Verity Audio Parsifal Ovation with Plinius Hautonga


Anybody heard this combination? Would also be interested in anyone just familiar with the performance of the amp too.

128x128ozzy62

Hi Ozzy.  I have two pairs doing review and demo rounds (PTA recently and Howard Milstein/Doug Moore soon). We're awaiting machine shop delays in finishing the next 5 pairs later this month, alas.

Since my final tweaking with fancy Mundorfs was with my Ovations and a golden-eared younger Harbeth 40.3 owner, I can STRONGLY suggest you'll find synergy with these Monoblocs. We set a really skinny direct MSRP at $5.9k/pr. I expect to be able to hold this price despite recent ramps in Ag prices.

Re others takes on Class D sounding skinny in the bass, I must state that I have NOT found this to be so. GaN-FETs speed and damping factor is such that bass is TIGHT and under huge control. If that suggests LESS bass then that is a psychoacoustic blunder of the listener conflating bloat with amplitude.

A serendipitous example of such effect I just witnessed:

That pair of Harbeth 40.3 overpowered the medium-sized room I referenced, setting up an annoying mode. We switched from the Audio Analogue MAESTRO (Class A/B) that was in place and, surprisingly, the annoyance of the mode lessened, as the GaN-FET architecture  somehow (speed?) cleaned up the bass so that the room mode didn't build up and "ring". I expected the increases in stage image solidity and detail from the Ag and Mundy mods compared to this huge A/B amp, but not the very obvious reduction in bass bloat.

Back to the Parsifals:

In my asymmetric ref room the Ovations are flat to 32Hz (low C) with room gain, with no problem pushing the 4ohm Dynaudio woofers VA spec'ed. My prior long term references were Pass Labs 100w Class A monos. The Orchard ULTRAs clearly equalled them in Class A tonal saturation and soundstage depth...and EXCEEDED Nelson's favorites in transparency and detail up top. Remanufacturing clones with all Ag wiring clearly yielded similar improvements. Adding the Mundorfs further improved realism...but only on superb recordings. (My references of late include my friend Irina MURESANU's Hybrids, Hooks, and Hints, which is revelatory BOTH for her astounding violin AND great FR on a piano in a medium hall). I've heard Irina in the nearfield live many times. This recording is shockingly good.)

For varied percussion I use "A Prayer for the Soul of Layla" by Sharifi, wherein is displayed a variety of drum skins' transients that will reward superb reproduction and PRAT.

That these Monos were developed using systems wired with my AgPur cables should go without saying. Veiling Gan-FET performance with copper cables will probably reduce the ability to appreciate the delta...and/or pass a single blind.

If you wish to demo a new pair of the Monoblocs RSVP, as we should have a few pairs available c. August 1.

 

 

 

Thanks for the suggestion. I think I have found joy with the SMc modded DNA 0.5. Seems to really gel with these speakers. Iron fist/velvet glove sort of scenario.

 

 

Well I can't resist suggesting that you try my new ArgentPur GaN-FET Monoblocs debuting next month, as they've been developed in use with my ref system which has my beloved Parsifals! For decades I used Pass Labs monos, but have become smitten by the improved top octave clarity and air...with even better soundstage clarity and dimension...with the original Orchard Audio ULTRA amps. This past year has been spent tweaking them with complete solid Ag wiring and better caps. See ArgentPur.audio for details and a preliminary pic.  Performance with the Parsifals is extraordinary...as well with Harveths et al used in their evolution. If your budget is lower note that the Orchard ULTRA DOES perform better than the baby Starkrimsons with the Parsifal's 4 ohm Dynaudio woofer. Don't skimp there....

Great! Love to hear your thoughts on the McCormack. I’ve got the same amp but frustratingly haven’t been able to listen to it since the mods due to equipment/personal issues but hope to soon.  Absolutely love your speakers BTW and really sad Verity went under. 

Thanks for all the replies so far. I am bringing in two amps. The aforementioned McCormack with SMc mods and a pair of Tsakiridis Apollon Ultra tube monoblocks.

Way back around 2000 I had a pair of Verity Parsifal monitors (original and then the encore) and used multiple amps, including the Plinius SA-100 MK II. Of everything that came and went throughout the years, I think I miss those speakers the most. 

I ran a Plinius Hautonga for a couple of years in a second room..very musical but with lots of detail..Really enjoyed that integrated.I think its discontinued? so a deal is probably found...held its resale value as well..Hope that helped

Thanks for your reply. I’m leaning heavily towards a McCormack DNA 0.5 with the GT 20 SMC mods including gravity base. I’m very familiar with McCormack amps having owned four of them in the past. I’m pretty sure the 0.5s 200 watts into four ohms should be enough, but happy to hear feedback.

I have owned Verity Audio Parsifal Ovations for 14 years powered by a Luxman L-509u integrated amp - which is 120W into 8 ohms and doubling to 240W into 4 ohms with a damping factor of 370.  It is a wonderful amp/speaker  combination.

I am not familiar with the Plinius Hautonga, but it produces 200W into 8 ohms and 280W into 4 ohms.  The damping factor is not however mentioned on the manufacturer's specs.

The question is does this amp have enough oomph to power speakers with a sensitivity of 89 dB and a minimum impedance of 4 ohms?  Probably...