Ron’s New System

[DasguteOhr]

svetlana, TJ, Psvane, noon of them are good.

Since you can have a different opinion interests me less. It is very important to me to operate my amplifiers excellently and I am happy to share my experience with the 300b. There are still expensive ones and rarer ones that I've tried. I won't say anything about it, I don't like bashing.

P.S that svetlanas are amazing great quality

 

[morricab]

All fair...that said, if you ever decide to try the Thrax 300B monos (6 x 300B tubes per side)...pure Class A sound and I imagine plenty of reserves for your speakers just based on their reputation for robust designs...let us know!

I got the impression that something like this would be out of Ron’s budget as it is a quite expensive pair of monos.

 

[Ron Resnick]

All fair...that said, if you ever decide to try the Thrax 300B monos (6 x 300B tubes per side)...pure Class A sound and I imagine plenty of reserves for your speakers just based on their reputation for robust designs...let us know!

Thank you, Lloyd Yes, I have always been fascinated by that amplifier!

I believe it's 4 x 300B in the output stage.

I also believe this is push-pull, and not parallel SET?

 

[Ron Resnick]

After a lot of research and inquiries this week on NAT Magma, Trafomatic, Allnic A-10000, Absolare SET and Mastersound PF100, my current Plan A is wait for a used PF100, and my Plan B is to wait for a used Absolare SET.

At the 110 watt level there might be a small chance of unraveling instrumental lines and scaling up with rock and complex classical. I think there is no hope of this at the 52 watt level of the Absolare SET, but the Absolare SET just has always been one of my favorite amplifiers. And Kerem is wonderful.

I am just too nervous to try an NAT Magma Eimac with "direct DC coupling" to the speaker.

The Trafomatic Drina is my dream, but it turns out that it has an oddly low sensitivity input level of 3.5 mV. The matching Tara line stage produces gain of 21dB from a single-ended outputs.

My VTL preamp produces gain of only 13dB from its single-ended outputs. So I'm concerned that the VTL preamp would not drive the Drina to full output. Which means I would have to swap out the VTL preamp as well, which is a problem because I selected the VTL preamp partly because it has a solid-state output stage and so it can drive 50 feet of interconnect. The Tara has a transformer output stage, I believe, but I'm not sure it can drive 50 feet of interconnect as well as the VTL can.

Plus, I'm not sure how much Saša would like vacationing in Los Angeles in case anything goes wrong with a Drina.

If I wanted push-pull, that would be easy and I would just get JA100s and use EL34s. But I want to go to go "all the way" to SET or PSET.

 

[shakti]

I prefer the VTL 7.5 preAmp using the XLR outputs a lot!

Saying this , the solid state output stage is good in high currents, so the amplifier should has preferable a low impedance input.

And as you already mentioned a solid gain.

The Absolare with 75kohm input impedance and 21db gain (4 ohm) does not read like a perfect fit.

Mastersound provides unfortunately not too many information on their side.

I am still a big friend of the Zanden 9600 MKII, providing a 7,5kohm input for xlr connections

Zanden Audio Systems Model 9600Mk2 mono power amplifier

There’s an ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ mindset at the heart of Zanden Audio Systems. The Model 9600 has formed the power amplifier basis of the

hifiplus.com

may be this amp should find a way to your list as well

 

[Ron Resnick]

The Absolare with 75kohm input impedance and 21db gain (4 ohm) does not read like a perfect fit.

Thank you for your analysis of these questions!

The Siegfried II has an input impedance of 47kohm. Why does the Absolare SET's input impedance of 75kohm give you a concern?

 

[Ron Resnick]

I prefer the VTL 7.5 preAmp using the XLR outputs a lot!

Why is this? In which situations?

Would you use the XLR outputs even going to a single-ended amplifier -- which may have a balanced input for marketing purposes but really has no good sonic or technical reason to create a balanced input for a single-ended gain stage?

