+1 on that Frank, it was a lovely combination, shame Ian did not do vinyl that could have been spectacular.
Analogue
401 / PU7 / AT33ev
Longdog Audio Quartz turntable PSU
Longdog Audio MCJ1 - Prototype Phonostage
Digital
Innuos Zen Mini Mk 3
Topping D50s
Caiman Seg & Dorado
Cambridge CXC
Amps
Tron Seven Linestage
Bel Canto Set 40 or Nick Gorham built 300B Set Monoblocks
Speakers
Tannoy GRF Memory.
Tannoy ST100.
Totally agree, guys - having heard that combo on numerous occasions! The same amp also sounds rather good with my LMs
However, Copper amps (or any valve amps of that ilk) don't come cheap... In fact, you can't do valve amps properly, on the cheap, period.
Marco.
Main System
Turntable: Heavily-modified Technics SL-1210MK5G [Mike New bearing/ETP platter/Paul Hynes SR7 PSU & reg mods]. Funk Firm APM Achromat/Nagaoka GL-601 Crystal Record Weight/Isonoe feet & boots/Ortofon RS-212D/Denon DL-103GL in Denon PCL-300 headshell with Funk Firm Houdini/Kondo SL-115 pure-silver cartridge leads.
Paul Hynes MC head amp/SR5 PSU. Also modded Lentek head amp/Denon AU-310 SUT.
Other Cartridges: Nippon Columbia (NOS 1987) Denon DL-103. USA-made Shure SC35C with NOS stylus. Goldring G820 with NOS stylus. Shure M55E with NOS stylus.
CD Player: Audiocom-modified Sony X-777ES/DAS-R1 DAC.
Tape Deck: Tandberg TCD 310, fully restored and recalibrated as new, by RDE, plus upgraded with heads from the TCD-420a. Also with matching TM4 Norway microphones.
Preamps: Heavily-modified Croft Charisma-X. LDR Stereo Coffee. Power Amps: Tube Distinctions Copper Amp fitted with Tungsol KT-150s. Quad 306.
Cables & Sundries: Mark Grant HDX1 interconnects and digital coaxial cable, plus Mark Grant 6mm UP-LCOFC Van Damme speaker cable. MCRU 'Ultimate' mains leads. Lehmann clone headphone amp with vintage Koss PRO-4AAA headphones.
Tube Distinctions digital noise filter. VPI HW16.5 record cleaning machine.
Speakers: Tannoy 15MGs in Lockwood cabinets with modified crossovers. 1967 Celestion Ditton 15.
Protect your HUMAN RIGHTS and REFUSE ANY *MANDATORY* VACCINE FOR COVID-19!
Also **SAY NO** to unjust 'vaccine passports' or certificates, which are totally incompatible with a FREE society!!!
Location: KY - Scotland
Posts: 5,470
I'm Mike.
I did think about the EWA Pre Q20 I think it is, but I would need it custom as it only has one input and has an MC and MM phono stage built in. So I would need at least 1 more input, ok I could look at the EWA M-50 Pre but that's about £1800, I'd rather spend that amount on a used product to get more for my money
I'm also not sure what difference it would be from the TQ Claymore Amp as a pre.
Location: KY - Scotland
Posts: 5,470
I'm Mike.
Well, if Tony's Kel 84 power amp and mono blocks gels with them, then be prepared to fall in love with TOOBS!
Marco [Tannoys love TOOBS].
Main System
Turntable: Heavily-modified Technics SL-1210MK5G [Mike New bearing/ETP platter/Paul Hynes SR7 PSU & reg mods]. Funk Firm APM Achromat/Nagaoka GL-601 Crystal Record Weight/Isonoe feet & boots/Ortofon RS-212D/Denon DL-103GL in Denon PCL-300 headshell with Funk Firm Houdini/Kondo SL-115 pure-silver cartridge leads.
Paul Hynes MC head amp/SR5 PSU. Also modded Lentek head amp/Denon AU-310 SUT.
Other Cartridges: Nippon Columbia (NOS 1987) Denon DL-103. USA-made Shure SC35C with NOS stylus. Goldring G820 with NOS stylus. Shure M55E with NOS stylus.
CD Player: Audiocom-modified Sony X-777ES/DAS-R1 DAC.
Tape Deck: Tandberg TCD 310, fully restored and recalibrated as new, by RDE, plus upgraded with heads from the TCD-420a. Also with matching TM4 Norway microphones.
Preamps: Heavily-modified Croft Charisma-X. LDR Stereo Coffee. Power Amps: Tube Distinctions Copper Amp fitted with Tungsol KT-150s. Quad 306.
Cables & Sundries: Mark Grant HDX1 interconnects and digital coaxial cable, plus Mark Grant 6mm UP-LCOFC Van Damme speaker cable. MCRU 'Ultimate' mains leads. Lehmann clone headphone amp with vintage Koss PRO-4AAA headphones.
Tube Distinctions digital noise filter. VPI HW16.5 record cleaning machine.
Speakers: Tannoy 15MGs in Lockwood cabinets with modified crossovers. 1967 Celestion Ditton 15.
Protect your HUMAN RIGHTS and REFUSE ANY *MANDATORY* VACCINE FOR COVID-19!
Also **SAY NO** to unjust 'vaccine passports' or certificates, which are totally incompatible with a FREE society!!!
Location: Troon
Posts: 2,476
I'm tony.
I dont think the tubes in my amps are that special -sovtek/phillips/mullard but it gives a proper flavour of what tubes do. There is just something special going on, in combo with my 57s they really do play nice.
Location: Torquay, Devon.
Posts: 5,684
I'm Shane.
Good SS Integrated amp that can go to 11-12, and retain it's composure. The Roksan Kandy KA1- MKIII.
S.
+1. KT88 family / EL 34 family. With HPDs, 40-50w minimum (Golds need less). Job done and just listen to the music.
Been there done that with solid state, SET, 300b, active crossovers, hybrids, Class D, blah blah di blah. With Tannoys, tubes rule, specifically PP valve amps of the pentode/beam tetrode persuasion. You know it makes sense.
Sums it up neatly.
I've had an upgraded 405 ii in the house and its owner was highly expectant. He left disappointed - Radford was far more refined and liquid, while being just as robust in the lower registers. Made the Quad sound coarse. Same experience with a 303 and 909. Quads are good amps but they won't do what a good valve amp does. Though as Marco says elsewhere it is a more expensive path to take, decent valve amps aren't as cheap as they used to be.