar Eclipse awards that you've earned...do you get like a plaque...or trophy....or a certificate ?
Or....is it just a page on 6moons with the award notice ?

Thanks....and congrats again....

Chris

Srajan Ebaen · « **Reply #19 on:** 14 Dec 2007, 06:15 am »

Hi-rez 300dpi file of the award graphic to print out and frame if desired - or use for other evil self-promotional print purposes

In Vinnie's case, I still have to build that big file, currently I've only got one for web purposes. But that's how we do it, none of the usual plaques.