Ron’s New System

[Ron Resnick]

Once they break in they have a very musically NEUTRAL sound. That term has been wildly overused in out hobby, but the PFF-100s are as neutral tube amps as you going to get. However, the texture of the harmonics is very "proper". They are different from the VTL MB 185 Mk3, and Jadis 120. IMHO of course. Jadis is very charming.

Interesting. Thank you!

Do you have any experience with Thomas Mayer's Elrog 845s in them?

 

[Ron Resnick]

Also, very important to check for the possible bias drift after a week after first turn on, and then in another couple of weeks, and then every couple of months thereafter.

Will do!

 

[AudioLibertarian]

Interesting. Thank you!

Do you have any experience with Thomas Mayer's Elrog 845s in them?

No, by the time when Meyer bought that production line from Elrog, I had no longer had the PFF 100 in my system. I ve heard the Psvane upgraded tubes from Grant fidelity in the PFF 100 and those sounded very, very good. That was about 12 years ago or so, so cant comment on the present state of those premium 845. Having said that I have to say that the Shuguangs that came with these from factory have proven themselves to be exteremely reliable, as my dealer has been using the same quads in both units for the last 15 years or so, and not just for an hour a day. Nary a failure. However the bias check is a key.

 

[Thundersnow]

Out of the box impressions:

-- bright, thin, brittle, edgy (think bad, early solid-state) (tubes and capacitors are new)

-- noticeably more resolving than JA100s

On Jadis I don't think I ever heard the echo or decay (or whatever that is) on the very first drum hits (or whatever they are) at the very, very beginning of Lyle Lovett's "North Dakota." Now that echo is very obvious! And I have played that song many dozens of times.

I am very accustomed to the Jadis gauziness. This sounds more "professional."

Give them time, Ron. Counterintuitively, everything you explained as your out of the box experience is a sign of very good tube gear. Unfortunately, it takes time for top notch tube gear to lose that initial “zing” but the sound when they settle will more than make up for it.

 

[tima]

View attachment 148463

Where did you audition your new amplifiers with Clarysis speakers?

 

[Ron Resnick]

Give them time, Ron. Counterintuitively, everything you explained as your out of the box experience is a sign of very good tube gear. Unfortunately, it takes time for top notch tube gear to lose that initial “zing” but the sound when they settle will more than make up for it.

In just the first 12 or so hours of operation I am hearing some of the edginess and graininess recede.

 

[morricab]

In just the first 12 or so hours of operation I am hearing some of the edginess and graininess recede.

Are these brand new amps?

 

[Ron Resnick]

I think I am hearing a great sense of singer-in-the-room presence with the Italians. And I want to say a greater sense of purity, although right now it sounds grainy.

There's definitely something I like here. But I have to hear it through the edginess at the moment.

I love, love, love the tonality of the Frenchies. These Italians seem German by comparison at this stage.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

I think I am hearing a great sense of singer-in-the-room presence with the Italians. And I want to say a greater sense of purity, although right now it sounds grainy.

Ron,

are these new amps a line you are carrying as a dealer? or is this just a personal acquisition? or a demo and you will see?

sorry if that has already been discussed.

 

[Ron Resnick]

Do you have any dimmer now or just light/dark. Maestro are some of the best dimmers I have used. Maybe there are more robust light control systems with better filters. If anyone knows of dimming systems that do not inject noise, please let us know.

No dimmer in the main listening room area.

 

[Kingrex]

Nice looking amps. Can you tell us what they are all about. I see parallel single ended and 120 watts. 4 x 845 tubes. What else do you know. What made you want to get them?

 

[Ron Resnick]

I see parallel single ended and 120 watts. 4 x 845 tubes. What else do you know. What made you want to get them?

I have always wanted to try a medium power tube amplifier that is not push-pull. I have always wanted to try an 845 amplifier.

This lets me compare Jadis Class A push-pull with KT90s versus Class A PSET with 845s. An obvious upgrade would be Thomas' Elrog 845s.

