Andrew of Sparkos Labs here - glad to hear you are enjoying the discrete SS2590 op amps. If you ever want some additional op amps to play around with - just let me know :)
I own a Purifi based amp. It truly is the thinking man's choice. I have never before heard, let alone owned, an amp that I enjoyed so much with such a variety of music styles and sources.
I second that: I bought the Hypex Nilai 500 DIY Stereo and the Hyper Preamp DIY, it's marvelous! I am an ex DJ and listen to a wide variety of music genre. Sparkos Tube in there, for me it's no thank you, total no go... "More Musical" = the guy like the added harmonic distortion of tubes: I don't like distortion at all, i don't want to hear colored sound! But cool, we have choice of buffers for those amps, a modular architecture that brings flexibility / choices.
@@sebastianlunoe I have the Audiophonics hpa-s400et amp. Audiophonics produce their own buffer board with LM4562 OPA, offering four gain-settings and a buffer bypass. My speakers (in rotation): Q acoustics 5040, Wharfedale Linton, Klipsch RP150. I use a Topping D70pro Sabre as preamp.
I spent the last 3 years making my own power and preamp. This involved trying loads of component variations, testing, and listening for days, eventually moving on to a second prototype etc. The amount of time, skill, experience and patience it takes to make good hifi was an eye opener, and honestly left me with severe audio burnout a few times. Now I have a system that I can just turn on and enjoy without the mental analytics. One of the many things baked into my brain now is that some preamps and amps just don't sound good together. Every component needs to compliment the other.
Hi Peter, thanks for sharing your story. I am so glad you’ve found that place where the sun shines on music and not the technology. Having said that - building your own is quite an achievement and one not many have the skill or patience to achieve. Enjoy.
I own a VTV Purifi amp with a Sparkos buffer. When I bought it about a year ago, I ordered it with the Hypex standard buffer. Playing through my Magnepan 1.7i speakers, it sounded a bit thin, as the Maggies are super fast and detailed and add no significant warmth of their own (at least in my setup). Warren said the Sparkos 2590 is a great blend of smoothness with some warmth but not compromising details, and he is right. The VTV Purifi amp is by far the most detailed and clean I've ever used with the Maggies, with plenty of power and control for my power-hungry speakers. I might next try Warren's tube buffer boards.
Warren Coleman is a pleasure to deal with. I consulted with him regarding options for my Apogee Scintilla. Ordered a pair of his Purifi HP mono blocks and have been more than satisfied with their musicality.
Not sure how you do this Harley but you always manage to convey constructive messages about technology or recording workflow while sticking to the one message that matters most: every hi-fi decision should strive for greater musicality and music enjoyment! Thanks for sharing your voice. Can't wait to watch your interview with Bruno!
As always so refreshing and informative, particularly your suggestion that we might prefer a bit of distortion. SMSL offers sound “colors “ on many of their Sabre dacs. Instead of tweaking the tonal response these are implemented by adjusting low order harmonic distortion. Some, not purists, consider these appealing (we all know about the 2nd harmonic of tubes). I’ve used the Sparkos in one of my dacs and found it more musical than some of the typical chips. I’ve since changed to the Staccato, made by someone in Poland. It is a jfet, discrete device and my current, subjective favorite. But beware, I’m unsure I could tell the difference if tested. I believe, as you imply, that “perfection” will always depend on who we are and what we listen to. Again, thanks for the amalgamation of knowledge, wisdom, curiosity, and humanity - a welcome beacon in an otherwise gnarly and distracting landscape.
Thanks Robert, you’re very kind! (I often think that if my team sneaked into my listening room and switched my Sugden with my Torri V or even the PassLabs, without me being able to know - it might be a while before I discovered it! I think it will only be when I am listening to tracks I know very well from testing, that I might ask myself “whats going in here?”
Harley: the topic and narrative of this video spoke right to me. Your impressions of the module, and further thoughts on how to “flesh it out” really captures, I think, how so many of us feel about the Eigentakt module in its current offerings. It feels like we are so close, by still no cigar on when compared with some class A offerings. As a concert pianist myself, that “musical” quality is what I’m after in the reproduction of music, which is why I love my Pass amp. It feels like we are on the cusp of greatness here. Good to see you, and thank you for sharing your thoughts so genuinely. Best regards.
So enjoyable to listen to you. I actually bought my amplifier without listening to it, but instead because of the way it was developed. As you mentioned, it has two IcePower Modules from Bang & Olufsen (kind of a predecessor to the Eigentakt modules) and is equipped with an input stage specially engineered as a class-a module, especially not with perfect measurements but best sound quality in mind. So I thought, it should be the best of both worlds. And it is. It's the PS Audio Stellar S300. I was blown away when I first listened to it and I still am. And it's on the budget side also, as a bonus.
It's so interesting how far we have come in 10-20 years with the electronics and the components used in basically the same functioning stereo components from 50 years ago! You mentioned the Quad amplifiers in other videos, and how renowned they were: and they were! I have an retro-set up of Rega Mira integrated with Epos ES14 speakers. I absolutely love how they sound, the power, the freakish center image, the mid range.......but then I listen to my Legacy Studio HD speakers from my Rega Elicit integrated, and it's like an entirely new-never before heard-musical experience. I am so amazed at how distinct amplifiers have come in their sound. I am eager to hear digital amps become more accepted in hi-fi (like from Bel Canto in the USA).
I could never lift my class D amp with one hand and place it on a shelf It weighs 54lb's!! Really enjoyed your discussion on the future of class D amps and it seems they are getting better every day
You make me feel peace inside of me and try to think twice abouth big amps.. “ is true my wife have the right: I don’t know 🤷♀️ why you spend to much money for amp that is better to buy a cheep than a expensive. GREAT TALK !! Hi from Los Angeles CA.
Many moons ago i have decided to give B&O ICE modules a try. I have builded nice housing and E88CC tube buffer. It was not bad, but it was not good either. Withouth E88CC buffer it was cold and uninvolving. But with signal generator driving it at 1kHz you could weld with it. That was long time ago and by now these things must have made long way. For time being and untill proven othervise i will stick to valve SE A class. Sir you have a great chanell.
Well put! Ive always been partial to the thought of designing amps around the speaker it drives. The EXACT amount of power the unit can safely take. To have the volume at 5 o'clock and the only damage I need worry, are to my own eardrums.
Your comments comparing to a watch is apt. No one needs anything better than a $20 watch to tell time. But we buy the one we like and also get to tell the time. I built big OTL triode amps because the notion of tube amps fit my design aesthetic. The circuit designer was well regarded, so it had the potential to sound good, but I did it on faith. They sound as good as they look, and I never think of changing or upgrading. What little distortion they have suit my ears. Holographic and engaging. For me, they are the Patek watch, while the amp you are showcasing is the Casio. My amps have the huge disadvantage of needing retubing, and they take a lot of space, and are energy inefficient. But I do love them. When I get old and have to downsize, I'll get the perfect Class D, and put it in a cabinet out of sight. And also buy your speakers. I would buy Bruno's modules to build some power amps for my woofers. I need about 13dB of gain. They would likely work without the gain stage.
Thank you for your very kind appreciation and for your contribution to the discussion. I too have a big, very heavy pair of tube monoblocks in my home listening room. They best it beautifully in the winter. But in the Summer we switch to class D. Best wishes, H
Superb explanation. Seems to me there’s never been a better time to be enjoying music. For years I never gave a thought to recording quality or CD v vinyl. Now we have incredible equipment (Rega P10) audiophile record labels producing incredible quality vinyl & the rise of digital which can only improve exponentially in the coming years as Dacs, streamer technology gets better. I love the videos Harley, keep making them.
Thank you Chris, you’re very kind! And so true. And the brilliant thing is, some items like the VTV amplifier is incredible value for money. It should last for decades too
My Devialet Pro 1000 Master and Slave module. All configured on a computer through an SD card. The custom SAM module is designed to be coded to your individual speaker, they currently have I think over 400 speakers coded, and offer annual clinics to have your speakers added. I’m on my 4th upgrade since I started with Devialet amps, can’t see me changing anytime soon.
I just happen to own a Hypex NC500 based amplifier which I like most switching to bypass mode the internal buffer (keeping some 12+ dB gain ) and driving the amplifier, practically the NC500 modules directly by a tube preamplifier.
@@wyup I understand. In fact I was lucky by getting a second-hand unit some years ago. This is a bit older version with separate pre-outs of 12 dB 18 dB, but the 12 dB does the job in most cases. I really like the low total gain solutions where the preamp can do its job by actually amplifying and not attenuating because of the high gain of the power amplifier. Sounds familiar when you can operate with the volume pot up to 9 o'clock position? By having 12+12.8 dB of total gain I can set the volume to the upper third of its range and the sound is somewhat livelier, more open.
