Zu Soul Superfly

Thanks for the pointers, Phil. Can't wait to try the spikes. I realize this is NOT optimal but have been enjoying the hell out of it/listening to a ton of music just the same.

I'm also glad I put some more effort into placement, particularly making my listening room more of an equilateral triangle and using a sight to aim the tweeters a couple feet behind my head position. It is making me question whether I need to change amplification or if I'd be better served just rolling tubes in my preamp.

I am still very curious about that SLA battery powered alleged clone amp, but not sheerly as an upgrade. I want something that uses less electricity or at least is more efficient than the First Watt for summer time listening. The F1 is a friggin' sauna in the corner of my den which actually puts off enough heat to raise the temperature have the AC constantly kicking on (hate background noise) when I'm listening. Also, I'd love to just leave it on 24/7.

We shall see what happens, funds are unexpectedly tight at the moment so I'd have to sell off something to rationalize it.

I have been following this thread with interest. I was already to buy some Reynaud Bliss speakers based solely on reviews and emails from Bob Neil, then I saw this thread. I had not thought about Zu Druids before because they were 4 ft high and I thought that would not work since my room is only 11 x 14 and I listen in the near field. At 3 ft tall the Soul may be a contender. Can someone tell me if they communicate well at lower volumes. I have a Leben CS300XS and I listen at average levels of about 75 - 77 dB (according to my Radio Shack meter).

Gopher - FYI, I have one of these Wineclones, and it is a good amp. In fact it is very good for the money.

Regarding the Blessing of the Wineclone, the amp is simply a battery-powered Tripath amp. There's no patent on that - very simple idea - and no need for anyone's blessing.

I've been using mostly tube and occasionally Class A ss amps continually since buying my first component amp in 1970. Other than advising anyone to keep such an amp away from the HVAC thermostat, I've never had an amp put out enough heat to determine how often my AC runs. So other than the room being very small and the amp sitting next to the thermostat, it's hard for me to imagine a different amp for climate control reasons.

I know people who use tube amps except when they run their "summer" configuration around solid state. I haven't sensed any difference in their incidence of AC. Anyway, I know the F1 releases some heat. If you like Nelson Pass amps, you might like the M2. Very clever and voiced to be more like a tube amp, including passive magnetic gain in the input stage.

You already have a great amp. If you really need a cooler running solid state amp, consider a Quad 909, an evolution of Peter Walker's excellent current dumpiing amp, the Quad 405.

Phil