My Densen B-310 Power Amp review

[Andre Marc]

Hello fellow forum members:

Here is my review of the Densen B-310 power amp.

This stuff is sadly overlooked. Bruce Brown agrees, based
on his own review of Densen amps.

http://positive-feedback.com/Issue62/densenb310.htm

 

[mep]

I read the review. The amp looks like an ice-age amp, but you didn’t tell us what the topology is in your review. I’m not surprised that the matching preamp sounded better than the ARC SP16L, and certainly not surprised it was quieter. The bass should have been much better through the all Densen setup than it was through the all ARC setup.

I have owned the LS17 and still have a VS115 on hand. There is nothing special about the LS17 except when you sell it and then you can relish the moment it was sold and it becomes special, and since I still own the VS115 and want to sell it, I have to say it is the greatest tube amp I have ever owned and this next owner will be a lucky man indeed.

 

[Andre Marc]

I read the review. The amp looks like an ice-age amp, but you didn’t tell us what the topology is in your review. I’m not surprised that the matching preamp sounded better than the ARC SP16L, and certainly not surprised it was quieter. The bass should have been much better through the all Densen setup than it was through the all ARC setup.

I have owned the LS17 and still have a VS115 on hand. There is nothing special about the LS17 except when you sell it and then you can relish the moment it was sold and it becomes special, and since I still own the VS115 and want to sell it, I have to say it is the greatest tube amp I have ever owned and this next owner will be a lucky man indeed.

Thanks for reading mep. The amp is class A/B. It was virtually impossible to get any information from Densen or the importer. The designer has patents pending etc. No Class D here if that is what you were implying. I now think Densen is the Danish Naim, with the benefit of Danish elegance.

Curious..what do you think you could get for your VS115?

 

[mep]

Since it still looks like new, has the original box, packing material, bias adjustement tool, and the KT-120s have at least half of their life left and are matched very tightly according to my bias readings, I hope to get around $3900.

 

[Andre Marc]

Since it still looks like new, has the original box, packing material, bias adjustement tool, and the KT-120s have at least half of their life left and are matched very tightly according to my bias readings, I hope to get around $3900.

Sounds reasonable. If I my room was bigger I would take it off hour hands.

The KT120s are around 400 alone from ARC. Of course I paid half that from Upscale Audio.

 

[mep]

I noticed you said you have a small room. What are the dimensions? Also, I'm sure you are aware that having more power doesn't necessarily mean you have to play it louder. If you play your music at the same volume you always do it just means you have more headroom. And for some reason(s), powerful amps have a way of sounding powerful even at low listening volumes. Maybe there is some sort of analogy of watching/hearing a super car driving down a street where the speed limit is 35 mph and yet you still understand the capability that isn't being called on but you know it's there.

 

[Andre Marc]

I noticed you said you have a small room. What are the dimensions? Also, I'm sure you are aware that having more power doesn't necessarily mean you have to play it louder. If you play your music at the same volume you always do it just means you have more headroom. And for some reason(s), powerful amps have a way of sounding powerful even at low listening volumes. Maybe there is some sort of analogy of watching/hearing a super car driving down a street where the speed limit is 35 mph and yet you still understand the capability that isn't being called on but you know it's there.

My room is 10' x 12'. I sit 8 feet away from my Thiels.

I have had some pretty powerful amps come through..250 wpc Marantz Ref, the Densen was 160 wpc into 4 Ohms, a McIntosh 250 wpc integrated, the Rogue Hyrda at 200 wpc into 4 Ohms. I never saw any difference in where the preamp volume was, or that feeling of "coasting" very often. I know it is a real thing, but my room really can overloaded very easily.

We see quite a few exotic cars around here..Maserati, Aston Martins, Lambos, Ferraris..i know what you mean..even when waddling down the road between lights, you can sense the majesty..like a Tiger ready to pounce.

 

[Bruce B]

Hello fellow forum members:

Here is my review of the Densen B-310 power amp.

Congrats! Just read it and you hit every mark.

 

[Andre Marc]

Congrats! Just read it and you hit every mark.

Thanks Bruce! I think it would be a big plus for audiophiles for this brand to get a foot hold
here.

I understand they are working on a file streamer.