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40+ watts SET, cost is not a problem

Friends,

Hope everyone is well here. I am visiting after a long time. I have a query on behalf of a close buddy of mine. He is using a pair of TAD CR1x loudspeakers. Gorgeous speakers for sure. The source is an EMT 927 TT & JPA66 preamp. For the amplification things are getting tricky. He has tried the TAD M700s reference power amp and while it sounds very controlled, it doesn't have the openness and dimensionality of tone that a good tube/SET amp provides. We are considering trying a good SET for this system. Given that TAD needs some power blossom well and expand on effortlessly, at least 40 watts of SET power would be needed. The quick choices are Kondo Kagura & Wavac HE833 Mk2. But I need more suggestions on these and other comparative products.

1. Has anyone heard the Kondo and Wavac gears to suggest a comparison? I am just a bit worried on the amount of Silver used in Kondo. I have normally found that silver takes away something from the flow and harmonics. Tell me more about it.

2. What other options can be considered in this realm? No SS please. Looking for SET options primarily.

 

Room size is moderate 17 x 13 feet. Music preferred are classic rock, jazz, pop and some classical

 

pani

Showing 2 responses by vuch

vuch's avatar
vuch
114 posts
 

@paradisecom, yes, the Magma’s are monsters! The transformers are about twice as big as the ones on the NAT Audio Generators. The chassis is 26" long. The Magma M’s transformers are almost one foot tall!

The sonics are much more pleasing than the push/pull 805 Generators. Currently these high powered SET arms may offer the most value of high current/watts SET amps on the market.

vuch's avatar
vuch
114 posts
 

I purchased the NAT Audio Magma M mono block amps from OCD Mikey in Atlanta. They are SET and have two power settings, 50 WPC and 130 WPC. Mikey demoed them with the TAD bookshelf speakers and The TAD’s sounded really great! After hearing them together, Mikey and I both said we could have lived with that combination in our final rig.

I had the NAT Audio 805 Generators previously. They are also SET and push/pull. As awesome as those amps sounded, the Magma M’s are on another level! Just incredible! They’re definitely the last amps I’ll ever buy for the main rig!

The synergy with the TAD’s was really good but the synergy with Magico A3’s really blew me away, the match up is tremendous. Over the last three years, I’ve tried about 8-9 amps with the A3’s.

The comparison between the TAD’s I heard at Mikey’s place and my Magico A3’s is not a fair match up of speaker type. As I said before, had I owned the TAD’s and not the Magico’s, I wouldn’t be looking to replace the speakers after hearing them with the NAT Audio Magma M’s!

NAT Audio is still kind of a secret and good value in the hifi world. However, that is starting to change. I spoke with Mikey the other day and he told me that NAT is discontinuing the Magma New mono blocks. That model was one level above the Magma M’s and retailed for 40k. Mikey said NAT is coming out with a new SET mono block amplifier. It will be called the Magma EVO and the retail price will be 96k per pair.

There are pictures of both the NAT Audio Generators and Magma M’s in my virtual system.

I highly recommend consulting with Mike Powell (OCD Miley). He is a straight shooter that cares very much about his clients. He bends over backward to make things right if a problem arises with the gear he sells. He shares his honest opinion of what gear works well together and if that hurts feelings, so be it. I appreciate his honesty because I just want great sonics and if that means changing gear around to get there, that’s what I was willing to do.

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