Harley always such a joy to hear your thoughts. I will say that the way a component looks is not as important but definitely a part of what I enjoy about them. Form and function speak to me through creative design. I’d not be satisfied hiding away components for the sake of minimizing the set up. I love ogling my equipment as I immerse myself in the wonderful music they produce. That being said, the technology you describe with this amp is very interesting.
@@PearlAcoustics to answer your question honestly I like to look at my girlfriend but when she's not around a decent substitute is some liner notes, photos,etc from the album I'm listening to. Some well designed and crafted audio gear will for me be a nice compliment for whatever else I have in my humble abode. For instance if I'm sitting on my comfortable couch listening to some music there is something very soothing about looking over at the soft glowing blue light coming from my vintage Marantz receiver as I get into the music. This scenario loses a lot of it's appeal if I have a piece of junk equipment that doesn't sound very good.
@@richardwestmoreland4796 😀. Junk equipment that doesn’t sound good, is a ‘no’ for me too. Although I have had some ugly stuff in the past that sounded great… Enjoy the beauty of both equipment and the sound it emanates
Hi Harley! Last nigth my 300 b amp went up in flames. I was familiar with the work of Bruno , but not with VTV, after seeing your video i`ve ordered the VTV amp with the sparkos 2590 Opamp. Thank you! Can`t wait to see Bruno`s interview. Regards, from Tijuana, Mèxico.
Of course, I first saw this part, then the interview with Bruno, after which I came here for a comment. There is practically no amplification, amplifiers do not amplify anything, they just facilitate the source signal to modulate in amplitude the current from the power supply which reaches the speaker in the audio speaker or the terminals of the audio speaker. This is the secret, practically and theoretically, the audio/musical quality of an amplifier depends a lot on the quality of the current from the amplifier's power supply. A linear source, possibly stabilized, will produce a much better, more musical sound, than a PWM (switching) source. I studied a lot and even assembled a few amplifiers in my youth. Of course, a good preamp, again, with a very good current source is very important. Bruno said that he is trying to create a module that is no longer influenced by the quality of the power supply, the current source, which in theory may be valid, but in practice is not possible. Think about what I said above, at the terminals of the speakers, from the amplifier, it is actually the current from the power supply of the amplifier that is modulated by the input signal and not the input signal as such. Real amplification is called resonance, and again, it is only encountered in the analog realm, in nature, or in analog electronics. When the soprano hits a high note with force, the empty glass on the table shatters as it resonates amplifying the frequency of the sound emitted by the soprano. So, if you want to build an amplifier around Eigentakt modules, you need a very good quality linear current source, possibly stabilized, then the best buffer can be made with tubes and not transistors or opamps.
I'm looking for a new amp and i've seen these Eigentakt-things before but you're the first who explains what the heck those buffer-boards are for. Thanks! :)
Great video! Videos from you and from thomas and stereo lead me to believe that incredible sound is possible out of class d amplification. The key here is that most of the “good” amplifiers that I’ve seen have some type of input buffer in front of it. So perhaps that is the way forward. Maybe you buy just the module and try different buffers to suite your taste.
Thanks Jose! Another approach might be to drive the module directly from a tube preamplifier that can deliver a high enough voltage… but I am open to all ideas.
For me this is my perfect amplifier for small money: BC ACOUSTIQUE EX 214. Yes, it is entry level. Yes it makes sound (is not neutral like Cambridge AXA 35).But it makes great fun to hear your music. Bass and highs emphasized, much "punch". Yes, it's a subjective view, but very good for beginners if you are not a neutral-analytic fan.
I love your idea, a lot of potential DIY, the idea to have different buffer stage kind of evolve from the idea of the Gallion of modifying the bias from class AB to class A. Bob Carver did long time ago some amplifier with Transfer Function Module that mimic the tube . NAD did it’s M23 on that premise I think, designing both PS and buffer section with the Purifi modules. Would be nice if designers like NP would team up with BP! And call the result Utopia or something like that. In the end good sound is a mater of taste. Variable level of harmonic distortion might give potential enjoyment depending on the listening program.
Great amp, love the idea of customization via tubes and/or discrete op amps on the input stage. Also curious about your impressions on the newer GaN amps from Peachtree and LSA. Thank you for covering these newer types of amps.
Class-D achieves respectability outside of PA and sound-reinforcement! About the vanishingly low THD: it would be interesting to determine at what point the most sensitive of human ears ceases to perceive THD at all under the most favourable conditions for detection. Then we could say anything lower than that is over-engineered for purpose. Or at least, cease investing resource to better those figures. And in fact, as you alluded to, there are some for which a perfect distortion-free sound is boring, they like some kind of sheen over the sound, almost like an Instagram filter, but for music! Of course, the component that introduces the most distortion is the loudspeaker. If we'd gone back in time to the early 20th century and told the engineers of the time we were still using conical pistons attached to an electromagnetic motor and damped by an enclosed volume of air to reproduce sound, I should imagine they'd be rather incredulous.
I love your talks, they're very enjoyable and thought provoking but I have to say I've heard this before - anyone old enough to remember Julian Hirsch and his claim that "all (competently designed) power amplifiers sound the same" or the assertion that CD's were "perfect sound forever" will cast a rather leery eye at the assertion that these modules are "perfect". Perfect for whom? Me? You? Bob down the street? Everyone has their own idea of what perfect is. Round and round it goes.
Hi George, thanks for every kind words. I am not sure if you watched to the end, but I clearly state that one should not sell any of their existing equipment. I am talking about scientists mathematical advancement that allows a tiny amplifying module do something quite extraordinary and that has the potential to become ‘generic’ just like a quartz movement in a watch. After all it’s about music. The science is interesting for me.
I tend to compare colouration of sound with the smallest pinch of salt in food. You may not be able to taste it as such, but you notice some difference. In school I learnt that anything below 1dB difference is inaudible, so two amps with the same distortion of 0.001% should sound *exactly* the same, but it is not necessarily the case. I've compared characteristics of a guitar pick up with different magnets (same pick up) and noticed an audible difference - although the measurements differed just a fraction of a dB in a certain frequency range. On the other hand I'd like to see what the outcome of an amp comparison would be in a double blind test - just to be sure, since there are quite a few placebo's out there...
Indeed, less than 1 db in amplitude difference is very hard to detect, except for the trained ear, and only in a few. But change the sound of one human talking to another (at the same amplitude) and you’ll hear the difference immediately. Amp architecture and transistor or Tube types change so many parameters. The only thing we can truly measure is amplitude. Which is like pointing a telescope in the wrong direction.
I have listened to the Benchmark AHB2 power amp which is one of the very best meausering amplifiers in the World. But it was not for me. Strange analytical sound, thin sounding midrange. I now own the Gryphon Diablo 120 and i am very happy listening to music
Curious what speakers and preamp/dac you are using. I have the benchmark stack into Von Schweikert E3 Mark IIs and I am quite happy with it. Very musical sound and I find the gear a chameleon that changes with the recording. Exactly what I'm personally looking for.
@@chrish7540 Harley: Albert Von Schweikert RIP Albert designs his loudspeakers to reproduce the inverse sound of an omnidirectional microphone. His midranges are plus or minus 1 DB . Maybe he compensates ( tunes ?) his crossover like you have done with your designing and tuning your creation.
Hi Harley, thanks for making these videos! Always informative and enjoyable :). In this video you mentioned an aspect of the recording/mixing process that I found very intriguing and would love your insight. You mention how the VTV seems to present aspects of the recording (harshness of the violins) more 'uncolored' as opposed to your Sugden, and how you enjoy that smooth/colored aspect of those class A amps. My question to you as someone with experience as a recoding engineer is why doesn't this colorization happen BEFORE the reproduction step? Wouldn't you want to color the recording to make it more enjoyable and relaxing, as opposed to 'uncolored'? I believe most artists are interested in having their recording being presented as enjoyable as opposed pure. An example of an artist doing this is Black Country, New Road with the record Ants From Up There (highest recommendation). They found that running the record through a tube mixing console gave a much more enjoyable sound. Thanks for your insight and I look forward to your next videos! :)
Dear Joshua, firstly, thanks for your very kind and motivational words. Secondly, what you say is absolutely logical, the mixing and mastering part of the recording process (and even to a certain extent, microphone selection) should iron out all the harshness. But we have massive discrepancies in taste between (sorry generalising here) Asian tastes (generally quite bright) and ‘western’ tastes. Plus, it can also depend on the monitors used in the studio and of course the taste of the engineers. I think there is a tendency to record things bright, knowing it is easier for consumers to turn down the treble. (You cannot put in what’s not there, but you can cut back what is). Lastly, sadly my synopsis in the video was a bit over simplified due to a lack of a sufficient vocabulary that everyone would understand (including myself)! I once heard a pair of Harbeth P3 loudspeakers once. They made everything sound ‘nice’ but I know I would have tired of them, over time for critical listening as they masked out certain detail, that in a good recording I love. I think the real point I wanted to make was that the amplifier was too clinical, not enough second order harmonics (the kind that most humans like). The good news is that my colleagues have worked on a fantastic variant, that we hope to bring to market in the Spring of 2025. (But that’s a secret) 😉 Thsnks also for the tip re Black Country!
