2. amps-preamps
  3. 194601-3130

??? WHY WHY WHY ??? Class A vs Everything Else

 After 8 long months at the Authorized U.S.Service Center,my beautiful Sugden Bijou Class A amplifier & PreAmp came home 2 days ago..BOTH units have been completely,& I mean COMPLETELY rebuilt,from input stages to output stages,pretty much  everything was replaced with new components,checked,cleaned,rebiased & cooked in...
 For the last 8 months I've alternated between a Class A/B SimAudio Moon 240i & a Class D,Creek 4040A..I really like the Class D Creek and it will accompany me on an upcoming 3 year job in the Philippines starting this coming November..I was all set to put the Sugden gear up for sale as soon as it came in & I confirmed operation..I NEVER should have set it up!!!
 Using the Moon 240i as a preamp since I don't have a stand alone source to feed the Sugden HeadMaster,I set up the MusicMaster amp & let it warm up for 15 minutes...
 From the VERY FIRST NOTES,I was enchanted.mesmerized,enthralled,seduced & completely gobsmacked...
 There was something soooo right about the sound..There isn't one area I could point to,it simply sounds.right..Everything seems to have been lit from inside..The best analogy I can provide is this..The sound is like the colors of nature,as the rising sun just clears the horizon & suddenly everything snaps into vivid focus,taking your breath away...
 I spent the better part of today swapping in & out between all 3 amplifiers on hand just to make sure I wasn't simply locked into subconscious justification for spending the $ to have the Sugden gear rebuilt..I wasn't!
 I hate having gear sitting in a box unused but I'm not sure I have any choice in this situation..When I come home on breaks during this upcoming project & when it is finally finished & I come back to the States for good I'll have it to enjoy..Not to mention it will cost a small fortune by then to replace the level of performance of this gear offers with whatever happens to be the flavor of that time...
 WTH can't everything just sound this superb.......
 

freediver

Showing 1 response by perkri

perkri
926 posts
 

I built a Hiraga Super 30 Class A amp. It is the amp I listen to most, just does everything well. Lots of detail, without being fatiguing. Amazing 3d soundstage, with clear imaging. Rich mids and tight bass. Is very responsive to upstream components, showcases differences in the front end. Works well with most of my speakers, though it’s too much with my Cornwalls in the low end - my Type 45 plays better with those. 
 

One thing I noticed, is how well it plays at low listening levels. 
 

I would love to get my hands on a GanFet Class D amp, so I could compare the two. I have class A tube and solid state (single ended and push pull of both). Several different types of amps based on different output tubes. 
 

They all have their “thing”they do well. And depending on what I’m listening to, speakers and amps will be swapped in and out.

 

But is the Hiraga I keep coming back to. 

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