Melody MN845 Tube Amplifiers

Ron Resnick

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Jan 24, 2015
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KeithR has given me yet another interesting lead.

Melody MN845, distributed by Angel City Audio:

https://www.angelcityaudio.com/products/melody-valve-hifi/mn845/

This amplifier is Class A, push-pull using four 845 tubes to produce 150 watts:


image.jpg


Has anybody heard these amplifiers?

How do they sound compared to other Class A, push-pull tube amplifiers?
 

DaveyF

Well-Known Member
Jul 31, 2010
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La Jolla, Calif USA
KeithR has given me yet another interesting lead.

Melody MN845, distributed by Angel City Audio:

https://www.angelcityaudio.com/products/melody-valve-hifi/mn845/

This amplifier is Class A, push-pull using four 845 tubes to produce 150 watts:


View attachment 37042


Has anybody heard these amplifiers?

How do they sound compared to other Class A, push-pull tube amplifiers?

Those look good. Ron, do you know how much power you will need as a minimum to drive your speakers in your room and to a level that you desire? If you do, I would suggest looking at the lowest power option that you can utilize and one that if a) uses tubes...the minimum # of tubes per channel, and b) if ss, one from a manufacturer who has a long history with ss designs.
One of my a’phile friends was telling me yesterday that there is a big difference between a boutique/ small manufacturer and a garage one man operation... to which I highly agree. Generally, he was saying that most a’philes do not recognize the difference...and usually pay a price later on with the choice that they make ( if it is the latter).
This is something that, imho, we should all be aware of and take into consideration when we purchase our gear.
 

Ron Resnick

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Those look good. Ron, do you know how much power you will need as a minimum to drive your speakers in your room and to a level that you desire? If you do, I would suggest looking at the lowest power option that you can utilize and one that if a) uses tubes...the minimum # of tubes per channel, and b) if ss, one from a manufacturer who has a long history with ss designs.
One of my a’phile friends was telling me yesterday that there is a big difference between a boutique/ small manufacturer and a garage one man operation... to which I highly agree. Generally, he was saying that most a’philes do not recognize the difference...and usually pay a price later on with the choice that they make ( if it is the latter).
This is something that, imho, we should all be aware of and take into consideration when we purchase our gear.

I understand your perspective that the "sweet spot" of an amplifier line is usually in the lower power products. I might be able to be persuaded of that with higher sensitivity, dynamic driver speakers. However, for unconventional drivers (ribbons, electrostatic panels, et cetera) I believe that what seems like "excess" power is actually a very good thing for dynamics and for avoiding musical strain.

I agree 100% on the manufacturer distinction. I have no interest in one man band, home garage operations. (I am holding there a possible exception only for Joule Electra VZN-220s.)

I want to try Danny's Einstein Silver Bullet OTL Mk. IIs on the Pendragons but I would not seriously consider for actual purchase anything below about 150 watts.
 

Tango

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Mar 12, 2017
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KeithR has given me yet another interesting lead.

Melody MN845, distributed by Angel City Audio:

https://www.angelcityaudio.com/products/melody-valve-hifi/mn845/

This amplifier is Class A, push-pull using four 845 tubes to produce 150 watts:

Has anybody heard these amplifiers?

How do they sound compared to other Class A, push-pull tube amplifiers?

A dealer in Thailand have these on sales at the moment. This brand uses Western Electric tubes except for the top of the line 60w Everest with very big tube I think 212 clone. He tried the Everest with Vox Olympian and said they sound very “sweet.” Melody is an Australian brand but manufacture in China.

E243BD48-CC62-4C18-8BB8-92A1977E3FFA.jpeg

I saw the actual one. It looks really good beautifully made.

Kind regards,
Tang
 
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DaveyF

Well-Known Member
Jul 31, 2010
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I understand your perspective that the "sweet spot" of an amplifier line is usually in the lower power products. I might be able to be persuaded of that with higher sensitivity, dynamic driver speakers. However, for unconventional drivers (ribbons, electrostatic panels, et cetera) I believe that what seems like "excess" power is actually a very good thing for dynamics and for avoiding musical strain.

I agree 100% on the manufacturer distinction. I have no interest in one man band, home garage operations. (I am holding there a possible exception only for Joule Electra VZN-220s.)

I want to try Danny's Einstein Silver Bullet OTL Mk. IIs on the Pendragons but I would not seriously consider for actual purchase anything below about 150 watts.

The most obvious amp given your power requirements would be the appropriate model from Gryphon.
If you want to stick with a tube amp, and I cannot blame you there, then I would suggest a CAT amp. The latest CAT amps use the new KT150’s, which I have found to be a superb sounding tube. ( which is why Ken is using them as well).
Although the bigger CAT’s give off a fair amount of heat, I would definitely pick them over the same output Jadis amps, or for that matter any other high powered tube amp.
BTW, if you are also considering ss, I would suggest the D’Agostino Momentum’s...they have a sound that is towards the tube side of things and have tremendous drive capability. Might be an excellent match up to your speakers.
 

Believe High Fidelity

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Ron Resnick

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Are any of our members currently using this 845 amplifier?
 

JackD201

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Hi Ron you might want to try the KR Audio VA200 <wink>

 
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Ron Resnick

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Hi Ron you might want to try the KR Audio VA200 <wink>


That looks very cool! Thanks for that great idea, Jack!
 
