Opinion on Kondo G70 with a transistor amp ?

[Mblu]

Hi,
I would like to try out some tubes in the amplification chain, to drive Wolf von Langa Stage speakers (source is AC Helene).

I am considering a few options :
- full tubes integrated : new audio frontiers 845, Aries Cerat Genus, (dream would be Kondo Ongaku but out of reach)
- hybrid integrated : Riviera Levante
- hybrid set : why not a Kondo G70 and keep my transistor amplifier …

Any experience here about such associations ?
Seems Kondo is mainly used with Kondo, but the design of the Riviera, as well as some qualities of a DIY hybrid amp a friend asked me to test, brings me that question.
Maybe that is only a step towards complexity and a short transition only …

Thanks for your opinions !

 

[mtemur]

If you’re going to own a single Kondo product that must be the preamplifier. Besides that a preamplifier in an audio setup plays a major role tailoring the final sound. There is just one small down side of this (using Kondo pre), if you don’t like the final sound rest assure that it’s not Kondo preamp’s fault. The wise way is finding and fixing the problem in my opinion.

 

[Mblu]

I know this phenomenon. When I start eating one peanut with a glass of white wine, I end up eating them all. Then all of a sudden the bottle is empty …
Only difference is the cost of a peanut.

 

[Flamingo]

Hi Mblu,

Don't forget the price for a good bottle of white wine...

Cheers

And I agree with mtemur, the preamplifier provides the tone color - then work with a neutral (in the best sense of the word) power amplifier. If further adjustments are necessary, "season" with cables (power/connection) in the right direction - like cooking. And don't forget one thing: what sounds good at first can later be annoying or, in the other direction, boring.

 

[Mblu]

Thank you Flamingo !
I have that experience that the preamp has a bigger impact on musicality than the power amp.
Still, when I read very nice reviews on Shindo preamps, Kondo, they are mostly associated to tube amps (Kondo, Shindo, Wavac).
Also Wolf von Langa often coupled with tube amps, even 300B.
So maybe the journey is, if not in one step,
1. Pre with my big transistor amp
2. A new tube power amp.
I am ready to sacrifice the last 5% by not optimizing cables. That’s costly and I am not good at quick comparisons. As you state, I often hear the nice benefits, not the losses, but progressively I listen less and less and realize it’s not at my taste … Some are much better knowing what they want.

Thank you !

(My preferred white whine is Y, dry wine of Yquem, even if I didn’t open one since a few years … I will do when my future new preamp arrives)