845 Valve

[Ninanina]

Has anyone heard any 845 based amp?

I'm becoming increasingly interested in looking into one of these amps so does anyone have any experience in using one?

Thanks all

[chelsea]

Yes,with the right speakers very good.
What has made you think of going for them?

[wiicrackpot]

Has anyone heard any 845 based amp?

I'm becoming increasingly interested in looking into one of these amps so does anyone have any experience in using one?

Thanks all
Yes, as Stu said very very good with the right speakers, i've heard a Mastersound 845 with Art Deco 20's, jawdropping. :cool:

If i am right in that you plan to use them with your new Heresies, it would be interesting to say the least,
going by memory how the Klipsch Heresies sound, they are not exactly shy in their presentation,
if you like Lady Day's dragon chased breath right up at your lap say, then fine, if it were me i'd stick with the Oto's,
but i've never heard an Audionote amp so my comment don't apply really, try it and keep us posted.

[Jonboy]

Yes,with the right speakers very good.


What he said, mine sounded strained through my Tannoys but ok through Snells

[synsei]

Bev, please forgive me for saying this but I am concerned. You have had some fabulous equipment pass through your hands in the short time you have been with us and I worry that you might be chasing rainbows. A blunt question, are you happy with the sound of your system? Are the wonderful components you have gelling? Again, forgive me for asking but it sounds as if you are not entirely happy with what you are hearing :eyebrows:

[Ninanina]

Bev, please forgive me for saying this but I am concerned. You have had some fabulous equipment pass through your hands in the short time you have been with us and I worry that you might be chasing rainbows. A blunt question, are you happy with the sound of your system? Are the wonderful components you have gelling? Again, forgive me for asking but it sounds as if you are not entirely happy with what you are hearing :eyebrows:

Dave you may well be right in saying I'm chasing rainbows. I've not had that much new equipment since joining AoS, I can only think of a pair of Audio Note speakers being added to my system and they just didn't like my room. I can't think of anything else I've changed apart from my very recent Klipsch

I was using an amp that I liked when I joined but as you are aware I have no desire to carry on using it

I am not unhappy with my current set up but I'm always fascinated to try new things. I call it madness :mental:

[synsei]

Dave you may well be right in saying I'm chasing rainbows. I've not had that much new equipment since joining AoS, I can only think of a pair of Audio Note speakers being added to my system and they just didn't like my room. I can't think of anything else I've changed apart from my very recent Klipsch

I was using an amp that I liked when I joined but as you are aware I have no desire to carry on using it

I am not unhappy with my current set up but I'm always fascinated to try new things. I call it madness :mental:

I can identify with that :lol:

[daytona600]

my fav looking 845 amp , 845 have nasty insides not ROHS ( restriction of hazardous substances ) strontium barium all sorts
they do give off a nice glow

[sjs]

I have a pair of Cary 805c monos which have SE 845 output driven by 300b. Nice.

It isnt really relevant to try to asign a particular sound to a specific valve as there are so many variables which make up the whole. Only if you have two amps from the same designer can you really compare and contrast reliably. With the Carys I can switch between 845 & 211 and in comparison the 845 sounds a little bigger warmer and easier, whilst the 211 sounds little more detailed and crisper.

Ymmv :) best of luck

[walpurgis]

I'd be looking at 2A3 amps with sensitive speakers myself. Even sweeter than 300B's!

[Jonboy]

I'd be looking at 2A3 amps with sensitive speakers myself. Even sweeter than 300B's!

certainly are

[Ali Tait]

Yes, been there with 845's. A nice valve indeed, only caveat is they are not so easy to drive, so need a good circuit and high quality iron, which is not cheap IMHO. Same caveats as with 300b really. I've yet to hear a commercial design of either that can show what these valves are truly capable of. 211 is a wonderful valve done right, and easier to drive. Having heard NOS valves of these types, the problem is, as far as I've heard up to now, none of the new production valves can hold a candle to NOS, which is a very expensive prospect if you want the best.

If you must go down this route, I'd recommend what used to be called Mr Liang, a Chinese company that used to sell a very good 845 amp for silly money, I bought one a good few years ago when they used to sell on the bay for around £500. The one I had walked all over a Unison Research 845 which retailed at around 4k I believe.

They no longer sell on ebay, but AFAIK it is still possible to import one directly from them for about £800 or so, an incredible bargain given the SQ on offer IMHO. I can't lay my hands on the details at the moment, but I can get them tomorrow if you are interested.

[Ninanina]

Hi Ali
I would be very interested in the 845 details if you can find them

Thanks
Bev :)

[Ninanina]

Would this be the link?

http://www.lsyx.com/en/productlist.asp

[Frankyc2003]

Having used 845 in a single ended amp for nearly 2 years now, I can only say they are just wonderful and powerful IMHO. An Iron Fist in a velvet glove.

One thing which is essential though as mentioned above is the quality of the circuit. Also the output transformers quality will either release wonderfully clean and punchy bass or restrain its depth and definition. So something to look at in detail...