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JackD201

WBF Founding Member
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I have a pair Ron. Smooth as silk. Really luscious partnered with the KR P135 preamp with 45 tubes. They should be excellent with your iO.
 

thomask

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Dec 9, 2018
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I had listened to Melody pre amp during Pacific Audiofest last year which sounds very nice.

I may get a chance to listen to this amp this year.

Why not come to Pacific Audiofest this year?
 

mtemur

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Are any of our members currently using this 845 amplifier?
A friend of mine was using mono 845 amps below until recently. There are two 845 tubes for channel/amp and produce 75watts. It’s a very good sounding amp, he had no complaints but wanted a better thing for a long time. He recently replaced them with more powerful (50watts) Kondo Kagura mono blocks which are another league. I heard a couple of 845 amps. Nagra, mastersound, Line Magnettic, komuro, melody, NAF etc. IMHO Komuro and NAF were better than the others. The problem with 845 amp is the tube itself. NOS 845 tubes are unobtainable and you are limited to Chinese 845 tubes. You can never ever get the top performance without NOS tubes. Never, sorry...
version=1&uuid=A256665B-4D05-425C-B450-D710C9039D53&mode=compatible&noloc=1.jpeg
version=1&uuid=C736FCB8-9D81-4673-A60F-707CFD744B2C&mode=compatible&noloc=1.jpeg
Another friend has Air Tight ATM-3211 mono blocks. It has two 211 tubes for channel/amp and produce 120watts. It’s not as refined, powerful, detailed as Kagura but still a very good amplifier. More importantly you can use NOS 211 tubes with it. Don’t get me wrong it’s a very good sounding amplifier, it’s not something like Cary 211 mono blocks, I still take it over any amplifier except Kondo.
409113D5-B839-4C4D-ABF5-0845D210F2D6.jpeg

I recommend forgetting about 845 amps and aiming all NOS tubed ATM-3211 mono blocks if you need a powerful amplifier. IMHO low powered SETs are better if your speaker is sensitive enough.
 

bonzo75

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A friend of mine was using mono 845 amps below until recently. There are two 845 tubes for channel/amp and produce 75watts. It’s a very good sounding amp, he had no complaints but wanted a better thing for a long time. He recently replaced them with more powerful (50watts) Kondo Kagura mono blocks which are another league. I heard a couple of 845 amps. Nagra, mastersound, Line Magnettic, komuro, melody, NAF etc. IMHO Komuro and NAF were better than the others. The problem with 845 amp is the tube itself. NOS 845 tubes are unobtainable and you are limited to Chinese 845 tubes. You can never ever get the top performance without NOS tubes. Never, sorry...
View attachment 110994
Another friend has Air Tight ATM-3211 mono blocks. It has two 211 tubes for channel/amp and produce 120watts. It’s not as refined, powerful, detailed as Kagura but still a very good amplifier. More importantly you can use NOS 211 tubes with it. Don’t get me wrong it’s a very good sounding amplifier, it’s not something like Cary 211 mono blocks, I still take it over any amplifier except Kondo.
I recommend forgetting about 845 amps and aiming all NOS tubed ATM-3211 mono blocks if you need a powerful amplifier. IMHO low powered SETs are better if your speaker is sensitive enough.

Good feedback. How did the Airtight, NAF, and Komuro compare to each other, and to the Kagura?
 
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mtemur

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Good feedback. How did the Airtight, NAF, and Komuro compare to each other, and to the Kagura?
IMHO in descending order: Kagura, ATM-3211, Komuro 845, NAF 845.
I prefer Komuro 212 over Komuro 845 because you can still get NOS 212 tubes and it’s 50watts of SET.
 

bonzo75

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IMHO in descending order: Kagura, ATM-3211, Komuro 845, NAF 845.
I prefer Komuro 212 over Komuro 845 because you can still get NOS 212 tubes and it’s 50watts of SET.

But you still prefer Kagura to the Komuro 212.

The Kagura was with stock valves?

Does adding Amperex or WE or United to Airtight change the balance to make it better than Kagura stock?
 

Ron Resnick

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Why do you not like the Cary 211? What about the old Cary 1610?
 

mtemur

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But you still prefer Kagura to the Komuro 212.

The Kagura was with stock valves?
Exactly. It’s (Kagura) better even with stock tubes. Also gives the impression of being more powerful than electrically more powerful counterparts I mentioned earlier.
 
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bonzo75

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Exactly. It’s (Kagura) better even with stock tubes. Also gives the impression of being more powerful than electrically more powerful counterparts I mentioned earlier.

Interesting as a friend prefers Amperex on the Kagura as well as the others to stock. However he had to rebias accordingly.
 

mtemur

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Why do you not like the Cary 211? What about the old Cary 1610?
There is nothing wrong with Cary 211 and I like it but ATM-3211 is head and shoulders above it. I wanted to point out ATM-3211s being good rather than Cary 211s being bad.

I haven’t heard Cary 1610 yet.
 
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mtemur

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Interesting as a friend prefers Amperex on the Kagura as well as the others to stock. However he had to rebias accordingly.
There is a misunderstanding. Of course Amperex or even GE on Kagura sound better than stock. I said on my prior post that Kagura with stock tubes is better than other amps with NOS I mentioned
 
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