Ron’s New System

[Argonaut]

Well … If You recognise yourself , a start of sorts I suppose .. I think that in reality it should be you who needs to “Move On” there was one individual and one alone who chose to flounce from this forum , something that you and your fellow Utah glove puppet seem not to able to Let Go !

 

[bonzo75]

for some it´s more than dreams

i was quoting scorpions to Johan’s Roxette

 

[christensenleif@msn.com]

at least you´re awake.....

 

[Ron Resnick]

Y'all know I am happy to have members discuss anything audio-related on my system thread. But would you kindly please leave snarky shots at members and the stand-up comedy routines for the Humor and Joke thread?

Thank you.

 

[Ron Resnick]

Candidly, you’ve done the same in my room!

Really! So sorry about that!

I never thought I got to peaks above 100dB!

 

[christensenleif@msn.com]

with 196 pages on this topic , you must take a little sidetracks for the fun of it

 

[bonzo75]

with 196 pages on this topic , you must take a little sidetracks for the fun of it

his thread doesn’t have the headroom for that

 

[Ron Resnick]

Never got to hear that one. It is not SET but is a circlotron, which is usually used in OTLs like Atmasphere or Joule Electra. The KR has output transformers though. It uses a lot of 842VHD output tubes, so will get very hot.

The other brand that uses circlotron with output transformers is BAT. The BAT REX-3 monos would perhaps also be an option to consider as they are like 160 watts of Class A triode power.

A stereo version makes 80 watts, which might already be enough, but could be converted to mono and another purchased later to give more headroom if desired.

I heard a pair of the old VK-120 monos back in the day with VK-5i preamp and that sounded very good.

Thank you, Brad.

Eunice Kron wrote me overnight that she is still making the VA200 on request.

I know Ralph thinks I simply am addicted to the "gauziness" of output transformers, but the VA200 might avoid what I subjectively hear as the thinness of OTL.

 

[Ron Resnick]

I had dinner with Don last night and, reflecting on his last couple of visits, Don thinks that while the system now sounds "like music," he thinks the 80 watt power level is sacrificing some of the expanded soundstage space and air that he heard with the VTLs. With Don's focus on big classical, he said that if it were him, he would aim for a power level of 200 watts to 300 watts.

Don is extremely good at hearing sound-staging and air and space, something of which I have always been critical of myself. Nothing specifically actionable for me in his comment, but it inclines me to consider around 80 wants to be the floor. This would take out of contention Thrax Spartacus 300B and Absolare SET.

It puts back into contention NAT Magma Evo, but I think Kedar said Magma will not have the upper bass to lower midrange warmth and weightiness of Jadis.

 

[bonzo75]

I had dinner with Don last night and, reflecting on his last couple of visits, Don thinks that while the system now sounds "like music," he thinks the 80 watt power level is sacrificing some of the expanded soundstage space and air that he heard with the VTLs. With Don's focus on big classical, he said that if it were him, he would aim for a power level of 200 watts to 300 watts.

Don is extremely good at hearing sound-staging and air and space, something of which I have always been critical of myself. Nothing specifically actionable for me in his comment, but it inclines me to consider around 80 wants to be the floor. This would take out of contention Thrax Spartacus 300B and Absolare SET.

It puts back into contention NAT Magma Evo, but I think Kedar said Magma will not have the upper bass to lower midrange warmth and weightiness of Jadis.

ok, so Brad is wrong as always

 

[christensenleif@msn.com]

Jadis 200 would cover the midbass and the soundstage room I think
reg OTL thinness I tend to agree; no proper midbass weight

 

[Ron Resnick]

Jadis 200 would cover the midbass and the soundstage room I think
reg OTL thinness I tend to agree; no proper midbass weight

Perhaps. But in terms of EL34s 70 watts from JA100 to 115 watts from JA200 is a gain of only about 1.5dB. So I'm not sure how much that really moves the needle on building out the soundstage.

As a point of reference about the effect of power we all heard a noticeable difference in soundstage going from 350 watts to 700 watts on the VTLs (a 3dB difference).

I could use KT120s or even KT150s for higher power in JA200, but KTs are not the right answer if all I care about is a beautiful midrange.

 

[bonzo75]

It puts back into contention NAT Magma Evo, but I think Kedar said Magma will not have the upper bass to lower midrange warmth and weightiness of Jadis.

NAT has weight.

don’t think you can consider it warm like Jadis, And it won’t have the Jadis decay. They are very different sounding amps. I don’t get this does amp A have more weight question. If one is lean, ok, I get that, but beyond a good weight balance there isn’t more and more weight. Yes on my Verity Jadis felt weightier than the magma

 

[Ron Resnick]

NAT has weight.

don’t think you can consider it warm like Jadis, And it won’t have the Jadis decay. They are very different sounding amps. I don’t get this does amp A have more weight question. If one is lean, ok, I get that, but beyond a good weight balance there isn’t more and more weight. Yes on my Verity Jadis felt weightier than the magma

Do you think the VA200 is warmer or less warm (in Jadis term) than Magma?

 

[christensenleif@msn.com]

Perhaps. But in terms of EL34s 70 watts from JA100 to 115 watts from JA200 is a gain of only about 1.5dB.

I could use KT120s or even KT150s for higher power in JA200, but KTs are not the right answer if all I care about is a beautiful midrange.

it´s not only the watt difference, it´s powersupply etc

 

[Ron Resnick]

Never got to hear that one. It is not SET but is a circlotron,

What is the sonic reason for using this design -- especially if it uses an output transformer anyway?

 

[Ron Resnick]

ok, so Brad is wrong as always

No, Brad got me very happy with 80 watts.

 

[Ron Resnick]

it´s not only the watt difference, it´s powersupply etc

I totally understand and agree.

 

[Ron Resnick]

By the way, trying to source 20 EL34s without resorting to Russian tubes or to JJs is proving to be a big challenge!

Does anyone have 20 to 24 NOS Shunguang Black Treasure 6CA7-Zs they want to sell?

 

[cal3713]

I had dinner with Don last night and, reflecting on his last couple of visits, Don thinks that while the system now sounds "like music," he thinks the 80 watt power level is sacrificing some of the expanded soundstage space and air that he heard with the VTLs. With Don's focus on big classical, he said that if it were him, he would aim for a power level of 200 watts to 300 watts.

Don is extremely good at hearing sound-staging and air and space, something of which I have always been critical of myself. Nothing specifically actionable for me in his comment, but it inclines me to consider around 80 wants to be the floor. This would take out of contention Thrax Spartacus 300B and Absolare SET.

It puts back into contention NAT Magma Evo, but I think Kedar said Magma will not have the upper bass to lower midrange warmth and weightiness of Jadis.

That's 80 watts from a different amplifier, no? If so, I just don't see how you know to which factor to attribute the soundstage differences.

And if it's something you can't hear, who cares? Better to find the amplifier pairing that excels at exactly the things to which you are most sensitive in my mind.