Thank you. I need a few days i think to get through my typical test songs on Spotify and Qobuz then some good tracks on stored media such as Mr. Davis etc.
It is a different sound vs last few amps i have had such a Quicksliver (and any other tube), Michi, Pass etc. So far very positive but only like 90 minutes in. I need more ear time.
Also if I go pre i have to be very careful as i dont want to flavor this much if at all. Just a good line stage or nothing at all.
Check out Hattor Audio.
I have one of their active/passive preamplifiers and it is a real neat piece of kit which does exactly what it promises.
They offer all kinds of configurations from active to passive to active with tubes (w/ SE and/or XLR inputs and outputs).
Cheers.
Will do sir. Thank you.
Also look at the W4S STP-SE Stage 2 or even the Holo Serene KTE.
The amp definitely sounds different than any other i have had. So i cant compare it to anything really. Without getting deep in the audiophile weeds , i can say this…
A very deep and centered sound stage. Sounds like the music comes from well back of the speakers. Very quiet amp. The music comes out of the black and kinda evelopes you. Great detail but far from in your face. Very easy to listen to at high levels. Low level is good but previous amps woth Cornwall 4s was better at low level.
My dang Rose pre is doing too good a job. Trying a few pre amps, the last being an older Modwright and it does not help. In fact everything sounds better with just Rose to amp.
Hate to go the DAC with voulme route but you would think a high quality pre or DAC can add value to the system.
I see some great stuff out there. Ill keep poking around. Eventually go usb out of Rose to dac then pre. Think id rather do that then try a 1 box Bartok solution. I did see a used Grimm as well. Ill keep plugging along…
Curious where you have the gain selection set, if not at max (29db, if I recall) maybe try bumping it up for “quiet” listening sessions
Can you remind us of your speakers?
Best,
-JP
Great thought! I was actually thinking of trying it at -3 db but its blissfully quiet now. I have it at Max. I am going to change my source next time on a early morning. I think what i was missing may of been the result of Spotify. This amp may bring out a poor source material better than my last set up.
My speakers are Moabs. The rate at like 98 db or something nuts. They dont play that efficiently however. Or at least per my experience they needed a significant uptick in volume/power to drive them vs Cornwall IVs.
Update…
Grabbed a Ayre K5xe. I have had Ayre products before (anyone else?). And im lucky as i have good personal connection there and like PS Audio, YG, Boulder etc., they are right down the street.
With that in mind i looked for the best well treated example i could find. I found a mint one owner been sitting on the same shelf forever example.
I can upgrade to MP version for a reasonable amount if this turns out to be the end game solution.
My only other thought is not going pre at all but dcs Lina or similar. Thats a big deal.
Had an an extended in home audition of an Ayre cd player many years ago. It failed with flying colors up against my Wadia 861se at that time. No more Ayre time for me…
It only takes once. I have had spectacular fails with Primaluna and Peachtree. Never went back.
I tried a Modwright, it was terrible on my system (tubes?) Now i see the exact unit on TMR.
Im not to worried about an Ayre pre. The amp i had was great. But hard to tell. I whittled it down to Ayre and Pass. Guess ill know soon enough.
Carl is a great guy. He used to work with John Barnes at Audio Unlimited.
Never trust an amp that weighs less than 400 pounds.
I’m new here… Been through a bit of gear, my audio mentor Edward has been through 50 years worth, his house looks like a high end HiFi shop, and he has owned a lot of PSA gear. He was a regular at Axpona for years, many many years. He is a walking encyclopedia and has introduced me to some interesting folks. Just a cool laid back gentleman. I am sure some of you know him, Detroit area…
We are both using some gear out of China, It has that Mark Levinson look to it, and according to my buddy, it has that same sound and detail. His words, not mine, that is his playground. I would look at the ToneWinner AD-1PA+ Amp and the matching AD-1PRE+ DAC/Preamp. They come in either Black and Silver or all Black.
I kick myself now, we both do, as we went with their AD-2PRO+ integrated vs the standalone amp, $1900 delivered. Then, we both picked up their AD-1PRE+ DAC/Preamp, me for the extra connections it offered, and my buddy to put into his basement system. Both of us swear there is some sort of DSP internally in these integrated amps and the standalone preamps due to the 3D holographic and detail. The DAC section is nothing short of outstanding. My buddy jokes that Mr Levinson should be nervous. The integrated already replaced my Gaincell, which replaced my Venus II 12th, and I have the DirectStream MKI arriving in a few hours for a little DAC shootout.
The amplifier is solid, it is Class A, up to 100w, then a hybrid Class A, A/B, or a Class A/B up to 300w @ 8 Ohms. You can also run two sets of speakers, like the vintage gear, it has speaker A and speaker B selections, or you can run simultaneously. I run my Zu DW6 Supremes and Maggie LRS+ like this, and the sound is incredible. I know, I am not supposed to do that… 
The amp does not even get warm.
I cannot get over how well these two speaker brands blend together like they do, they have that synergy. And no, they are not volume matched, the Zu’s are dominate, but the Maggies have that bit of midrange fill and top end that simply takes the sound to the next level. This is such a cool and incredibly sounding amplifier… Go read the reviews on this little known amp, there are a few on YT too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4j9MZfci8c&t=13s
We bought ours from Aamir through Summit HiFi, I get nothing, I do not work for or have any affiliation with anyone in the audio game. Aamir simply gave us a little smoking hot mini group buy. Here is the link to the amplifier, and they are available in all black too… AD-1 PA+ - 2 CH Amp Pure Class "A" 100 Watts & A/B 300w (8Ω） – SUMMITHIFI-USA
So just an update for anyone following.
I received my Ayre pre today. I highly recommend the seller “Passlabs” on Audio Mart. Super guy, great inventory. He is out of Mesa AZ.
The K5xe was bought new, placed on a rack and sat there till sadly, became part of an estate sale. Was the perfect addition to my system and looks and sounds new.
Next…
But great relief.!
My guess is that’s Mark Sammut from the old Reno HiFi. Reno relocated to that area in AZ a short time before Mark closed up shop.
If it is, he now goes by the name “Dana”
I just traded some emails with Mark. That’s not him.
Not a knock on your choice but that’s exactly why I sold my Rossini APEX.
Too many choices and no good way to keep track of which one does what especially when trying to use my very faulty short term memory.
I cant argue that point. There are also upsample settings etc. Hard for me to fathom the best series of selections. However there is some fun in and I really like the varible/fixed option with adjustable output voltage.
And furthermore! Thats a main reason i like this forum. Folks will chip in and at least try and help you. A dealer typically will not spend that sort of time with you. TMR is sick of me as i ask too many questions. These days sales equals point and click
No worries at all and glad to help in any way possible. As is everyone else in this group.
If I was still in my 50’s I could keep up with all of it and would have a spreadsheet with the track and it’s best settings for the next time.
Now that I’m almost 70 all I want to do is listen to the music without having to worry or think about if the right settings have been applied for the track or source being played.
My DAC doesn’t have any settings except source input and a volume control. And it plays all music really, really well.
It doesn’t even have a video based display. Still LCD style 8 segment digits from the '80’s. But that doesn’t matter either as I always have it switched off.
The main thing is to enjoy the music. 