AZ Satori vs. Audience AU24

I know we're kind of digressing from the topic here....but hey, I started this thread, so who cares!

Bigshutter...would you really trade in your nice triode-based tube amp and move to a digital amp??? I haven't heard the Spectron, and I know that Albert has voiced the VR4s with this amp, and I've also read the glowing review of the VR4/Spectron combo on Stereotimes. I just can't fathom a digital amp posessing the same musical attributes of a good, powerful tube amp, whether running in tetrode or triode. Something has to be missing; perhaps some of the coloration that tubes add, which I really love and look for.

I considered trying the Spectron, and there are a few currently listed on A-gon at pretty decent prices, but I decided to hold out for tubes, preferably ones that come with the triode/tetrode switching capability. VTL 450 Sig. or Manley Neo-classic 250 are on my short list. I guess I'm just too tube biased, pardon the pun.....

Regards,
Mark

So long as you're digressing, I would highly recommend your considering a McCormack DNA 0.5 or DNA-2 amp with a Revision A or Revision A Gold applied.

Because the VR4 GIII SE's are somewhat efficient, one or two DNA 0.5 Rev A's might be just right. But the DNA-2 Rev A could be a fantastic marriage.

If you know anything about these revised amps that are almost completely gutted and rebuilt by Steve McCormack at smcaudio.com with some of the finest aftermarket parts available, you may have heard it said that these amps combine the best attributes of tubes and solid state and sound like neither.

I own the DNA-2 Rev A. IMO, this amp has the characteristics of a 1000 wpc tube amp as it provides the warmth and bloom typically found in the better tube amps along with the speed, articulation, and fantastic bass control only offered by the finest solid state amps.

-IMO (of course)

I see we've veered off topic. Good.
I'd encourage you to check out the Spectron. I was using a set of monoblock tube amps to run my Snells and then a new pair of VR 5 HSEs. After I switched to the VR 5s, I bought a Musician II and used the monoblocks and the Spectron in a biamped configuration with a Syrah pre (initially with the Spectron feeding the bass and the monoblocks the mids and highs; the monoblocks have a volume control, so I was able to get the levels right). I messed around with the set up for a couple of months and discovered that the Spectron, alone, sounded much better than any other combination. In fact, to my ear the Spectron driving the high/mid sounded better than the tube monoblocks driving the high/mid (which I never would have expected).

Disc...curious, which tube monoblocks were you running?

Hello 1markr... To answer your question (off topic), I am currently running my Resolution Audio Opus 21 player directly into the VAC 30/30 Mk V Signature with wonderful results. I agree that the tube "magic" is not all there with some of the very nice solid state and digital amps I have tried, but the Spectron did better my previous Aloia, Pass Aleph 3, Bel Canto Evo (by a long shot!), and PS Audio HCA-2 in this configuration. By running a great tube pre-amp in between, some of the "life" can be restored, and in the case of the Musician II, you may find it to be a great combo in your system. The wonderful, full bodied (and addictively "lush" I might add) sound of the 300B's is just
a bit difficult to live without after a long, stressful day of work and twin 3-year olds every day! A great way to end out my day...