UNIT ARRIVES
AES Super Amp Wiring

Amp arrived safely from what I can tell. First thing I did was remove the bottom cover to get a handle on the wiring. This would enable me tocheck the parts and see first hand if the beast was wired in "triode" as they had claimed at Upscale Audio.

Well, you can trust the guys on this one. It is definitely wired in "15w triode mode." Please click on the wiring shot below to see the red circles around the transformer wiring taps that would have indicated "25w Ultralinear" mode wiring. Since the blue/white and brown/white leads from the output transformers are wrapped off, and the solid brown and blue wires are used, this would indicate triode mode; the blue/white and brown/white wires would have also been soldered to pins T1-4 and T2-4 on transformer A and T3-4 and T4-4 on Transformer B (these pin numbers can be seen in your manual). So that mystery is taken care of. As of yet, I have not hooked the unit up nor opened the tube box. After I do all this, I'll drop you another mail.


Pre-Warm-Up Observations

As for the amp sound, it is more close to the single-ended relaxed presentation than most PP amps (and this with the lowly Chinese KT-88). It is really laid back, almost too laid back with my passive preamp. I am going to hook it up to the Cary to see how that does. So far it's pretty damn smooth although the bass is not as controlled as my 2A3 Moondogs or EICO. IT is a much more refined amplifier than my ASUSA EL-34 at first glance. Not as powerful by any means, but it exudes more subtle grace. As is, I have not tried the EL-34 yet.

This is just at a first glance after listening for 30 minutes are so. The parts quality is very good. I would like to have it be able to be triode/Ultralinear switchable, something that is done on more than a few Cary amps. Not sure how it would compromise things. I do notice a lack of control in the bottom registers and a loss of top end extension compared to my Moondogs and even EICO. Yet it is very open in some ways. Just seems to be lacking a bit in dynamics but this might be due to the passive preamp and/or triode mode.

This amp DOES have a very big soundstage and is pretty damn sweet sounding considering these tubes. The NOS input/driver tubes probably help here. There just doesn't seem to quite be enough resolution compared to what I am used to; it's almost as if a very light gauze is thrown over the presentation. Of course, this is pretty much compared to 2A3 SET amps, but it is there nonetheless.

I will let the amp warm up more and get settled. The other tubes might be better here. Chinese KT-88 surely don't have a stellar reputation. A little disappointed that the Marconi TT22 are having problems either with themselves or the amp.


UPDATE 4/1 5:55pm

Well, it's a nice sounding little amp. The swine puts out some serious heat! I think I have discovered something; I sometimes like a good stereo amp over Monoblocks as it tends to sound more of a whole at times. I like Monoblocks for other reasons but have always noticed this.

The amp is getting better resolution as it is warming up and settling down. I wonder if the thing is even broken in yet? One negative that I have come across is that when you crank the volume up, the sound hardens quite a bit, making you want to back it down. Not the best sign but could be due to the KT-88. One of the great things about good SET amps is that when you bring on more volume, the sound does not become harsh.


UPDATE 4/2 2:35pm

ES Super Amp Wiring Notice triode wiring indicators in red

Well, the Svetlana EL-34 have arrived. Removed the KT-88 and MAN, are these beasts hot as a bastard! I about burned my hand THROUGH a cotton dishtowel! Lordy. I have more tubes and boxes lying about than a bad pawn shop, yet it has been fun giving the Super Amp a go over.

Well, it didn't take me long to realize why I almost always prefer the EL-34 tube to the 6550 type tube. Yes, the KT-88 is a far better tube than the average 6550, but the EL-34 just has so much more of a soul than either. In reading other comments about the Super Amp from various reviewers, I notice that most prefer the KT series, with Soundstage opting for the KT-90. Too bad we don't have a set here. But I can tell you right off that of the tubes that are here, the Svetlana EL-34 are surely the most musical and really fit right in with this amp. The bass is a bit ripe but the mids and highs are very nice. The EL-34 just brings more harmonic richness to the presentation and while the KT-88 is not too bad, it just lacks that bit of soul that I find so beguiling about the EL-34.

One of the weaknesses of this amp still seems to be its ability to turn on a dime with quick dynamics. It is a slight bit ponderous sounding; actually, that word is too strong here. The amp is just not as quick as some others, including the vintage EICO. So it has a few foibles but does many other things well. So far, after only an hour with the EL-34, I have many good things to say, especially if you are into acoustic jazz. Female vocalists such as early Sarah Vaughan and Billie Holiday are wonderful as are people like Joe Williams and Andy Bey. I ran through a smattering of some great sax stuff from Sonny Rollins, Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane, Lester Young, Ben Webster, Art Pepper, and Stan Getz. All were reproduced with great connection to the music, something that even good solid state just cant accomplish with the same degree of aplomb and emotion.

I still have not had a chance to play more challenging material due to tourist hell... but it's coming.


