Graaf Graafiti 5050 power amp - any opinions?

[jandl100]

I'm thinking of trying one with my new MBL speakers, which are a 83dB/W and a 4 ohm load (actually, looking at the impedance curve from a review of a previous version, the impedance drops to 4 ohms only at high freqs, the rest of the time it is between 6 and 8 ohms).

http://www.graaf.it/5050eng.htm

Any opinions of said amp, and suggestions for a sensible price for a 5 year old example from a dealer giving 3 months warranty?

As I am buying 'by phone', distance selling laws should apply so I can return it for a refund if it doesn't suit.

[John]

Only heard one once on some Avalons and sounded good but I also consider the SAC Glowmaster its really good value and will really grips well

[jandl100]

Only heard one once on some Avalons and sounded good but I also consider the SAC Glowmaster its really good value and will really grips well

Thanks John - a quick perusal of t'internet suggests that the SAC Glowmaster KT88 jobbie costs £3.5k and is unlikely to be available used ...? That's beyond what I want to spend.

I can get the Graaf for circa £1.3k, I think.

[John]

Nope costs £2000 I think new and they might have a demo one spare
Speak to Gary at
http://www.acousticperfection.co.uk/tubeamps.htm
but the Graff at that price will be a good deal just think the SAC will have tighter grip

[jandl100]

Ah - OK, I was looking at their monoblocks! The stereo model is £1.7k for 65wpc - not bad! I've sent them a msg to see if they have a demo model I can try. :)

[hifinutt]

am i right in thinking graaf have gone bust? so might not be a good idea ?

http://www.hifiwigwam.com/view_topic.php?id=55524&forum_id=1

[John]

thankfully we have a great repair.amp builder in Anthony TD here

[DSJR]

I think this is old news now, but Graaf amps never sounded "valvey." In fact Jerry, I suspect the stark, lean toned clarity of the 5050 may just make your capable AVI amp sound smooth, if a little bland perhaps (?)

[jandl100]

I used to have a WFB2 Graaf valve pre - a more traditionally 'valve sound' I cannot imagine - soft and warm and cuddly and oh so "musical"!

I've been told that Graaf have been bought up by Audio Analogue, another Italian firm.

[Mr. C]

Graaf are going direct via a few dealers in UK so I would expect you will see them emerge in the not too distant furture

[hifinutt]

"As I am buying 'by phone', distance selling laws should apply so I can return it for a refund if it doesn't suit. "

jerry are you really allowed to do that?
surely you can only return if its faulty not if it doesn`t gel ok. ?

[jandl100]

"As I am buying 'by phone', distance selling laws should apply so I can return it for a refund if it doesn't suit. "

jerry are you really allowed to do that?
surely you can only return if its faulty not if it doesn`t gel ok. ?

http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?r.s=sc&r.l1=1073861169&r.lc=en&r.l3=1074033669&r.l2=1079589261&type=RESOURCES&itemId=1073792577

"When selling to consumers by mail order, phone, fax, internet or digital TV you must give them a cooling-off period during which they have an unconditional right to cancel the contract."

:)

_________________

Sadly, I won't be getting the Graaf amp until next week at the earliest. KJ aren't managing to get together the current owner to collectthe amp. :(

[jandl100]

Well, the Graaf 5050 has finally arrived!

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii114/jandl100/Graaf5050.jpg

What a fab amp it is. It holds my MBL speakers in a vice like grip with seemingly limitless power.

Fast, dynamic, taut, vibrant, fast, spacious, detailed, fast, superb soundstage/imaging .... oh, and did I mention that it was fast? :eyebrows:

A stonkingly good amp, and an excellent match for my tastes and system.

It came with Svetlana "winged C" 6550 power tubes, which if t'interweb is to be believed are pretty good. And some grotty EH ecc88 input tubes. I replaced the latter pronto with some Tesla pcc88 and the sound overcame its initial closed-in feel, as expected.
I also now have some Amperex ecc88 on order and a friend is loaning me some Siemens ecc88 to try.
I thought I had some Telefunken pcc88 toobs around, but I can't find the damn things. :scratch:

There may be a touch of 'steel' in the upper freqs to the sound, but it's OK and I'm pretty confident I can sort this with a bit of tube rolling. :)

[John]

Great to hear it workd eith those speakers

[darkstar078]

I like Graaf amps too, have listen to them a couple times and they definitely bring the valve goods in spades IMO.
Don't be fooled, Graaf is Italian and they know their way in the valve world and so do they with loudspeakers, think Diapason Adamantes and alike.
Not only gorgeous but with an unpretentious quality-sound I very like.
Enjoy Jerry. I know for sure you made a good choice! ;)

[Marco]

Hi Darkstar,

What's your first name and where are you from, my friend? :)

Marco.

[Stratmangler]

Hi Darkstar,

What's your first name and where are you from, my friend? :)

Marco.

http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?p=79889#post79889

[Marco]

Cheers, Chris. So his name's Sasha - cool. We still need a location, though :)

Marco.