Clayton Audio Class A amps. Need amp advice


Hi Guys,

I am looking to change my amps and for a few reasons.

First because I just upgraded my DAC from the great PS Audio DirectStream to the incredible Bricasti M1 DSD USB DAC. I love the Bricasti and it has shown that in my system it could offer me more with a more resolving and neutral amp IMO.

I am currently am using the wonderful sounding CJ Premier 12 mono tube amps. I love them and tubes in general but my speakers are the great Ascendo C8 Renaissance and look to present a somewhat benign load being 88 efficient and 6ohm but they are unique and have an internal firing 21 cm Kevlar Bass driver that is great but stubborn and the speakers I think will really shine with a iron fist control of that driver.

I love tubes, always have and always will but I grown tires of a flabby bottom which is exasperated by a unique and somewhat difficult to grip bass driver set up I spoke about above.

I want an amp that can give me as much tube sound as possible but with Grip and bottom end. I know this is a lot to ask for in the used $5k to $7k price range.

I have read and it seem like the Clayton offer exactly what I am looking for but wanted to hear from some of you guys if anyone has ever heard them or know of them or anything. Any info would really be appreciated. Here is the info on my speakers and I will also list the rest of my system in case you think that is helpful. Thanks

C8 Renaissance
Technical Data
Principle
• Three-Way with SASB bass unit (TOS Off)
(current damped outer driver with semi symmetrical band pass)
• Four-Way with SASB bass unit (TOS On)
Dimensions (W/H/D)
• 28 / 80 / 40 (without Base)
• 28 / 108 / 40 (with Base)
Weight
35 kg
Frequency Range
29 Hz (-3 dB) – 32.000 Hz
Power Rating
350 W Program (min)
Impedance
6 Ohm
Sensivity
88 dB / 1W/m
Outer Chassis (COAX)
• 25 mm Neodymium-fabric-tweeter
• 18 cm Woofer with XP cone
Inner Chassis
• 21 cm Chassis, Kevlar cone
TOS Chassis
• Ribbon-tweeter
TOS Function
• switchable (TOS Unit - Dipole AN / AUS)
Sockets
• Single / BiWiring Base
Dimensions (W/H/D)
28 / 18 / 40 cm
Weight
11 kg

Ascendo C-8 Renaissance Speakers (Germany) Speaker
Purist Audio Design Corvus Praesto Revision 2.5m Bi-Wire Speaker cable
Darwin TRUTH Pure Silver Reference 1 Meter RCA Interconnect
Darwin TRUTH Pure Silver Reference 1 Meter RCA Interconnect
Bricasti M1 USB / DSD / Volume Control DAC (New) DA converter
Tellurium Q BLACK DIAMOND Reference USB Cable
Decware ZSTAGE External Triode Output StageTelefunken ECC801S
Audio Research REFERENCE 1 MK II w/Rhodium IEC/NOS Tubes Tube preamp
PS Audio PowerPlant Premier AC Regenerator
Conrad Johnson Premier 12 Mono's 140 Watts Tung-Sol KT120's Tube amp
Salamander Amplifier Stands (2) Synergy System AV Furniture Stand
BMI Shark Jeweler Grade Platinum 9 AWG AC Power Cable
Mad Scientist PC-NEO with Power Purifier 11 AWG Power Cable
Sablon Audio Petite Corona 2.0M 7 AWG AC Power Cable
JPS Labs The Power AC+ 2M 8 AWG AC Power Cable
Synergistic Research Labs Tesla Series SE T1 AC Power Cable
Synergistic Research Labs Tesla Series T1 AC Power Cable
PS Audio Noise Harvester (5) Converts noise to light
OYAIDE RI Beryllium Power Outlets (2)
Blue Circle Audio The Yalu Balula Industrial Surge/Spike Protection
JPLAY v5.2 hi-end audio player turns PC into a digital transport.
Fidelizer Pro Version 6.1
JRiver Media Center 19 Music Software
128x128Ag insider logo xs@2xfsmithjack
"Any feedback is welcomed!!!! Thx"

Are you sure about that? Or is it just the feedback that you want to hear?

