How do these sound?One pair coming my way next days .
Will be available for demonstrations as of December 19 in Belgium and the Netherlands!
We can arrange a demo at the dealer Alpha High End in Belgium or at my demo room with horn speakers near Brussels or in your system, whatever suits you best!
To remind: the Essentia is a single stage (!) triodefet amplifier with two small tubes per channel. It is not to be called a hybrid amplifier because the triode mounted tubes are in parallel to the output stage. The proprietary developed triodefets supply current to the triode signal and operate only in pure Class A without switching and have a power rating of 40 Watts.
Such class A power rating is substantially more than the big majority of fet-amplifier that are labelled as class A amplifier, as big majority of them only operate to a smaller portion of their total current rating in pure class A.
As with every Aries Cerat product, the reserve in current supply through its supercapacitors is so terrific, no switching may ever be missed! Finally, another upside is its stability down to 1 ohm, offering a true triode sound solution for even low impedance (dipping) speakers.
How do these sound?
View attachment 73844
How they sound? OK, i am sure your realise any answer will have a subjective touch to it but let me give it a try.
My own reference system (not picture above) comprises of the Aries Cerat Symphonia horns and a full AC suit of electronics. My reference amplifiers are the Concero Signature which pricewise come closest to the Essentia. So description below is what struck me between both amplifiers that are a quite different breed indeed.
Which difference finds it origin where is a whole separate debate of course because not only is the Ianus Essentia less powerful but it also features a lot more gain than the Conceros, they feature the proprietary triodefets and are single stage and single ended.
Transparency: i liked to think the Concero were already very open but the Essentia takes it a few notches higher! The amount of detail you can hear is stunning. They amount to an experience that doesn't bring the performers to your place but rather transport you to the recording venue. This is because also acoustic details of the recording venue for example are so well laid bare! Not just in the high frequency but also in midrange and low frequency reverb making for a totally immersive experience.
Speed: yes, Essentia's triodefets do seem to be 'faster' than the Conceros. In fact, only when listening to the Essentia i am reminded that the Concero are tube amplifiers.
Voices: i prefer the graininess of my Conceros still but that is because i am used to that probably. With the Essentia, in different environments with other people present, everyone thinks the voices and instruments are particularly well reproduced, without strain, causing no fatigue whatsoever.
Staging: the Essentia are a looking glass for the gear put in front and behind it, if that gear allows for a very wide - yet realistic - and layered depth, then the Essentia will bring that to the front in very convincing way.
Ultimately, the Essentia are about at the same level as the Concero Signature but with a clearly different touch. Lovers of transistors might think of the Essentia as the wholy grail as it offers the speed and heft of the best transistors in combination with the harmonic and musicality offered by triodes. Lovers that are enamoured with tube sound will embrace the Concero Signature as the latter offers that extra bit of graininess and majestic behaviour yet presenting it such like only a state-of-the-art tube amplifier can.
PS: listened this afternoon to the Essentia with the Marten Parker quintet, it was "magical" (not my words!)
Hmmm, the Concero 25, me like a lot sir!How about compared to the Concert 25's? Thanks for your take.
Hmmm, the Concero 25, me like a lot sir!
But it pains me to say that the Essentia probably betters it in about all respects. Of course if you are particularly fond of the 845 tube (sound) then you might skip the Essentia.
But beware of the different gain and different power rating. Depending on speakers you might not need the extra power really.
Thing is, being a single stage design, the Essentia offers a very OTL-like transparency that you will not find with the Concero series. And the Essentia only has two small tubes per channel that have a projected lifespan of >8000 hours!
Do these have enough power to run 90db speakers?
View attachment 75668
The Aries Cerat Essentia with the Marten Parker Quintet at our dealer, Alpha High End in Brussels
Yes, Impera works just fine with Essentias.Is it possible to use an Impera ll Ref to drive Essentia monos ? and is it a good match ?
As i undestand there will be a new 2 chassis linestage for the Essentia but much more expensive than the Impera.
Well i would love to get the Ageto for the Essentia but the price is out of reach for most of usThe reason for the new preamp 'Ageto' launch, is primarily is the lower gain that preamp has.by default as the Essentia has a lot more gain (between 20 and 24 dB depending on tubes) than the big tube models from Aries Cerat. So, there is less gain expected to come from the preamp.
The Ageto is effectively more expensive than the Impera II Reference but you will not be disappointed with the sound gain!!
By the way, you can also order a low gain version of the Incito S or the Impera II Reference, so you still have the perfect match.
At a dealer in Brussels, we match the low gain version of the Incito S with the Essentia to great success.
In case you didn't follow my journey i do have a system up and running and very happy about it.I run Ianus with Impera Sig. (the same as Impera Ref. in terms of amplification). The Ianus is turned down a few db using its TVC (my speakers are 93db/1Watt) and it works wonderfully.
Previously I had the Impera Ref. and it played wonderfully with it too (see my posts). With an Impera with low gain it will sound a bit better!
Your search has been going on for a few years though. One could get the impression that you spend most of your time brooding. You can do that. But listening to music with AC is much more fun than brooding.
The Essentia is probably the biggest 'break out' Aries Cerat amp yet. By that I mean it is super flexible, and can fit with so many system configurations. I think it will be a best seller, such high end performance
Hey Julian how are you doing ?The Essentia is probably the biggest 'break out' Aries Cerat amp yet. By that I mean it is super flexible, and can fit with so many system configurations. I think it will be a best seller, such high end performance.
Steve Williams Site Founder | Site Owner | Administrator | Ron Resnick Site Co-Owner | Administrator | Julian (The Fixer) Website Build | Marketing Managersing |