Ron’s New System

[bonzo75]

Heretic!! We KNOW what you say can’t be true…even though we haven’t tried it ourselves and the math basically works out…

you tried it on the drivers, not on the speakers.

as a reader either you are wrong or Don and Phil are, and the two other owners of the speakers

 

[Argonaut]

There is only one pair in existence, now offered used. I was in the beginning stage of negotiating to buy this pair, but it was too expensive to consider further.

“If you want something you have never had, you must be willing to do something you have never done.”

— Thomas Jefferson

 

[Mike Lavigne]

So these are the data points we have

1. Ron bought these speakers after he heard them with Gryphon amps
2. The Mono and Stereo guy used Vitus Masterpiece on them,
3.. The Indonseian/Singapore owner used Gryphon and CH. No other examples reported from owners, IIRC
4. Phil thinks lacks headroom with Jadis
5. Don thinks lacks headroom with Jadis
6. Mahler 3 video lacks headroom with Jadis

I would try the Thrax 100w hybrid.

I would also try Soulution preamp with hybrids and valve amps.

I also think this is a great opportunity for dealers reading this, to drive over to Ron's with a preamp and powerful SS amp. Ron will never do this demo himself, so just drive them over, plug them in for whatever your warm up period, and let Ron listen to them the next day. You might be able to surprise him and get a sale

just buy dart 468 mono blocks and move on to some other issue. likely the dart 108 Mk2 Stereo would also do it. stop listening to gear character and just listen to music. the darts get out of the way.

 

[Ron Resnick]

Exsample gryphon speaker
Sensitivity sound pressure in dB at 1 watt and 1 m 89dB/W/m
Amplifier power per speaker 35 watts
Number of speakers 2 pieces
Distance to the speakers 2.5 meters

?

Produced sound pressure level 100dB

The problem with this kind of merely mathematical analysis is that it does not contemplate the subjective concept of compression or the philosophy of headroom.

 

[Ron Resnick]

So these are the data points we have

1. Ron bought these speakers after he heard them with Gryphon amps
2. The Mono and Stereo guy used Vitus Masterpiece on them,
3.. The Indonseian/Singapore owner used Gryphon and CH. No other examples reported from owners, IIRC
4. Phil thinks lacks headroom with Jadis
5. Don thinks lacks headroom with Jadis
6. Mahler 3 video lacks headroom with Jadis

I would try the Thrax 100w hybrid.

I would also try Soulution preamp with hybrids and valve amps.

I also think this is a great opportunity for dealers reading this, to drive over to Ron's with a preamp and powerful SS amp. Ron will never do this demo himself, so just drive them over, plug them in for whatever your warm up period, and let Ron listen to them the next day. You might be able to surprise him and get a sale

I think we have at least one more datapoint to add to the list:

"Ron has never heard a solid-state amplifier on an electrostatic, planar-magnetic or ribbon loudspeaker and liked the sound."

 

[bonzo75]

I think we have at least one more datapoint to add to the list:

"Ron has never heard a solid-state amplifier on an electrostatic, planar-magnetic or ribbon loudspeaker and liked the sound."

You bought the pendragon because you liked the sound with Gryphon? Or not?

 

[Argonaut]

There is also the option to consider in having bespoke amplification built that would meet Rons expectations , both technically and intellectually e.g No Russian valves.

 

[bonzo75]

just buy dart 468 mono blocks and move on to some other issue. likely the dart 108 Mk2 Stereo would also do it. stop listening to gear character and just listen to music. the darts get out of the way.

Alex should be able to give him a demo

 

[Ron Resnick]

You bought the pendragon because you liked the sound with Gryphon? Or not?

Excellent point! I thought to myself "whatever I am hearing now, I will like it even more on tubes."

 

[DasguteOhr]

The problem with this kind of merely mathematical analysis is that it does not contemplate the subjective concept of compression or the philosophy of headroom.

So if a tube amplifier comes to his limit , the stage image will initially be smaller and the bass will be slimmer. Ok, in your case, no bass signal is transmitted, so its limit will only be reached much later, my guess. But it's speculation because I didn't hear it locally.
If you need that much power, I would look for transistor amplifiers that have a similar sound to a tube. e.g. plinius,audia flight,valvet.

 

[Ron Resnick]

I would look for transistor amplifiers that have a similar sound to a tube. e.g. plinius,audia flight,valvet.View attachment 118777

To my ears warmth (for example, Vitus Class A) is not the same as liquidity (tubes).

I think if an audiophile wants a similar sound to a tube amplifier, then he/she should simply buy a tube amplifier.

 

[bonzo75]

Excellent point! I thought to myself "whatever I am hearing now, I will like it even more on tubes."

i think you are confusing what a data point is.

data point is you liked it with the Gryphon.

The fact that you will like it more with tubes is a Ronthesis, not a data point

 

[christensenleif@msn.com]

the most tube like amps I´ve had was 4xJeff Rowland M7 monos on Apogee Diva
and a pair of DIY First Watt F5 Turbo2 with custom choke input powersupply
could well be increased from 50 to 100W as Turbo 3
MOSFETS are also often mentioned in this regard

 

[bonzo75]

I think if an audiophile wants a similar sound to a tube amplifier, then he/she should simply buy a tube amplifier.

With the appropriate speaker.

One cannot buy their dream speaker design, and their dream amplifier design, independent of each other.

I do agree that tube like for soild state is the equivalent of analog like for digital.

 

[Argonaut]

This gentleman could build pretty much anything that one wished for , excellent pricing and is well regarded by guys such as @Audiophile Bill :

OTOMON Laboratory(音門ラボ)

 

[the sound of Tao]

There is only one pair in existence, now offered used. I was in the beginning stage of negotiating to buy this pair, but it was too expensive to consider further.

Wow, that’s a bummer and a shame. Great looking design… definitely end game.

 

[christensenleif@msn.com]

This gentleman could build pretty much anything that one wished for , excellent pricing and is well regarded by guys such as @Audiophile Bill :

OTOMON Laboratory(音門ラボ)

with endless upgrade potential too

 

[Argonaut]

with endless upgrade potential too

Somehow I cannot envisage Ron with a smoking solder iron in his paw

 

[bonzo75]

Somehow I cannot envisage Ron with a smoking solder iron in his paw

Not today.

He has slowly moved to SETs. He is moving to lower wattage SETs. Eventually he will have to change his speakers much to some people’s consternation. And then he will do DIY. It is the natural audiophile journey.

 

[DasguteOhr]

To my ears warmth (for example, Vitus Class A) is not the same as liquidity (tubes).

I think if an audiophile wants a similar sound to a tube amplifier, then he/she should simply buy a tube amplifier.

Maybe, I don't know Vitus. I only recommend things that I have heard or tried myself. I don't believe in test winners. Of course, anyone can look for a tube amplifier, but then you also have to get the right speaker for that.I don't mean anything bad, but sometimes you have to say goodbye to dreams