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Amp/Preamp Asylum: REVIEW: Red Wine Audio Clari-T-Amp Amplifier (SS) by rrgordon

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REVIEW: Red Wine Audio Clari-T-Amp Amplifier (SS)

148.87.1.171


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Model: Clari-T-Amp
Category: Amplifier (SS)
Suggested Retail Price: $499
Description: Tripath Battery Powered Audiophile Amplifier
Manufacturer URL: Red Wine Audio
Manufacturer URL: Red Wine Audio

Review by rrgordon ( A ) on March 27, 2006 at 21:22:11
IP Address: 148.87.1.171
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Let me start by saying that I have not listened to the Clari-T with a variety of speakers (though I have friends with high-efficiency speakers who are eager to get their hands on this amp)--only my own. That is an important qualification because to play with the little Red Wine Audio Clari-T requires 94db Sens. and higher speakers. Mine are 4 ohm rated, so high impedance doesn't seem to be a requirement (as is typical for SET amps).

I see that this will be the first review for the Clari-T on AA. There is an old not so favorable review I believe I read on 6moons audio, but for the life of me I can't imagine what was going on with that review. In my case, the Clari-T at 10 watts per channel has been an absolute joy to use and listen through. It is a real find for those of us who favor high-efficiency speakers and have found in the past that the much favored SET amps to be too noisey, too prone to RFI, too costly to maintain, and just plain a bother. I know because over the years I had collected three gorgeous sounding SETs (300B, 2A3, and 6C33 power tubes). Now imagine this--the Clari-T amp costs less than a single good 300B tube! It produces no heat, takes floor space equivalent to one CD case, and in fact weighs less than a couple of pounds. How could it sound any good?

Well the answer is that Red Wine Audio has done a marvelous job of taking the Tripath amplifier chip board to another level and (big secret now) powered the Tripath with a rechargeable 12 Volt Sealed Lead Acid battery power supply (concealed within the amp). Imagine that -- an amp that competes with SET amps, and doesn't need to be protected from the evils of power line. You won't need to plug this amp into a line conditioner and you don't even need a power cord for that matter. Getting interesting?

This January, I became very motivated to look into a very quiet amp. I talked to Vinnie Rossi about his amp and for about a quarter of the price of the Clari-T I decided to order the Sonic Impact Super-T amp. I wanted to see what the fuss was about after reading all the great things people had said. After the Sonic Impact arrived, it was just good enough to pique my interest. I took the plunge and ordered (for audition) the Clari-T, this time from Red Wine Audio. By the end of February, both amps were in my system, together with thousands of dollars worth of SET amps.

Would I sell my SET amps, return the Clari-T, and be happy with the Sonic Impact? Well, yes, no, and no.

Now that I have owned the Clari-T for a month and listened extensively to it, I can tell you it is a keeper. I thought maybe I would find a reason to dislike it and waited to post this review. In all this time, I haven't found even one thing I can really say is a problem, the amp is that good. First, let me tell you how 3 dimensional the soundstage is. I really wasn't expecting this. There is real depth and width. The speakers disappear and the illusion of recreated space is complete. That's up there with my best SET amp. The midrange is warm, inviting, textured and tonally correct. Not quite like the reach-out-and-touch it palpability of good SET amps, but the Clari-T's coherence and detail more than make up for the loss of suaveness (suavity?). The detail is as you would expect superb with the dead quiet power supply. This is not to be overemphasized. With high-efficiency speakers, your ears are in for a treat listening to a black background, low noise floor and the minutess details revealed. Overall top to bottom coherence is really quite excellent and imo in a different league than the Sonic Impact Super-T amp, which I found to sound flawed, as if various frequency bands were stitched from different sonic cloths. Listening though the Clari-T amp, I don't want to pick apart the soundstage because everything blends seamlessly. All frequencies (except the lowest bass) have amazing tonality, you hear the color of the full orchestra, like a palette before you rather than having an unwelcome coloration imposed over the instruments. Now imagine all of that on female vocals: low noise (no noise), detailed, coherent, tonally nuanced, spacious, and you get music you can listen to all day without fatigue.

Ok, maybe the amp's natural warmth is a type of coloration (which somehow doesn't detract from the orchestral sound I mentioned). For example, really, really good SETs lack this. But it is similar in nature to the type you get from the wonderful 300B, imo, the easiest to listen to tube. Also, probably a lack of low bass though I really couldn't judge with my speakers. The bass I do hear is taut and tuneful.

In short this amp will be the one I go forward with. I will never again use an amp that draws wall current. In fact, I've even said goodbye permanently to my three beloved tube amps. Going forward, I won't miss them at all. I'm SET on the nonSET Clari-T amp. One music lover's opinion perhaps.


Product Weakness: Battery life will be limited if used inconsistently.
Product Strengths: Compatibility with high-efficiency speakers: quiet, detailed, spacious, with excellent tonal qualities


Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: Red Wine Audio Clari-T 10 watts
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): InnerSound iPre
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Olive Musica music server
Speakers: Dantax Albatross 2
Cables/Interconnects: Synergistic Res Ref, Audience AU24
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Aerial (Kate Bush), My Life (Grace Griffith), various
Time Period/Length of Audition: one month
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Isolation transformer
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner




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Topic - REVIEW: Red Wine Audio Clari-T-Amp Amplifier (SS) - rrgordon 21:22:11 03/27/06 ( 3)