Jolida 502b, Manley Stingray & VTL- I85 compare ?

Excuse me for adding to your list, but I am using an Audio Aero Prima Hybrid amp with the Prima CDP, and if you want that tube warmth with a tight, punchy bass, I've yet to find a better combination. For rock, classic rock, and blues, you would be hard pressed to beat it.

I should also say that I've owned the 502B, and have heard the Stingray extensively. Neither have bass that approaches the Prima Hybrid. Not even the CJ 140 had as much bass as the Prima. This is one amazing amplifier!

Rene,

I've heard the Unico at length, both at a (nearly) local dealer, as well as at a friend's house. He had replaced the stock tube with a Telefunken, while the dealer was playing the amp completely stock. I was also listening with my wife on all occasions, and we had a similar opinion of the Unico.

Some of the characteristics of the Unico that we noticed:
Excellent clarity. Good detail as well. We both liked it better than the Pathos Classic One, though neither of us was enamored with the Unico for several reasons. We never felt close to the music. It was colored just enough, even ashy sounding at the dealer, to keep us analyzing the music as opposed to being enveloped by it. In fact, we both loved the engaging quality of the Jolida amps much more. The Jolida's simply lacked--for our purpose--a tight and punchy bottom end.

We heard the Prima hybrid for ten seconds, and we were sold. "That's it!" we both said. It has the best instrument separation I've heard, and everything just sounds like it's in the right place. Superb dynamics, a real depth to the sound. Upgrading the PC helped as well. It is warm AND detailed, with tremendous bass presence. I can listen to it for hours, and many times will opt to play the softer music on it (as opposed to our SET system) just for a change of pace. We played around with the tube, and found we like the Siemens best.

When mated with the Prima CDP, it was as though both components were allowed to really shine. We use the hybrid amp primarily for more bass-oriented music, and you would not believe the musicality that emerges even from music that had always sounded harsh to me: My Bloody Valentine, for example. The amp sounds like the Jolida, with more authority and definition in the top end and midrange, and a MUCH bigger impact in the bottom end. I think I've said this in previous posts, but the amp is perfect, as though a masterful conductor is presiding over the music.

Sorry to be so wordy. I'm not the best editor.

All the best,
Howard

Restock,

I should have said the same as far as running away with Saki70's thread. Hopefully, all of these peripheral comments will be useful to him/her.

With your Jolida, I might suggest getting an NOS tube for your 12AX7's: Mullard, Telefunken, or the sort. You will experience an opening of the soundstage, and a warmer authority over the music. The EH's are somewhat dry and narrow in their presentation, IMO. An NOS tube will bring a more emotional presentation to that amp.

Once again, Saki70, I really believe that you would find your music to be best presented with the Prima Hybrid amp, especially in combination with the Prima CDP, and because as you crank the Jolida and the Manley, the bass end becomes somewhat bloomy, thus losing controlled impact. Your reference is SS, remember. Not such a big deal on classical or jazz maybe, but if your preferences are as you state in rock-oriented music, the Prima Hybrid is going to give you the bottom end lovin' you'll want. Excuse me if I'm not properly addressing your needs, but this is what I've inferred from your post.

All the best,
Howard

Saki70,

I've been using the Hybrid Amp with 89db speakers, and I can't turn the amp past 10 o'clock--and that's when listening to Tool. You would have ample power, I'm sure.
It makes such a great combo with the Prima CDP.

The newest Prima Hybrid amp can be found (check or place a wanted on www.canuckaudiomart.com) for the $1300 range, and is 50W. It also has remote control, but does not have the sub/pre out like the older version.

Finally, a NEW NEW version is coming out early next year--100W. 40W has been plenty for us, and would fill a room much bigger than ours 14' x 14'.