Gone are the audiophile adjectives, along with all barriers to musical reproduction. What remains is beautiful, clean, rich, majestic, energetic, palpable, live, natural music.
You can actually hear your system's obvious strengths come through on the You-Tube videos!!! Very happy for you. Please enjoy to the fullest.
BTW, I did wind up getting the BAT Rex mono-block amps. Rob, they are incredible! They take what the Rex pre started with texture/timbre of tone to a whole new level! Never heard tone of voice and instruments sound so absolutely perfect. Needless to say I'm blown away!!!
Just checking in to see if you have reached any final thoughts on the NOS 6h30's you're now using in the REX?
I was over to Ron Lipson's about a month ago to hear his Isis with the Atma MA2's. IMHO it was not a good match. He has since acquired a PASS amp to drive the Isis and he now feels like it's a totally new speaker and digging the sound. Don't know which PASS amp he decided on ... yet. I hope to get over there and hear the combo for myself as I still have thoughts of moving up to the Avalon 'Time' someday.
I have one of the very first Rex pre's, at the time BAT still was installing their NOS 6h30's in the units. I'd have to say I was very lucky! Fill me in on what you are hearing when they fully burn-in.
Thanks for your reply and sound advice. It's comforting to know that you liked what you heard with the BAT VK-150se on he Isis. From what I've read the 'Time' is supposedly an easier load and less fussy then the Isis when it come to pairing it with an amp.
Rob, I haven't rolled any tubes in the REX yet because I'm digging it so much as is. Are you talking about rolling the 6h30's in the current source or in the AC shunt regulation? I'm using the supplied 6C19's as the current source and I prefer the shunt regulation switch positioned for the 6C45's. I have the covers off on both chassis of my REX and hear it to be ever so slightly focused this way.
The thing I love and find so addictive about the REX is that it's the antithesis of that spectacular "Hi-Fi Sound" and so absent of an electronic nature in sound that instrumental texture is rendered so naturally.
I plan on getting in touch with Bob (Strapper)) and see if he will have me over for a listen since he is only a 15 minute drive.
I'm also a fellow fan of BAT and Avalon. I've been running a EMM DAC-2/TSD1, BAT REX preamp and BAT VK-150se mono-block amps on the Eidolon Diamond for some time now. For me this combination has proven itself to be such a winner! Extremely resolving, uncanny texture/timbre of tone, non fatiguing, dynamic enough in my size room, and images like crazy.
I've always enjoyed reading your post's and since your take of the Rex's sound preamp mirrors mine in so many ways I thought I'd ask if you had a chance to hear the Avalon 'Time'? If I ever move up the Avalon chain that would be the speaker that would get along with my room, not to mention my bank account.
BTW, a little over a week ago I went to an audiophile friend's house to hear the Isis paired with Atma MA-2 OTL. I was expecting to be blown away and much to my surprise the combo didn't click. While I could definitely hear some extraordinary traits I couldn't get past the faults. I'm sure it must be just this particular pairing and that both amp and speaker in the right system can really shine.
First, I plan to move up to the BAT REX mono-block power amps and hope that 'Time' is not as particular and fussy as the Isis. Any experiences you can relate with different amps on the Isis may be helpful to me.
Thanks for your time Rob and I'll look forward to any thoughts you may have to share.
