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CJ CAV 50 vs. VTL IT 85 vs. Rogue Tempest

I recently bought a pair of mini-utopias to replace my dynaudio 1.3MkII. Currently, i am looking for a substitute for my plinius 8200MkII integrated amp.

I have always used SS amps as I am bit apprehensive in the hassles of tube maintenance and hate long warm up periods. Thus, as of now, I am thinking of getting a yba passion integre for the jm labs. However, this amp is not readily available where i live (Philippines) and the distributor is in Singapore. Hence, warrantiy may become a problem.

But assuming that i would venture into integrated tube amplification, which would be the better choice?

These three products (cav 50, IT85 and Rogue Tempest) are available in my country (Philippines) and are almost priced the same.

However, I am not yet familiar with tubes... so to all previous owners of these amps which one do you think would:
a) most likely sound best with the mini-utopia;
b) be easier to maintain (i.e. biasing, tube switching);
c) have more functions (i.e. switchable to diff modes);
d) most likely become obsolete soon due to a change or upgrade by the manufacturer.

The rest of system is a MF Nuvista 3D player, analysis plus oval 9 cable, DH labs air matrix iconnect, audio
prism foundation 2 (sorry dont have any power cables as i am not really convinced by it after several demos). Room is 14wx22lx8h and music preference is jazz and vocals.

Thanks.
jermometer
zaikesman
3,017 posts
 
Between the CAV-50 and the IT-85, I'd go with the VTL based on my demo of my own MV-55 against the ST-85 (these are the non-integrated versions of the same amps). Can't comment about with your speakers though, and biasing the C-J is easier since it doesn't require a separate multimeter. One note: I'm not sure what you mean about 'warm-up' time - tube amps generally don't require as many minutes to reach their best sound as do solid-state amps. If you're talking about how quickly they make sound, the answer is about 10 seconds. They sound OK after about 30 seconds, and sound their best after about 15 - 20 minutes - quite a bit shorter than the 60 - 120 minutes required by a lot of SS amps to sound their best.
loontoon
301 posts
 
Zaikesman is right on the warm up time.

I would suggest you do this: buy an older tube amp of the audiogon or bay like a Cary SLA 70, take it play with it, do the tweaky thing, experiment with tubes, and caps.

Figure out if this is the sound your after. You can re-wire the amp to go triode if you want. Thats why you buy an old used one. Figure out if this is where you want to be.

If your a set it and forget it guy, SS is you.

jeff
dennis_the_menace's avatar
dennis_the_menace
467 posts
 
My experience with the VTL IT85 has been excellent. This unit has many capabilities: pre-out, processor in, remote (volume and mute), headphone socket, and if you need more power, can be easily biamped with the ST85 (they are gain matched). The binding posts on the back for the speaker cables and the inputs are heavy duty and overbuilt, and the unit itself is very well built.

I compared the VTL to the new Ayre integrated, on a pair of Martin Logans, and the VTL won hands down. It was easy to hear the difference. Maybe because tubes go better with 'stats, I don't know. But I love the VTL IT85.

This was my first tube piece, so I was unsure about "biasing", but I just read the directions, got the recommended biasing meter, and had no problem. It was a lot easier than I thought it'd be.

I swapped out the tubes for NOS amperex bugle boys 7316, and telefunken 802s for the pre section, and man, this amp really sounds great. I was surprised at the impact, depth/fullness of the sound.
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