Between F4 and F5

[Joshua_G]

Did anyone compare those two amps directly, or can comment about the sound quality difference between the two?

 

[Zen Mod]

F5 (almost ) doesn't need preamp ;

F4 ( being follower , without voltage gain ) demands serious preamp ( decent voltage swing ) ;

that means that you only can compare F5 vs. preamp+F4

 

[Dufus]

F5 very fast and detailed,bit dry.
F4 more ''Musical'' can sound great with tube preamp.

 

[Joshua_G]

F5 (almost ) doesn't need preamp ;

F4 ( being follower , without voltage gain ) demands serious preamp ( decent voltage swing ) ;

that means that you only can compare F5 vs. preamp+F4

Okay than, any comparison between F5 and F4+pre?

P.S.,
When dealing with power amp, a pre-amp is given (in my mind and in my experience).

 

[Joshua_G]

F5 very fast and detailed,bit dry.
F4 more ''Musical'' can sound great with tube preamp.

Thank you very much.
Your phrase {more "musical"} tells me all I wanted to hear.
Also, I'm using a tube pre-amp anyhow, and it isn't going to be changed.

 

[Joshua_G]

P.S.,
I intend to use either one (F4 or F5) in a balanced-bridged mono configuration.
Right no my vote is for F4.

 

[Dufus]

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/pass-labs/195084-f4-listening-impressions.html#post2680892

Very nice description here

 

[Joshua_G]

Thanks.

 

[zygibajt]

The only thing that stops me from building F5 is that every one is building one and everyone is raving about it and telling how good it is. Same with wines at my local wine store, if everyone is buying one I know it will not be good for me and will not satisfy me. Really I could have built F5 three times already by now if not the thing that everybody is building it and saying it is great amp. Having built Aleph 4, Aleph 3 and a couple of zens amps I bet with proper speakers F3 or F4 beats F5 hands down.

 

[Assesears]

My mate built the F5, I've borrowed it a few times, but for me F4 & pumpkin is very hard to beat very musical.

 

[generg]

I had once the signature "Hear F4 and you beginn to Dance"
Pumpkin was the pre.
F5 is nice but not my taste.

 

[studiostevus]

My speakers are modified Audio Physic Tempo 2SE's with efficiency of 83-85db. My preamp is an Aikido with about 14db gain.....

F4 or F5.....?? That's the question!

Thanks

 

[Zen Mod]

wait to see what's gonna be Papa's Turbo F5

 

[studiostevus]

But F4 will not be able to power my speakers then?

 

[Zen Mod]

it really depends

what's important :

1 room size
2 speaker efficiency
3 listening habits

let's say - you wrote just #2 - that 25W/8E is on lowish side for your spks

your pre have enough gain for F5 , but it's wimpy even for regular F4 ( same 25W/8E as F5) and it can't drive bridged F4s (100W/8E)

so - either change to not wimpy balanced pre and make two bridged F4 , or wait for Turbo F5 which Papa announced , or make X-ed F5 ( by EUVL ) , or make augmented version of regular F5 ( cascoded FE , increased PSU voltage , doubled number of output pairs)

 

[NicMac]

Any way to combine a BA-3 with F4?

 

[Zen Mod]

it's made for that

in fact , F4 is output in BA3 , without input buffer

 

[mikojat]

Any way to combine a BA-3 with F4?

that Timbarnes experience BA-3 with F4

 

[timbarnes]

that Timbarnes experience BA-3 with F4

I can't say enough good things about the combination. My speakers are fairly efficient 3-way horns (Wayne Parham Pi Sevens), and the dynamics are amazing.

 

[Russellc]

I can't say enough good things about the combination. My speakers are fairly efficient 3-way horns (Wayne Parham Pi Sevens), and the dynamics are amazing.

Making sure I understand here, you are running the BA-3 right into F4, kind of like some have done with SE 45 triode amps?

Russellc