"Flying out of control?? How do you come up with that. Who says that? I have it boiled down to 2 amps and am asking for other members opinions and if others offer new other ideas then great I would love to hear them."

Read your posts again. It doesn't sound like you have it boiled down to 2 choices.

"Thanks for the response and in that review and all the others they totally gush over these speakers and say the bass is amazing in these speakers. They actually get a lot of accolades for their deep, controlled, tuneful and musical bass but your right they don't have that true high end Wilson, Magico, Focal bass slam but heck 95% of the speakers out there under $12,000 don't have that. I thought about the speakers but before these I was on the Merry go round and had Kharma CRM 3.2FE, Wilson Sohpia 2, Wilson Watt/Puppy 6, Revel Studio, Martinlogan Vantage then Spire, Sonus Faber Cremora Auditor, Merin TSM-MMI not in that order but to name a few and in all honesty none were even close to these speakers. These are the best speakers I have ever owned and by far its not even close in my system IMO. They really are great and they resolve and image with a sophistication that was a total game changer for me. Its just after I got the Bricasti the sound improved so much I could then sense / feel there was more there and that stubborn for tubes critical Kevlar driver needs more grip I can feel it and I think then the rest will fill out even more and blossom but at what cost? That is why I am reaching out to my Agon comrades. I am trading my amps as part of the deal and really would love and get as much feedback before I take the big plunge. I have a friend that keeps pushing and telling me to do what ever I can to try and get my hands on the Ayre AX-5 Integrated. I never even thought of that and still have my sights set on the Clayoton audio M300 monos but what do you guys think? Is that Ayre integrated that good? Its tough if I give my beloved tubes which I am willing to do I hope to get overall better sound...

Thanks I do like them a lot but I have only heard so many different kinds so who knows there def could be better I totally see what your saying for sure. That though is still in my mind. I love tubes there is no doubt. There is a set of CJ LP140m on here that's a much newer pair of CJ mono's but I was thinking there would not be too much difference but maybe I am wrong on that and the new CJ could be a good option. That's what I thought about the Ayre Integrated but he swears its the best sounding amp under $20k bar none. He is so dead set serious on it. I would be trading my some gear and not a lot of money as I already own the gear. I might need to think more about those newer CJ's..."

To me, that sounds like total confusion. What would you have me do? Lie, and pat you on the back and say you're doing the right thing? Also, if you leave this thread open long enough, everyone will end up recommending everything.

"That would be great if I could just go to a dealer and listen and buy new amps like I am sure you are referring to but don't have that luxury."

I didn't recommend anything. How could I? I don't know you well enough? I gave you my thoughts on your 12's and listed a few brands for you to audition. But nothing more than that. I could be like your friend and tell you the Ayre is the best thing under 20k. It wouldn't be all that hard either, because Ayre is my personal favorite and that's what I use in my system.

"I have found the bigger the risk to more opportunity for upside."

That's completely up to you. There's plenty of ways to reduce risk. Buying blind by reading reviews and listening to strangers in internet chat rooms is no way to go about it.
careful,I had CAT JL2 Sig great amp, but Clayton"s Killed it and the Cat Is
heavy as Hell and needs 16, 6550 tubes 2k to retube and you have to deal with designer KS. I have no affiliation with Clayton except the purchase of his amps (Wilson Shen is a Great Guy ) Good Luck !!

