Posted by akhilesh [ 129.244.96.51 ] on May 17, 2004 at 19:34:19:
In Reply to: Initial review of ASUSA (Antique Sound USA) K2003 SET amp posted by akhilesh on May 16, 2004 at 15:11:53:
Hi Everyone,
Couple of additional points:
THe zen se84C (the amp i compared this one to in my review, made by www.decware.com) uses a 6922 input tube, along with sv83 outputs (same as el84 but plate voltages are a bit different, and sv83s are considered "more linear" by some).
The asusa amp uses the standard 12ax7 input tube, along with the el84, a much more common setup than the zen.
After some more listening, I was actually quite taken by the slam and punch of this amp versus the zen. Imaging was actually a bit better!
Detail was as good. I think i was "looking for top end harshness" when i listened to it first, wen i wrote my initial review. After discovering that the components were ALREADY UPGRADED (according to earlier reviews of this amp, coupling caps really make it smoother and my piece has the upgraed caps already), when i listened to it again last evening, i actually found it quite smooth! Goes to show the "psychoacoustical impact" of many upgrades. The amp definiltey has more punch than the zen, and the midrange may be considered by some to be better balanced than the zen.
Overall a nice amp that i am going to keep for sure!
-akhilesh