The highly acclaimed NAD M23 is built on this architecture with Purifi Audio's Eigentakt design, a solution for non-electricians and do-it-yourselfers.
I got that. My Lavardin: pre/MONO combo, doesen´t come any better (imo). why? They play music, and as an musician myself (drummer), i know about real life sounding instruments. Owned my amps for 8-9 years, and they stay. Somehow, i found my end-game set, and that is very satisfying. Cheers from Denmark (Thomas 53 years)
Hi Thomas, thanks for your best wishes. Isn’t it great when you compile a system that really meets your needs and expectations. That must be the goal of many! Enjoy,
Interesting video. My take is that there isn't any 'perfect' anything, we all have differing tastes, likes, dislikes, passions etc. And will one amplifier match 'electrically' with all speakers, preamps, cables etc. Plus, for many folks, a big part of the hobby is seeking 'perfection' by constantly trying new/different components. My Mantra has always been "If what I'm hearing is colouration then bring on the whole rainbow" - willbewill (Lenco Heaven Admin)
I have to wonder just when it was that colouration became a dirty word in audio hi-fi? Rainbows are beautiful to behold and so should any colouration as long as it puts a smile on the face of the listener. My only real wish would be some simplification in finding just the right colour. As much as I enjoy some trial and error in this hobby of mine I might be lost without having the likes of Harley and a few others to lead me in the right direction.
Very interesting matter. I wonder, if the lyngdorf tdai 1120 you sometimes use, would be a good match as a preamp. Because it has the possibility to use different settings or voices. Curious for your answer, Hannes
You make an excellent point here. I didn’t try it because the Lyngdorf has no balanced outputs (I keep nagging Lyngdorf to make a true pre-amp version) and the VTV I received had only balanced inputs. I think it would be worth exploring this further. The Lyngdorf has a pretty good amplifier so it might be a bit of a pointless exercise - but it could be very interesting. Thanks for your comment
Harley: As a mental exercise, are these amps (minus the buffer and op-amp stages) so perfect that you consider placing them inside your Sibelius speakers and, say, providing a balanced connection to be feed by user’s choice of pre-stage?
Hi Steve, that’s an interesting concept. Unfortunately, we can’t put anything inside our loudspeakers, but I am extremely interested in exploring the topic further.
Mmm, interesting point. Can we say that a "perfect" sound is not equal to sound "good", but also that to sound "good" is not equal to sound "perfect"? I think so, and as you, I also enjoy both ways of listening. Bottom line one amp is not enough ;)
Hi Adrian. That’s what I am saying. If I record classical ensembles with Bruel Kjaer B&K test microphones, that have a ‘perfect’ response, no one would employ me! 😉
Sound isn't the only thing that makes a perfect amplifier, price, looks, power consumption etc. All factors that would make the perfect amplifier. My current amplifiers have been in my system for 30 years now. Perfect? Probably not, perfect for me? Absolutely
You’re absolutely right. So pleased you have long serving equipment. That’s exactly how it should be. At home I run my 1976 QUAD, it had an overhaul in 2015, but not been touched since (and I cannot imagine it would ever need to be).
@@PearlAcoustics quad is nice quality equipment. I have ESL 57, love them. Driving them with Harman Kardon citation 12 deluxe and citation 25. Thorens turntable and Marantz cd80. All at least 30 y.o. and had them serviced once. Bought ifi dac and BT. Because I think these areas will get more innovation in the coming years, so didn't want to spend much. But impressed with the build and Sonic qualities specially for the price. The piece of gear I use most is my hifiman Deva pro. Love the utility for daily driving my sonic needs. Bt/dac/conventional it does it all.
Perfect specs don't guarantee perfect music listening, it seems. Even if the Eigentakt modules might be as close as currently possible to measurable perfection for a current amp/power amp, you seem to prefer feeding them with a slightly "coloured" input signal from the Sparkos Op-amps. In the end the user probably does not really care where in his chain the magic happens, so... what. Nice video, looking forward to your release of the interview!
Hi sir. Your entering into interesting territory, some might even say a minefield 😂. This has the potential to certainly disrupt the low to mid range of the hifi market , because it could totally level the playing field . As you rightly say those with the cash to splash will always operate outside the everyday marketplace . But what you’re envisaging is a one box solution that has the potential to decimate the whole of the industry . And as you rightly pointed out , most manufacturers are catering to people who just want the best sound at the best price . I would definitely include myself in that group , so if you can produce such an item that is equal or better to anything else why would I bother going to a different manufacturer . And judging by the actual component count, this could be mass produced and bring down the cost even further so what’s not to like . If as I assume you might be consider helping with bring this to the mass market with some of the component upgrades , then many in the industry will be breaking out into cold sweats . The perfect mouse trap or even the perfect toaster , food for thought dear sir Ps. At least everyones still got the speaker industry and play back formats to play with Best wishes and kind regards as always 😀👍👍👍
Hi Harley, what if compare to SMSL VMV A1? And off topics, which Sibelius speaker combo (wood & drive colour, with/out stand) is your favourite? thanks for your share. 🙏
Hi. The two amplifiers are quite different. The Purify is very dynamic and extremely detailed. Whereas the VMV is ‘laid back’. The difference is not massive but it’s there. My favourite combination / colour mostly depends on the room. I have always been fond of the Naturals because you’re basically seeing the wood ‘as is’. I like to have them on their stands because the bass is a bit more detailed and faster. The cone choice with natural is SG (for me personally). I am also very keen on medium oak, over the years it goes darker and becomes very warm and golden brown looking and is fabulous with the CG. Hope that helps?
Hi Howard, I like your idea of ‘harmonic richness’ or maybe ‘harmonic detail’? It’s about hearing all the information that I know is there and not just an approximation. Thanks for the tip.
Harvey have you tried or are you considering the Nad M32. The buffer, power supply and eigentakt module are all designed in house. Maybe it has what you are looking for.
Thanks Will. Yes we have tried it and indeed it’s very good and if I could only have one amplifier in the world, it might be that one. But I love the imperfections of my Sugden A21SE or the Torri v - something happens there that is truly extraordinary. Best wishes from Belgium
Guess you are aware of Schitt Freya - a pre amp with switchable tube/SS/and passive modes. Probably not quite what you're looking for though the concept is there. Neurochrome has made a Purifi specific buffer too. Always thought class D had the potential to 'pass the buck' of the sound sig down to the buffer/pre or even DAC.
I thought of Freya+ to this Purifi amp to drive it in bypass mode, but Freya+ balanced output impedance is 600Ω, too high for Purifi 4.4kΩ without buffer. Plus I think you can't bypass the VTV input buffer and its opamps/tube. It's either 7 or 14db gain by the internal jumper.
Well done sir. It sounds like the amp you described will become the industry standard soon if not the industry best. Zero distortion may not be the goal for musicality. As we know Nelson Pass uses some 2nd or 3rd order distortion. Why? Because that is what his test audience prefers. Me Too. It is why I have a Pass INT25. Sounds better even to my tired ears.
Hi David, it might surprise you that the professional recording industry has been using class D designs for decades. You’re not likely to see a class A tube amplifier in any recording studio for playback purposes. Except for fun. Even then, there’s just no room in the mixing room, and the one thing we don’t want in there is heat.
it's just the difference between a coffee-flavored drink and a real espresso coffee, some may even love the former more but real things are real things as well as substitutes. Enjoy
Well, a great video, as always that I have listened to at least 3 times !! Now the VTV you experimented is out of stock, maybe because of your appreciation of it ! Finally I understand you said we should not throw away our Sugden and the like but, did you prefer the sound of this VTV amplifier more than that of your various Sugden ones ? I am asking because I am still wondering if I should go to the Sugden route or maybe the VTV one (I already have a TDAI 1120 after viewing your videos).
Hi, thank you for your kind appreciation. This is a tricky topic. To be thorough, although the Purify modules are ‘perfect’ I still felt something was missing. Given a choice between the VTV or a Sugden ANV50, or SPA4, I would choose the Sugden. Although there is quite a price difference. I hope that helps?
I'll stick with my Audiolab 8000M's. 20+ years old and when I sent them for a service a few years ago all that was needed was a clean to remove the residue from my misspent middle age. They measured perfectly on test so I was advised to leave well alone. I'd be interested to know if they are among the most reliable HiFi components ever made? Perhaps it's because they have been left on for most of those 20 odd years only being turned off when making/breaking connections, cleaning or going on holiday?
