Tannoy+SET class a tube amp= magic

[PHC1]

Had the opportunity to hear my Tannoy Kensingtons with a 30w SET Crossfire II using AA62B tubes. The AA62B tubes are similar to 300B but are supposed to be even better in some ways. Manufactured by Ayon for their amps only and they are huge!

What can I say, I am definitely on the right path! Midrange is simply magic. So much emotion, so engaging, so soul stirring... The richness, and coherence of Tannoy combined with the magic of SET is intoxicating.

The 30w (peak of 45w) of triode power from the big tubes seems to be more than enough to drive the Tannoys with effortless dynamics. Great, big, round and textured analog like bass, sweet, airy highs but the midrange is... simply magic indeed.

I'm very happy with what I am hearing now! I'll have to borrow Alberto's description of "delicioussness" indeed.

Spinning vinyl becomes somekind of religion experience. The analog source highlights the beauty of an all analog sound through tubes!

[PHC1]

Here is what the amp looks like. Did I mention those AA62B's are HUGE? Compare their size to the 6H30s on the bottom!

[cmalak]

Serge...very nice. Ayon is certainly top notch. Is there a similar set-up as the crossfire but with separates in the Ayon line? Will you have an opportunity to demo Shindo or Leben? I suspect sonic signatures will be somewhat different. Just curious.

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by cmalak

Serge...very nice. Ayon is certainly top notch. Is there a similar set-up as the crossfire but with separates in the Ayon line? Will you have an opportunity to demo Shindo or Leben? I suspect sonic signatures will be somewhat different. Just curious.

Cyril, this amp has very strong traits of being very transparent yet very, very musical and engaging without sounding glassy or thin. The soundstage is truly remarkable, the tubes seem to unravel the air and ambiance in the recording with the greatest of ease. I've heard Shindo also sounds transparent due to very minimalist approach of point to point wiring and very little in the path of the musical signal. The transformers on the Ayon are HUGE too! Probably very good quality judging by how it sounds. I don't know what exactly the difference would be. If Shindo is all about midrange magic, this Ayon has it in spades too! I'm able to demo Shindo but it will require a trip to NYC.

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by cmalak

Serge...very nice. Ayon is certainly top notch. Is there a similar set-up as the crossfire but with separates in the Ayon line? Will you have an opportunity to demo Shindo or Leben? I suspect sonic signatures will be somewhat different. Just curious.

Sorry, forgot to say, yes, Ayon has a nice variety of separates and integrateds.

[f1 fan]

Serge...wait till you hear the Shindo. Congrats my friend you'll be in tube & vinyl heaven once again Btw, the Ayon is nice looking for sure.

Dave

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by f1 fan

Serge...wait till you hear the Shindo. Congrats my friend you'll be in tube & vinyl heaven once again Btw, the Ayon is nice looking for sure.

Dave

The Ayon has been playing for a few more hours and holy crap does it sound good with my Tanny's! If Shindo is even better, I will be in audio heaven for sure.

[two dot]

Serge,

Congrats.

I would venture to bet that the Shindo will bring you, yet another step closer to the music

Good luck in your quest.

Stephen

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by two dot

Serge,

Congrats.

I would venture to bet that the Shindo will bring you, yet another step closer to the music

Good luck in your quest.

Stephen

Stephen, it will be interesting to hear how much more magic Shindo call pull off.

[Jerome W]

Hi Serge,

Yes, you discovered the magic of a well designed SET amp.
For myself, I regret it very much but finally I will have to let the Verdier's go.
Stephen and Alberto, I was about to pm you about that but Serge gave me an opportunity to mention it here.
I finally don't keep them for 2 reasons :
- the voices were voiced a bit too high, with some kind of peak in the high mids. Switching back to the Mcs gave me more naturalness. The voices are more true to the reality with the 2301's and that is very important for me.
- instrumental music was more intoxicating than the 2301's in a way difficult to describe. They seem to connect with your emotions in a more direct way. But after 10 days, I realized that the price to pay for it was too high for me : some recordings were not sounding good at all compared to the 2301's.
I have read these "mixed emotions" that would bring SET amps on a review the web ( I think I could find the link and send it to you ) and it described perfectly what happened to me. First I loved them with everything. Then, after some days, I discovered that the sound of some recordings was completely out of the game. While others were still sounding wonderful. To summarize, these amps are extremely transparent generally speaking and they are all but forgiving. Less than perfect recordings sound truly "less than perfect" . I realized that I preferred much more the overall more forgiving sound of the 2301's. From what Alberto and Stephen describe, I doubt that Shindo SET amps could sound this way.
And I will be very curious to read your comments on the Ayon as time goes by and you listen to more and more recordings....

Cheers,