Munich High-End 2018 Ron Report: Absolare/Rockport

[Ron Resnick]

Kerem Kucukaslan, the gracious and warm founder of Absolare, was showing his brand new Absolare Passion Hybrid Monoblock amplifier ($60,000).










The amplifier employs a tube input and solid-state output topology. The amp outputs 300 watts into 4 ohms, and 200 watts into 8 ohms.

The tube complement is 2 X 12AU7/ECC82 or E80CC). Absolare makes sure that every amplifier comes with select NOS tubes.

The Absolare Hybrid was driving the Rockport Technologies Lyra ($170,000). The vinyl front-end consists of the Kronos Pro turntable and power supply , and Black Beauty tonearm, and the cartridge was the ZYX UNIverse Premium (which I own myself). The phono stage was the Absolare Altius ($52,000), and the preamplifier was the Absolare Altius line stage ($50,000).

I have liked the sound of Absolare driving Rockport speakers every single time I have ever heard the combination. Here in a large room the Rockport Lyra, driven by the new Absolare hybrid amplifiers, sounded absolutely wonderful.

This system, which I consider to be close to state of the art sonically (able to be improved only by substituting the Arrakis for the Lyra -- of course the Lyra does not have the vertical height and grandeur of seven foot tall speakers). We often make this hobby complicated, but if you are a music lover and if you have the money to pay the premium for these components you will be thrilled. Absolare electronics on Rockport speakers is a relatively simple and relatively no fuss, no muss way to achieve sound that you’ll be happy with for the rest of your life.

 

[GuillaumeB]

I agree Ron, this was a splendid system.

I was sitting in there when "Christmas Song" on the Cantate Domino album (Oscar's Motet Choir) was playing and literally felt the hairs at the back of any neck stand up during the chorus, such was I was blown away by its beauty. Just about everything about the sound was perfect for me. This is a system that doesn't need to try hard to get your attention, it draws you in and seduces you with the most natural and emotionally engaging sound with dynamics to die for.

I mentioned the room to a few others and I think all were most impressed.

Guillaume

 

[Ron Resnick]

This is a system that doesn't need to try hard to get your attention, it draws you in and seduces you with the most natural and emotionally engaging sound with dynamics to die for.

. . .

+1

beautifully put!

 

[microstrip]

Ron,

Did the Absolare Hybrid enter your "probable equipment" list?

 

[Ron Resnick]

Ron,

Did the Absolare Hybrid enter your "probable equipment" list?

No; I want all-tube amplifiers.

 

[DaveyF]

In pro audio, they have recently begun to use class D amps with a small signal tube like the 12AX7 or 12AU7. Having used a few of these pieces, I can tell you they sound like 'sh-t' ! The ability to add an small driver/signal tube to the mono block ala Absolare's design is simply trying to add a little 'flavor' away from the ss sound. At $60K a pair, it really is NOTHING special at all to add ( "Select") NOS 12AU7's...IOW...Big Deal!
Ron, if you bought those amps, IMHO you would be buying a ss amp with a kludge.

 

[Stereophonic]

Two options to consider....

 

[andromedaaudio]

Wow that top one is a beauty what brand is that?

 

[Stereophonic]

Zanden

 

[andromedaaudio]

Then that Will probably sound as good as IT looks too.
Hmm zanden is going for a big power supply in this design?
Looks a bit like the CAT poweramps

 

[microstrip]

In pro audio, they have recently begun to use class D amps with a small signal tube like the 12AX7 or 12AU7. Having used a few of these pieces, I can tell you they sound like 'sh-t' ! The ability to add an small driver/signal tube to the mono block ala Absolare's design is simply trying to add a little 'flavor' away from the ss sound. At $60K a pair, it really is NOTHING special at all to add ( "Select") NOS 12AU7's...IOW...Big Deal!
Ron, if you bought those amps, IMHO you would be buying a ss amp with a kludge.

I can not understand your comment. The Ypsilon Hyperion just got rave reviews from two known reviewers, people in this forum have said great things about hybrids. If it was not for the high price I would consider to listen to it. I have owned a Pathos hybrid that sounded great - including the best treble I have ever listened in my SoundLab's.

IMHO hybrids are just one more way of building amplifiers - we should listen to them without prejudice of bias.

 

[Ron Resnick]

+1

 

[spiritofmusic]

Maybe it’s a topology where the bad ones are REALLY bad?

 

[LL21]

Then that Will probably sound as good as IT looks too.
Hmm zanden is going for a big power supply in this design?
Looks a bit like the CAT poweramps

apparently a 211 based push pull?

 

[andromedaaudio]

May be its the best topology for some, best of both worlds why not.
Would love to give them a go , the zanden too by the way

 

[DaveyF]

Maybe it’s a topology where the bad ones are REALLY bad?

Exactly. Adding a small signal tube to the design is no guarantee that it will solve the ss hardness that so many of these designs show. The additional cost to add the tube(s) is also negligible.
If the ss design sounds great in the first place, why add a small signal tube? I think we all know the answer to that....micro??

 

[andromedaaudio]

Not all solid state sounds hard dont agree with that i have a small 10 watter that sounds Sweet as a dodo.
Where IT lacks compared to the Cat is dynamic drive behind music.
Also 400 Watts solid state lacks dynamic drive compared to the cat for that matter.

 

[DaveyF]

Please re-read my post above. Nowhere do I say that ALL ss sounds hard. There are some great ss amps on the market and from the past.

 

[microstrip]

Maybe it’s a topology where the bad ones are REALLY bad?

Sorry to say, your comment is meaningless. The bad ones are really bad in any topology.

 

[microstrip]

(...) If the ss design sounds great in the first place, why add a small signal tube? I think we all know the answer to that....micro??

We have to understand that the high-end is a preference hobby. Surely in an hybrid the tube creates a sound that reflects the designer intentions. Some designers even have solid state input/drive and power tubes. The Lamm M1.2 has a fast IC bufffer, a tube for gain and MOSFET's at the output stage!

What sounds great to me perhaps does not sound great to others and vice-versa. BTW, IMHO old stereotypes about topology are not valid anymore.

The debate about hybrids is complex - and surely can not ignore a past of unreliable designs and the possibility that the user can ruin the sound of the equipment with a poor tube replacement.