Mike Elliot s ARIA..the ultimate amp?


I am sure that people have noticed the new brainchild of Mike Elliot, of former Countepoint fame, the ARIA amps. I read that they seem to be sort of HYBRID in design, solid state plus the use of just two tubes. Will this sort of amp sound more tube like or solid state like? What about clipping, will it clip more like tubes or solid states? Who has had experience with other hybrid designs from Countepoint, like the NPS amps? How do they sound, do they clip? Has anyone experienced the ARIA themselves?
Any suggestions are recommended!
PAUL
bemopti123

Showing 1 response by jimtreanor

I have an "older" (6922-based voltage stage instead of the SN7's used in phild's) Elliott-modified SA-100 (designated the NP100) with a Plitron toroidal transformer. It employs a bipolar SS output stage.

I've written an extensive review of the unit, reproduced on Mike's Web site at www.altavistaaudio.com/testimonials.html. To summarize, it's "sweet," dynamic, and near-holographic, given appropriate source material. When I wrote the review, I had Symdex Epsilon dynamic floorstanders, but now drive a pair of Magnepan 1.6QR's in a 26'x14'3"x7'8" room up to approximately 90db levels at my listening position 10 feet ahead of the Maggies. If the NP100 (a rated 100-watter at 8 ohms, 140 at the 1.6's rated 4 ohms) is clipping, I can't hear it. Most of my listening is to classical, with a fair amount of jazz, all played on a Sony SCD-777ES. The preamp is also an Elliott-modified unit, a Counterpoint SA-2000 tubed line stage.

I second phild's suggestion to contact Mike directly.

Hope this is helpful.