 

[Ron Resnick]

I am still a big friend of the Zanden 9600 MKII, providing a 7,5kohm input for xlr connections

Zanden Audio Systems Model 9600Mk2 mono power amplifier

There’s an ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ mindset at the heart of Zanden Audio Systems. The Model 9600 has formed the power amplifier basis of the

hifiplus.com

may be this amp should find a way to your list as well

This amp looks wonderful! But I think it is push-pull?

I have my heart set on trying an SET or PSET.

 

[LL21]

Thank you, Lloyd Yes, I have always been fascinated by that amplifier!

I believe it's 4 x 300B in the output stage.

I also believe this is push-pull, and not parallel SET?

"THRAX SPARTACUS 300, pure 300B mono amplifier, partacus is a pure 300B mono amplifier employing x6 based on the legendary Western Electric 300B tube. It used six 300B tubes in 2 stages to deliver 50W of pure class A triode sound with not a single capacitor in sight."

 

[Johan K]

svetlana, TJ, Psvane, none of them are good.

Cut them by the ankles - Ked..!! I crack my self up here… Yeah Budy !!!

 

[Ron Resnick]

. . . It used six 300B tubes in 2 stages to deliver 50W of pure class A triode sound

"The input is a 300B tube driving 4x300B tubes in the output stage "​

So one of the 300Bs in each channel is used as a driver of the four 300Bs in the output stage.

To get 50 watts from four 300Bs suggests push-pull.

 

[DasguteOhr]

"The input is a 300B tube driving 4x300B tubes in the output stage "​

So one of the 300Bs in each channel is used as a driver of the four 300Bs in the output stage.

To get 50 watts from four 300Bs suggests push-pull.

driver stage 300b
Shunt regulator 300b voltage stabilisation
Output 4 x300b push pull
It's western electric copy in modern way with 2 tubes more in outputstage*
P.S My opinon*

 

[shakti]

Why is this? In which situations?

Would you use the XLR outputs even going to a single-ended amplifier -- which may have a balanced input for marketing purposes but really has no good sonic or technical reason to create a balanced input for a single-ended gain stage?

We tried on my friends gear a lot of amplifiers being driven by VTL 7.5.
Always a low impedance input stage plus real XLR input were the winner.
Not being said, that RCA driven amps do not sound nice,
but for our ears the VTL 7.7 prefers lower impedance symmetric input stages.

We tried Convergent and NAT Amps and were not fully satisfied with the RCA connection.
(only 10ft long cable)

 

[morricab]

After a lot of research and inquiries this week on NAT Magma, Trafomatic, Allnic A-10000, Absolare SET and Mastersound PF100, my current Plan A is wait for a used PF100, and my Plan B is to wait for a used Absolare SET.

At the 110 watt level there might be a small chance of unraveling instrumental lines and scaling up with rock and complex classical. I think there is no hope of this at the 52 watt level of the Absolare SET, but the Absolare SET just has always been one of my favorite amplifiers. And Kerem is wonderful.

I am just too nervous to try an NAT Magma Eimac with "direct DC coupling" to the speaker.

The Trafomatic Drina is my dream, but it turns out that it has an oddly low sensitivity input level of 3.5 mV. The matching Tara line stage produces gain of 21dB from a single-ended outputs.

My VTL preamp produces gain of only 13dB from its single-ended outputs. So I'm concerned that the VTL preamp would not drive the Drina to full output. Which means I would have to swap out the VTL preamp as well, which is a problem because I selected the VTL preamp partly because it has a solid-state output stage and so it can drive 50 feet of interconnect. The Tara has a transformer output stage, I believe, but I'm not sure it can drive 50 feet of interconnect as well as the VTL can.

Plus, I'm not sure how much Saša would like vacationing in Los Angeles in case anything goes wrong with a Drina.

If I wanted push-pull, that would be easy and I would just get JA100s and use EL34s. But I want to go to go "all the way" to SET or PSET.

Just curious, Ron, why Aries Cerat is not on your short list?

 

[Ron Resnick]

Just curious, Ron, why Aries Cerat is not on your short list?

No solid reason at all! I love Stavros' work!

