richieb

We’re not the only ones to understand what’s going on here. Great bit of rationalizing - when is she getting the 3.5 carat diamond?

I’m going to go about this a little differently. A recent buying spree has me knee deep in amplifiers, SS and tubes. And this after I recently sold what had been the last tube amps I owned. So what I have is the topic mentioned Decware Torii with full anniversary mod updates from Decware. Included will be quads of both Gold Lion KT66 and TungSol EL34 power tubes plus all other associated operating tubes. Of course Pelican shipping case is included. The amp sounds, well, as good as the Decware waiting list indicates. I’m leaving it at this - interested parties will receive pics and price on request via PM. If nothing develops here I’ll take it to the audio sites. Thanks as always -

Much like the internal DAC and build quality in the Pioneer Elite PD93 CD player(s) I have. Pop the bonnet on these twenty + year old pieces and you’d spend $10-15k to duplicate(hopefully) the build quality today. That’s why I own two - just in case —

^^^^^ I’ve harbored some spite in my life just not $16,000 worth -

An honest review across the board including amplifier choice(s). Should my Jubilees somehow disappear I can easily live with my early version LaScalla. While listening at certain times I wonder if I need the Jubes at all - until they return to the system. However the LS could well be the last speaker I would consider selling -

I spoke with Mark a few months ago when considering and F7 or 8 ( ended up with a rare F5).I told him I owned a J2 he said the F8 would be an lateral move with little sonic difference between the two and recommended against it. That’s when he suggested the F5 he just received. Done a n d done -

Hell, they’re $16K/ a pair as it is. Can only imagine if they are all “heritaged” up - . Kinda looks like the horn is a 510/mumps with an oversized outside fascia for cosmetics. Brings fond memories of my old “Frankensteins” -

The musical introduction certainly makes you want to pay attention - or stand at attention. Amazing how durable tubes can be made as they were used in relatively new Russian MIG aircraft not long ago. I’ve read that tubes have the advantage over solid state devices in aircraft navigation in that it is impervious to damaging nuclear electromagnetic pulses.

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— wish I had the skills/knowledge to somewhat casually say “ decided to design a board” - . Nice work. I’ll know where to go should my 6200 need a look see -

“Mass shootings” is the US is loosely defined as four or more shot and/or killed. As of early February there were 67 - Last year over 640 -

— and Johnny Depp. A rock legend in his own mind. Saving for tickets - 😎

I doubt even his bloated ego isn’t big enough to un-retire twice -

— and you’ve heard one? What does a Shenzhen tube amp sound like?

— Ohh Rich - I’ll gladly pay you Tuesday for a CD today - Wimpy Rich

In reviews for the Pass XA25 it was said NP was utilizing power transistors “big as hockey pucks”. Maybe an exaggeration but Pass does design with out of the box components -

Benchmark? I may soon be parting with one, let me know if you’re interested -

But of course people need diets. Overeating, for profit dieting, doctors, medication(s) are what makes the economy go ‘round and ‘round. There is very little money in thin, healthy people. Silly boy -

This is surprising to me. I can’t think of any single ended tube amps I’ve owned that don’t have more sparkle on top than solid state and in particular Class D. Add clarity to that or as the reviewers say “transparency”. As my ears hear it the Benchmark amps are the most transparent solid state amps I’ve owned. When going from Hypex amps to Benchmark I could instantly hear the Bench removed any veil to the sound. They may be too clean for some but honest they are. First Watt F5 come close. But still to a lesser degree than single ended tube. But of course it’s the room, the speaker/amp interaction etc. -

Regarding noise floor, absolutely dead black silence from any FW I’ve owned. No matter how far you insert head into 402 - nothing. HPower I too have a Wyred STP se, standard. As neutral a preamp as I’ve owned. Zero coloration into any amp, solid or tube. I neglected to mention the Decware is also going up against Quicksilver Horn Monos I recently purchased. Time will tell -

Understood, I’m old, I’m slow. One point you noted about the Tor - yeah it’s a f’in forest of tubes. A dozen in all I believe. Every possible function that most use some type of SS device is designed for tube. It’s definitely dual mono - other than the power cord you can snap a line and cut’r down the middle.

I was an avid golfer several lifetimes ago. With no reflection on your game - new clubs won’t fix a crappy swing.

I spoke to Mark at Reno HiFi about just this - an F7 or F8. I explained I had experience with the J2 to which he said if I wanted something a little different than the J2 I had don’t buy the F8. Said they are very similar. Ironically he had just taken in an elusive F5, only 100 made, so I grabbed it. The J2 is the only model that has remained in the lineup from the beginning and still in production. Buy a used J - Reno shows one like new. They are on Audiomart quite often -

That’s pretty good Mike. The F3, or F5 for that matter ain’t going anywhere. I’m glad with the opportunity for comparison. Version 4 running KT88’s. Only been a couple days but it does things the F’s do not, all with roughly the same power output. Tor and F5 about 25 watts, F3 at 15ish. There is certainly more sparkle on top, at least equal bass, and surprisingly more transparency. Let the games continue -

He ain’t wrong. But, I have to admit just two short weeks ago I sold the last of my tube amps “thinking” I was finished with tubes. Well a friend lent me a Dyna ST 35 he beautifully built and man, this sounds damn good. Even my wife agreed it sounded equally as good as the F3 it was compared with. Then - was always intrigued with Decware, one popped up for sale and grabbed it. Being a big FW fan, as painful as it is, the F3 and F5 just don’t have that “something” the Torii has. So there’s that -