Hi, I am not very knowledgeable on Audiolab gear. But good quality equipment should last a lifetime, in my opinion. Indeed, leave well alone - and if something needs changing go to someone who really knows what they are doing. Best is always the manufacturer, if in any doubt.
It's fascinating that sources, amps and speakers are often loved, admired, chosen and cherished for their sonic and technical failings (sound signatures) or very considered and added character colourations and flavourings. And many still claim that vinyl is still sonically better and superior to digital media ....even though technically on paper the bandwidth is more limited on vinyl!? Again, people love tube or class A amps even though they often measure very poorly and worse than many cheaper super clean class D products....yet class D still seem not quite as harmonically musical although technically amazing. Therefore...as sound reproduction is highly emotional , technical and subjective ....for me a good tube buffer/pre amp or class A preamp often works well with class d power modules.... But the real breakthrough for me would be to get a very talented programner to create an amp simulation/modeller module or chipset - like in current digital guitar (modelling) amps - where they could create or replicate many known, renowned and loved tube or class A amp sound simulations or variants ...Now that would be the real game changer for most people! Except for the purists who will still want and desire the authentic things! But imagine being able to switch between a having a Pass labs, McIntosh, luxman, accuphase, prima luna, krell, naim, hegel, meridian, quad sounds etc, etc.... and get close to perhaps 90% of their sound signatures ...or be able to tweak them further ...wow! But that said .. when considering the other sonic variables and the mixed diversity of good and bad recordings .. the hobby still remains a highly compromised and fickle process...with moments of pure bliss ...followed by moments of sonic pain 😂😂😂😂
Class D amplifiers are amazing. Indeed. It is difficult to imagine that they sound so good being efficient as they are. As class D amplifiers are being developed? Mains voltages will be of concern. I am in the United States. 120 Volts? Something will give.
Voltages are not an issue. High quality class d amplifiers, all have mains smoothing circuits. In fact you can see a simple 5v smartphone charger as a class d amplifier in reverse….
@@PearlAcoustics No worries, I as a person who spends a lot of money on amplification? Seems high end speakers can be found at relatively lower cost verses amplifiers. i am intrigued. In so am following such things.
Thank you for the excellent summary and precious information on amplifiers. Your videos are amazing, I only recently discovered your channel and am very glad for it. Please allow me questions: - What is the hi-fi rack you have the components on - manufacturer, model? - Ad Musical Fidelity: besides the M8s-500s stereo power amp, do you have any experience with the M8s-700m monoblocks? Why did you choose the stereo power amp and not the monoblocks please? Thank you
Hi, thank you so much for your very kind appreciation, very kind. To answer your questions: the rack we built ourselves, it is kitchen worktops and off the shelf metal legs. On the back we hung black cloth, so that all the wires would not show. We went for this option because we wanted a very specific set up and at that time we didn’t have any of our own. Now we make stands from oak to match our loudspeakers. Yes, the MF monoblocks are very impressive. Very well priced. Because the Sibelius loudspeakers are very easy to drive and only need 16watts, two monoblocks would have been a bit over the top 😉. However, in a home set up, I might have gone for the two monoblocks but in our listening room we don’t have so much space and these guys are very heavy! I hope that helps?
@@PearlAcoustics Thank you very much for your reply. Hi-fi rack - great, looks very good and professional with a nice clean design. Congratulations on such an excellent custom build. Please allow me to follow up on the MF question. I am choosing an amplifier for my Fyne Audio F502sp speakers. One of the candidates is MF - I like the sound of the M8 series very much. I've tried all sorts of things, but I'm still drawn to the MF. I am considering the M8sPRE preamp + M8s-500s stereo power amp or 2 x M8s-700m monoblocks. I use the audio system in a listening room of about 21m2. In the audio community I am advised to get monoblocks straight away - or rather, that I can expect that if I buy a stereo power amp now I will want monoblocks after a while anyway and sell the stereo power amp at a loss. And also that I'll have a reserve for upgrading the speakers in the future (yes I'm considering that too). So actually by buying monoblocks I will save money 😊I would like to know your point of view please. Thank you so much for the reply and direction.
@@PearlAcoustics Hi, please allow me to politely ask if you would be able to comment on my above comment. It would help me a lot in making a decision. But of course, I fully respect that you may be busy and that it is impossible to reply to everyone. Thank you
@@jipe175 hi, briefly… I really don’t think monoblocks make sense in your case. The MF 500 and 800 series is extremely powerful. The stereo is a dual mono but in one box. In your room it will be full on! Overkill even. But fun. You will probably never use more than 10-20 watts. Even taking peaks into account. To me, mono blocks make the most sense with lower powered tube amplifiers, L like them from an aesthetic point of view, but they don’t make much technical sense. My rack is self built from kitchen worktops cut to length and legs from a diy store. Btw the MF pre 800 is a very good pre-amplifier with lots of functionality. I have a demo set in my listening room. But I guess you are a long way from me 😉 I hope that helps?
@@PearlAcoustics Hi, thank you so much for the answer. I appreciate your insight and recommendations. I think I will do that and instead of the M8s-700m monoblocks I will get the M8s-500s stereo power amp and the M8sPRE preamplifier. For my 21m2 room this will probably be sufficient. I would like to visit you in your listening room in Belgium, but it's far for me, maybe I can make a trip sometime😊I appreciate your help. Please keep doing what you are doing - the videos are excellent.
Hi Harley, thanks a lot for your videos. I am new here, did you already have a look and listen of the Benchmark, which in my ears have a truely borring but wonderfull sound.....
Hi Jorgen. Thank you for your kind appreciation. I personally have not heard one in our listening room but a number of our customers swear by it, saying that it controls the Sibelius drivers perfectly. I love your concept of ‘boring but wonderful’ - exactly what a long term piece of amplification equipment should be! Enjoy
Disdain for Seiko, "quite rightly?... ? (questionable comment !) Wires in that amp seem quite sloppy compared to the neatly braided lines in the components I have opened up! Perhaps an interesting video(?), though I feel it had tunnel vision. Hopefully subsequent parts to this series will expand on this one with insight relative to other historically-respected amps (such as McIntosh MC275, etc.)
Hi, indeed my comment was not very well phrased. I felt bad about that but it was too difficult to edit out. Absolutely no disdain about Seiko, they are great value for money. And I would have no issue in wearing one.
Amplifiers should be neutral. If you want to add color put it in the preamp or other specialized unit that can be varied depending on the room, speaker, and recording.
Agreed. Some say spend the most on speakers.. I say.. especially for a person who has only been in this hobby a couple yrs.. put ur money into a great neutral power amp. How do you know what sound you like when you bring speakers home but can't properly drive them? I went with the Coda No.8 high current neutral amplifier. Built to last 3 decades or more. :)
Well, to me a perfect amp would be the one that only requieres passive attenuation, not any color or character. Tubes wouldn't be needed. Neutral to me is the real representation of the recording, not lean or clinical. Usually neutral is a meant for that in reviews. If we need a tube preamp to approximate the actual sound, the amp is not right (you add to take back). Usually A/AB class amps don't require a tube preamp (do they add color or distorsion themselves or are they just 'neutral'?). I want the sound to be as I hear it when I go to classical concerts. A wire with gain is the mantra, but in reality you need a preamp synergy (with gain, color and impedance matching).
Great, objective, interesting and informative video as usual. I had hypex nc500 based (Bruno's work also) amp with same modules, and used it with the tube preamp (primaluna), just to get that musicality back.
How would you compare the VTV power amplifier with the D-Sonics from your earlier review? Both are high-power Class D. Which would be better for long-term listening, particularly for large-scale classical? Greatly appreciate your insights and videos. You have a wonderful sense of curiosity. Looking forward to your future videos
Hi Bruce, that’s a very good question. And sadly I have not tried the comparison. I love the Pascal ‘D’ sonics, with the buffer Bruce made for me. They are very musical for class D. I imagine they will be very similar. The point of my going for the Eigentakt in this video is because Bruno is such a genius and he has taken his original Hypex design to the next level and therefore it made sense to feature this up to the moment, very high performant design. I think the same applies to both amplification modules, the beauty in sound will largely be defined by the pre-amplifier, and what sits in front of it. Hoping this helps?
How can you say one amp is ideal It is all amplifier/speaker synergy and room size I prefer Single End Triode (no waveform switching / strong power supply), nos tubes - Very high efficiency conventional loud speakers
I can’t and I don’t think I did. It’s all down to preference and it depends how you look at the topic. Hopefully my video gets that message across clearly. Enjoy your system.
I am curious to hear an honest answer. Despite being a huge fan of high efficiency loudspeakers combined with a pure class A SET, it would be great if we can get this magic from a simple small and efficient box. How far are we from this with this product in 2023? (Again this is genuine interest.)
