There are some 458's on Audiogon at the moment - a rare occurrence. If I wasn't already over budget this year I would snap them up in a heartbeat, and ship them to Hervé for the 468 upgrade.
Ron’s New System
- Thread starter Ron Resnick
- Start date
Just got a second mortgage on the house, silly! Why miss this rare opportunity?
I'm secretly waiting for Mike to fall in love with another amplifier brand - so the Dart availability/pricing improves. I fear it could be a long wait though. Am also really enjoying Atmos on my main system - immersive audio is a lot of fun. The Dart's would trigger a new 2-channel speaker search - and that's a rabbit hole I would rather go down vicariously here than financially right now 
. I digressed - back to Ron's system and not mine!
. I digressed - back to Ron's system and not mine!
The Emotive Vitas are actually quite flexible regarding output tubes. My favorites (in order): Genelex reissue KT77; Tung Sol KT-120; SED 6L6GC. I never tried any 6550s. I did try KT88 Genelex reissue but didn’t care for the sound.
i do understand that. obviously i'm more of a 'music as music' kinda guy. not a 'colored sameness' character kinda guy.
not judging, no right or wrong to it. and nothing new i'm saying.
I find the new Dartzeel I have heard have a little midband life that brings out a Naturalness. It pushes towards the tube sound. I heard the latest Gryphon as just power. Almost voiceless. It takes everything ahead and amplifies it with no sonic signature.
I hear all tube amps impart a signature. But I like the signature.
I called my friend Scott at Found Music. The guy making my Blade amps. I mentioned Rons system. He said to me as you start piling on more tubes or drive them harder and harder, you loose the magic. If someone wants gobs of power, SS does a better job of delivering it.
It almost sounds like Ron is at a fork. Does he go for ultimate headroom and dynamic driver control. Or does he go for tone and a possible loss of that last bit of grip and control.
I hear all tube amps impart a signature. But I like the signature.
I called my friend Scott at Found Music. The guy making my Blade amps. I mentioned Rons system. He said to me as you start piling on more tubes or drive them harder and harder, you loose the magic. If someone wants gobs of power, SS does a better job of delivering it.
It almost sounds like Ron is at a fork. Does he go for ultimate headroom and dynamic driver control. Or does he go for tone and a possible loss of that last bit of grip and control.
This is an interesting observation. Clearly, Ron has his ideal speakers. It seems from his comments that he has an idea of what his ideal amplifier is. It’s not clear to me that he can put those two together to get the ideal sound he’s searching for. I agree with you, it seems like there’s a choice between, and this is a discussion about, trade-offs.
Last edited:
I would go for a good hybrid before I went for a high power PP tube amp.
Completely agree. As for the fork, he just has to get his head up and read the sign.
What is said about parallel toobs is the same also for SS devices , so there is some truth to multiple parallel output devices vs sonics ,
why is it easier in SS devices ?
It’s because you have the ability to match each output device more accurately and with better stability vs Toobs..
When looking at high powered PP tooby amps always try and get one running optimum voltage and properly designed for output toobs used , any amp designed for multiple output type operation is a compromise ..!
My 2cents ..!
Regards
why is it easier in SS devices ?
It’s because you have the ability to match each output device more accurately and with better stability vs Toobs..
When looking at high powered PP tooby amps always try and get one running optimum voltage and properly designed for output toobs used , any amp designed for multiple output type operation is a compromise ..!
My 2cents ..!
Regards
Tone , jump and drive in any system also comes from the pre amp , the amp when matched to the pre amp becomes an extension of it.
I would look into what another pre amp brings to the table before amp condemnation ..!
BTW not specific to Rons situation but for most systems in general ..
Regards
I always thought the best preamp is the one that does the least harm.
Not that rare and they don’t have great resale anyways. I’ve seen them much cheaper than this pair; 468s are this price.
The used discount at this level is structurally high. My research suggests that the big Darts are at the low-end (less depreciation) than the cohort. If I were to engage on them, the goal would have been to negotiate them down by the upgrade price, or thereabouts - so I concur with the 468 price comment. At that price - they are a very solid longterm buy imo - especially given Hervé's commitment to upgrades.
i don't really watch for ads myself, maybe you know better. it would be interesting to actually measure the time expensive uber amps of various models sit listed unsold. i'm told dart 458's sell quickly, 468's even more quickly....immediately most times. don't track prices, maybe you do.