2. amps-preamps
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what is your opinion ?

Hi everyone, last 18 years I've got hooked up to vintage Tube amplifiers, prior to that I was rather happy with SS muscle amps driven to my Apogee Scintilla and Duetta sig's truly open 3D soundstage Few tube amps was able accept Apogee marriage but not  as good as SS amps, until I ended up bargain priced infamous Altec's voice the theatre speakers not a wife pleaser but luckly I've  got a dedicated music room, never looked back since then ,,WE design 91 , WE46C , RIP Don Garber, even loftin White design SET amps T.Mayer Attilio Caccamo of Tektron some genious Japanese design SET Amps they all have unique presantation complimented by incredable sound of 45, 2A3, VT52,300B, E406N, even modern production Sophia 206 , and many more  ! my question is why these old school design audio sounds nearer to reality ? naturally we are all aware of room acoustics tuning our  rooms etc, etc are we listening equipment or music ? do we really need furniture grade Audio equipment ? or maybe we humans are we trying to re invent the wheel again ?
128x128sabih

Showing 4 responses by islandmandan

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islandmandan
1,260 posts
 
I just recently acquired what to me is a fairly unique amplifier, a 3C24 amp that's giving me the best, most enjoyable sound I've ever heard with my Tannoy HPD 315 custom built speakers.

This amp was built for me by Paul Birkeland, designer for Bottlehead Industries.

This is in my living (listening room) in the home I have lived in for twenty seven years, where I have tried quite a few amps over the years. These being mostly solid state, but I was enticed by the likes of the late Art Dudley to try tube amp designs. I am not going back to solid state ever again. I've tried VAC (PA 35.35, and a very nice sounding Audio Assemblies SET 300B, but my new 3C24 is, and will remain, the best amp for my room and speakers. That's something, in my book.

Maybe Ralph may want to comment on how the 3C24 would match with your Altecs.

Best regards to all,
Dan
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islandmandan
1,260 posts
 
Ralph, I don't have product literature for the amp, but Paul mentioned 11 Wpc, but it plays like it's more. Great match with what my speakers like in amplification.

I've never enjoyed music so much at home in the last forty years or so. I've finally reached, and attained what I wanted, and searched for for all these years. I'm now in my seventies, so I feel fortunate to have finally reached my goal, and I get to listen for many hours every day, though it means staying up quite late most nights. At times, I wake up as the sun is rising, and turn everything off and go to bed. What a life, but my wife can't tolerate music the way I like to listen to it, so that's how it has to be. I love it anyway.

Regards,
Dan
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islandmandan
1,260 posts
 
Sabih, Paul is about a two hour drive from me. When I told him I was in the market for an amp, one Saturday he brought four different amps for me to listen to. Last one was the 3C24, which had the best parts selection, and the best sound. Interesting amp, the output tubes are much smaller than a 300B or 845.

Paul has been a very positive influence on my quality of musical life, he is honest, generous, and really seems to know what he is doing. I'm glad Dan of Bottlehead, recommended I call Paul when I needed work on one of my amps. It's something I'm grateful for.

Dan
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islandmandan
1,260 posts
 
Sabih, you can find pictures aplenty on my Virtual Systems, under "Done For Now" titled "The Summit", which refers to my own personal summit, not some indication of where I think it places me in the vastness of systems on Audiogon, or on Earth, for that matter.

Nice talking to you, stay safe, regards,
Dan
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