I can only dream to use some NOS valves one day, but at the moment I have a set of Psvane and they are good. Better than Shuguang IMHO.

I can say that they work wonder with Horns too!

http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/zz275/frankyc2003/20130415_230117_zpsd678ae21.jpg (http://s835.photobucket.com/user/frankyc2003/media/20130415_230117_zpsd678ae21.jpg.html)

[Ninanina]

Hi Francois
Are you using horn speakers?

I have a pair of Klipsch Heresys so I guess they will work well with these

[Spectral Morn]

Hello Bev hows about having a look at one of these.....

http://www.almarro.com/pix/products/p2+.jpg

The Almarro A318A

single-ended triode integrated amplifier
Class of operation: class A, zero feedback, cathode-coupled
Tube complement: 2x6C33C, 1x6SL7, 1x6SN7
Connections: 3 RCA inputs, 4/8-ohm outputs
Frequency response:
Output power: 18wpc
Power consumption: 260w
Dimensions: 14" W x 7.2" H x 13.2" D
Weight: 43 lb
Available finishes: black casework; Cherry, White Ash or flat black wood frame

Almarro are distributed in the UK by Angelsound Audio http://www.angelsoundaudio.co.uk/ give Keith a call, he's a nice bloke.

Not an 845 amp, but the 6c33c valve has many of the qualities of the 845 keeping the purity and drive of the 845 but with a wee bit more balls than an 845 in my listening opinion.

Of course its worth saying no matter how good something looks like on paper or how often/well something is recommended don't buy anything without hearing it in your system first, as your set up, music, room, ears and likes dislikes might mean it isn't right for you, even though it was for others.



Regards Neil

[Frankyc2003]

Hi Francois
Are you using horn speakers?

I have a pair of Klipsch Heresys so I guess they will work well with these
Yes, I have bought Puffin (rob) homemade Fostex 206 based horns...
And after having added supertweeter, I am very, very happy with the result.
Before I used Triangle Antals, which were very good too, but in a totally different way, if that makes any sense...

[Ninanina]

I once had some Fostex 206's in a homemade pair of 6' voigt pipes... great fun :eek:

[Ali Tait]

Would this be the link?

http://www.lsyx.com/en/productlist.asp

Yes that's them. Just contact them direct.

[Ninanina]

Has anyone compared a good 300b, 845 & a 2A3 amp? if so which is the most musical and which is the sweetest valve?

[Ali Tait]

Yes, I heard several of each in the past. Your question is impossible to answer,as each amp has a different circuit, components and output trannies.

[Ali Tait]

Though if I was forced to choose the sweetest, it would be the 2a3.

[wiicrackpot]

Though if I was forced to choose the sweetest, it would be the 2a3.
Any views on the type 45?, some say they better both the 300b and 2a3,
i know trannies and circuits come into it but just want to gather thoughts on their inherent sound.

[Ali Tait]

45's are lovely, one of my favourite valves.

[Ninanina]

I've got my eye on a 300b amp at the moment, Chinese based but equivalent to a UK model

Seems a bargain

I am unable to try any tube amps at home as there is nowhere local that stocks tube amps only boring old Naim etc

[chelsea]

Why not have a bake off.

[wiicrackpot]

I've got my eye on a 300b amp at the moment, Chinese based but equivalent to a UK model

Seems a bargain
Do you know of a tube guru near you?, think i read somewhere (wigwam i think) a while ago that some Chinese made valve amps are unsafe for British mains,
once checked and modded, suppose to sound good.

[Ali Tait]

The Liang is fine on UK mains.

[Spectral Morn]

Bev you won't like me saying this again but I feel I should. I would be very careful where and how you spend your money because without hearing the item in your system first - before buying - you are taking a huge risk that it may not suit your set up or what you like or don't like re sound.

Any good dealer will be happy to do home loans and let you hear stuff in your system. You pay for it (after a while some dealers only charge for the carriage once they get to know you) and get a refund less carriage charges if you don't like it - yes a bit of hassle but better than buying a pig in a poke.

If you ignore this suggestion and part with cash for it, yes if you don't like it you can always sell it on - at a loss - but if its some no reputation item from China or elsewhere, selling it on could be very difficult plus there are issues with many items coming out of China that have nominally been designed with UK voltages in mind but in reality can't cope with them and might be better with lower European voltages. These products go faulty and sometimes spectacularly so.

Caveat Emptor


Regards Neil

[Ali Tait]

The next Owston diy meet is coming up 15-16 June, held near Doncaster. A good opportunity to hear lots of different valves.

[realysm42]

I got my 5687 and ef86 valves delivered the other day, first time I've ever owned them!

Nothing to plug them into yet but I was excited like a kid :eek:

[daytona600]

Has anyone compared a good 300b, 845 & a 2A3 amp? if so which is the most musical and which is the sweetest valve?

have 300b 845 & 2a3c myself all are great Bev , current fav one at present is a 6c33c OTL SET 2 box integrated amp at present even has remote control for volume + source + mute