Air Tight VS Kondo

[JSCC]

Well, I had the chance to view 2 Japanese High End Tube combos performing against one another.

1. Air Tight ATE2001 Reference (top Pre-amp with build in Phono Stage) + ATM 300 Stereo Power Amplifier (2x300B Tubes @ 8 Watts Per Channel).

2. Kondo's G70 Pre Amp (NO Phono Stage) + Souga (4x2a3 Tubes - 2 per channel again @ 8 Watts Per Channel).

Needless to say, the guy who audition (not me, of course. I am just a passer-by) was smitten and probably will go for combo "2".

Local pricing - Combo "2" costs way much more. Performance? Well, both are 8 waters, BUT the Kondo combo is so much more ..... and outrightly so ..... when played thru the Avantgarde Acoustics Duo Omega.

Seriously, I could live with any of the combo BUT if money is not an issue, I'll pass both! Will go straight for the Kondo M1000 MKII + Gakuon II.

New Year 2012 Resolution - Get that combo ... What a joke, I can never afford it

Cheers!