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TRL Dude Dilemna

Based on all the high praise for the TRL Dude preamp here and other sites, I took a chance and bought one from a local A-goner to see if it could displace an Air Tight ATC-2 preamp currently in my system. The two amps I currently use are a McIntosh MC-402 and Viva 845 SET Monos. It turns out that the Dude is not compatible with either amps due to an impedance mismatch. So I only got to hear the Dude in a compromised performance mode.
I was not quite wanting to give up on the Dude yet given everyone else's enthusiasm about its performance. I am considering the Samson monos as a natural match. I can convince myself that the Samson's could be better than the MC402..My real issue is that I would have to give up the Vivas. Not sure I can make the leap that a solid state amp will satisfy me as much as those SET Vivas. Then there is the leap of faith that I cannot hear the Samsons with purchasing them....
Has anyone replaced their SET amp with Samsons and remained satisfied with the decision? My speakers are the Green Mountain Audio Continuum 3 which are about 90db efficient with an impedance 6.5 Ohms, +/- 0.75 Ohms 150Hz to 20kHz. Thanks for your input..
tellefsen
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
One thing I know,the Viva SET amps are`nt 'polite',tame or dead sounding(with the correct speakers). They are vivid,very dynamic and full of energy and presence.
Put any amplifier with the wrong speaker and the results won`t be satisfactory.

The TRL tube amps could be really fine, but push-pull and SET are two different sounds. Telefsen seems to love his Viva,I doubt these two amps sound similar.
It`s hard to make decisions without an audition and direct comparions.
jwm
918 posts
 
My feeling I would rather have the Viva instead of the TRL tube. I have heard those in the past and they are a little too rich in the mids for my taste. I actually think the Vivas are more accurate than the TRL.
agear
1,362 posts
 
Based on his speakers, TRL tube amplification would be my choice. As for accuracy, that is a loaded term, and one that is not always synonymous with SETs. This is honestly a matter of taste at this point. Audio cooking....ciao.
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Hi Agear,
I understand Jwm`s point, that Viva amp can sound very clear,open and transparent without overt coloration. No amplifier type can lay claim to more accuracy than another. Transistors, tubes(PP or SET) Class D etc.all have various degrees of some coloration.

For me it`s impossible to talk about an amp`s performance without factoring in the given speaker with it(can`t seperate the two). The TRL 'could' sound overly warm with one speaker yet near perfect with another, system context is everything.
booboobaer's avatar
booboobaer
62 posts
 
I agree with the last two comments. That being said, I have a Dude fully balanced tube preamp. It replaced a VERY musical BAT VK51SE.The BAT was fast,transparent,with a very wide sound stage. It was coupled with Krell 650 monoblocks. The Dude was super quiet,dynamic,and made the music just a blast to listen to. It was not long till I realized that the Krells were holding me back. I bought the TRL GT200s. A match made in heaven. I do believe Paul can change the output impeedance to better match you current amp set up!
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