SET Asylum: REVIEW: Welborne Laboratories 45 StarChief Amplifier (Tube) by smart845

Model:	45 StarChief
Category:	Amplifier (Tube)
Suggested Retail Price:	$1625.00 (Kit)
Description:	Direct Reactance 45 Tube Amp
Manufacturer URL:	Welborne Laboratories
Manufacturer URL:	Welborne Laboratories

Review by smart845 ( A ) on July 08, 2006 at 00:32:19
IP Address: 84.13.64.112

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for the 45 StarChief

32C outside, the strains of childrens laughter floating through the backdoor on a jasmine scented breeze. I open a bottle of Fitou, cheap but smooth and rich, poor a glass and sit back in the lounger. The heat in London has got to me. I need to cool down and unwind. I hit the play button on the remote and the voice and cool samba sounds of Stacey Kent singing So Nice blow over me like that summer breeze. The outside world is extinguished and I'm in a place where only we exist.

This is what the 45 StarChief is all about. Recreating the physical presence of a singer and band live in your room playing just for you. There is something magical about that 45 tube and particularly in this circuit called direct reactance drive that gives such a powerful you are there/ they are here presence unlike anything I've heard before. Sure I've heard 'the big rigs', from Wilson to MBL to B&W but nothing does it for me like horns and tubes.

Ron Welborne designed with Jack Eliano this circuit design and offers the 45StarChief in kit form with or without tubes or it can be assembled by Ron himself for a little extra and this is the option I went for. Not being a solder jockey myself I thought it wise to have the expert(genius) do it. While I was contemplating the purchase I also went for the silver transformer option knowing that they would take time to break in and indeed probably just keep getting better over time. This is an amp for life and I was prepared to wait however long that took to get it.

Having previously owned the DRD45 I knew what to expect. How wrong I was! The 45StarChief is far better in every way possible. This is one of the quietest tube amps I have heard in my system with no, and I mean no, noise from either of the horns of my Avantgarde Duos. There is minimal hum from the active subs with your ear a few inches away and nothing detectable from the listening position. In fact when I turned these amps on I had to check the tubes were glowing and play a CD to tell they were working as they are so quiet.

What do you get sound wise from these beautiful amps? Did I tell you they look gorgeous in their Bubunga wood chassis. You get transparency to die for with resolution of minute information in the world class league. It's true what Ron says on his website, that you do hear things you never heard before. Not only hear things but hear subtle ryhthms of say low level acoustic guitar rather than just notes. Decay of harmonics is enthralling and the interplay of notes sumptious. Vocals, my weakness in music, are scary real. Sarah Vaughan singing You are too beautiful has the presence and reality that only comes with the finest systems. She was THERE and I could feel her breath reach out to me. Joni Mitchell sang The Circle Game from Travelogue and when she comes in with that first line I'm melting, an emotional wreck to the last bar.

I can't rave much more about this amp, well I could, but for now I'll wallow in its' detail, slam (yes slam) and timing, the 45StarChief swings too! and let those who've tasted the magic of the 45 tube enjoy the ride with me.

NB. Check my system details for the finer points of the rig.

Product Weakness: Only 2Watt max power with the EML tubes so you do need Horns of some sort.
Product Strengths: Transparency, resolution, timing, presence factor. Scary real in its' naturalness.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	45StarChief
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	AA Prestige SE Direct.
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Audio Aero Prestige SE
Speakers:	Avantgarde Duo
Cables/Interconnects:	Kimber Select/Monocle XL
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Lots
Time Period/Length of Audition:	4 weeks only
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Only 2Watt max power with the EML tubes so you do need Horns of some sort.
Product Strengths:	Transparency, resolution, timing, presence factor. Scary real in its' naturalness.