Hi Nick. There are SET amps and there are SET amps. Ie some are noisy and harsh, others are dull and muddy and some as close as what I call perfection, meaning I love listening to music with them. The vtv purify with tube buffer is incredible, if it is driven by a high quality (nice sounding pre) it’s better than most SET’s because it has dynamics snd control. But these things are still very subjective. I hope this helps? Just remember: what goes in comes out but louder.
Hi Chris, No you’re getting this 100% correct. The Eigentakt module amplifies exactly what goes into it. But it’s the ‘distortion’ or coloration of the tube that makes it sound ‘nice’. And that’s the problem. For example, test microphones that are technically ‘flat’ ie correct, are no use for recording classical or acoustic instruments, they just sound wrong. And that’s the problem. I hope I am making sense? Somehow ’perfect’ does not sound right.
@@PearlAcoustics Harley, you are making perfect sense. Although from a technical point of view this all is very difficult to explain. But the essence is that at the end of the day it does not matter. As long as we can enjoy our music the way we like it.
Hi Jeff, after speaking with Bruno on the topic if GanFet, I am not so sure. + if there is nothing wrong with a design, Ie it is technically ’perfect’, then it next comes down to economics, the environment and ease of manufacture. There cones a time, like with quartz watches, that one stops talking about accuracy.
I am a big fan of Lyngdorf equipment. I particularly like the little 1120 because of its capabilities. And I like to couple it with other amplifiers. I have not yet tried it with the Purify. Indeed it could be a very interesting combination
@@PearlAcoustics I am just ahead of testing all in one's line-up, as moved to streaming almost entirely. 1120 is on top of my list, with only add-on to be proper headphone amp. My question comes for potential future proofing :)
Not wishing to sound critical but I struggle with the concept of what is being called a "perfect" amp being coloured by an op amp. The mere fact that the two tested made the amp sound different regardless of whether better or worse means that although the final stage may be "perfect" it will always be affected by the op amp. And that Harley prefers, what I assume is a more "coulored" , as in less that totally transparent, sound means that to strive or even care about "perfect" is a waste of time. For what it's worth I would love to hear the op amp Harley liked less as for me I love the transparency and ability to dig into the minute detail.
Hi, thanks for your comment. The title of this video is deliberately provocative because of exactly what you say. There should be a pure voltage gain without any colouration. But then, when there is, somehow it is not so pleasant to listen to. At least now we can have options….
@@PearlAcoustics Not so pleasant for everyone. From what I've heard and read over the years audiophiles/ music lovers seem to fall into two basic camps. Those who seek utter transparency and detail vs ( not necessarily adversarial) those who prefer a warmer sound. I bought a Denon DL103R based on the positive reviews and was rather unimpressed by its lack of high frequency detail resolution. I could appreciate why some might like it though. I replaced it with a less popular if a little more expensive Audio Technica 0C9XSL which ticks all "my" boxes. I would live to hear live both iterations of the amp reviewed to see if a similar experience resulted. Thanks for your reply. 👍
Hi, Harley. Assuming we have found the ‘perfect’ power amplifier, I’ve been wondering about the importance of the preamp. I had noticed you had a Quad Artera. Did you find it adequate? I’ve been wondering if our money and focus is better spent in the amplifier, preamplifier, or equally. Thank you for the helpful videos.
Dear Jonathan. I wish there was a simple answer to your excellent question. I personally like the idea of there being a ‘perfect’ (or totally acceptable) power amplifier and then all we need to focus on is the front end. However, the real focus needs to be the music and one’s enjoyment of it. In that regard, in my home set up, my Quad Artera does a wonderful job it performs absolutely as one would require, so much so, I don’t give it a second thought. The trouble comes when you are unhappy with the sound of your system. If you have the perfect power amplifier, then you can rule that out and try and focus on the weakest link. All said and done, a preamplifier can bake a big difference, more than a DAC or a streamer, and that’s where one’s focus could go to. (Assuming one’s happy with ones loudspeakers). Sorry if I haven’t answered your question sufficiently. I will come back to the topic in a future video.
@@wyup hi, thanks for your question and kind appreciation. I tried it with a few pre-amplifiers: the Project RS Pre (which has a solid state and also a tube output), a Musical Fidelity M8 Pre, and a Sugden. It does reflect what you point at it. I hope this helps? Best wishes from Belgium
I wonder how the Purifi Eigentakt would sound with the buffer replaced with a Lundahl audio transformer? Will the audio transformer give the same warm sound as a tube? I will use it with Klipsch horn speaker so I don't think I need more gain then 13dB.
Dear Thomas, thank you for your interesting question and contribution. I am not a specialist in this area. A colleague suggested that you would still need an active gain stage as with the transformer it will drop the gain a bit more. So although it might be suitable for very sensitive speakers, like yours, with a suitable preamp, it’s quite a specialist offering. If you have the knowledge, why not give it a try? I would be very interested to hear the results.
He’s been in the Hifi game for over 40 years in retail and has heard everything and is retired and this is the system he picked up, he says every type of music sounds good on it
Any name brand amplifier, around $400 up, is the perfect amplifier nowadays. Yes, the do have different wattage so some will play louder than others. But they all sound the same.
My grandmother used to knit sweaters. Some people like to solve crossword or chess puzzles, some like to MAKE them. For $100 you can buy dozens of Transistors hundreds of Capacitors and thousands of Resistors. Instead of watching the NFL, tinker and make a power amp - it's as easy as baking a cake and it will change the way you look at humanity forever..... ⚛
Hi, I totally get your point. However, the humans’ desire for beautiful things seems to go back to the beginning of time. I am not sure if it is necessarily snobbery or simple ‘desire’? However we call it, it can be a curse.
So in what world does this set of designs really stack up as comparative in purity of actual state of the art complex signals designed gear...not just measure under controlled distortion tests but gauntlet level testing for ALL DISTORTIONS?
Hi David, I think in testing, on any level, the Eigentakt will outperform any kind of classic AB or class A design. But as I say in my video, that does not necessarily mean they sound ‘better’ than what we currently like. They do their job, amplifying what goes in but what we humans like is often not perfection. Our brains adapt to what we are familiar with and it can be hard for us to adapt. I certainly would never use a technically ‘flat’ B&K test microphone in any of my recordings because they just don’t sound ‘nice’. I know it’s mad but true.
Perfection?? Vanity! I just need my systems to get close enough for my imagination to take me the rest of the way to recreating the musical event... Every month I roll the valves or caps in my Musical Paradise preamp for a change in flavour. (A wise listener realizes that all recorded music has already been coloured by the recording process. We just add our own in playback to taste;-) A valve buffer in front of a "perfect" amplifier module? Noted:-) Anthony Michaelson of Musical Fidelity called it "The ineffable magic of valves". Why fight it? Question: If the modules are so perfect, why not daisy chain them to get the gain required? Is that possible? Thanks Mr. Lovegroove. Looking forward to the designer interview. 🎵🎶😉🎶🎵
Hi Carlito. Thanks again for your kind appreciation and interesting comment. For technical reasons daisy chaining them probably won’t work, but I love the approach! I think The problem is that we have to add some colour or distortion to make it sound ‘nicer’! How crazy is that?!
@@PearlAcoustics Hello again Harley 🙂 We should stop pretending to aspire to sterile "accuracy". Beauty is Truth! There I said it. Let the AI and Amir listen to the specs;-)
Are we not on the way to having to embrace the equalizer? I mean, let's say we create the perfect amplifier, with no distortion, coloring, noise or anything else, a perfect clean sound. I think that nobody would like that sound and would miss the "good old days". Except if we give the user a way to adjust the sound to what that person likes, a perfect tone controls that made the sound perfect for that particular owner.
You make a very good point here, and only if it were so easy. The problem (or challenge) is not just eq, it’s more complex. I remember investing in a very sophisticated EQ machine in the 1980’s thinking I could change the timbre of my system. I was wrong. I could fine tune the bass the mid and treble but I couldn’t make two different voices singing the same note sound like each other. We have distortion, and soundstage and phasing and all sorts of ill defined science going on. That’s why the last stages of this challenge are so difficult and companies spend a fortune trying to reach their imaginary sense of perfection. But with this module it makes it more possible, without the use of DSP’s
The reason why we go to see live music is because it's not perfect, I don't want music to be perfect, I want it to be pleasurable, I don't want to hear it, I want to feel it.
Absolutely. I make these videos for two reasons: to help people make informed choices when building a system and 2. Because HiFi is a hobby in in itself for many people, just like cars or watches can be. At the end of the day cars take us somewhere and watches tell the time. And HiFi allows us to enjoy music from the beginning of recorded history. Our own little Time Machine. The only thing that can beat it is live music.
