In Pursuit of the very best amplifier (to my ears!) money can buy...

[Mike Lavigne]

I listen to most everything...folk, rock, alternative, edm/house, classical, neo-classical, jazz, r&b. Not much pop (occasional ones - I like the song Exile from what's her name).

any updates on your listening to your reference system? further insights on the Goldmund? has your music genre focus changed at all with your new system? are you listening more?

 

[pk_LA]

I generally focus more on what I am missing than what I am getting or enjoying. With that said, I am not missing a thing at the moment. I am truly enthralled with the system.

 

[Charles S]

Again for me it's a matter of personal preference. i like my MC3500's better than any amp i have heard. I am pure tubes including my MCD12000, C-12000, and MC3500's to my XVX which are driven off the 2 ohm tap. i get a real 500 watts per channel. it is classic mcintosh tubes and the blend with my thor using a MC2.1KW is perfect to my ears. if i replaced any component in my chain it would alter the beautiful sonics. for me its all a matter of synergy. i would love to hear those rockport lyras and the ch precision. I am sure they are fantastic. its all a matter of taste when you reach that level. im glad you found the combination you like.

Charles Updated System: Wilson McIntosh Audioquest

Amps: McIntosh: MC3500MKII (2); MC1.25KW (2); MC2.1KW Anniversary
Preamp: C-12000 Anniversary
Sources: MCD12000 Anniversary; MVP881; MVP851; MR87; Marantz 510LV; Lenovo Yoga laptop
Speakers: Wilson Chronosonic XVX
Sub-Woofer: Wilson Thor’s Hammer; Wilson ActivXO Stereo Electronic Crossover
Cables Main System AQ: WEL Signature speaker cables; 24’ balanced IC; balanced 1-meter Dragon IC ; WEL Signature digital, Coffee digital coaxial cables; Diamond optical (2); Diamond USB; Dragon (5 HC, 3 source cords); Thunder & Monsoon power cords
Cables Subwoofer System AQ: Redwood speaker cable; Wolf balanced subwoofer IC; Wind balanced IC to ActivXO; Hurricane HC; Firebird HC; Firebird Source; Dragon HC, power cords
Power Conditioners: AQ Niagara 7000; Niagara 5000 (3); (4) dedicated 20-amp lines.
Streaming System: Hi Fi Rose 130RS Network Transport; Samsung internal SSD; Audioquest Wel Signature digital balanced 1-meter IC; Audioquest Diamond 1.5-meter USB cable; Audioquest Dragon 2-meter source power cord; HDMI cable 24’ for music videos; one eero Max 7 installed in study and one eero Max 7 installed my audio cabinet. Rose RS130 hard wired to the eero Max 7 in my cabinet and internet wi fi tremendously improved throughout my house, ensuring greatly improved reliability of streaming system
Isolation: Wilson Pedestals; Bassocontinuo McIntosh Ultra Feet; X-material plinth
Cabinet: Double Custom Woodwork & Design (CWD)
Acoustic Treatments: Room and Echo Tunes

 

[Rob Sonata]

I heard the Mimesis Excellence. It was very good but I felt the Nagra Ref, VAC Statement and Relentless were all better. I did not take notes so I am going from memory here...the Excellence seemed like a SS pre acting like a tube pre but lacking the body of a tube pre. Now, to be fair, I am told the Reference is a whole other kettle of fish! [/QUOTE

Apologies for the late reply, I only check out this forum occasionally and wasn't notified of your response:

Anyway, I can confirm that the Reference is indeed a totally different kettle of fish - the Mimesis Excellence is a good preamp (and an ideal partner for the Telos 800 or 1800 amps) but it's more of a DAC with a volume control and a few analogue line inputs (the THEMIS audio module - mono DAC, volume control, etc was a technical development that will be used in future Goldmund products which require digital integration) - the Reference is a pure, out and out, analogue statement preamp and is also priced more on par with those other flagship products you've named.

It's also the first preamp in Goldmund's 45 year history that it has deemed worthy of having the 'Reference' tag bestowed upon it

 

[gian60]

My taste is Thrax Lybra with new phoenix

 

[Alan Nordoc]

Kondo Kagura, hands down

 

[ChefBrunch]

I'd try to get Angela-Gilbert Yeung to build me a new version of his famous Blue Circle NSL amplifier from 2012....in today's money AGY might charge some $60k for one i suspect.

