Description

I am so pleased, it will be difficult to swap anything out. The only possibility is a set amp with a little more power. The Larry Moore 300B-XLS is about 13w/ch and has been my primary amp for 3+ years.

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Components Toggle details

    • AMR CD-77
    SOTA Redbook player with an equally impressive USB DAC.
    • Thorens TD-160
    Rebuilt & modified; with new RCA outputs, mogami wire, and new headshell wire.
    • Sumiko Pearl
    Very nice w/ the Thorens.
    • Sony SCD-333es
    A nice 5 play & for the occasional sacd.
    • Aesthetix Calypso
    As many have reviewed, excellent QPR. Allows most of the details with smooth, almost natural delivery. Opted for this because of remote & balanced output.
    • Audio Mirror 45W SET
    6C33C SET Mono Block Amps, 45W/Channel.
    • Ascendo C8 Renaissance
    Large 3/4 way monitors. Sound & behave like 'almost full range' floor-standers.
    • Harmonic Technology Cyber Light
    Fiber Optic design
    • Harmonic Technology Magic Link II
    6N OCCC, my favorite, that I can afford. They are pretty close to the mega $ cables in terms of allowing all the music, naturally.
    • Harmonic Technology Pro 9
    6N OCCC
    • Jena Labs Model One
    Power Conditioner & cord that I use with the AMR CD-77
    • Audience AdeptResponse
    Power Conditioner
    • Sistrum SP-004
    Excellent stability for the amp & cdp
    • Stereo Knight Silverstone Magnetic Passive
    Transformer based Copper version passive with 0 or 6dB of gain. Clearly in the same league as Slagle & Bent Audio. This is an excellent mate to the Audio Mirror amps.
    • Larry Moore 300B SET Ultra Fi Seebring
    A very clean design with short point to point wiring, James Audio Iron, Mundorf Silver/Oil, over spec'ed parts, with EML 300B-XLS which gives approximately 13W/Ch. Linear in nature and very nicely extends on top & bottom. After 6 years, still my favorite amp.
    • Hypex N Core NC400
    N Core NC400 monoblock amps. Class D, DIY - 200w/ch mono amps. My new summertime amps! Ultra low distortion makes for great sound.
    • PS Audio Direct Stream DAC w/ Bridge

Comments 35

Showing all comments by charles1dad.

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Hi Ludimagis,
It's good to know that you're enjoying your system as much as ever. I'm
impressed that your 300b SET mates with the Ascendo speakers to the
extent it does. I'm sure that these speakers weren't designed with low
wattage SET amplifiers in mind to drive them. You have 3 desirable
amplifiers to rotate in your very nice system. I haven't any doubt that you
enjoy and appreciate your system and music as much as I do.
Charles,

charles1dad

Ludimagis,
Hello,
You have two very different amps with the 300b SET and Hypex N core. Do you enjoy them equally? Does one mate better with your Ascendo speakers(it would seem to favor the N core)? This is an interesting contrast of power amplifiers, must be fun.
Charles,

charles1dad

Ludimagis,
Thanks for your impressions. It seems you can`t go wrong with either amplifier.I could see how your Ascendo would respond favorably to the SS Gamut amplifier.
Regards,

charles1dad

Hi Ludimagis,
I bet the Lamm pre was a nice addition. What are its advantages and disadvantages compared to your passive pre?

Is the Gamut amp a direct equal to your SET amplifier and does it offer similar tactile,3 dimensionally and the 'presence' factor as some SET are known to do?This is what SET amplifiers seem to do better than most other amplifier types in my experience.
Regards,

charles1dad

Hello,
Ludimagis, I don`t know what price range you have in mind for an amplifier. Coincident has just released the MarkII version of the Dragon mono blocks now. This use 211 output tubes in push-pull mode with a 300b driver and an interstage transformer. These are said to be nearly as pure and natural as the Frankenstein but with much more power and able to drive difficult speaker loads. The web site has more details.

charles1dad

Ludimagis,
Thanks for the information, I always thought the Ascendo speakers required moderate to high power amps(based on reviews I`ve read) to make them come alive. It`s good to know your 300b amp is capable of driving them to your satisfaction.

charles1dad

Ooops,
Forgot to ask, is your 300b amp purely a one of a kind custom built? It looks very well made and with excellent parts.
I`ve never heard the EML 300b tubes, how did you happen to select them?
Thanks,
Charles,

charles1dad

Hi,
Ludimagis,I have no doubt your system satisfies you, but I`ll tell you that the Frankenstein MarkII monoblocks are stunningly good.They take a good SET amp`s ability to deliver realism to another level(particularly when used with the upgraded Shuguang Black Treasure 300b tubes).
Best Regards,
Charles,

charles1dad

Hello,
This is a very nice system and must provide much musical joy.The components seem well matched.

charles1dad