|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
73.34.149.187
In Reply to: RE: Ayon Audio posted by dandaroy on May 18, 2021 at 21:00:15
I contacted USA tube audio about the brand and he went on a sales pitch on how the EL34 is worse than the KT88 which is vested by KT150. That UL is shit, class A in Ayon Audio is the best, that I will get a minimum 50% performance compared to my current amp. Maybe he is correct, but sounded like a user car salesman also Kevin Deal.
-------
I. Dandaroy
Follow Ups:
If you can I would look into Single Ended tube amplifiers and speakers that can be driven off of those amplifiers.
For every person I have met that says KT88 sounds better - 3 others prefer EL34. IME I find most of the KT88 amps sound pretty much the same and they all sound like SS amplifiers. And then I ask myself why in the hell would I put up with tube ownership to buy an amplifier that sounds worse than a Sugden A21a or Pureaudio One - both class A SS and sounds better than any KT88 I have heard. The best KT88 I have auditioned was here in Hong Kong from a company called Sound Master (not to be confused with the Master Sound). It's the only KT88 that I have ever heard that tempted me to buy one. (photo above) and part of that was because the price was very reasonable. One note: It was using rather pricey grey Bottles from PsVane.
El34 tube amps can sound hugely bloated or mushy. The TUBEEEY experience but they can also sound lean thin and etchy like SS. So they run a wider gambit of sound reproduction IME. Listen to a tubeeeeeey one and it can be off putting - on the other hand some people like the tubeeey sound because that's why you get a tube amp!
SET sounds much better but the good ones cost a lot of money so IME the best way to get as close to a SET amp on a budget is the EL84 tube. The best thing about these amps is A) they tend to be much cheaper amps, the tubes last 4 times longer, they generate less heat so will likely not cook other components, the tubes themselves tend to also be a lot cheaper as well.
But you lose a fair chunk of power. But every El84 I have auditioned has sounded quite good - cheapies like My KinkGo, or Synthesis Audio's entry-level Soprano - the Manley Mahi - my OTO Phono SE which I have had for the last 17 years. Their new Signature Edition is also very good but $$. There are a few others here in china from Spark that also sound good.
They always sound nice - warm but extended give a bit of tubeeyness which is the point of tube amps but not boomy or bloomy like the PP amps. Worth a try. Any of them really.
.
-------
I. Dandaroy
There are like the one mentioned below but usually they are 12 watts or less.
With remotes, I tend to use them less so don't miss them. I have to get up to change the record or CD so while up I can make the volume adjustment.
With computer audio, I have my mouse and can adjust the volume in the program (Foobar 2000 has a volume slider) so I set the preamp volume control higher and then can adjust in the program.
The new Audio Note Cobra is 28 watts has a remote and an on-board Non-Oversampling DAC that runs $4,200 US - but is EL34. They do list it at the same quality level as their EL84. It sounded really nice but I have only heard it a little bit and only on LS 3/5a speakers (albeit it was the best I have heard from an LS-3/5a). Might be worth a look. It won integrated amplifier of the year in Hi-Fi Review for 2020. But it looks matter that Ayon looks cool while the Cobra looks pedestrian.
But Ayon is a respected brand and if you have your heart set on one get one. Still if the "where are the parts made" thing bothers you the Cobra parts are made in-house - they make their own triple C Core transformers for the Cobra along with their usual other in-house-made parts.
Still not a bad one to add to the competition list.
Here You go:
American made, nice company.
I don't get it. A remote is must for me.
-------
I. Dandaroy
One of the best amps I've heard. I wish it had a little more power; 32W in ultra linear. Really nice remote and tons of features.
FAQ |
Post a Message! |
Forgot Password? |
|
||||||||||||||
|
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors: