Gopher,
The Tempest-III is switchable between passive and active preamplification. It therefore works with a wider range of speakers than the first two Tempest generations. I believe it comes in a magnum version, maybe even a super magnum. I believe too that if you make your decision between one of the Tempest-III's or Cronus Magnum you can't go wrong either way, although I would give the nod to the Tempest-III.
A few years ago when I brought a Cronus and a Tempest home from the shop here in town to audition I found the Cronus to be a bit warmer than the Tempest. I don't recall which Tempest generation it was, 1 or 2. I don't believe I had the magnum version of the Cronus.
The guys in the shop have a Tempest-III Magnum (or Super Magnum, I can't recall) that has KT90 tubes in it. We didn't like the KT90s at first, but since they've been breaking in they've really changed character and are pretty nice. Nice musical texture. I have Gold Lion KT88s in my M180 monoblocks, and I like the detail they convey, but the Tempest-III with the KT90s is a nice setup.
The Tempest-III is switchable between passive and active preamplification. It therefore works with a wider range of speakers than the first two Tempest generations. I believe it comes in a magnum version, maybe even a super magnum. I believe too that if you make your decision between one of the Tempest-III's or Cronus Magnum you can't go wrong either way, although I would give the nod to the Tempest-III.
A few years ago when I brought a Cronus and a Tempest home from the shop here in town to audition I found the Cronus to be a bit warmer than the Tempest. I don't recall which Tempest generation it was, 1 or 2. I don't believe I had the magnum version of the Cronus.
The guys in the shop have a Tempest-III Magnum (or Super Magnum, I can't recall) that has KT90 tubes in it. We didn't like the KT90s at first, but since they've been breaking in they've really changed character and are pretty nice. Nice musical texture. I have Gold Lion KT88s in my M180 monoblocks, and I like the detail they convey, but the Tempest-III with the KT90s is a nice setup.