@@PearlAcoustics As someone who has been going to concerts for about 50 of my 66 years of age there are exceptions to live music being the thing to beat. I would much rather listen to my hi-fi system in the comfort of my home than sitting in the nosebleed seats of a gigantic stadium that was designed more for watching sporting events. Live music in a venue with wonderful acoustics, sitting or standing in the sweet spot is a different matter all together and one that I wouldn't trade for any hi-fi audio system.
@@richardwestmoreland4796 absolutely! I firmly believe that If you really want to listen to and study music, there’s nowhere better than home. If you want an ‘event’ then one must travel outside 😀
Yes indeed, we’ll spotted! It’s a Torri V. I am running it with KT66’s and it’s every bit as good as people say it is. (I will most likely do a video on it one of these days).
@@PearlAcoustics that Is great i am considering on one myself, btw I has the oportunitty to listen to your Sibelius alongside an Audionote cobra AND it was one of The Best systems i heard in my life
Thanks for your comment. That’s very true, with regards marketing. However, I know a few very wealthy people that would not invest in an expensive hifi (even if the have several houses)! And just have a kitchen radio and a couple of Sonos boxes or possibly a Bose or Zeppelin unit. I also think we are all susceptible to marketing to a certain extent. Especially me, I like a good story and some kind of human connection to the products (in general) I invest in.
You are talking like you were going to use it for some proper speakers with 3 or 4 drivers! You used it for 2 4 inch drivers how much power do you really need for those maybe a 10W tube amp?
Andrew of Sparkos Labs here - glad to hear you are enjoying the discrete SS2590 op amps. If you ever want some additional op amps to play around with - just let me know :)
Thanks Andrew, that would be extremely interesting and useful. Feel free to contact me via the website, or Warren.
I own a Purifi based amp. It truly is the thinking man's choice. I have never before heard, let alone owned, an amp that I enjoyed so much with such a variety of music styles and sources.
That’s good to hear
I second that: I bought the Hypex Nilai 500 DIY Stereo and the Hyper Preamp DIY, it's marvelous! I am an ex DJ and listen to a wide variety of music genre. Sparkos Tube in there, for me it's no thank you, total no go... "More Musical" = the guy like the added harmonic distortion of tubes: I don't like distortion at all, i don't want to hear colored sound! But cool, we have choice of buffers for those amps, a modular architecture that brings flexibility / choices.
@Bob.martens would you mind telling which buffer and opamp you’re using and which speakers you have?
@@sebastianlunoe I have the Audiophonics hpa-s400et amp. Audiophonics produce their own buffer board with LM4562 OPA, offering four gain-settings and a buffer bypass. My speakers (in rotation): Q acoustics 5040, Wharfedale Linton, Klipsch RP150. I use a Topping D70pro Sabre as preamp.
I spent the last 3 years making my own power and preamp. This involved trying loads of component variations, testing, and listening for days, eventually moving on to a second prototype etc. The amount of time, skill, experience and patience it takes to make good hifi was an eye opener, and honestly left me with severe audio burnout a few times. Now I have a system that I can just turn on and enjoy without the mental analytics. One of the many things baked into my brain now is that some preamps and amps just don't sound good together. Every component needs to compliment the other.
Hi Peter, thanks for sharing your story. I am so glad you’ve found that place where the sun shines on music and not the technology. Having said that - building your own is quite an achievement and one not many have the skill or patience to achieve. Enjoy.
Principle of adding transfer function of each imperfect components in the signal path...
I own a VTV Purifi amp with a Sparkos buffer. When I bought it about a year ago, I ordered it with the Hypex standard buffer. Playing through my Magnepan 1.7i speakers, it sounded a bit thin, as the Maggies are super fast and detailed and add no significant warmth of their own (at least in my setup). Warren said the Sparkos 2590 is a great blend of smoothness with some warmth but not compromising details, and he is right. The VTV Purifi amp is by far the most detailed and clean I've ever used with the Maggies, with plenty of power and control for my power-hungry speakers. I might next try Warren's tube buffer boards.
Thanks for your comment
Warren Coleman is a pleasure to deal with. I consulted with him regarding options for my Apogee Scintilla. Ordered a pair of his Purifi HP mono blocks and have been more than satisfied with their musicality.
Couldn’t agree more
Not sure how you do this Harley but you always manage to convey constructive messages about technology or recording workflow while sticking to the one message that matters most: every hi-fi decision should strive for greater musicality and music enjoyment! Thanks for sharing your voice. Can't wait to watch your interview with Bruno!
Thanks Raphael!
As always so refreshing and informative, particularly your suggestion that we might prefer a bit of distortion. SMSL offers sound “colors “ on many of their Sabre dacs. Instead of tweaking the tonal response these are implemented by adjusting low order harmonic distortion. Some, not purists, consider these appealing (we all know about the 2nd harmonic of tubes). I’ve used the Sparkos in one of my dacs and found it more musical than some of the typical chips. I’ve since changed to the Staccato, made by someone in Poland. It is a jfet, discrete device and my current, subjective favorite. But beware, I’m unsure I could tell the difference if tested. I believe, as you imply, that “perfection” will always depend on who we are and what we listen to. Again, thanks for the amalgamation of knowledge, wisdom, curiosity, and humanity - a welcome beacon in an otherwise gnarly and distracting landscape.
Thanks Robert, you’re very kind! (I often think that if my team sneaked into my listening room and switched my Sugden with my Torri V or even the PassLabs, without me being able to know - it might be a while before I discovered it! I think it will only be when I am listening to tracks I know very well from testing, that I might ask myself “whats going in here?”
Agreed! Great video and I. Amt wait for March 14 th interview with Bruno 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Harley I love your attitude towards HiFi.
Great introduction to newer Class D amplifiers that everyone is talking about. Really appreciated it.
Thanks Jeremiah, so glad to hear your kind comment
@@PearlAcoustics I think you would really enjoy the AGD amplifiers
@@ericelmore887 thanks for the tip!
I held my breath waiting for this video-- I was very blue. Listening to you Harvey is so much fun and informative.
Thank you. I am so glad you enjoyed it
Harley: the topic and narrative of this video spoke right to me. Your impressions of the module, and further thoughts on how to “flesh it out” really captures, I think, how so many of us feel about the Eigentakt module in its current offerings. It feels like we are so close, by still no cigar on when compared with some class A offerings. As a concert pianist myself, that “musical” quality is what I’m after in the reproduction of music, which is why I love my Pass amp. It feels like we are on the cusp of greatness here.
Good to see you, and thank you for sharing your thoughts so genuinely. Best regards.
Thank you very much indeed for your very kind appreciation. I can only agree with you 100%
So enjoyable to listen to you.
I actually bought my amplifier without listening to it, but instead because of the way it was developed. As you mentioned, it has two IcePower Modules from Bang & Olufsen (kind of a predecessor to the Eigentakt modules) and is equipped with an input stage specially engineered as a class-a module, especially not with perfect measurements but best sound quality in mind. So I thought, it should be the best of both worlds. And it is. It's the PS Audio Stellar S300. I was blown away when I first listened to it and I still am. And it's on the budget side also, as a bonus.
Thanks. You’re very kind. And I am so pleased that you have found the perfect amplifier for you. Best wishes
It's so interesting how far we have come in 10-20 years with the electronics and the components used in basically the same functioning stereo components from 50 years ago! You mentioned the Quad amplifiers in other videos, and how renowned they were: and they were! I have an retro-set up of Rega Mira integrated with Epos ES14 speakers. I absolutely love how they sound, the power, the freakish center image, the mid range.......but then I listen to my Legacy Studio HD speakers from my Rega Elicit integrated, and it's like an entirely new-never before heard-musical experience. I am so amazed at how distinct amplifiers have come in their sound. I am eager to hear digital amps become more accepted in hi-fi (like from Bel Canto in the USA).
Absolutely Alan!
I could never lift my class D amp with one hand and place it on a shelf It weighs 54lb's!!
Really enjoyed your discussion on the future of class D amps
and it seems they are getting better every day
Thanks Jack! You have a very heavy class D there! 👍
@@PearlAcoustics
It is! It has a 5 inch thick x eight inch diameter toroidal transformer
500watts@8ohm 650@4ohms and 1,200 watts@1ohm
👍I agree !
Every product is based on personal preference to a significant degree for a variety of reasons, warranted or otherwise.😉
👍
You make me feel peace inside of me and try to think twice abouth big amps.. “ is true my wife have the right: I don’t know 🤷♀️ why you spend to much money for amp that is better to buy a cheep than a expensive. GREAT TALK !! Hi from Los Angeles CA.
Thanks. You’re very kind
Harley your videos always make me relax and at ease. love everything you've put out.
Thanks, I am so glad
Many moons ago i have decided to give B&O ICE modules a try. I have builded nice housing and E88CC tube buffer. It was not bad, but it was not good either. Withouth E88CC buffer it was cold and uninvolving. But with signal generator driving it at 1kHz you could weld with it.
