Name your valve amp?

Hello,

I use:
Icon PS1 Phono Pre Amplifier
Icon LA3 Line PreAmp
2. Icon MB25 300B Power Amplifiers
Living Voice speakers.

I am very satisfied with this equipment as my taste in music is 95% clasical 5% jazz.

 

Home built Son of Heffa.
Power amp using a pot as potential divider to regulate CD output for volume control.
Speakers Proac response 25's.

See pics/description in link.

 

Thanks for the replies everyone! I was having a ponder over the Antique Sound Labs monoblocks:

http://www.divertech.com/aslmonsoondt.html

Any wise owl have any comments on these? 100 Watts of tube power, good lord!

 

I have a second system which is composed of mainly vintage items:

EAR 834L pre amp with three ECC83 or a diy Alps blue potentiometer passive pre
EAR 834P signature phono stage


Leak Stereo 20 (EL84), Stereo 60 (EL34 or KT66), TL10.1 (KT61), TL12.1 (KT66)
Pye HF25 KT66 push pull
Quad II (KT66)
Radford STA15 (EL34)

Chartwell LS35a, Jim Rogers JR149

Hon

 

Yahoodie asks why valves. As an owner of a Tag Maclaren pre and Radford STA25 amp (into Eikos FR1 and Rel Sub) I can only say that the music is alive with valves in a way that I don't often feel with solid state. Especially with digital source, where it makes it "feel" more like analogue does. I am currently running an old but quite decent transistor while the Radford is in repair - it's just not the same

It's subjective of course. If it feels no different to you, solid state is probably easier to own. And it depends what you listen to. I have about 50% classical in my collection and it is more like the live sound to my ears. Audition stuff until you know. What you can't hear isn't worth paying for.

 

Eastern Electric Minimax pre-power (8wpc) into Audiophysic Avanti mkIII floorstanders (89dB, 3ohm min, 4 ohm nom.). Surprisingly, it works VERY WELL indeed...)

 

been looking at the audio physic virgos to partner my unisis, again 89db- 4 ohm, but the unisis only has 6-8 ohm taps.(35w)
didnt know if the would work, but sounded great in a demo.
dont know about long term though.

 

Rogue Audio Stereo 90.

 

minimax per into VAC auricle mk II, into thiel cs 1.6

just find solid state a bit cold...

 

Mine is called "The Toaster" because it looks like one. Oh, that's not what you meant is it?

I'm using a VTL IT-85 integrated into Harbeth C7s with beautiful & musical results. Not widely available this side of the pond but worth seeking out.

I've also got a redundant GRAAF 5050 power amp if anyone is looking?

 

Try a Rogue...

I can definitely recommend the Rogue Audio Metis/Atlas (pre-power). It had a persistent hum through my speakers, but then the speakers are 104dB.....the audio equivalent of a microscope. I'm sure the Rogue stuff would be fine through sensible speakers.

Hum issues aside, it sounded great. I was mega-impressed. Plenty of scale and seperation on orchestral works, and awesome speed and slam on modern pop and rock. Kylie Minogue (not my cup of tea) sounded so good I could happily listen to a whole album. Now that was a strange experience...

To be fair, the Rogue did kill one or two recordings stone dead. Chopin piano sonatas (Ashkenazy, Decca CD) sounded totally lifeless, as did Johnny Cash live at San Quentin. I've no idea why this happened. On the whole, though, a great amp.

Have a listen!

 

Have a Viva Audio Solista and LV Avatar speakers.

Amp integrated and not a pre/power but is fantastic.

 

Art Audio Carissa Power + pre with LV OBX-R2's.

Yummy.

 

Loftin White direct coupled 2A3 into Wilmslow cabinets with Scan-speak 9500 and Seas 18E001

 

Interesting signature Vibbles. Would that be Heated Triode, Hormone Therapy, Half-Time, Hot Toddy perhaps...

 

I was thinking of High Tension as in volts but I'm quite happy to go with your versions,

 

Hi Rob,

an interesting comparison. I find the mid range on the OBX speaker more expressive. I notice this will vocals. I do think they are more detailed overall. I do enjoy listening to the H2 speaker with it's big dynamic sound, but the ObX have it.

SCIDB

 

Hi Dunc,

The Django is an excellent product, well worth try. It is excellent value for money. A step up from the L2. It dosen't have as much gain as the L2 but may not be a problem. The Django offers good resolution and detail, it lets the music flow.

SCIDB

 

System has changed over the last three months, now have;

Audio Research SP 10 - Pre Amp
Jadis 30 - Mono Power Amps (30 watts per channel using KT90's)

Driving SF Cremona's

PS I have not been able to log on to this board for a month or so!