WOOLCOT AMPS - Anybody heard these?

These are Wolcot not Woolcot amps. Yes, I used to own a pair of these amps. They are very liner and neutral. They mate very well with Sound Lab speakers or Quad speakers. They didn't work well with the Wisdom Audio speakers(which are what I'm currently using). Jbm - epicaud@gateway.net

With all due respect they are: WOLCOTT AUDIO PRESENCE mono block tube amplifiers, manufactured by Wolcott Audio Inc., 2250 N. Bigelow Ave., Simi Valley, CA 93065.

I did hear them at Stereo Unlimited in San Diego. They are very powerful. Lots of EL34's. The designer (Mr. Wolcott) has many years of experience. He has put extensive work and knowledge into his amps. Highly recomended. Scott

Khrys, the revision you spoke of would lead one to believe this is a product going through some evolution. The Wolcott's design is essentially unchanged, the revision is a selector switch on the rear that will allow these amps to be used with a larger variety of speakers. This feature is minor, and can be added to older amps, often by the owner. The only other revision is the OPTION of a new wide band transformer. This was developed specifically for the Soundlab speakers, as their impedance in the extreme top (@ 22K HZ) is 2.6 ohms. This is NOT a revision, the amps are still available with the original transformer, and the new wide band is an option, for an additional cost of $500.00. I might add, unless you and/or you dealer have listened to the Wolcott for at least 250 hours, you have not really heard it at it's best. The changes mine have gone through are amazing, and they are still breaking in. Tubes are absolutely critical to the performance of this amp, and I am still surprised at the changes that are occurring as I test with various tube combinations. One last thing, you did not say what other amps you and your dealer are comparing these to. I have compared my Wolcotts to many other amps, and there are not many that are even in this price range. The Wolcott is only $8495.00 retail. The Atmasphere MA2 MK11, the VTL 700, the Viva Aurora, Tube Research GT400, and others are all below, equal, or slightly better in performance to the Wolcott's, depending on your speaker and your opinion. All these I mention are from $20,000 to $32,500.00. From two and a half times, to nearly quadruple the price, certainly something to consider when making comparisons.

Albert, how could I know that a new rear-mounted speaker-variety selector switch and new wide-band transformer would be considered "options" and not evolutions? My apologies. I did not listen to the Wolcotts for 250 hours as you suggest and that could explain everything. It often does. Nevertheless, I found the Jadis JA200, JA100(especially), JA80 and Audio Valve Baldur mono blocs to sound significantly better than the Wolcotts on Wilson Watt/Puppy 6s or Vandersteen 5s. Their superior sound was completely comensurate with their superior cost. I found that the ARC VT200(used)and the Audio Valve Challenger 140 equaled the Wolcott in sound and cost. I can easily understand how you would prefer the Wolcott to the Atmasphere, VTL or Viva amps. I haven't heard the GT400 but I trust your judgement here implicitly. Please don't misunderstand - I LIKE the Wolcotts. However, I am wary of any product that bills itself as "breakthrough". And, I feel there are several "conventional" amps similarly priced that just might sound better even without any options, revisions, design changes or evolution.