Hello,
I'm going to through in a name that a lot of us old folks will remember well. It is Audio Analogue. The Puccini Int. Amp. It was a cult piece years ago. A bit more money than the cult Nads and Creeks, but rightfully so. It had the SS grunt but also the tube bloom. Long since forgot about here in the US, but still strong in most other countries, Audio Analogue has a great line up of gorgeous amps. The reviews are spectacular and owners very dedicated. They are meant to work well with high efficacy speakers, but their 70 watt Maestro Settanta will drive Apogee Scintillas (reviewed). I own that amp in the rev2 model. It does things with my DeCapos that will just stun you. There are just too many good things to say about this amp. I would like, and will listen to it on the Merlin's. I have a friend that is quite rabid about keeping his Merlin VSM's current. He is always slobbering over every word about a little change. I will bring my Audio Analogue Maesrto Settanta rev2 over and listen. I would truly like to hear what the newer version VSM'S are capable of, and my amp will do it. I think that what the VSM'S cry for at night is an SET sounding amp with balls. I have just today thrown a new PS Audio AC12 power cord at it, so it is ready to go for a ride (after a period of burn in of course). It sounds pretty good out of the box, but I'm certain that it needs a bit of time in the electricity sauna to get its little electrons in proper order. However, after all that happens, I will jerk the mess out of the wall and run it over for a listen on my friends Merlin's. I will report back on my findings and give you my humble opinion.
I'm going to through in a name that a lot of us old folks will remember well. It is Audio Analogue. The Puccini Int. Amp. It was a cult piece years ago. A bit more money than the cult Nads and Creeks, but rightfully so. It had the SS grunt but also the tube bloom. Long since forgot about here in the US, but still strong in most other countries, Audio Analogue has a great line up of gorgeous amps. The reviews are spectacular and owners very dedicated. They are meant to work well with high efficacy speakers, but their 70 watt Maestro Settanta will drive Apogee Scintillas (reviewed). I own that amp in the rev2 model. It does things with my DeCapos that will just stun you. There are just too many good things to say about this amp. I would like, and will listen to it on the Merlin's. I have a friend that is quite rabid about keeping his Merlin VSM's current. He is always slobbering over every word about a little change. I will bring my Audio Analogue Maesrto Settanta rev2 over and listen. I would truly like to hear what the newer version VSM'S are capable of, and my amp will do it. I think that what the VSM'S cry for at night is an SET sounding amp with balls. I have just today thrown a new PS Audio AC12 power cord at it, so it is ready to go for a ride (after a period of burn in of course). It sounds pretty good out of the box, but I'm certain that it needs a bit of time in the electricity sauna to get its little electrons in proper order. However, after all that happens, I will jerk the mess out of the wall and run it over for a listen on my friends Merlin's. I will report back on my findings and give you my humble opinion.