I have moved to a fully computer based set up as a source. No transport and none of those shiny disks any more.
The system has an open, huge soundstage, with very clean, tight bass that dives deep into two figure Hz.
The sound is very powerful and dynamic. Extremely detailed, but still warm, musical and believable and easy to listen to. With the right recording a reach out and touch holographic image and soundstage is possible.
I have been through quite a lot of equipment. I am and was a huge Audio Research fan for years, and I used their tube monos/preamps with great happiness.
I have pretty much always had planar speakers until recently. So I needed powerful amps to drive Magnepan2.6R/3.6R and Apogee Diva/Duetta sig etc.
I have moved to high sensitivity speakers in the form of the Avantgarde Trios now. This has enabled a move to very low powered SET amplifiers which has been great fun.
I have been searching for equipment that keeps the music free of colour and true to the recording. I believe you choose your source for its sound. The rest of the equipment should let the source do its magic as much as possible and get out of the way of the music.
This unit is modified with Mundorf silver/gold in oil caps, Mundorf tube cap, and Duelund VSF Cu caps. I use Emission Labs mesh plates 45 power tubes. A very refined and beautifully natural sounding amp. Very transparent.
DCS Scarlatti clock
Finest player in the world
Avantgarde Trio
19 ohm 109db/watt with 225 subs
DCS Scarlatti
State of the art number crunching.
PS audio Premier Power Plant
Power regenerator.
Analysis plus Golden oval XLR
Beautiful cable. Amazing detail and still warm and life like
Audio Magic Stealth XXX oyaide
Specially made with Oyaide XXX sockets and furutech input. Much more detailed than the Hydra it replaced
Apogee Duetta signature2 Heavily modified
These have the latest Graz ribbons both tweeter/mid and bass panels. I have external cross overs with mundorf silver/gold in oil caps and Alphacore foil inductors. Caddock resistors and all solid core silver wired. All suspended and vibration free. These apogees take much more power and go way louder and have much better dynamics than the original. Not only that but much improved sound quality. Simply stunning! I have had many planars magnepan etc but these really are the best in every way now. Long live Apogee and Thank goodness for Grazs search for perfection!
Virtual dynamics Revelation 2
This must be one of the only cables I have heard that when compared to cables that seem to "do nothing" or just pass signal untouched this cable does lots but in a good way! A staggering solid detailed sound, but a nightmare to plug in due to its size, weight and stiffness.
Virtual dynamics Master LE
Very nicely focused cable with very low noise floor. The best bass I have heard and startling dynamic speed
Oyaide SWO XXX/SWO GX
Its own spur and conditioned with various filters along the way before reaching the Stealth
Acoustic Revive RR-77
Sends out a very low frequency into the room which disrupts RFI EMI and makes you feel relaxed! Very odd but works well Seems to focus the mid range
Sonic studio Amarra
Bolt on for itunes
Auralex Lenrd Bass traps
I have 8 of these traps placed subtly in the corners of the listening room. They have done a very good job in a room that had quite tight bass anyway.
Weiss Medea plus
Latest super DAC. Volume control on Firewire input. Variable output voltage to match amps. stunning DAC
Hi Chad I think since you have speakers that allow you to use the 45 valve then you are one of the very lucky ones that gets to hear the 45 valve to it full potential and sonic beauty. I think you are one the right track, stick to the 45 if you do not need more power, if you decide you would like to own a solid state amplifier as well for a change in presentation I would recommend the First Watt F3 or new J2 amplifier. You are right in your findings the Valve does have the X factor it produces in the music. Cheers Jason.
Hi Acresverde Yes I agree with you about having to audition each amplifier your self with your speakers, I did not try the Atma-Sphere M60 with the Avantgarde Duo and I expect they are a different class of amplifier to the Atma-sphere S30 Mk1 I auditioned. Don`t be put off by output transformers either in the signal path as some would say this degrades the sound, I have not found this the case when very good quality output transformers & Interstage transformers are used.
Hi Chad Yes I can understand you liking the 45 amplifier with the Avantgarde speakers it was one of my favorite matchings as well, the 45 is for refinement and tonal qualities in music playback. Thanks Jason.
Hi Mapman I tried the Atma-sphere 30 watt OTL on the Avantgardes speakers and it was not a good match, sounded bright in the treble region. A 45 Single Ended Triode amplifier like the Yamamoto was a better match to the Uno and Duo models, even when you take in to account the 2 watt versus the 30 watt rating of the OTL. Thanks Jason.
Hi Chad I have the WAVAC EC 300 B amplifier here for my demonstrations with Avantgarde speakers. It is wonderfully built plus sounds very good when matched with the Avantgarde speakers. Thanks Jason.
Hello Chad The Emission labs 45 is excellent, we are using this tube in my 45 mono blocks in NZ on the Avantgarde Duo, I really like the look of their Globe 45 anniversary addition. We used the WAVAC EC 300 B amplifiers on the Duo Omega with very good results set to 16 ohm. The WAVAC uses Transformer Interstage to drive the 300B giving better bass dynamics. Thanks Jason.
Hi Chad I have tried many valve amplifiers on the Avantgarde speakers and found the 45 to be one of my favorite tubes for this speaker for the delicacy and refinement of tone on voice and instruments. Working with in the 45 `s power band it is a very seductive and addictive tube. The best sounding 300 B amplifiers I tried on the Avantagrde speakers used a transformer driver stage. Happy listening. Jason.
Hi Chadeffect I would recommend the Lamm ML2.1 SET amplifiers for your system if you decide to go back to valve amplifiers, these amplifiers are a incredible match with the Avantgarde speakers. Solid State amplifiers I would recommend would be the Pass Labs XA 30.5 or the Silicon Arts ZL 120 mono blocks. Nelson Pass also makes some wonderful First Watt amplifiers that work really well on high efficiency speakers that are well worth a look for a very afforable option. Thanks Jason.
