10audio did a great review.
I bought one and love it. It’s a remarkable little class A amp. Airy, 3D, open, a little sweet on top and a little ballsy especially given a fairly efficient speaker.
Give it a little while to break in if you get one and enjoy. |
Joeinid put a gun to my head and made me buy one as well. Havent gotten around to opening up the box yet. |
Let us know if better than Pass Xa25 or the Sit-3! |
Ha!
Better or not is relative.
I personally absolutely love the SIT3 but only on my Avantgarde Duo XD. The Valvet is a very close second if not tied because it’s a little more open and brighter than the SIT3. The Valvet is a little more lit from within but works on more speakers than the SIT3. The XA25 is wonderful but very neutral in my opinion and much more powerful. On the speakers that the SIT3 and Valvet E2se won’t work on, the only other choice is the XA25. I absolutely prefer/need a sweeter tube preamp on the XA25 to balance it out for my taste.
I am unique in that I don’t like aggressive or bright systems. Maybe my ears bother me so SIT3, E2se and XA25 in that order.
Proper balance between speakers, amp, preamp and source is important to give me an overall softer/sweeter sound. Many might disagree with me.
If you can live with 12/20wpc for 8/4ohms, don’t hesitate to get the Valvet E2. Whether it’s the E2 or E2se version, both awesome amps. The SE is a little more open and cleaner with a little more depth. |
joeinid thank you very much for your posts.
They were very helpful!
My room is 10 X 20 ft, my pre is MFA Baby Reference V2, speakers Kharma S7s (86db/8ohms), and I listen in very low levels!
I think I am OK with E2se!
Don't you think so?
Thanks |
My pleasure.
Seems like an easy enough load for the E2se. I know for myself it’s enough power because I also don’t play very loud. One thing you’ll notice is that you don’t need it loud because of the wonderful clarity, air and 3D.
Let it break in. The bottom plate gets very warm so please give it some ventilation and enjoy. |
Cool thanks Joe! I agree Xa25 needs a sweet preamp something like a conrad-johnson!😀 |
Valvet amps are great amps. I have a pair of the mono blocks Valvet offered prior to going to the one piece amplifier you mention above. Joeinid's description of the sound is spot on. I went with Wilson speakers a while back so am using a higher powered amp with them but still can't bring myself to sell the Valvet's. They are special and a great value for the money. |
@kw6
Yes, CJ is a great compliment to the XA25 as well as Supratek or similar. The combination is unbeatable.
@boxer12
Thank you for the confirmation on sound. Trying to describe what we hear can be difficult and I don’t want to mislead anyone. Valvet is indeed awesome and once you match it with the right speakers, it’s awesome. Less is more. |
boxer12, thank you very much!
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Hey Joe do you think Lamm LL2.1 Deluxe is better than say the c-j ET7 S2? I do like the cj remote volume control. |
There’s no doubt that Lamm makes awesome gear, especially their amps. I’ve honestly not heard them in a long time. I think Lamm might be a little darker and sweeter so depending on the amp chosen could be stellar.
For some reason, I’ve always gravitated towards Conrad Johnson and currently own and love my GAT2. |
Anyone comment on the Valvet e2se relative to a FW F7 ?
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I just received an F7 yesterday.
It doesn’t have a lot of time on it yet. So far it sounds great. It probably has more in common sound-wise with the E2se than many other amps I’ve heard.
I think vocals/midrange are a little more spotlighted with the F7. I need a little more time to digest what I’m hearing. The F7 might have a little bigger soundstage and possibly a little more detail in the treble.
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Interesting - keep us posted !
I figured they were quite similar but was under the impression that the e2se overall would be a tad ahead when it came to being detailed and powerful, yet sweet. |
Side note - we have the same amps (SIT3, XA25, F7) ! I'm debating swapping the F7 for the Valvet hence the question.
I really like the F7 so hesitant to let it go but curiosity is starting to get to me |
I think the E2se might be a little more relaxed but not night and day difference. It’s funny, I’m really enjoying the F7 right now but think a few weeks of break in should be necessary.
I will say that the F7 feels like it runs a heck of a lot hotter. |
Can a 12wpc amp handle the dynamic swings, driving a pair of 86db sensitive speakers ? I am asking, because owning a pair of 104 db sensitive horns, and sometimes using a hand built,1 wpc class A amp ( chassis and transformers of an old HK Citation 12 ), I can easily clip it. Admittedly, I hit peaks, at and beyond 100 db, based on a few db meters, and, I never feel it is too loud. The explosion, on Amused to Death, by Roger Waters, is an excellent example, of what I am talking about. How low, do some of you listen ? Low, is not realistic, imo. Not trying to be the devils advocate here. I am not a head banger. I would love to try the Valvet, or, an SIT3 / F7....just say'in. Enjoy !, and be well. |
I'm running 89db speakers in a small room sat about 7-8ft away from the speakers. The F7 is perfectly fine but I think I'll be pushing it with the Valvet @ 12w.
I do listen at low levels, probably mid 70s.
Eventually I will be upgrading to horns when funds permit so I'm sort of getting gear for the long run (at least that's what i tell myself ;) ) |
@mrdecibel
Your points are very valid. Ultimately, we have to listen and decide for ourselves.
I listen at low to moderate volume and never felt a problem with my setup running the F7, SIT3, E2se, Misho Wooden amp, Luxman MQ-300, etc. on my Avantgarde Duo XD, but only when I'm using something more powerful will I crank the volume a little more than usual.
I love/need the variety, but for 99% of my listening, a handful of watts is fine. I'd be a little leery of speakers below mid to low 90's in dB sensitivity.
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