That was long time ago and by now these things must have made long way.
For time being and untill proven othervise i will stick to valve SE A class.
Sir you have a great chanell.
Hi Sinisa, I find I have to agree with you here. Especially with the class A Sugden 😉
Well put! Ive always been partial to the thought of designing amps around the speaker it drives. The EXACT amount of power the unit can safely take. To have the volume at 5 o'clock and the only damage I need worry, are to my own eardrums.
Thanks! 😉
Your comments comparing to a watch is apt. No one needs anything better than a $20 watch to tell time. But we buy the one we like and also get to tell the time.
I built big OTL triode amps because the notion of tube amps fit my design aesthetic. The circuit designer was well regarded, so it had the potential to sound good, but I did it on faith. They sound as good as they look, and I never think of changing or upgrading. What little distortion they have suit my ears. Holographic and engaging. For me, they are the Patek watch, while the amp you are showcasing is the Casio. My amps have the huge disadvantage of needing retubing, and they take a lot of space, and are energy inefficient. But I do love them. When I get old and have to downsize, I'll get the perfect Class D, and put it in a cabinet out of sight. And also buy your speakers.
I would buy Bruno's modules to build some power amps for my woofers. I need about 13dB of gain. They would likely work without the gain stage.
Thank you for your very kind appreciation and for your contribution to the discussion. I too have a big, very heavy pair of tube monoblocks in my home listening room. They best it beautifully in the winter. But in the Summer we switch to class D. Best wishes, H
Superb explanation. Seems to me there’s never been a better time to be enjoying music. For years I never gave a thought to recording quality or CD v vinyl. Now we have incredible equipment (Rega P10) audiophile record labels producing incredible quality vinyl & the rise of digital which can only improve exponentially in the coming years as Dacs, streamer technology gets better. I love the videos Harley, keep making them.
Thank you Chris, you’re very kind! And so true. And the brilliant thing is, some items like the VTV amplifier is incredible value for money. It should last for decades too
For digital & DACs, we're already there. We've reach commodity level, meaning you can get a pretty good DAC for low money.
I so miss my 1980’s NVA amp with Spendor SP speakers. NVA has a very particular design philosophy.
You know NVA is back in business?
My Devialet Pro 1000 Master and Slave module. All configured on a computer through an SD card. The custom SAM module is designed to be coded to your individual speaker, they currently have I think over 400 speakers coded, and offer annual clinics to have your speakers added. I’m on my 4th upgrade since I started with Devialet amps, can’t see me changing anytime soon.
Nice
I just happen to own a Hypex NC500 based amplifier which I like most switching to bypass mode the internal buffer (keeping some 12+ dB gain ) and driving the amplifier, practically the NC500 modules directly by a tube preamplifier.
Indeed, this is something that my colleague Ajay swears by…. I am sure this is the direction to go, but am open to be convinced otherwise
Which tube preamplifier can drive Hypex NC500 unbuffered 1.8 kΩ input impedance with its 12db gain?
@@wyup I use an Icon Audio LA4 Mk III to a great effect. I certainly recommend this combination. It has a low 100 ohm output impedance.
@@gyulahunyor8267 Thanks.. discourages me a bit that I need to spend twice the price of the amp to get that sound.
@@wyup I understand. In fact I was lucky by getting a second-hand unit some years ago. This is a bit older version with separate pre-outs of 12 dB 18 dB, but the 12 dB does the job in most cases. I really like the low total gain solutions where the preamp can do its job by actually amplifying and not attenuating because of the high gain of the power amplifier. Sounds familiar when you can operate with the volume pot up to 9 o'clock position? By having 12+12.8 dB of total gain I can set the volume to the upper third of its range and the sound is somewhat livelier, more open.
Harley always such a joy to hear your thoughts. I will say that the way a component looks is not as important but definitely a part of what I enjoy about them. Form and function speak to me through creative design. I’d not be satisfied hiding away components for the sake of minimizing the set up. I love ogling my equipment as I immerse myself in the wonderful music they produce. That being said, the technology you describe with this amp is very interesting.
Thanks Jeffrey. Enjoy away! In a strange way, I get your point. What does one look at when listening to music?
@@PearlAcoustics to answer your question honestly I like to look at my girlfriend but when she's not around a decent substitute is some liner notes, photos,etc from the album I'm listening to. Some well designed and crafted audio gear will for me be a nice compliment for whatever else I have in my humble abode. For instance if I'm sitting on my comfortable couch listening to some music there is something very soothing about looking over at the soft glowing blue light coming from my vintage Marantz receiver as I get into the music. This scenario loses a lot of it's appeal if I have a piece of junk equipment that doesn't sound very good.
@@richardwestmoreland4796 😀. Junk equipment that doesn’t sound good, is a ‘no’ for me too. Although I have had some ugly stuff in the past that sounded great… Enjoy the beauty of both equipment and the sound it emanates
Hi Harley! Last nigth my 300 b amp went up in flames. I was familiar with the work of Bruno , but not with VTV, after seeing your video i`ve ordered the VTV amp with the sparkos 2590 Opamp. Thank you! Can`t wait to see Bruno`s interview. Regards, from Tijuana, Mèxico.
Hi, sorry to hear about your 300b amplifier! Enjoy the VTV. Bruno interview comes out on the 14th.
Nva use simplicity,a perfect match for the simplicity of your beautiful transducer
Thanks for the tip!
Of course, I first saw this part, then the interview with Bruno, after which I came here for a comment. There is practically no amplification, amplifiers do not amplify anything, they just facilitate the source signal to modulate in amplitude the current from the power supply which reaches the speaker in the audio speaker or the terminals of the audio speaker. This is the secret, practically and theoretically, the audio/musical quality of an amplifier depends a lot on the quality of the current from the amplifier's power supply. A linear source, possibly stabilized, will produce a much better, more musical sound, than a PWM (switching) source. I studied a lot and even assembled a few amplifiers in my youth. Of course, a good preamp, again, with a very good current source is very important. Bruno said that he is trying to create a module that is no longer influenced by the quality of the power supply, the current source, which in theory may be valid, but in practice is not possible. Think about what I said above, at the terminals of the speakers, from the amplifier, it is actually the current from the power supply of the amplifier that is modulated by the input signal and not the input signal as such. Real amplification is called resonance, and again, it is only encountered in the analog realm, in nature, or in analog electronics. When the soprano hits a high note with force, the empty glass on the table shatters as it resonates amplifying the frequency of the sound emitted by the soprano. So, if you want to build an amplifier around Eigentakt modules, you need a very good quality linear current source, possibly stabilized, then the best buffer can be made with tubes and not transistors or opamps.
Thanks for your contribution to the topic
THANKS HARLEY, FOR AN INTERESTING AND THOUGHT PROVOKING VIDEO…GIVING US SOMETHING 🧐 TO CONTEMPLATE 🤗👏👏👏💚💚💚
You are so welcome!
I'm looking for a new amp and i've seen these Eigentakt-things before but you're the first who explains what the heck those buffer-boards are for. Thanks! :)
So pleased to have been a help, thanks Johan!
Another good one, Harley. Thanks
Be well.
Thanks, you too!
Great video! Videos from you and from thomas and stereo lead me to believe that incredible sound is possible out of class d amplification. The key here is that most of the “good” amplifiers that I’ve seen have some type of input buffer in front of it. So perhaps that is the way forward. Maybe you buy just the module and try different buffers to suite your taste.
Thanks Jose! Another approach might be to drive the module directly from a tube preamplifier that can deliver a high enough voltage… but I am open to all ideas.
I was thinking the same thing. Perhaps integrated amplifiers with your choice of pre-amp.
Another great video Harley. I was at the Bristol hi-fi show on Friday, I had you in my ear the whole time🤣
😀
For me this is my perfect amplifier for small money:
BC ACOUSTIQUE EX 214.
Yes, it is entry level. Yes it makes sound (is not neutral like Cambridge AXA 35).But it makes great fun to hear your music. Bass and highs emphasized, much "punch".
Yes, it's a subjective view, but very good for beginners if you are not a neutral-analytic fan.
Thanks for your comment. Indeed everything in this hobby is subjective. Enjoy it!
Ive had my budget Acoustic Solutions amp for 20 years. It has only bass and treble eq. I wouldn't mind an upgrade.
A really good amplifier can make a difference. Good luck in your search, if in doubt - stick with what you have. 😉
I love your idea, a lot of potential DIY, the idea to have different buffer stage kind of evolve from the idea of the Gallion of modifying the bias from class AB to class A.
Bob Carver did long time ago some amplifier with Transfer Function Module that mimic the tube .
NAD did it’s M23 on that premise I think, designing both PS and buffer section with the Purifi modules. Would be nice if designers like NP would team up with BP! And call the result Utopia or something like that. In the end good sound is a mater of taste.
