RussM Posted January 2 Share Posted January 2 Well hello everyone. I've been active on some of the other forums but it was suggested that since I have Vandys that this one was really the one to join. My speakers are heart of my system and not negotiable except to upgrade one day. My current signal path is Brinkmann Bardo with matching 10.5 arm fitted with Ortofon cadenza black-> Rogers High Fidelity PA-2-> Don Sachs model 2 preamp-> Rogue Audio M180s. What I'm looking for is increased soundstage depth and detail while keeping things involving. I've gone all tube because I have historically found SS gear to be a bit thin and sterile sounding t ok me. It's the same reason I prefer vinyl to digital (also have a streamer I to a Schiit Yggy analog 2). My first goal was to improve my preamp and the Sachs has done that for me. I'm using a used one now and may get a new one from him with dual volume controls or possibly a used Joule-Electra (live 90 min from Rich Brkich) or maybe a different boutique handmade unit like an Aric Audio. In the meantime though, I'm interested in upgrading my amps to something with zero negative feedback as it's been made quite clear here and elsewhere that the Vandys time correctness suffers without this. I've been looking on the used market and I've found some players: https://tmraudio.com/components/power-amplifiers/ayon-triton-mono-tube-power-amplifiers-pair-new-tubes/ https://tmraudio.com/components/power-amplifiers/canary-audio-ca339-mkii-monoblock-tube-amplifiers-ca-339-mk2-black-pair/ https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649933445-cary-audio-cad-211-ae/ https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649851712-atma-sphere-m60-otl-monoblocks/ There are other pairs of the canary ones in USAM as well and honestly these are the ones I can find least about. Don't know if Zero Negative feedback or not. Reached out to them but haven't heard back. All the others are definitely Zero NFB. Would love to hear people experiences with these units, in any, and what other options might be. I'd like to keep my budget in the parameters mentioned here which is why I'm not including the bespoke vandy amps. Best, Russ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Vandersteen Posted January 2 Share Posted January 2 1 hour ago, RussM said: Well hello everyone. I've been active on some of the other forums but it was suggested that since I have Vandys that this one was really the one to join. My speakers are heart of my system and not negotiable except to upgrade one day. My current signal path is Brinkmann Bardo with matching 10.5 arm fitted with Ortofon cadenza black-> Rogers High Fidelity PA-2-> Don Sachs model 2 preamp-> Rogue Audio M180s. What I'm looking for is increased soundstage depth and detail while keeping things involving. I've gone all tube because I have historically found SS gear to be a bit thin and sterile sounding t ok me. It's the same reason I prefer vinyl to digital (also have a streamer I to a Schiit Yggy analog 2). My first goal was to improve my preamp and the Sachs has done that for me. I'm using a used one now and may get a new one from him with dual volume controls or possibly a used Joule-Electra (live 90 min from Rich Brkich) or maybe a different boutique handmade unit like an Aric Audio. In the meantime though, I'm interested in upgrading my amps to something with zero negative feedback as it's been made quite clear here and elsewhere that the Vandys time correctness suffers without this. I've been looking on the used market and I've found some players: https://tmraudio.com/components/power-amplifiers/ayon-triton-mono-tube-power-amplifiers-pair-new-tubes/ https://tmraudio.com/components/power-amplifiers/canary-audio-ca339-mkii-monoblock-tube-amplifiers-ca-339-mk2-black-pair/ https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649933445-cary-audio-cad-211-ae/ https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649851712-atma-sphere-m60-otl-monoblocks/ There are other pairs of the canary ones in USAM as well and honestly these are the ones I can find least about. Don't know if Zero Negative feedback or not. Reached out to them but haven't heard back. All the others are definitely Zero NFB. Would love to hear people experiences with these units, in any, and what other options might be. I'd like to keep my budget in the parameters mentioned here which is why I'm not including the bespoke vandy amps. Best, Russ Russ, FYI tube amps generally use a lot less feedback, so they suffer less of the possible side effects. Your M180 amps are very good so you would want to do a side-by-side audition to assure your change will be an improvement. Keep your speaker wires short (less than 3 or 4 feet) if you can. RV 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RussM Posted January 2 Author Share Posted January 2 Richard, Thanks for the info! Johnny at Audio connection sold me the original system and made sure my cables are 1 meter biwire. Makes for challenging amp placement but has always sounded good. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctsooner Posted January 3 Share Posted January 3 When I went from 8' cable to 3' it made a very noticeable difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctsooner Posted January 3 Share Posted January 3 Also, Johnny is about as good as it gets. He'll make sure that you audition and only make a decent upgrade, rather than a lateral move 😉. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GdnrBob Posted January 3 Share Posted January 3 I use the Atma MA-1's and MP-1 (non upgraded with the Treo's in the winter. Summer is with Ayre MX-R/MX-P(non Twenty). To be honest, they are really close soundwise to my rather dodgy ears. The Ayre seems a bit 'tighter', esp. in the bass. IMHO, You seem to have a fairly high resolving system, so I would think you'd be good to go with Atmasphere. -Especially, if you only want to go with tubes. And, he utilizes Zero Feedback Giving John Rutan a call would probably be the best move. He knows much more than I. Using equipment that implements the AES standards for XLR will negate much of the cable signature's effect on sound. Atmasphere, Ayre, and Vandersteen do this. Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RussM Posted January 4 Author Share Posted January 4 Update is that I have a line on an older pair (like 20 years) of Atma-sphere MA-1s. They're from a dealer and will be brought to original spec and will get fresh tubes. They're a very attractive price. I should be able to trial them. Anybody besides grdnrbob have experience with these? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomicTime Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 Russ not with that amp but buddy had 60 wpc Mono for many years and was pretty happy. Congrats and that listening trial in your own system to your own tastes is a good idea. Have fun, enjoy the musical journey best to you Jim 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RussM Posted January 13 Author Share Posted January 13 How about ModWright? Anybody with experience with 120 SE amplifier run either solo or as a mono pair? seems very attractive to me as a high power, simple circuit, no feedback amplifier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GdnrBob Posted January 13 Share Posted January 13 I don't know ModWright, but Atma's are zero feedback- which seems to make the Vandy's happy B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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