let me try to respond to the queries my post has generated. first, i have nothing against tube electronics or those that prefer them. i have owned tube pres and/or amps from cj and arc. i've also listened extensively to other tube amps, pre's and frontends in iterations of my own systems and those of my friends in the audio community. these products have included, by way of example, those from nagra, vtl, cary, manley, atmasphere, audio note, airtight, aesthetix, jadis and bat, among others. i have not found any tube amps with reputations for reliability and quality control that will drive without breakup the last three sets of speakers i have owned to the levels i prefer. all of these speakers were made by avalon acoustics : eclipse's, ascent's and currently eidolons. i also auditioned the aethetix phono with my ascents and was dissapointed with the results. (i do plan to try it again with the eidolons, which are somewhat more efficient than the ascents.) recently, i have listened to the newest avalon speakers, symbols, driven by a 35w/side airtight; they sounded marvelous. anyway, the amp i've used for several years, with numerous upgrades, is a jeff rowland, now designated as an 8ti. i do greatly prefer this range of jrdg amps to the newest one. the model 8 is wonderfully musical and completely non-fatiguing. some critical listeners, tho probably not many of you guys, describe it as "tube-like, with balls." with the eidolons and my accuphase dc 330 pre/dac, the jrdg throws a hugely deep and wide soundstage, with lots of air and definition. it helps provide, in sum, what i regard as a holographic image. the other 2 brands of amps i've tried that have this same quality are made by accuphase and boulder. in particular, i like a pair of accuphase a-50's bridged and the boulder 2060. both of these choices are much more dear than the most recent jrdg 8, the 8tihc. they do, however, provide a spectacular soundstage against a deep black, silent background. and, yes, the presentation is palpable to the goosebump stage and beyond, even more so than with my jrdg. i know some of you don't beleive what i'm saying but, hey, that's ok. i just hope you have a chance to listen to at least some of what i've described. FWIW, i hope to "complete" my system next year by adding a separate phono pre; that is likely to be tubed, either an aesthetix or nagra. cheers to all!
