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Clayton Audio Class A amps. Need amp advice

Hi Guys,

I am looking to change my amps and for a few reasons.

First because I just upgraded my DAC from the great PS Audio DirectStream to the incredible Bricasti M1 DSD USB DAC. I love the Bricasti and it has shown that in my system it could offer me more with a more resolving and neutral amp IMO.

I am currently am using the wonderful sounding CJ Premier 12 mono tube amps. I love them and tubes in general but my speakers are the great Ascendo C8 Renaissance and look to present a somewhat benign load being 88 efficient and 6ohm but they are unique and have an internal firing 21 cm Kevlar Bass driver that is great but stubborn and the speakers I think will really shine with a iron fist control of that driver.

I love tubes, always have and always will but I grown tires of a flabby bottom which is exasperated by a unique and somewhat difficult to grip bass driver set up I spoke about above.

I want an amp that can give me as much tube sound as possible but with Grip and bottom end. I know this is a lot to ask for in the used $5k to $7k price range.

I have read and it seem like the Clayton offer exactly what I am looking for but wanted to hear from some of you guys if anyone has ever heard them or know of them or anything. Any info would really be appreciated. Here is the info on my speakers and I will also list the rest of my system in case you think that is helpful. Thanks

C8 Renaissance
Technical Data
Principle
• Three-Way with SASB bass unit (TOS Off)
(current damped outer driver with semi symmetrical band pass)
• Four-Way with SASB bass unit (TOS On)
Dimensions (W/H/D)
• 28 / 80 / 40 (without Base)
• 28 / 108 / 40 (with Base)
Weight
35 kg
Frequency Range
29 Hz (-3 dB) – 32.000 Hz
Power Rating
350 W Program (min)
Impedance
6 Ohm
Sensivity
88 dB / 1W/m
Outer Chassis (COAX)
• 25 mm Neodymium-fabric-tweeter
• 18 cm Woofer with XP cone
Inner Chassis
• 21 cm Chassis, Kevlar cone
TOS Chassis
• Ribbon-tweeter
TOS Function
• switchable (TOS Unit - Dipole AN / AUS)
Sockets
• Single / BiWiring Base
Dimensions (W/H/D)
28 / 18 / 40 cm
Weight
11 kg

Ascendo C-8 Renaissance Speakers (Germany) Speaker
Purist Audio Design Corvus Praesto Revision 2.5m Bi-Wire Speaker cable
Darwin TRUTH Pure Silver Reference 1 Meter RCA Interconnect
Darwin TRUTH Pure Silver Reference 1 Meter RCA Interconnect
Bricasti M1 USB / DSD / Volume Control DAC (New) DA converter
Tellurium Q BLACK DIAMOND Reference USB Cable
Decware ZSTAGE External Triode Output StageTelefunken ECC801S
Audio Research REFERENCE 1 MK II w/Rhodium IEC/NOS Tubes Tube preamp
PS Audio PowerPlant Premier AC Regenerator
Conrad Johnson Premier 12 Mono's 140 Watts Tung-Sol KT120's Tube amp
Salamander Amplifier Stands (2) Synergy System AV Furniture Stand
BMI Shark Jeweler Grade Platinum 9 AWG AC Power Cable
Mad Scientist PC-NEO with Power Purifier 11 AWG Power Cable
Sablon Audio Petite Corona 2.0M 7 AWG AC Power Cable
JPS Labs The Power AC+ 2M 8 AWG AC Power Cable
Synergistic Research Labs Tesla Series SE T1 AC Power Cable
Synergistic Research Labs Tesla Series T1 AC Power Cable
PS Audio Noise Harvester (5) Converts noise to light
OYAIDE RI Beryllium Power Outlets (2)
Blue Circle Audio The Yalu Balula Industrial Surge/Spike Protection
JPLAY v5.2 hi-end audio player turns PC into a digital transport.
Fidelizer Pro Version 6.1
JRiver Media Center 19 Music Software
fsmithjack

Showing 4 responses by sbank

sbank's avatar
sbank
3,383 posts
 
Frank,
You might be missing the significance of Al's last post (and Atmasphere's linked comments) that your cable differences might not be as great in this instance, hence Mogami XLR probably can do the trick at low cost.

Trying your adapters won't hurt, too.

One of those options should be good enough to satisfy and you can always upgrade to balanced Darwins etc. down the road.

I checked the thread figuring you would have bought the Claytons by now based on our phone conversation, but laughed when I saw so many more considerations raised.

FWIW, I agree that adding transformers and extra sets of cables is to be avoided if possible. Cheers,
Spencer
sbank's avatar
sbank
3,383 posts
 
Taking this whole conversation into account, it sounds like you sure better settle on a speaker that is designed for use with a moderately powered tube amp(s), and not decide on amp until you get the speaker figured out. Your CJs with new speaker will certainly be an acceptable interim while you look for the amp of choice (tube or SS). Cheers,

Spencer
sbank's avatar
sbank
3,383 posts
 
Frank,
Before you drown the baby in the bath water re-read your old praise of the C8s.

IMHO, "The grip I want to control that fat, stubborn, internal Kevlar driver is gonna prob cost me my rich, lush, fatty, warm enveloping, 3d sound stage that is awfully addicting" you just described the pros/cons of the Premier 12s.

If possible, ply your pals with food & drink and get them to either bring their speakers to your place to try w/the amps or bring the amps to theirs and try them w/the Andras, etc. IME, Andras (I not III) needed lots of power and current to reveal their potential and I would be surprised if an 80w tube amp could do it well.

Have you heard from anyone that they've heard C8s driven with "tight grip on the bottom" that you seek? If so, what amps did they use to do so? That's a key question for you. Cheers,
Spencer
sbank's avatar
sbank
3,383 posts
 
Frank, did you hear the Krell in your system? Charles raises the most important point: amp & speaker matching.

If so, how do compare the sound of the Krell vs the Clayton? If you heard the Krell w/different speakers, it's really easy to draw inappropriate conclusions. You were in love w/Claytons a few weeks ago, so what's changed?

FWIW, that vintage Krell I believe was when they were getting their highest accolcades, before Dan D. left the company. So one could argue that might be the best sounding Krells, along with the slightly older KSA-250.

The Pass Labs and hybrid Lamms still sound like what you are after IME. Another more budget friendly option is the Odyssey monoblocks.

In other threads you ponder speaker changes. Whatever you decide, please go with an amp and speakers that you've heard together or you have strong reason to believe will be symbiotic together. Cheers,
Spencer
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