The issue is Circuit boards. I would look at Point-to-Point wiring for that "Old Time" classic sound.
Analytical is pretty relative. One person’s analytical may be another person’s detailed. But yea, the 8900 is def not a tubey sounding amp, especially with the Lundahl OPTs. Me and my friends think, it’s partly the OPT and partly the PSU. As a result, rolling the tubes hardly help. Swapping out the Kemet Organic Polymer caps in the cathode bypass positions over to Nichicon Muse ES helped push the sound over to a less dry state. But it’s still on the dry side of things.
I too have heard that the TriodeLabs stuff do have the tubey/SET sound without going overboard. So might be a better option if you have the funds and want to avoid a non-tubey sound.
P.S: You could also consider the Bottlehead Stereoamour 2 if the Triode Labs stuff is out of reach.
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System synergy is imported the 8900 is a transparent amp how analytic sounding will depend on synergy with the rest of the system what output caps and tubes are used. I have a chord Dave in front of mine and there is superb resolution in the system but I would not say it sounds analytical or sterile in the slightest just you hear really deep into the recordings but there is good balance of tone timbre and texture to the sonics.
For a more romantic traditional amp the Dennis had inspire 300b looks interesting as does the Sun Valley 300b with the Hashimoto iron and tube rectification.
For a more romantic traditional amp the Dennis had inspire 300b looks interesting as does the Sun Valley 300b with the Hashimoto iron and tube rectification.
Don't know, haven't heard any of the above but will say look at underside pix of those Triode Labs amps and see whats in them then look at decked out 8900 and the point to point tube rectified Sun Valley SET amps Victor offers. I can't see anything that justifies the $$$ of Triode Labs amps. However if you must have one, wait a couple years for Triode Labs to do a new version, the prior versions will be all over the used gear websites at ~ 45% - 65% and more less than the MSRP Triode Labs hopes someone will pay for their new gear.
OTT as I watched Victors now defunct 45 tube amp project go from veery promising to you've got to be kidding me, in the back of my mind I was thinking Triode Labs guy must've put pressure on Hashimoto to not sell Victor the transformers he wanted in the quantities he would want out of fear his amp would put them out of business!
I wouldnt say TU-8900 as very analytical amp, but if you are used with tube rectification, yes TU-8900 can be a bit sterile.
MP9, Hashimoto is available plenty in Japan (at least few years back).
MP9, Hashimoto is available plenty in Japan (at least few years back).
not true, Audio Note entry level all use circuit boards and some are very "Old Time" classic sound"
Re the 45 SET amp project, as it devolved, Victor told us he couldn't get the better Hashimoto's in the quantities he would need and IIRC also couldn't get Hashimoto to do customs to his specs but I think the custom work was for the mains transformers.
Lets step it up 10x and look at Decware. https://www.decware.com/newsite/homepage.html .It's all about the Transformers as this represents the main cost, bass slam and frequency response of the Amp. This is were manufactures cheap out. Hey, I am looking at Pass Labs Amp to replace my PrimaLuna as my Dennis Had Inspire Firebottle is fantastic. But Circuit boards or Hybrid systems is no Point to Point sounding system that represents "Tube" magic. Fact!!!
I'm confused, is the above your opinion or a direct quote of Steve's from somewhere on Decware website?
Btw, That new Sarah WE300B int amp looks nice and given Steve's reputation probably sounds real nice too .. but take a look at the output transformers, they are about the size of it's Hammond 159R DC reactor filter choke. I was looking for a large cap indicative of Para-Feed. Para-Feed transformers are tiny, turns out the amp is not Para Feed. I was in the room at the time back when Magnequest Mike LaFerve began making Para=Feed tranny's and was explaining to then Audio Note Herb Reichart how in going far back in audio history to Para Feed, the small Para Feed transformers are much less expensive to make than IE Core as they have a very small air gap, and they can deliver bass to top end well (my words d@rn near 35 years latter, not verbatim). Back then Mike offered some exotic all Cobalt laminations PF tranies, all nickle and pin striped nickle ... At one time I had a Gordan Rankin Wavelength Audio tube rectified Para Feed 300B amp and found the little amp to have good top to bottom sound but was also more sterile solid state sounding than the thremonic glow warmth from within I like of tubes.
FWIW, I'd love to see $terophile do a full review of Sara WE300B amp complete with measurements. The buzz around Sarah 300B sounds like given price point constraints, Steve is on top of this one.
What do you think?
A lot depends on system synergy. I am a huge fan of R2R DACs. Also, if you really wanna hear what a low watt SET is about, you need a very, very non-reactive speaker...Full range single driver only for me. back it up with a speaker level sub. Most of these speakers have a hump Around 2000 Hz plus or minus. Often a this is corrected with small circuit, however I have had much much better results using a single band of equalization in roon. Nothing like hooking the output transformer coil directly to the speaker coil with nothing in between for true tube magic. I absolutely love my 8900! I run it With the 2A3s and 12BH7s and zero NFB. Again, you need the right speakers for this, and you should read my prior review regarding the voltage divider on the volume control. With the negative feedback off, you can barely budge the volume control without this mod. Not unique to this amp. My decware is on a shelf gathering dust since I got my first Elekit.
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I don’t get the decware mania. I did the long wait for the SE84UFO. I enjoyed the amp. Then I got my 8600 and then 8900. The UFO has been gathering dust since. Small OTs. slight speaker hum. Decent sound. Minimalist power supply. Doesn’t play well with single speaker level sub (have to tie the negative speaker outs together or it hums considerably). Very nice but just doesn’t have the same magic for me as either of my Elekit amps. Then again it costs less. Maybe you have a higher level model. Different tastes and different system synergies. Who knows.
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For the sound you want, look for Fi 2A3 monoblock if you can find a pair and expect to pay at what or more than they sold for new
Triode Lab, search Hifishark dot com there are currently a few links to some good used Triode Lab 2A3 buys
Pimped out TU-8900 LL AM core AN silver caps, RCA single plate 2A3's, can't go wrong, if you're not happy with it I'll buy it from you and I already have Fi 2A3 I'm not parting with anytime soon
don't know I haven't tried it.
All of these descriptions only tell you so much, you really have to try a few amps in your home to figure out which one does it for you. Dealer/manufacture offering a home audition period helps.
Also, buying used tends to be less risky then taking a painful hit selling something you purchased new and later found the luster faded fast. Or buy high demand product known to have a high resale value.
Don't expect "end all be all", it doesn't exist!
All of these descriptions only tell you so much, you really have to try a few amps in your home to figure out which one does it for you. Dealer/manufacture offering a home audition period helps.
Also, buying used tends to be less risky then taking a painful hit selling something you purchased new and later found the luster faded fast. Or buy high demand product known to have a high resale value.
Don't expect "end all be all", it doesn't exist!
