Bridging EAR 890's

I HOPE your getting a good deal on the 890. I think it's a crime how Tim jacked up the prices on his stuff over the years. As a former EAR owner of Tim's cd player, integrateds and stereo amps, I will say that his stuff is very good but ridiculously overpriced in relation to the sound you get. I think his products are more bling than sing.....I just made that up!

IMO, I don't find EAR overpriced for the quality of sound it offers. I still remember the magic an entry level EAR integrated driving Verity speakers and it was one of the best sounds I've ever heard. So delicate, transparent ... any more transparent it would break.

Knghifi, I concur. Been nothing but satisfied.

Knghifi, I bought my first EAR product brand new. It was Tim's 834 integrated and it retailed for $3,600 17 years ago. In the past I've spent $490 on an Lightspeed passive preamp and $1,150 on a Will Vincent modified Dynaco ST-70. Throw in a pair of interconnects (at a reasonable price), and at under $2,000, that combo smoked the 834 in terms of air, transparency, midrange warmth and bass articulation. The price on the 834 has gone up considerably in 17 years.

EAR=Ridiculously overpriced equipment. Same as Music First Audio passive preamps. Sound great, but better can be had for less....much less.

Hey, everything is overpriced. Buy a clock radio...or be an audiophile.

Seriously though, I owned EAR 519's and they were really sweet. EAR has a unique personality which I found a little too "tubey" for me. I get a lot more detail out of other tube amps I have-just a personal choice though.

If money didn't matter, I don't think I would go back to EAR amps but if I was stuck with your amp I could live happily ever after and never look back :-)