Really just that I have never heard that amplifier myself, whereas I have seen and heard each of the other amplifiers on the short list. (Well the Elysium, not the Drina itself; and the Mono 845, not the PF100.)

In the 65 watt range I simply was more comfortable with the Absolare SET as I have heard it myself, and a local friend of mine has it.

Also I don't think I've ever seen a Concero 65 come up for sale in the USA.

Also I am a bit familiar with 845, but totally unfamiliar with 813 and 814.

Also I have no understanding of the tonal balance of the Concero 65. For example does it tend to be a bit thinner in the midbass/upper midrange, or a bit fuller in the midbass/upper midrange? Or dead neutral there?

 

[morricab]

No solid reason at all! I love Stavros' work!

Really just that I have never heard that amplifier myself, whereas I have seen and heard each of the other amplifiers on the short list. (Well the Elysium, not the Drina itself; and the Mono 845, not the PF100.)

In the 65 watt range I simply was more comfortable with the Absolare SET as I have heard it myself, and a local friend of mine has it.

Also I don't think I've ever seen a Concero 65 come up for sale in the USA.

Also I am a bit familiar with 845, but totally unfamiliar with 813 and 814.

Also I have no understanding of the tonal balance of the Concero 65. For example does it tend to be a bit thinner in the midbass/upper midrange, or a bit fuller in the midbass/upper midrange? Or dead neutral there?

It’s realistic in thee midbass/upper midrange…very well balanced and I can promise 100% it has WAY more drive and grunt than the Absolare…the way Conceros deliver dynamics is not like other amps…credit Stavros innovation in power supply current delivery. Output transformers cannot be compared either. Even the “basic” reference version weighs 90+kg each and that is power supply and output iron, primarily.

 

[KeithR]

After a lot of research and inquiries this week on NAT Magma, Trafomatic, Allnic A-10000, Absolare SET and Mastersound PF100, my current Plan A is wait for a used PF100, and my Plan B is to wait for a used Absolare SET.

At the 110 watt level there might be a small chance of unraveling instrumental lines and scaling up with rock and complex classical. I think there is no hope of this at the 52 watt level of the Absolare SET, but the Absolare SET just has always been one of my favorite amplifiers. And Kerem is wonderful.

I am just too nervous to try an NAT Magma Eimac with "direct DC coupling" to the speaker.

The Trafomatic Drina is my dream, but it turns out that it has an oddly low sensitivity input level of 3.5 mV. The matching Tara line stage produces gain of 21dB from a single-ended outputs.

My VTL preamp produces gain of only 13dB from its single-ended outputs. So I'm concerned that the VTL preamp would not drive the Drina to full output. Which means I would have to swap out the VTL preamp as well, which is a problem because I selected the VTL preamp partly because it has a solid-state output stage and so it can drive 50 feet of interconnect. The Tara has a transformer output stage, I believe, but I'm not sure it can drive 50 feet of interconnect as well as the VTL can.

Plus, I'm not sure how much Saša would like vacationing in Los Angeles in case anything goes wrong with a Drina.

If I wanted push-pull, that would be easy and I would just get JA100s and use EL34s. But I want to go to go "all the way" to SET or PSET.

The Mastersound isn’t a 110 watt amp. It’s equivalent in power to the Absolare if both are PSET 845. Rating an amp into class A1 is silliness (Cary would also do this). Crack some eggs…

 

[Ron Resnick]

The Mastersound isn’t a 110 watt amp. It’s equivalent in power to the Absolare if both are PSET 845.

Four 845s must be able to produce some more power than two 845s, no?

Crack some eggs…

I agree. I just don't want to crack anymore than necessary.

 

[Ron Resnick]

Thank you.

The point about reducing reverberation time totally makes sense to me, even if that does not observably shave off the amplitude peak at the mode frequency.

In fact the PSI website states:

the AVAA C20 typically reduces the resonance time of all room modes between 15 Hz and 150 Hz by up to 50%.

 

[LL21]

In fact the PSI website states:

the AVAA C20 typically reduces the resonance time of all room modes between 15 Hz and 150 Hz by up to 50%.

Bingo.