Triodes and Tetrodes and SET, Oh My!

A friend of mine had the NAT Single and changed to the KR 350i because he found the NAT Single too gentle and polite, while the KR 350i is much more dynamic and transparent. I had to agree on those findings regarding those two amps.
I don't have direct comparisons between other KR and NAT amps, though.
Oh, not true NAT Symbiosis vs. KR 350i was also in favor of the KR :rolleyes:
But no unfortunately nothing of the sort of Kronzilla vs. Transmitter. That could be an interesting match up.
Anyone willing to bring a pair of Transmitters to my place for a little dance with my Kronzilla? :cool:
 
Upon reviewing the entire thread, an informative one if I do say so, it seems the KR Audio hybrids provide the closest thing to tube amplification combined with low end control. The slight edge that NAT seems to enjoy as to musical warmth could be significant depending on the speaker. As for myself the decision will be made in the near future, and without the ability to audition either within my current setup. So the hair splitting performed by the above posters and the insight provided is much appreciated.

KR doesn't sound much like normal SET - its a polarizing line bc of its SS input stage.

since you are in ATL, you might reach out to schw06 at Audiocircle forum - good friend of mine. he has a lot of SET and KR experience.
 
Upon reviewing the entire thread, an informative one if I do say so, it seems the KR Audio hybrids provide the closest thing to tube amplification combined with low end control. The slight edge that NAT seems to enjoy as to musical warmth could be significant depending on the speaker. As for myself the decision will be made in the near future, and without the ability to audition either within my current setup. So the hair splitting performed by the above posters and the insight provided is much appreciated.

I like to propose the Aesthetix Atlas Eclipse in the hybrid amp category.
 
The problem with the general characterization of SET sound being rolled off and uncontrolled is that that is probably formed by listening to them with the wrong speakers. With true high efficiency speakers (efficient throughout the bandwidth) they are actually very, very linear.
 
I know Jack
My 101dB eff, full range 40Hz-11kHz zero crossover Zus are really linear thru the NAT Audio SE2SE 70W 211s
Btw, my Eera Tentation cdp sounding as good as ever, even in these days of dsd streaming pre eminence
Not bad for a 6 yr old rbcd player
 
I know Jack
My 101dB eff, full range 40Hz-11kHz zero crossover Zus are really linear thru the NAT Audio SE2SE 70W 211s
Btw, my Eera Tentation cdp sounding as good as ever, even in these days of dsd streaming pre eminence
Not bad for a 6 yr old rbcd player

What about the analog?
 
I'm getting there
It's taken a fair amount of wrangling and brainstorming, but results much better
My room is really revealing, and analog has just been harder to "tune in"
Going to see if my one area of likely disadvantage is actually so ie my potentially flexy and disadvantageous 18x60 suspended timber flr
By way of active Herzan TS-150 v passive Minus K BM-8 platforms a/b
 
you have heard it? Can you provide a description?

I have heard the Atlas in a Grand Prix Monaco LP system driving Alexias; in a Clearaudio Master Innovation LP system driving MBL 101E Mk IIs; and in an LP system driving Sashas. But I have never done a clean A/B back and forth in a familiar system.

Every time I heard them I said to myself that these sound very much like my VTLs but with maybe a bit more control in the bass. and maybe sacrificing a little bit of tube liquidity versus the all tube VTLs. I think they are one of the best amps for MBLs (along with other high power hybrids like Lamm and KR). (I find the 101E Mk IIs to be in desperate need of tubes somewhere in their system.)

So imagine current VTLs and go one or two steps more bass control and one step less liquidity and you have the Atlas. And I think that is great sound quality at a relatively reasonable price.

I do not know if I would have been able to identify blind reliably my VTLs versus Atlas in my former LP/ML Prodigy system.
 

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