I have heard a lot of tube gear in my life, and I like most of it. But I get the impression that, CAT may be the best tube gear there is today.
Yes, there are exceptions: Atmasphere and Soundlab or NOLA and ARC.
Hearing CAT on several occasions, here's what it seems to do: natural sound, insane detail resolution that doesn't take away from musical enjoyment, great macrodynamics, great microdynamics, awesome bass that kicks like a mule (if on recording), which very unusual for a tube gear, extended highs (also, very unusual for a tube gear), awesome transparency, midrange that is not bloated or veiled, etc.
The head guy at CAT seems to be a genius with very high multiple intelligence in math/ science as well as having very high musical/ hearing intelligence. However, the guy seems to be very stingy with review samples. Kudos to Jacob Heilbrunn for making a trip to Wilson's John Goliath to hear and report on it driving the Alexias.
Has anyone here owned CAT and switched? If so to what?
Anyone seriously audition CAT and choose another brand? If so, which one?
In essence, this gear may be the panacea: take the best of tubes and the best of SS and put it in one. Anyone disagree?
Yes, there are exceptions: Atmasphere and Soundlab or NOLA and ARC.
Hearing CAT on several occasions, here's what it seems to do: natural sound, insane detail resolution that doesn't take away from musical enjoyment, great macrodynamics, great microdynamics, awesome bass that kicks like a mule (if on recording), which very unusual for a tube gear, extended highs (also, very unusual for a tube gear), awesome transparency, midrange that is not bloated or veiled, etc.
The head guy at CAT seems to be a genius with very high multiple intelligence in math/ science as well as having very high musical/ hearing intelligence. However, the guy seems to be very stingy with review samples. Kudos to Jacob Heilbrunn for making a trip to Wilson's John Goliath to hear and report on it driving the Alexias.
Has anyone here owned CAT and switched? If so to what?
Anyone seriously audition CAT and choose another brand? If so, which one?
In essence, this gear may be the panacea: take the best of tubes and the best of SS and put it in one. Anyone disagree?