All great feedback and thanks to all that chimed in. @jazzbobob I read you review before you posted here as that amp and the Super KT SE is on my list of choices, Aric is steering me toward the Super KT SE which can get me 20WPC UL with KT150's but that Transcend Push Pull seems like a safer choice to me since I only have one chance to get it right. iwonder how different they are? I also keep thinking that my VAC has more power for the time I feel I need it but I'd hate to be disappointed too. I do enjoy the dynamics I am getting now.
Anyone with Aric Audio experience?
Over the past 2.5 years I have been updating my system which I originally started building in the late 1990's to early 2000's. (My system is in my profile) Two of the last pieces of that era in the system is the VAC CLA1 Mk III Preamp which has been serviced twice these past 1.5 years, once for an upgrade to Mk III and once to replace resister's, I also have a VAC Renaissance 70/70 amp which was updated to a Signature 1 year ago but this past week I lost the left channel output so it's going back to Florida with me from Michigan to get repaired while i am down there. (I just re tubed it too) I think that although these are both great sounding to this day I may want to keep them as spares for the future or as Kevin refers to them as Museum Pieces.
I don't think I would be happy long term with solid state as I can run my speakers internally amped and the Wavelet as the pre, which I have tried and it's just not for me. Even with the amp down when i just run the VAC preamp and the speakers self powered I prefer it that way. But immediately sensed something missing once the amp was taken out of the chain to be boxed for repair. I just prefer tubes. Well unfortunately I cannot afford to replace with up to date VAC components due to my restricted retired income and the cost. I don't want to take a chance on sourcing used units as I really just want to be done here and enjoy without risk.
I've researched Aric Audio and this looks like a pairing I can integrate into my rig and be happy long term. Seems that I get the impression that those that have his stuff are happy from what I have gleaned on these forums. I am in communication with Aric via email to find the right Amp and Preamp to suit my speakers. Since I already have a 300B based amp was looking for something else he makes. Maybe with 20-50 WPC. My speakers require at least 10 and i am currently at 65 with the VAC.
So if anyone has bought anything from Aric how happy are you with them and have they been reliable and satisfying to your ears? This is going to take me quite a while to save for so I will just use what I have until i can buy their replacements. The good news is the speakers can be self powered and the Wavelet can be a preamp if needed. That was my contingency plan for "spares"
Thank you for any insight.
Happy New Year!
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First, I would like to say Thank You to everyone who posted and I’m very glad to hear the positive comments, and thankful for the opportunity to stay busy building these products.
Regarding amp selection, I generally like to use the speaker’s sensitivity, impedance, and distance from the speaker that the end user will sit as well as the average peak decibels that the client listens at to gauge what amplifier choices will work. If there’s at least 6 db of headroom over the peak listening levels (which equates to double the power to both speakers), then I consider this a safe margin.
That said, at listening levels under 90 db at 3 meters from the OP's Legacy speakers, the Super KT SE is more than adequate as it can provide peaks of up to 100 db from them. The Transcend push pull absolutely would work as well and have headroom to spare for even louder listening levels. It also sounds stellar- more similar to the Super KT SE than different really, however with single-ended you get just a touch more inner detail and realism- and I do mean a touch, but it’s still there. I did also design the Transcend Push Pull to have more of a "single-ended" signature to the sound, while gaining more power than a typical SET, so if there are any doubts that the 20 watts using KT150s will be adequate, then the Transcend Push Pull would have an extra margin of power and very similar sonics. It’s that trade off between slightly better sonics vs slightly more power which is the major difference between SE and Push Pull in my experience.
Best regards, Aric |
Thank you @aricaudio You are talking me off the ledge. (Even though you told me this before) I believe I may be ready later this summer. Unless I get the Motherload first! :) |
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