hi Andy and all,

The Charlise did improved over time, very easy on the ears. Yeo suggested
using 12V instead, I did, but with Switching power supply, the sound makes
me a bit tense, though its a bigger sound.
How long will a 12V battery last with one charging?

On SET I do thing it may sound purer, but the demand on the OT and PS is
much more. So PP tend to sound better as most SET amps are not that well
made. I do find that if we make the amp simpler, actually PP could sound
very similar to SET, yet with the benefit of lower noise and more power.
For example using paraphase, the front tube drive the output direct, while
only the opposite phase output tube will go thru phase conversion.
Anyway, I have a Gold Baile 2A3C small SET amp with ample power. After
tweaking a bit such as raising the current of the driver tubes, adding some
caps here and there, the sound is quite nice though still a trace of hum.
The output power is quite big surprisingly... I think it must be in the
region of 5 watts as it could drive my Rega effortlessly. Must try on my SMG
to see how.

On the Gryphon amp, I used to own the big stereo power amp with 3 step adj
bias. Well, I agree that it does not have air. It is dark sounding with no
live. I could not listen for too long else I would feel depressed. the amp
is hot, and for the 1 year I owned it, 8 months was with the agent for
servicing. Can't respect those magazine writers who said it was a great amp!
Same dark sound with the pre amp. Worst the volume control does not even
have the numeric engraved correctly! What a joke. When I solder wires to
connect the volume pot directly to the gain stage instead of going thru
circuit board traces that is half the width of the pre amp, I got more air
and dynamics and felt like a champion. But soon a friend brought in Classe
DR-6 with CA 400 power amp that sounded much better then the Gryphon in
every respect....
but the story of the SS amp is always similar, you think you found some
thing nicer, it will only stay for not more then 3 months until you hated
the sound! That's why I only listen to tubes for the last 7 years.

best rgds

William Lee




----- Original Message -----
From: "doclowther" <doclowther@...>
To: <doctorjohn_CheapTubeAudio@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, December 01, 2005 1:10 PM
Subject: [doctorjohn_CheapTubeAudio] Editor's Note (Re: Class T amp)


> Dear Andy, Kharma et al:
>
> Of course I like the talk about the CHEAP T-amp. As a matter of fact,
> I had to see the hype, so I got one months ago thru group order of
> Wesley. Have not picked up yet.
>
> I bought the cheapest one because I believe even the cheapest can give
> me the BOTTOM LINE. I am not interested in turning it into superamp,
> which I doubt can happen without draculian effort. One thing, I
> SERIOUSLY doubt even at its best it can rival a good SET amp.
>
> Reading some of the discussions I believe the discrepancy in
> perception stems from personal differences as well as SETUP, which is
> of paramount importance. The speakers better be efficient, and many
> so-called high-efficiency speakers (like "TAD VSM300") are really not.
> In your case, the Bastanis has an active woofer, so that's a help, and
> you won't notice the bass deficiency so much. The situation is
> similar to the matching of SET amps and speakers. Notice the Hong Kong
> Tube audio idiots who write profusely that SET amps are not as good as
> PP amps, judged all by a pair of LS3/5a. You just cannot stop
> assxxxxs.
>
> The opinions seems to hint at whether the listener tolerates "clean
> notes" with less decay. This is nothing new, even among high-priced ss
> stuff. Some expensive ss stuff, like Gryphon, seem to have short decay
> to me and that bothers me personally. Another is perception of "air".
> Ditto Gryphon, regarded by ss users as "tube-like", has little air to
> me. Another example is speakers. Take JM Lab Utopia, whether you
> really like it will depend not a little on the slightly short decay,
> hence "clean" sound. Digitals too, needless to say. This is perosnal.
> For me, even CHEAP tube will HAVE to have excellent decay and bags of
> air. "Refinement" has to come later.
>
> Yes, cheap can be good, but HOW cheap, and HOW good? Hmm...The search
> is the fun part though. Just do not expect the "ultimate".
>