Hello all,
I have had the opportunity to put just over 100 hours on the new Sophia Aqua 274A and tonight spent several hours listening to a variety of my reference cuts....the 274A is a very nice tube...huge 3D soundstage, great separation and layering. I would call it on the warm side of neutral and perhaps just a tad rolled off in the HF....not necessarily a bad thing. A very "tubey" presentation. I liked it alot, but after many trials back and forth, it simply can't match the detail and refinement of the GEC U52. It's simply more tonally accurate, more focused. The vocals are unbelievably realistic. I've run most of the highly regarded rectifiers thru my PS9.9, including the Western Electric 422A, Mullard Metal base GZ34, Mullard GZ-32 & 37 , Might 596, early TungSol and RCA 5U4G, Phillips 5R4GY & RCA 5R4GY. The U52 bests them all at least in my rig to my ears. Just a great blend of detail, accuracy and warmth...YMMV, but if you ever get the chance to snag a GEC U52 at a decent price you might want to give it a try...
Happy listening!
I have had the opportunity to put just over 100 hours on the new Sophia Aqua 274A and tonight spent several hours listening to a variety of my reference cuts....the 274A is a very nice tube...huge 3D soundstage, great separation and layering. I would call it on the warm side of neutral and perhaps just a tad rolled off in the HF....not necessarily a bad thing. A very "tubey" presentation. I liked it alot, but after many trials back and forth, it simply can't match the detail and refinement of the GEC U52. It's simply more tonally accurate, more focused. The vocals are unbelievably realistic. I've run most of the highly regarded rectifiers thru my PS9.9, including the Western Electric 422A, Mullard Metal base GZ34, Mullard GZ-32 & 37 , Might 596, early TungSol and RCA 5U4G, Phillips 5R4GY & RCA 5R4GY. The U52 bests them all at least in my rig to my ears. Just a great blend of detail, accuracy and warmth...YMMV, but if you ever get the chance to snag a GEC U52 at a decent price you might want to give it a try...
Happy listening!