I have an HF81 which was restored and modified by Sam's Audio.
He changed the mode of operation to triode, I believe, so it now outputs just 7 watts per channel instead of 14 watts, but it sounds amazing.
For sometime I was running it with a pair of Wilson Audio Duettes - not a speaker most would recommend for this amp, but the sound was glorious! Even large scale symphonic works sounded great at moderate levels. Visitors couldn't believe they were hearing just 7 watts!
Lately I have had this amp driving a pair of GoldenEar Technology Triton 2 Floorstanding models which have their own amps for the woofer sections. Since the HF81 is only powering the mids and highs, this is a perfect application for it and the result is terrific.
I don't imagine I will ever recoup my $ 2000+ investment, but it is a experience worth having.
It may be of interest to know that this particular amp was originally used in the sound system of a community club in Winnipeg where Neil Young grew up. Neil's band would practice at this club using the sound system with this amp. A volunteer at the club acquired the amp when the sound system was upgraded years later and I purchased it from his son several years ago.
Dennis Penner
Winnipeg Canada
He changed the mode of operation to triode, I believe, so it now outputs just 7 watts per channel instead of 14 watts, but it sounds amazing.
For sometime I was running it with a pair of Wilson Audio Duettes - not a speaker most would recommend for this amp, but the sound was glorious! Even large scale symphonic works sounded great at moderate levels. Visitors couldn't believe they were hearing just 7 watts!
Lately I have had this amp driving a pair of GoldenEar Technology Triton 2 Floorstanding models which have their own amps for the woofer sections. Since the HF81 is only powering the mids and highs, this is a perfect application for it and the result is terrific.
I don't imagine I will ever recoup my $ 2000+ investment, but it is a experience worth having.
It may be of interest to know that this particular amp was originally used in the sound system of a community club in Winnipeg where Neil Young grew up. Neil's band would practice at this club using the sound system with this amp. A volunteer at the club acquired the amp when the sound system was upgraded years later and I purchased it from his son several years ago.
Dennis Penner
Winnipeg Canada