Got a bit of cash spare Mr Toy?

[Marco]

Steve,

As you know, we totally disagree on this and you haven't mentioned, forgetting all about preamps, how the Yaquin valve power amp murdered your Densen power amp...

I can still see the smile on your face now when listening to the Eagles with the Spectral/Yaquin combination!

However, I don't want to turn this into a tedious valve vs. solid-state debate. I was merely reporting on my recent findings. You'll see (hear) what I'm talking about on Monday

Marco.

[Steve Toy]

Marco,

From what I recall, we didn't disagree. We merely had different listening priorities. I remember you saying you heard what I heard but had a different preference to me given the set of sonic compromises on offer. At the time the Yaquin was considerably better than the Densen in all areas in your system (and rather efficient 8 ohm/90bB speakers) to both our ears.

If the Yaquin is capable of driving the more current-hungry Piegas with the same level of control, dynamics and headroom then it is going to piss over the Densen all over again.

[Marco]

Yep, it should be very interesting

Marco.

[Filterlab]

I'm still keen to hear my Revels on the end of the ECS amps.

[Vinyl Grinder]

You guys should really stop spending so much on power amps...

[Filterlab]

You guys should really stop spending so much on power amps...

Mate, I have an Audiolab 8000P - hardly a fortune!

[Vinyl Grinder]

Mate, I have an Audiolab 8000P - hardly a fortune!

No a reasonable priced amp, more than i can say about the Mclarens now.

Some spend thousands on amps for why? To show off more than anything because they always make a big thing about mentioning what they got all the time..

Iv'e heard some monster power amp Vs pretty cheap offerings & can honestly say the cheaper sound the better.

I'm hoping this all comes to light by next week, you two know who you are

[Mr. C]

Marco,

I have no such traits you have listed above for solid state with any of the power amps I use personally.
I found those rather good valve mono bloc amps to give a lot of what I desire in music reproduction for sure, however I have not yet found anything I have considered changing them for, including ASR emitters and Dartzel's (which I feel is one of the best off the shelf amplifiers you can obtain at any price both valve or solid state).
A lot of solid state guys cross over to valves in order to find that something there are not getting, only to return at a later date (vice versa for the valve amp lovers too)
However actually starting out with the right amplifier negates this process LOL!
This swapping about will lead to other changes, as the remaining parts of your systems will then be exposed as not being able to 'keep up' or lacking the constituent parts that make up the whole, leading to the merry go round process of 'upgraditus' imho
If you have a well balanced and transparent system that is able to show differences is ANY equipment change, then your choices get a lot easier to make.
Also the cost can have nothing to do with the amount of sound quality generated either !

[Filterlab]

No a reasonable priced amp, more than i can say about the Mclarens now.

Some spend thousands on amps for why? To show off more than anything because they always make a big thing about mentioning what they got all the time..

Iv'e heard some monster power amp Vs pretty cheap offerings & can honestly say the cheaper sound the better.

I'm hoping this all comes to light by next week, you two know who you are

I have heard some staggering amps in the £3000-£4000 range, amps that really show what's happening on the recording. That's the range I'll be buying in when I change the Audiolab (which is outclassed by my other bits of gear), probably leave it there as I almost have the sound I want.

[Marco]

I'm still keen to hear my Revels on the end of the ECS amps.

I think you might like that one, Rob, knowing the type of sonic and musical presentation you prefer

Tony,

Nice post. I'll come back to you later. Right now I'm doing some 'tube rolling' with the Yaquin, and very interesting it is, too...

Discussions about Mr Toy's power amp shenanigans continue here. For details of my 'tube roling' adventure please see the new thread in the D.I.Y room.

Marco.