Posted by DRCope [ 64.252.17.50 ] on November 05, 2003 at 16:02:44:
In Reply to: Re: Welcome posted by Wayne Parham on November 05, 2003 at 10:27:21:
Hi Wayne,
Lordy! Where to begin? For openers, I'd welcome Bill Martinelli's feedback on his AN Conqueror amp. I loaned him one at Lima, and the guys listening in his room about fell off their chairs when we changed over from his previous amp. While he let me take it back to CT briefly, he relieved me of it permanently when he attended the September Bottlehead Do at Steve Culton's.
Speaking of Bottlehead, I'd also like to say that I think Doc's products represent extraordinary value, tempt people to try SET who might otherwise never get around to trying it, and make a lot of people very, very happy. I still own my pair of Paramours, now WannaGlows.
Audio Note makes everything one needs to assemble a complete two channel audio system from source to speaks, but I'll stick to the nickel tour of amps here.
There are two single-ended, but not triode, amps at the entry level which use parallel EL-84's and 6L6's respectively at $1.8k and $2.5k, and amps at the top of the heap using 211's and VT4-C's, but the majority of the line uses 300Bs. These range from a single 300B/channel stereo amp - the Conqueror, at $3k through several monoblock amps with one or two parallel 300B's per channel ranging from $4.5k to $49k. All have choke-loaded, tube-rectified power supplies. The parts quality ranges from very, very fine to staggering as transformer core and winding materials, caps, resistors and wire all improve. By the time the smoke clears, tantalum resistors, Black Gate caps, silver foil caps and silver wired transformers have all gotten into the act.
While the killer parts provide a wonderful sense of ease, articulation and refinement, the jump to monoblocks and the improved iron also imparts a sense of authority that belies the 8 to 22 watts per channel the 300B amps produce.
I could go on, of course, but I'll spare you and the other new forum members. ;-)
"Keep your mind and your ears open."