Hi!
Unfortunately, I have not yet been able to hear these thick monos. Not Audionet either. But since you also ask about experiences with Essentia:
So far I have driven my speakers with Mark Levinson ML-2 driven by a Trinity (Black) Reference Preamp. A few months ago I had the opportunity to try out CH Precision L1 and A 1.5 on my speakers. My speakers have active subwoofers. The main speakers are passive, 3 way (and also only 3 drivers), a little over 90 db.
Here in the forum you can read a lot of praise about CH Precision. Therefore, I assumed that the overall sound would be very different from what I had experienced with my previous components and that a much higher level would be achieved with CH Precision. That was not the case. The L1 (perhaps with a clearer structure) sounded slightly different from the Trinity (with more body and live quality) - a matter of taste. The Poweramp, on the other hand, perhaps resolved a little more, but also sounded harsher. For the price, it didn't sound nearly good enough. Even at the same price as a pair of ML-2s, I would have seen no reason to give up my ML-2s for them!
Aries Cerat Ianus Essentia (driven by Impera Reference II) was a completely different story. This combination does everything better than my previous one - very, very clearly. More energy, more dynamics, much more timbre and also much more resolution, and by that I mean resolution of the natural kind .... nothing sounds harsh or sharp or cold unless it is included that way on the recording. Voices get not only timbre and space, but also character. It is a great pleasure to listen to Essentia.
Here you will find a little more information:
FInally the smaller mono amplifiers of our Ianus Series, showcasing our TriodeFet technology, are out. First four pairs are being shipped around the globe. Newsletter to follow soon. Being excited is an understatement
www.whatsbestforum.com