valve amp guinea pigs needed

I'm running an Audion Sterling into Horn Shoppe Model 1 speakers, would love to put your amp through it's paces!

 

Re: listening to your amp

Hi Bottleneck,

I can't PM you as it looks as though you've exceeded your private message quota...

Anyway, how about Fri 23rd April?

--Jatinder

 

I'd love to Chris.

I don't have exclusive control of the piggy bank . To be honest I like my D700s and anything bigger would be a difficult fit.

 

quote

hi steve, just to let you know that link that you have has a very big virus.
regards,
nando.

 

What webshots? - My pics have a viral content of very nice (to me) hifi that should be spread and infect all to enlighten them

 

Great evening plugging Chris' amp into my system.

I have always felt my Unison S6 partners well with the Cadence Amayas. Big, open sound, ethereal as Chris put it. Fully extended at both HF and LF, loads of detail, you really get an insight into whatever you play. The front end must help as it isn't sloppy, SME10, SME309 silver wired, Lyra Dorian, 834P Deluxe and MC3, all fettled over the years with feet and so on.

I wasn't planned at all so we had an eclectic mix on my amp first, literally as I thumbed through a few albums. We got though tracks from the following on vinyl:
The Cranberries - No Need to Argue
Cassandra Wilson - Glamoured
Alison Krauss - Forgt About It
The Rolling Stones -Goat's Head Soup
Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra - Dukas Sorcerer's Apprentice
Ben Webster - Soulville
Gilles Peterson - Impressed 2

We also got though tracks from the following on CD:
Bex Marshall - Kitchen Table
Joss Stone - Colour Me Free

Then in went Chris' amp, left to warm up first whilst we played with coffees. Also a Creek passive which may have been a limitation

We wondered where two thirds of the music had gone, the HF and the LF (treble quieter, bass reduced, dynamics reduced). This drew attention to the midrange, perhaps the little beast was being asked unfairly to drive the allegedly efficient (91db) Amayas which probably make quite a demand at certain frequencies. The Amayas have a curved electrostatic panel down to 950hz, "simple Linkwitz crossover" and 11 inch Eton driver covering the lower registers. Great clarity, loud fast and dynamic when asked, very revealing, look like K9 in a box!

Chris explained that his amp could be tuned more towards treble. It didn't matter after adjusting though, what came across to me was how enjoyable that midrange was. Sweet, delicate, informative, subtle nuances, to be honest less tiring than my amp showing the difference between EL84 and EL34 to my mind (an I don't consider my system tiring per se).

I agree with the earlier post about clarinets, also guitar, strings and vocals. I'm going to take different speakers over to Chris at some point and we'll see whether an easier load brings out dynamics better. Certainly, I think it has great potential and I would buy this at £700 and partner it sympathetically in preference to the well known solid state brands or Chinese valve imports.

I also liked the fit and finish of the case too and connections round the back, no sign of it being a home made amp or prototype.

Chris will need to get some decent shots in daylight but these will give you an idea

 

Bottle Necks Valve Amp

chris what happend to this wonderfull amp that i heard so many good things about? i am very mucht interested about it to not only to hear and see it but to help to marking it,.......please inform us,
regards,
nando.

 

I didn't see any point in a separate thread for your question Joseph, so I've merged it with Chris' original thread.

 

cheers, bring it on,
me loves valves..
nando.

 

Hi Nando

I parked it for now.

Main problem being the supplier of the transformers which were all made for the amp is an ''intermitant supplier'', and would cause stock availability issues I feel.

I may bring it back in the future, but would want to make a few improvements too.

Thanks again
All the best