It's a power amp with each channel driving 288 op amps in parallel on the output stage for 28wpc.

 

[pk_LA]

Kondo Kagura, hands down

Definitely maybe

 

[pk_LA]

Apologies for the late reply, I only check out this forum occasionally and wasn't notified of your response:

Anyway, I can confirm that the Reference is indeed a totally different kettle of fish - the Mimesis Excellence is a good preamp (and an ideal partner for the Telos 800 or 1800 amps) but it's more of a DAC with a volume control and a few analogue line inputs (the THEMIS audio module - mono DAC, volume control, etc was a technical development that will be used in future Goldmund products which require digital integration) - the Reference is a pure, out and out, analogue statement preamp and is also priced more on par with those other flagship products you've named.

It's also the first preamp in Goldmund's 45 year history that it has deemed worthy of having the 'Reference' tag bestowed upon it

I am going to hear it in my system soon and will post my impressions!

 

[LL21]

I am going to hear it in my system soon and will post my impressions!

Will be interesting to hear what you think!

 

[gleeds]

Kondo Kagura, hands down

Alan, reputations are built over time, and the Kondos are exceptional. However, there are creators and a new set of amplifiers that can take on the mighty Kagura monos. Sasa Cocik of Trafomatic Audio and his new Elysian GM-70 monos are such a combination.

At 65 watts/channel, the Elysians are more powerful, and one can argue that the GM-70 is a superior-sounding single-ended DHT than the 211s. It is also half the price, offered by a company with a stellar 30-year history, and at $85,000, it is 50% less expensive. The parts and build quality, most notably the hand-wound transformers by Sasa.

Of course, SET amps are not for every loudspeaker, no matter the power; however, for those that are........

 

[Al M.]

Kondo Kagura, hands down

On Rockport Lyras?

 

[Rob181]

Gee - would love to hear these with Zellaton Plural Evos - huge fan of GM70 tubes...

 

[Atmasphere]

On Rockport Lyras?

Hands down no.

Most SETs do their best work running no more than 20-25% of their rated full power. Above that level (due to a lack of feedback) distortion causes the amp to sound 'dynamic' due to how that distortion is interpreted by the ear- it is distortion masquerading as 'dynamics'. On that account to hear the amp at its best you use a more efficient speaker!

Its also prudent to do something to prevent bass frequencies entering the SET, as the designer of any SET output transformer knows all too well. At bass frequencies, the output transformer loses inductance, the very thing that makes them work. This is hard on the power tube as the load line (which defines the operating point and linearity of the tube) becomes elliptical (instead of a straight line). At the same time the load impedance the transformer presents to the tube decreases, sometimes quite dramatically as the frequency goes lower. That's why I say this is hard on the tube.

 

[Al M.]

Hands down no.

Exactly.

 

[gleeds]

Gee - would love to hear these with Zellaton Plural Evos - huge fan of GM70 tubes...

Rhapsody in the Netherland often pairs Sasa's SE amplifiers with Zellaton. Many speak of Audio Exotics as "the place," but to me, Rhapsody is their equal.

Here in the US, I will try to pair them with Goebel, also a speaker who should love what the GM-70s can do.

 

[Anton D]

I may have missed it, but did the manufacturer ever make any recommendations?

What does he use?

(Apologies if I scrolled past it.)

 

[Lee]

I think my dream amplifiers are the Audio Research 330 monos. I was astonished what they did at last week’s Evolution Hifi event with Amati Supremes.

 

[DasguteOhr]

Rhapsody in the Netherland often pairs Sasa's SE amplifiers with Zellaton. Many speak of Audio Exotics as "the place," but to me, Rhapsody is their equal.

Here in the US, I will try to pair them with Goebel, also a speaker who should love what the GM-70s can do.

Why look so far away, zellaton is the dealer of NEM Audio amps in europe.
Listen to it change your mind.

https://nemrussia.ru/en/products

https://nemrussia.ru/en/dealer