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Anyone have experience with Maverick Audio "TubeMagic A1" hybrid integrated amp?

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Posted on June 26, 2012 at 23:46:15
willkayakforfood
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Posts: 1010
Joined: November 30, 2010
Contributor
  Since:
December 24, 2011
Now that I've given up on keeping my laptop speaker system portable, I'm considering the idea of giving the wonderful sounding Bifrost DAC an even nicer amplification partner than the current Dayton DTA-100A Tripath amp (primarily chosen for its tiny size, decent wpc, and convenient features).

Honestly, the little Dayton is surprisingly non-irritating, though now that "portable" size is no longer as pressing an issue, I just can't help but wonder what a hybrid tube/ss integrated amp might be able to accomplish along with the already wonderful Bifrost DAC. While trying still to keep the budget pretty low, I've stumbled upon Maverick Audio's "TubeMagic A1":

Maverick Audio TubeMagic A1

I have read some early discussion and reviews--from around the time of the A1's initial release (sometime in 2010)--and while a few "kinks" were discussed at that point (especially concerning inconsistent chassis quality/fit, and the occasional unit with other "minor" faults), I expect that by now, those minor issues should be well sorted.

So then - the sound...

Anyone here with some TubeMagic A1 experience care to offer their opinions?

Finally, here's how I would plan to use it:

As the amplifier for my laptop's 2.1 speaker system (driving 86dB "inefficient" NHT Super Zeros), running speaker level cables to the HSU STF-1 powered subwoofer, and as a "desktop" headphone amp. I'll be running a digital USB cable from the computer to the Schiit Bifrost DAC, and good quality stereo RCA ICs from the DAC to the amp. You can see my current computer speaker system listed in my profile. The idea here is to simply replace the Dayton integrated amp with something else - like the TubeMagic A1.

Thanks for any opinions you may feel compelled to offer!

 

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RE: Anyone have experience with Maverick Audio "TubeMagic A1" hybrid integrated amp?, posted on June 27, 2012 at 03:18:31
Disbeliever
Audiophile

Posts: 1877
Joined: June 1, 2012
My experience with antique tubes tells me to stay well clear of them. I like antiques but not antique tubes.

 

RE: Anyone have experience with Maverick Audio "TubeMagic A1" hybrid integrated amp?, posted on June 27, 2012 at 04:09:12
Yup, old tubes sound terrible and are nothing but trouble. Send them to me for disposal. Especially 75 year old engraved base RCA Cunningham UX-45s.









My only question about this amp is, "if you send off the $199, do you get something in return?" It's not a scam? Sounds too good to be true. The casework and parts are worth that much and the headphone circuit is pure tube. I may quit building ;-}



 

RE: Anyone have experience with Maverick Audio "TubeMagic A1" hybrid integrated amp?, posted on June 27, 2012 at 05:59:52
Disbeliever
Audiophile

Posts: 1877
Joined: June 1, 2012
How much are you paying for these junk valves/tubes ? They may not sound terrible but no way can they faithfully reproduce an accurate reproduction of the original signal.

 

RE: Anyone have experience with Maverick Audio "TubeMagic A1" hybrid integrated amp?, posted on June 27, 2012 at 09:36:51
Mechans
Audiophile

Posts: 1804
Location: East Coast
Joined: May 23, 2004
It sounded like using the old tubes was an option not a requirement. And if you run into any of those nasty old EL-34s 6SN7s 12AX7 300bs, 12AU7s, etc. please send them to me to ensure they are appropriately handled.

 

RE: Hello, Kayak, posted on June 28, 2012 at 17:41:50
What did you decide to do about this amp? If you get one, will you post? I'm interested, too. Sorry about the spitting contest!

 

I probably will be trying one - just not this week. Perhaps in a couple of weeks..., posted on June 28, 2012 at 18:55:48
willkayakforfood
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Posts: 1010
Joined: November 30, 2010
Contributor
  Since:
December 24, 2011
Since I have little chance of hearing--in advance--much of the gear I'm purchasing as I continue to refine the computer's sound system, as the bits and pieces trickle in, I kind of like to concentrate on one thing at a time (Ha! - easier said than done! ;)).

Last week, the first of two DAC/headphone amps arrived (Audioengine D1), and today, the second arrived (HiFiMan EF2A), so I've "got my ears full" for the moment. The HiFiMan's stock tubes are just now starting their "burn in" period, and will probably be "warming up" just in time to be replaced by the NOS Raytheon 6AK5 tubes that seem universally preferred/recommended as replacements for the stock Chinese 6J1 tubes. The Raytheon tubes should arrive in just over a week - or so.