 

[Ron Resnick]

So far the overall tonality is a little lighter than the Jadis, and edgy, dry and grainy in the upper midrange to lower treble.

 

[caesar]

I have always wanted to try a medium power tube amplifier that is not push-pull. I have always wanted to try an 845 amplifier.

This lets me compare Jadis Class A push-pull with KT90s versus Class A PSET with 845s. An obvious upgrade would be Thomas' Elrog 845s.

Hi Ron,
Jadis also makes killer 845 amps. I am a huge Jadis fan, and I find that Jadis 845s are head and shoulders better than the rest of the Jadis amp lineup. And also much, much better than Mastersounds. Obviously, systems and tastes/ preferences differ, but if you are curious do give them a try, if possible. Enjoy your journey!

 

[Ron Resnick]

Hi Ron,
Jadis also makes killer 845 amps. I am a huge Jadis fan, and I find that Jadis 845s are head and shoulders better than the rest of the Jadis amp lineup. And also much, much better than Mastersounds. Obviously, systems and tastes/ preferences differ, but if you are curious do give them a try, if possible. Enjoy your journey!

Of course I looked into them, thank you. They are completely disqualified due to low power for my particular application. The PF100s put out 120 watts.

 

[Kingrex]

I have always wanted to try a medium power tube amplifier that is not push-pull. I have always wanted to try an 845 amplifier.

This lets me compare Jadis Class A push-pull with KT90s versus Class A PSET with 845s. An obvious upgrade would be Thomas' Elrog 845s.

I do find the Elrog 845 to be the best 845 that I have tried. Although I would say the Psvane ACME was maybe as good in its own way. But I did not give the ACME enough time to know what it really did as it was red plating. But that was most likely a result of my messed up amplifier driving the tube incorrectly. If you role 845s, don't discount the ACME.

I sure hope whoever it was that said that amp need a year to break in is wrong. That's too long. Hopefully you have a good handle on the sound in a month. I took a speaker I wanted to break in to my basement and plugged and amp and laptop into it. I changed the music and volume a few times a day but let it rip pretty loud for a weeks. Saved me having to listen to a mess.

 

[Argonaut]

So far the overall tonality is a little lighter than the Jadis, and edgy, dry and grainy in the upper midrange to lower treble.

I would have recommended backing off on the bias a touch whilst the amplifiers have developed a few more hours on the clock were it not for the warning printed beneath the bias setting controls !

“Only Qualified Service Personnel “

You might also want to cover the following dire warning from the user manual Viz:

This Warranty Is Void When:

other kind of tubes different from the original have been used

This may well serve to indicate the use of non 845 type output valves e.g. 211 rather than a disparate manufacture of the 845’s supplied by Mastersound , however it might be prudent just to check that before rolling the Elrog’s in there .

 

[Audiohertz2]

Out of the box impressions:

-- bright, thin, brittle, edgy (think bad, early solid-state) (tubes and capacitors are new)

-- noticeably more resolving than JA100s

On Jadis I don't think I ever heard the echo or decay (or whatever that is) on the very first drum hits (or whatever they are) at the very, very beginning of Lyle Lovett's "North Dakota." Now that echo is very obvious! And I have played that song many dozens of times.

I am very accustomed to the Jadis gauziness. This sounds more "professional."

Is that reverb on headphones and so part of the recording when you listen ?

 

[Ron Resnick]

I just listened to Bat Out of Hell start to finish (vinyl).

Is that reverb on headphones and so part of the recording when you listen ?

I'm sorry, but I totally do not understand what you're asking. I don't use headphones.

 

[Audiohertz2]

I just listened to Bat Out of Hell start to finish (vinyl).

I'm sorry, but I totally do not understand what you're asking. I don't use headphones.

You need a reference to compare , so you should , what you maybe hearing and very likely is the high thd distorion creating an artificial halo on instruments , hence why you dont hear it on other amplfiers because its not on the recording ..!

You can use a pr of headphones on your R2R and listen..!