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Esoteric A-100 vs a03

Friends,
I am currently using a Wavac 300B amplifier with my Tannoy turnberry SE speakers. While I am enjoying the luxurious Wavac ride but there are always times that I feel the 10 watts Wavac is not enough. Especially while listening to Rock and pop music when I would like to crank it up and have fun, the music doesnt sound very comfortable. I know I should not be doing this with a 300B tube amp but then I listen to all kinds of music and I dont own a 100db sensitive speaker.

The choice is now either to go with a powerful push-pull which has the overall purity of an SET or a more drastic step towards a good solid state amplifier. I have heard the Esoteric a03 and liked it a lot driving a pair of Maggies. But I have never heard the A-100. Esoteric says that A-100 sounds as pure and neutral as master tapes, thats a serious claim, but then they are manufacturers. Can anyone here give me an idea of which of these amps would be a better buy for sonic purity, neutrality and dynamics ?
pani
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Pani,
Needless to say that my opinions are strictly based on personal
encountersand everyone's experience is unique. Prior to using my SET
amp I used a custom built PP amplifier (Response Audio Bella Extreme V
cap version) by Bill Baker (Purity Audio).This is a100 watt/60 watt triode
with 6550 or KT88. This and a friend's VAC Phi 300.1 were the best
sounding PP I've listened to compared to ARC, VTL, Quicksilver, Rogue etc.

What I came to realize is that regardless of the PP amplifier they just didn't
have the "thereness" presence or ultimate realism I get
convincingly with a proper SET -speaker match. In my case it was an easy
and in all probability permanent change. Of course your outcome may be
different from mine. I really enjoyed my Bella Exreeme PP amplifier until I
got the Frankenstein amplifier and directly compared them.
Charles,
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,256 posts
 
Based upon your comments I imagine you will be happier sticking with tube amps. Coincident, Atmasphere and David Berning all make not too expensive tube amps that can provide you with roughly 6dB more headroom. As a less costly alternative you might consider the Van Alstine Ultravalve 70. Keep us updated.
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Yes,
For these particular speakers an 845 SET or good PP amplifier may be what you need to satisfy your objective.
reynolds853
387 posts
 
Pani,

I have an Ayon Triton 1 integrated amp and like it a lot. It's 125WPC pentode, 80WPC triode; Class A operation with no negative feedback. Uses KT88 tubes. If that sounds like enough power for you there's one listed now but with about 18 hours left in the sale. You might consider it.

John
pani OP
1,219 posts
 
Charles, I have heard quite a few 845 tubes based amps, both SET and PP. They just dont make the grade for me. Yes, they have bone crunching dynamics and they sound big but they dont have the nuance and delicacy. Everything sounds blown up out of proportion, even voices sound unrealistic. Unfortunately I heard something similar even with Wavac 805 based models. Looks like some of these big tubes have been forced into audio.
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