Ultimate Solution

[ruaneg]

Im a recent convert to the SI t-amp and cant see myslef going back to my marantz amp. Nothing new.,,,i guess. But the problem with my stock SI is a common one - too bright and voices just seem a bit sibilant at times..Again a common problem with some it seems

My dac is a zhalou which is known to be on the bright side and my rogers speakers are pretty revealing. While im completely amazed with the detail im getting with this setup and its a little frustrating to be oh so close to sonic nirvana( i dont have overly high expectations) but this irritaing sibilance,,

Funnily enough I tried my dac ah with this setup and the overall sound was much easier to listen to and the dacah with stock t-amp is a very good match. But Ive come to really like the zhalou with the great soundstage it gives.

Jeez kind of went on there a bit..sorry. So Im thinking:
1) mod the SI
2) buy the charlize/audiocosture t-amps
3) Get a tube pre-amp

I'd like to get a remote preamp anyway to at least replace the functionality of my old amp..Would something like this be a good investment?

TRemPre

http://electronics.dantimax.dk/Kits/...mps/index.html

Regards
Gary

[barfind]

Gary the Charlize is like putting a tube amp in the chain. Get the air core coil version, and you will have the smoothness you now lack.

Regards Nigel......... Charlize user for nearly 2 years

[Puffin]

I am using a Dac Ah with a tube pre-amp and a modified Sonic Impact. Turn the volume right up on the S.I and control it with the valve pre. Bliss. I have also built an Audiodigit 2020 amp, but it does not like the valve pre and keeps shutting down. Works well with a passive pre amp. The two amps are not that different despite the hike in power. I believe the Charlize is based on the Tripath 2020 chip ?

[barfind]

I use a tube pre with my Charlize, no problem. It is an awesome setup.

Nigel

[phn]

Sorry, but I don't agree. I don't think the SI sounds like a tube amp at all. How could it? It has no output transformers.

I love the SI. But my tube amp sounds very different.

[JohnnyBoy]

As remarkable as the Sonic Impact is, it's lack bass and strident top end wore me out in the end. Even the entry level Clari-T suffers from the same problems, however it is a much cleaner sounding amp than the Sonic Impact. Changing the input coupling caps fixes the bottom end, but the stridency never goes away. However, in spite of the weaknesses of the little Sonic Impact, I found it to be significantly far more revealing than the highly acclaimed YBA Integre.

But as for the Charlize, it is in an entirely different league altogether. I seriously doubt I'll ever replace this amp unless it dies and they are no longer available. It's a good thing I have two!

[ruaneg]

it seems the charlize amps the way to go....

cant help but wonder would the panasonic x55 be worth a punt! All the extra features, remote control and glowing reviews are pretty convincing.

Any ideas on how this would rank with the other classDs? I can probably answer this myself..somewhere between the stock SI t-amp and the charlize but that may be good enough for me. Still,,its great theres so many options at such low cost!!!

might just get the two

Regards
Gary

[phn]

I predict that the 41hz AMP4 will be a killer once released. The specs of the TK2050 make the TA2021B chip look stone age. 0.007 THD+N at 30W into 8Ohms! Even more impressive figures if you drive it into 4Ohms.

If I ever give up my old tube amp, this is likely to be the reason.

[JohnnyBoy]

phn,

Have you heard the Charlize? I know Barfind has owned a variety tube amps, some costing as much as a small car and he ain't looking back. FWIW, I've owned a few so-called Stereophile Class A rated amps, even one that redefined the whole meaning of what they considered to be ranked as Class A worthy. I'm not saying that the Charlize is the end all be all, but regardless of price it's a real tantamount to challenge!

j

[phn]

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying not sounding like a tube amp is bad.

Most of the "tube sound" comes from the output transformers, not the tubes. So by adding OTs on a SS amp, you get a for all intent and purpose tube amp. In a previous post I said that the difference between SE and PP are the OTs. Put beefy SE OTs on a PP amp and you have a PP amp that sounds like a SET. Everything else is religion.

I did not intend it as tubes vs. SS. And I definitively didn't intend it as a knock against the Tripath.

There are people that say that the CD today sounds as good as or better than vinyl. That has nothing to do with anything. The CD is superior in just about any regard. But it still doesn't sound anything like vinyl. It's about taste, not about which is better.

I'm pretty honest about myself. I'm not afraid about being irrational. I have no need to rationalize my tube amp. I accept being irrational as fact of life. And the reason I use a 40-yr-old tube amp can to a large degree be attributed to the fact that I'm ticked off by the high-end industry. I'm also a ham. And the ham in me likes the tube amp. But there are also times when I wonder why I use it. It's hot (too hot in the summer), expensive and generally stupid.

I will get the new 41hz amp when released. But chance is that I will stick with the tube amp. Not because it's better, but because of the previous paragraph.

I'm not a tube snob. I don't like those people very much. I have problem with the SET and full-range crowd. (The tube, SE and full-range snobs are hams. Since I'm one too, I really have no problem accepting them.) There's nothing good about SET and full-range unless you listen to chamber music. I don't. So in my case a SET and full-range would be completely useless. In other words, Lowthers are junk. I would take Cerwin any day. Even Bose would be a fall forward. (I believe my credibility in some circles just became dirt. Like if I ever seeked their acceptance.)

To end this rant, I'm a big fan of the Tripath. I still prefer chips, but only because of those SMTs. I will have to get a new iron if I'm going to be able to solder those tiny buggers.

Right now I play Beastie Boys on a Sony PlayStation, SI and Altec monitors. I think it sounds damn good. I could live with this combo the rest of my life without complaining.