While I'm busy sorting out the headphone part of this system, I've also just ordered another pair of satellite speakers to see if there's any reason to use them instead of the current NHT Super Zeros (I've ordered a pair of NA-208S speakers from Napa Acoustic).

I am still very curious about the Maverick TubeMagic A1, so I'm guessing that within the next week or three, I'll be ordering one. I'll certainly post my impressions.

 

My TubeMagic A1 arrived yesterday..., posted on July 10, 2012 at 18:14:12
willkayakforfood
Audiophile

Posts: 1010
Joined: November 30, 2010
Contributor
  Since:
December 24, 2011
Just a little while ago, I posted a message on the computer audio forum, with a bit more detail on the TubeMagic A1 performance (preliminary impressions only, as tubes haven't had much of a chance to burn in yet):

My computer's new audio system

You'll see in that post that I mentioned some humming issues, which may, according to my best wild guess, have something to do with "noisy tubes". I've written to Maverick Audio, and hopefully, we can sort out this issue.

In general though, I'm favorably impressed by the sound of this inexpensive tube/SS hybrid "miniature" integrated amp. The post I mentioned above has the rest of the system listed, so you can see which components are currently working with my TubeMagic A1.

Perhaps I'll return and offer more "musical" impressions after several days of tube burn-in...

 

RE: My TubeMagic A1 arrived yesterday..., posted on July 10, 2012 at 21:03:34
Posts: 319
Location: NYC
Joined: August 8, 2007
I just saw this thread, and so am late to the party. Both the Maverick D1 DAC and A1 amplifier were heavily discussed in the Cheap & Cheerful Circle on Audiocircle, especially the D1 DAC which ran for 20+ pages. Since you just bought the A1 and if you still want some listening impressions from other users, here's a link: http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=85615.0 My impressions of the A1 is the longest on the thread.

 

Thanks. Read your post there as well. Some comments..., posted on July 11, 2012 at 00:23:25
willkayakforfood
Audiophile

Posts: 1010
Joined: November 30, 2010
Contributor
  Since:
December 24, 2011
You mentioned a couple things that make me wonder if our experiences are a bit different because our associated DACs and speakers are different?

The DAC I've been using is a Schiit Bifrost (it's going to the Dr. tomorrow), and I've been using a 2.1 speaker system (Napa Acoustic NA-208S monitors, and HSU Research STF-1 subwoofer). I'm also using NOS Raytheon 6AK5 tubes rather than the Chinese 6J1 tubes that usually come as stock with the A1. With my particular combination of DAC and speakers, I'm not feeling any particular "attenuation" of either the bass or treble ends of the frequency spectrum (haven't tried any big organ music yet, so there may indeed be something missing below 20Hz, but this HSU sub won't go that low, even if any amp wanted to--and could--go there! :)).

You also wrote:

"Note decay and attack also seem to be a little abrupt or rounded off, though not to the point where it didn't sound musical."

I wonder (honestly, I don't know), but might this be more the responsibility of the DAC (analog source) rather than the integrated amp?

In any event, after tonight's events, resulting in my Bifrost having to go to hospital, after I changed the power cord, the TubeMagic A1 seems to be working just fine (no humming this time around either).

Since I had to disconnect the Bifrost, I'm now using my Audioengine D1's DAC and analog outputs to feed the TubeMagic A1. It doesn't sound quite as nice as the Bifrost/A1 combination, but it's still considerably better than using the computer's DAC and analog output. I can live with it for a few days as the Bifrost gets fixed up.

For my purposes (near field 2.1 "desktop" speaker system), this TubeMagic A1 seems to have plenty of power in those 20 wpc, and quite a pleasant sound when paired with a decent DAC and good speakers. I do like it better than the Dayton DTA-100A Tripath amp it just replaced (which had 50 wpc), and wasn't really so horrendous either.

 

RE: Thanks. Read your post there as well. Some comments..., posted on July 11, 2012 at 14:37:44
Posts: 319
Location: NYC
Joined: August 8, 2007
Hi Kayak,

My listening comparison was based on the Maverick D1 DAC as the common denominator among the modified Jolida integrated, Virtue M451 Sensation integrated and the Maverick A1 integrated. The treble and bass attenuation only occurred with the Maverick, not with the other two integrated amps. The same for the slight problem with note attack and decay, which occurred only with the Maverick. One additonal problem with the Maverick A1 is the lack of bass impact, compared to the other amps.

There has been a lot of conflicting opinions on the bifrost, unlike the near universal acceptance of the Hsu subwoofer as an excellent valued product. I've heard the Napa speakers at several shows in all Napa systems and they sounded okay for the money. Since the bifrost seems to sound good with the other components on your computer system, that's all that matters.

 

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