Its 2015 Solid State has come a long way, i wouldnt get too hung up on tubes vs SS anymore !!
Zd542

" There's plenty of ways to reduce risk. Buying blind by reading reviews and listening to strangers in internet chat rooms is no way to go about it "

This is an audio forum. We talk audio in the amp section here we talk amps. If I had the doe I would love to go with dealers and take their stuff home to try out in my system but I would only do that if I was going to buy something from them at some point and I can't. I am not going to take loaners home from dealers to hear them and find the stuff I like and then go look for it used and not buy from them. I have too much respect and admiration for my dealer friends. They got it tough enough as it is with out someone tying up their gear from a real potential buyer. The 30 tryout internet buy with returns are great too but mostly offered only for buying new and I don't have the doe for new. I don't really have the financial ability to reduce the risk and buy from them so I have no choice but to fly blind. I am flying totally blind based on reviews and talking on this forum. I can go blind and shoot from the hip or do what I am doing try to get some additional information like I am.

I have been lucky and bought some amazing sounding gear that I love that I bought from recommendations what you call strangers and I call my fellow Agon comrades. I guess its all how you look it.

Some of us have to do it like this but I know its not ideal and at some point I am going to mess up and it will prob leave a mark but my gut, this forum and research has worked ok so far but the odds I am sure will come in at some point.

Wish I could do it the other way but its not possible for me right now. Thats why the ARC, CJ, BAT, VAC,PASS,MAC,AYRE,CARY,VTL,CAT,LAMM to name a few are always safe bets and can always flip/resell but I am reaching out here because I am ready to pull the trigger on the Clayton M300 which is a sort of rare, kind of odd big block cube amp that every single person that has heard them say they are truly, world call amazing. I was set to buy a pair of Lamm 2.1 Hybrid mono's and a person whose opinion I appreciate told me those are great amps but the Clayton's are better. A lot better.

Tfl303 above just said the Clayton kills the CAT JL2. The CAT JL2 I have heard and it is much better than my CJ's. Imagine if I could get an amp that kills an amp that is much better than my currant amp?

Well I would love that! I am not looking for that or expecting that but if I can make a blind trade/purchase for an amp that is a much better match for my speakers and overall is a real nice SQ upgrade then that would be fantastic. What makes it tougher and is a big reason for this post is because the amp I am considering buying is not only going from tubes to ss but from a specialty, small, boutique company that specializes in pure Class A, a brand that is not real well known and is kinda plain, utilitarian looking (eye is in the beholder), heavy, runs real hot, gobbles electricity and is balanced only but seems to have a rabid following and is super well respected by those that have heard/own know of them. They describe them as one of the very best amps there are. Very refined, very sophisticated and a true top of list sounding amp. For me I can overlook the things I stated above if the sound is as good as they say so would love to hear more from those they have heard Claytons.

If it doesn't work out I am back to the drawing board and looking to flip some amps that are not in that real quick selling group listed above and is why the CJ LP140M keeps popping in my head, that and I know I love tubes just think i may be getting more of what I already have... Don't really want to do that so the Clayton's are how I am leaning and Any and all feedback and advice is really appreciated.
I'm sure the Clayton M300's will sound great, especially if they have the hum issue fixed. My M100's also had that transformer hum issue, but did sound great.

On another note, many audiophiles are prone to hyperbole. Nothing I've heard in audio "kills" anything else unless you are comparing it to something broken. We all have our tastes and system synergy is involved too. I have a friend who owns the CAT JL2's who has a LOT of experience. I'm sure he would find Tfl303's comment quite humorous. That is why I tend to disregard sales-speak like X kills Y, or Y blows Z out of the water. I find that it really is not useful information, especially when the poster is not experienced enough to post IMHO, or YMMV. Showing that they understand enough about this hobby to respect synergy and individual tastes.

I'm off my soapbox now. Good luck with your purchase Fsmithjack.
Jmcgrogan2,
I agree strongly with your "soapbox" comments and have stated similar comments recently on this site. I feel hyperbole is relied on too often when people decscribe differences among audio components. I don't doubt Tf1303 finds the Clayton better sounding in his system and with his particular speakers(better match). Given enough time, someone will write the CAT JL2 "blows the Claytons away". Obviously we all will have our preferences for a variety of good reasons. Components can clearly outperform another component without "night and day" "jaw dropping" wide gaps between them. For people seeking trustworthy advice/opinions, hyperbole doesn't contribute.
Charles,