UPDATE 4/2 5:30pm

Audrey, my wife, comes sauntering in from school. I ask her to sit down for a quick listen.

"IS this the amp your friend sent from Cary?"

"Yep, The Super Amp"

"Ahhh, the infamous Super Amp...."

"Yep, the ole SUPER AMP"

"Not exactly a Super name, is it?"

"Lord, just listen to the damn thing....the name does lack a certain subtlety...I would have called it Our First Fireplace since it glows about 20 times more than the 2A3"

I throw on Sarah Vaughan: In HIFI and sit back to listen; Audrey listens for
a bit then shakes her head just slightly

"What's wrong? What do you think?"

"It sounds forward...too forward...impossible to relax totally; what do you think?"

"Interesting. I am listening to it a higher volume than earlier. But... Well, it is a bit forward, surely more so than it was with the lower volume. I moved it from the passive to the Cary SLP-70 to warm things up as well. It now has the Svet EL-34 which are more musical sounding than the Chinese KT-88."

" I think the amp sounds reeled in. There is something just not right about it. It's not bad but I don't think it has any magic. It surely is nowhere near your other amps and I think the EICO sounds better. The Super Amp sounds a bit too forward and somewhat harsh with the vocals. This is just in comparison to the other amps. It sounds like the music is taken apart and then put back together."

"Hmmm, interesting comment. Well, it surely does not do well with rock music, either Indie or classic. The HF-81 actually has more guts and a more liquid sounding midrange and is just smoother all the way around. There are some good things about this amp. It is pretty clear and open sounding. But I agree, there is a bit of forward, hard nature about the sound, but only in comparison with very liquid sounding amplifiers in the SET category and the little EICO HF-81 which continues to amaze me. I think in some ways the Super Amp sounds like a more expensive amplifier - it sounds more HIFI than the EICO. Yet you realize that once you have gotten past this, it is hard to listen to this type of sound anymore. It's like the slightest tinge of that quality now stands out."

"I just don't like it that much. Did you do any invoices today?

"Jesus....."




April 10 10:30am Living with the Super Amp....
a change of perspective and Audrey's TRUTH

I have really had a change in heart here after listening to this amp at more live levels with more varieties of music. After further listening, some of the foibles of this amplifier do come to the surface. That being said, it can be enjoyed but I am having more trouble with its niche.

I don't know where to fit this amplifier. I have not yet used it on my ProAcs or the Polk RT5 office system which is the next step. But as of now, I don't see a good place for this amp as currently configured. It is not of high enough power and control in the lower end to do rock with any sense of dynamics. Hendrix "Axis Bold As Love" sounds positively POOR via the Super Amp, and this through 98dB speakers. Of course, I don't think the vintage Klipsch are very good with certain rock recordings. But the little EICO (which is about the same power but purely Williamson Pentode), has so much more guts and is the better amplifier to these ears. I think it surely sounds more cohesive and natural. It has a more relaxed, open quality but is actually not quite as detailed in some ways as the Super Amp. Yet some of the Super Amp's perception of detail comes from the slightly more crisp nature that is less like real life.

As stated, I don't know where to put the Super Amp. To me, a good SET does Jazz and more intimate music with far more grace and ease. The top end lacks the bite and unnatural quality of the vocals. It just sounds more natural and of a whole. The EICO has more guts/control and is relaxed and sweeter without sounding too rolled off or euphonic. Where would the 15w triode wired Super Amp fit in here?

Perhaps, some mods can be done. I read somewhere that some are running the two outer tubes in Ultralinear while the two inside tubes are wired triode. Perhaps the DJH version which has bigger transformers, more filtering capacitance (as well as fixed bias), and Jensen oils would sound more appealing.

Ultimately, I would like a good pair of modified vintage EICO 50w push pulls for live listening levels. The EICO and SET 2A3 would take care of the rest. To me, in this wattage range, the Super Amp is actually outclassed by other topologies and offerings, many of which are actually cheaper, especially in the used market.

Still, I need to do some more listening. As of now, ole Audrey walks to the back room to put on CDs in the office!


May 14 10:30pm Super Amp Following Moondogs

Well, it's been quite a while here and basically the Superamp has been idle but still attracting attention from vagrants and loons entering premises. Most are attracted to the big KT-88 valves as they are rather imposing, then again, the 2A3 Moondogs are in shelves behind the amp, which happens to be resting on its dedicated tile and iron stand circa 1945; in other words, the 2A3 beasts are more hidden, thus a bit neglected attention-wise.

I am really torn on this amp still. I have come to like the Chinese KT-88 more than originally thought, yet I am still wondering where someone into SET amps would put this beast. Perhaps wiring it with one pair of tubes in pentode would make a difference as I have read elsewhere. It does have some great soundstage characteristics...but is the tone musical and natural enough? I found myself not minding it after listening for a few days. Then you hook up that ole 2A3 SET and suddenly you go, "Ohhhhhh....that's the difference!"