2. amps-preamps
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Should I replace my 20-year-old Hovland Radia Amp?

I recently upgraded my speakers to Sonus Faber Olympica Nova V. My preamp is a relatively new Pass XP-30. Ditto my VPI Prime Signature turntable and Moon 280 D streamer. My phono preamp is an older ARC PH-7. 

About 20 years ago a friend asked me to help him buy a new system. We took three days and drove all over Southern California. He purchased Wilson Sophia speakers. The dealer recommended the Hovland Radia amp. The Radia was the only solid state amp Hovland ever made. The company cliams it took ten years to perfect it. We tested the Radia against a few other very good amps and both liked it. Several years ago my friend passed away and I inherited the Radia.

Paul Bolin describes the attributes of the amp in a 2004 review much better than I could : "[The] Radia was a delight to listen to in virtually all respects. It consistently displayed a light, limber touch with images and timbres. Dimensionality was surprisingly and delightfully tubelike in its solidity and freedom from too-sharp, unnatural-sounding ultra-definition. The point source of each instrument's body was clearly discernible, but didn't exist in highlighted isolation from the air around it or the sound of the recording venue. The Hovland's overall resolution of detail was very good, bordering on the truly exceptional, and there was never any sense of resolution for its own sake. It always maintained a holistic sense of continuity, embracing all aspects of the music and knitting together the disparate parts of the recorded experience."

I was fifty-eight when I took that three-day jaunt with my friend who purchased a fairly expensive stereo system. I am now 78 and do not have the energy to go looking all over L.A. for a new amp. I could, however, go to a few dealers. The one closest to me carries Macintosh amps. 

My question is this: could the superb Hovland Radia now be so out-of-date that I should seriously think about replacing it? Or just "love the one I'm with"?

audio-b-dog
audio-b-dog's avatar
audio-b-dog OP
353 posts
 

dekay and glennewick, I enjoyed the post on Hovland and their practices in making amps and preamps. I think I might fall into the kooky audiophile category. My Sonus Faber speakers are tuned by ear, not by specs. Although Paul Bolin gave the Hovland Radia a fantastic review in Sterophile, John Atkins measurements were not nearly as good. 

I've been an audiophile for a long time and I've learned to trust my ears. When the Sonus Faber speakers were demoed they were compared to a similarly priced Vienna Acoustics speaker. I could hear that the Vienna Acoustics speaker was cleaner and probably would have measured better. But I fell in love with the Sonus Faber speakers. Audiophiles usually fall on one side of this argument or another. I go by how equipment sounds to me.

I think the Paul Bolin review, which I posted in part under my first post, is right on. Hovland made a fantastic amp. I've decided to keep it until I can hear a deterioration or until it breaks. Then I'll audition Pass amps.

Thank you for weighing in.

thecarpathian's avatar
thecarpathian
5,144 posts
 

If you change your mind and decide to replace it, give GanFet Class D amps a go.

Much lighter weight, more power efficient and gobs of power to potentially open up those woofers for a smoother, more powerful bass than managed by your current amp.

mapman's avatar
mapman
22,981 posts
 

GanFet + Sonus Faber = a definite winner. 

mapman's avatar
mapman
22,981 posts
 

@thecarpathian are you running Ganfet these days?

I added latest Class D audio GanFet model last month. Very impressed!

Class D Audio Ganfet

thecarpathian's avatar
thecarpathian
5,144 posts
 

@mapman ,

Hey, map. No, still running A/B, but I’m looking hard at the GanFets and also the Rogue Pharaoh2 Class D (with the Ncore I believe) if I go the integrated route. I was actually just looking at the one you referenced. Saw a used one for $600. Hard to pass up at that price or new for that matter, plus your endorsement. Then I’d match it with one of two Athena’s- either Denafrips Athena 12, or Rogue Athena. Reading nothing but good things about all three. Plus I have gobs of nos 12au7’s if I go for the Pharaoh 2. But I’ve been reading if you go Class D, GanFet is the ticket, but I’m guessing implementation plays a big role in that.

 

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