Decware. The Best Amp Ever? Andrew Robinson Seems To Think So

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While I subscribe to his channel, I’ve yet to see him say anything negative about anything he reviews, so I’ll take it with a hefty grain of salt.

That being said, people DO seem to love Decware gear.

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I have never experience Decware Amps; however, I must take time here to say they look beautiful to me, especially their monos.

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A lot of what he said about the sound is true. It’s the sort of thing you have to hear for yourself.

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Amen Ron, that’s really the truth, and the rub. Been using Decware pre-amplification, amplification and speakers beginning in '97.

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All of you are really not helping with my itch to try one of these.

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This is often the plight with the entire review industry. If they slam a product, manufacturers will stop sending them gear for review. To my understanding, this Decware review is not a promotional arrangement. Andrew paid and got in line with the rest of us for months prior to shipment. He absolutely does sponsored (colored) reviews, but this one seems to be out of genuine appreciation and respect.

I find Andrew walks the review line better than most. For instance, his review of Linear Tube Audio was flattering at first, but ended by essentially dissing the product. Even his wife jumped in to kick LTA to the curb. And I like his comparisons, which while not putting a product down, explains the contrasts well.

But yes, most of his reviews are very positive and I have no doubt cash has changed hands with some of them.

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Well here’s some help: there’s about a four month wait for one on average the last few years.

6+ months now!! It’s almost mid April and they just now finished all of the September 2020 orders…

Yes, but I think the waiting list is going down as he has hired more help and is running two shifts at this time. And I was talking average. . . there was a time the watiting list was two to three months, before really good reviews from Tone Audio etc.

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I wonder what the operation is like? My concept is Sarah in one room handling office stuff and Steve at his bench making literally everything.

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If you look at the site somewhere in the forum or on the site or both is a series of photos. Each component has a work station, and there are a lot more than just Steve working on the builds, I assure you. It’s a very impressive and sophisitcated set up for manufacturing, which it has to be if you are going to offer a lifetime warranty to the original purchaser (and a way to transfer it to a second hand buyer).

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At $995 for the 2.3 watt SE84UFO, there’s little reason not to try one.
I’m going to order the Anniversary model soon but I’ll never sell the SE84UFO, it’s that good.

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I never sold the 27th amp he ever built that I bought in '97 or early '98. But I confess that I have not been able to pry it from the hands of a friend I ā€œloanedā€ it to about 10 years ago!

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The EL84 and substitutes are magical tubes. My Mastersound Piccolo just came back from the amp spa with an repaired rectifier and new caps, and never sounded better. And this weekend the VTL TT-25s are due to be sparked up.

But the Decware does lead one to think - surely - these are small amps and a third EL84 platform would not be excessive, would it?

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I have been listening to Decware amplification since 2012 ( Mini Torii and now the 25th Anniversary Zen ) and in my opinion this reviewer got it 100 % correct.
Thanks
Bob

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I wasn’t slamming him as much as it probably came across. His production values are extraordinarily high and he covers a lot of gear. That’s why I subscribe.

I’d like to try the Decware stuff but all my speakers are pretty inefficient, so it’s out of my realm for now.

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This is very good. Amplifier deliveries can take upto six months these days. Last week, I cancelled an order because the manufacturer kept shifting the delivery date for a few months.

Same here, but I’m betting that the ā€˜monster’ 20w TORII Jr. I have on order will run the LS50 Metas well, despite being 85dB efficiency with minimum rec’d amp power of 40w. My understanding from folks who know more about this than me is that 20w of this topology is more like 100w in most other types of amp.

Two months to go… :grimacing:

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If you can’t (or don’t want to) wait Bottlehead makes a great integrated SET amp kit called the Stereomour II that I just built for a bedroom system. It has 3.5 watts/channel so look out! With efficient speakers (Madisound BK-16s in my case) it sounds glorious. Really loving it and the cost is similar; around $1300 with some upgrades.

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