I scan the the private exhibitions the same as most of the troops with a psychological wish list of kit that you would love to own but could never do when it was new.
Well Ive been lucky on a few occasions getting myself some great sounding kit within my budget.
Saw Colin Wonfor was selling a Claymore (his Claymore!!!) and jumped out my seat. Colin has done the business for as long as I have been into it and strikes me as one of those guys that just loves music and letting people enjoy it through his creations.
Well I pulled the trigger and the deal was done...amp duly arrived as promised.
I like my cans-currently running senn 700s, plumbed the Claymore in and fired it up utilising the on board USB DAC and inbuilt headphone amp-mutch scratching of head ensued.
I had been using a battery powered HPA/DAC that in my humble opinion was outstanding(albeit at a tenth of the retail price of the Claymore). As a USB headphone rig its outstanding-really letting the 700s do they're stuff-no high end nastiness that can some times be levelled at them.
I will endeavour to try my 650 s with it and report back.
Ok...down to brass tacks...In the main rig.
I principally run 57s as my main speakers...purchased off one of the troops on here-they can be a bit funny amp wise as they present a difficult load impedance wise-the Claymore flung them around like an empty tracksuit (rag dolled them). 57s are an acquired taste-I love them for they're speed,accuracy and naturalness.
Well...the Claymore does the business and then some!!! I wanted a top notch SS amp that would tick the boxes of valve/d class but with more grunt without losing the finesse.
It does it!!!
I was front end guy first...this amp has made me rethink
Sat listening to music all afternoon yesterday into the small hours of this morning.
Chopped and changed speakers from 57s-/electric beach frugels/spendor sp1s....all different flavours-the frugels with rock really took me aback.
It has a rightness-loads of grunt and a listenability thats made me run through my record colection (spotify is earning its money!).
A special amp!!!