Variable level of harmonic distortion might give potential enjoyment depending on the listening program.
Thanks Michael. And thanks for your your very welcome comment
Also you can run it fine without any buffer no problem just use pro audio converter with high output
Great amp, love the idea of customization via tubes and/or discrete op amps on the input stage. Also curious about your impressions on the newer GaN amps from Peachtree and LSA. Thank you for covering these newer types of amps.
Thanks John. Much appreciated. Pt 2 is coming soon.
Class-D achieves respectability outside of PA and sound-reinforcement!
About the vanishingly low THD: it would be interesting to determine at what point the most sensitive of human ears ceases to perceive THD at all under the most favourable conditions for detection. Then we could say anything lower than that is over-engineered for purpose. Or at least, cease investing resource to better those figures.
And in fact, as you alluded to, there are some for which a perfect distortion-free sound is boring, they like some kind of sheen over the sound, almost like an Instagram filter, but for music!
Of course, the component that introduces the most distortion is the loudspeaker. If we'd gone back in time to the early 20th century and told the engineers of the time we were still using conical pistons attached to an electromagnetic motor and damped by an enclosed volume of air to reproduce sound, I should imagine they'd be rather incredulous.
Thanks - great comment
Interesting and eye-opening.
Thank you. Your comment is much appreciated
I love your talks, they're very enjoyable and thought provoking but I have to say I've heard this before - anyone old enough to remember Julian Hirsch and his claim that "all (competently designed) power amplifiers sound the same" or the assertion that CD's were "perfect sound forever" will cast a rather leery eye at the assertion that these modules are "perfect". Perfect for whom? Me? You? Bob down the street? Everyone has their own idea of what perfect is. Round and round it goes.
Hi George, thanks for every kind words. I am not sure if you watched to the end, but I clearly state that one should not sell any of their existing equipment. I am talking about scientists mathematical advancement that allows a tiny amplifying module do something quite extraordinary and that has the potential to become ‘generic’ just like a quartz movement in a watch. After all it’s about music. The science is interesting for me.
Nva (neeve valley acoustics-the perfect amplifiers full stop and made in the uk
I tend to compare colouration of sound with the smallest pinch of salt in food. You may not be able to taste it as such, but you notice some difference. In school I learnt that anything below 1dB difference is inaudible, so two amps with the same distortion of 0.001% should sound *exactly* the same, but it is not necessarily the case. I've compared characteristics of a guitar pick up with different magnets (same pick up) and noticed an audible difference - although the measurements differed just a fraction of a dB in a certain frequency range.
On the other hand I'd like to see what the outcome of an amp comparison would be in a double blind test - just to be sure, since there are quite a few placebo's out there...
Indeed, less than 1 db in amplitude difference is very hard to detect, except for the trained ear, and only in a few. But change the sound of one human talking to another (at the same amplitude) and you’ll hear the difference immediately. Amp architecture and transistor or Tube types change so many parameters. The only thing we can truly measure is amplitude. Which is like pointing a telescope in the wrong direction.
I have listened to the Benchmark AHB2 power amp which is one of the very best meausering amplifiers in the World. But it was not for me. Strange analytical sound, thin sounding midrange.
I now own the Gryphon Diablo 120 and i am very happy listening to music
Curious what speakers and preamp/dac you are using. I have the benchmark stack into Von Schweikert E3 Mark IIs and I am quite happy with it. Very musical sound and I find the gear a chameleon that changes with the recording. Exactly what I'm personally looking for.
Thanks. It’s so nice when one finally settle on a system and can simply listen to music.
@@chrish7540 Harley: Albert Von Schweikert RIP Albert designs his loudspeakers to reproduce the inverse sound of an omnidirectional microphone. His midranges are plus or minus 1 DB . Maybe he compensates ( tunes ?) his crossover like you have done with your designing and tuning your creation.
Hi Harley, thanks for making these videos! Always informative and enjoyable :).
In this video you mentioned an aspect of the recording/mixing process that I found very intriguing and would love your insight. You mention how the VTV seems to present aspects of the recording (harshness of the violins) more 'uncolored' as opposed to your Sugden, and how you enjoy that smooth/colored aspect of those class A amps.
My question to you as someone with experience as a recoding engineer is why doesn't this colorization happen BEFORE the reproduction step? Wouldn't you want to color the recording to make it more enjoyable and relaxing, as opposed to 'uncolored'? I believe most artists are interested in having their recording being presented as enjoyable as opposed pure.
An example of an artist doing this is Black Country, New Road with the record Ants From Up There (highest recommendation). They found that running the record through a tube mixing console gave a much more enjoyable sound.
Thanks for your insight and I look forward to your next videos! :)
Dear Joshua, firstly, thanks for your very kind and motivational words. Secondly, what you say is absolutely logical, the mixing and mastering part of the recording process (and even to a certain extent, microphone selection) should iron out all the harshness. But we have massive discrepancies in taste between (sorry generalising here) Asian tastes (generally quite bright) and ‘western’ tastes. Plus, it can also depend on the monitors used in the studio and of course the taste of the engineers. I think there is a tendency to record things bright, knowing it is easier for consumers to turn down the treble. (You cannot put in what’s not there, but you can cut back what is). Lastly, sadly my synopsis in the video was a bit over simplified due to a lack of a sufficient vocabulary that everyone would understand (including myself)! I once heard a pair of Harbeth P3 loudspeakers once. They made everything sound ‘nice’ but I know I would have tired of them, over time for critical listening as they masked out certain detail, that in a good recording I love. I think the real point I wanted to make was that the amplifier was too clinical, not enough second order harmonics (the kind that most humans like). The good news is that my colleagues have worked on a fantastic variant, that we hope to bring to market in the Spring of 2025. (But that’s a secret) 😉 Thsnks also for the tip re Black Country!
The highly acclaimed NAD M23 is built on this architecture with Purifi Audio's Eigentakt design, a solution for non-electricians and do-it-yourselfers.
It’s a very elegant solution too. Very well built
I got that. My Lavardin: pre/MONO combo, doesen´t come any better (imo). why? They play music, and as an musician myself (drummer), i know about real life sounding instruments. Owned my amps for 8-9 years, and they stay. Somehow, i found my end-game set, and that is very satisfying. Cheers from Denmark (Thomas 53 years)
Hi Thomas, thanks for your best wishes. Isn’t it great when you compile a system that really meets your needs and expectations. That must be the goal of many! Enjoy,
Interesting video. My take is that there isn't any 'perfect' anything, we all have differing tastes, likes, dislikes, passions etc. And will one amplifier match 'electrically' with all speakers, preamps, cables etc. Plus, for many folks, a big part of the hobby is seeking 'perfection' by constantly trying new/different components. My Mantra has always been "If what I'm hearing is colouration then bring on the whole rainbow" - willbewill (Lenco Heaven Admin)
😀👍
I have to wonder just when it was that colouration became a dirty word in audio hi-fi? Rainbows are beautiful to behold and so should any colouration as long as it puts a smile on the face of the listener. My only real wish would be some simplification in finding just the right colour. As much as I enjoy some trial and error in this hobby of mine I might be lost without having the likes of Harley and a few others to lead me in the right direction.
Very interesting matter. I wonder, if the lyngdorf tdai 1120 you sometimes use, would be a good match as a preamp. Because it has the possibility to use different settings or voices.
Curious for your answer,
Hannes
You make an excellent point here. I didn’t try it because the Lyngdorf has no balanced outputs (I keep nagging Lyngdorf to make a true pre-amp version) and the VTV I received had only balanced inputs. I think it would be worth exploring this further. The Lyngdorf has a pretty good amplifier so it might be a bit of a pointless exercise - but it could be very interesting. Thanks for your comment
Harley: As a mental exercise, are these amps (minus the buffer and op-amp stages) so perfect that you consider placing them inside your Sibelius speakers and, say, providing a balanced connection to be feed by user’s choice of pre-stage?
Hi Steve, that’s an interesting concept. Unfortunately, we can’t put anything inside our loudspeakers, but I am extremely interested in exploring the topic further.
Ninja’d. maybe bolt them to the back? Make the buffer a plug in module.
Mmm, interesting point.
Can we say that a "perfect" sound is not equal to sound "good", but also that to sound "good" is not equal to sound "perfect"?
I think so, and as you, I also enjoy both ways of listening.
Bottom line one amp is not enough ;)
Hi Adrian. That’s what I am saying. If I record classical ensembles with Bruel Kjaer B&K test microphones, that have a ‘perfect’ response, no one would employ me! 😉
Sound isn't the only thing that makes a perfect amplifier, price, looks, power consumption etc. All factors that would make the perfect amplifier.
My current amplifiers have been in my system for 30 years now. Perfect? Probably not, perfect for me? Absolutely
You’re absolutely right. So pleased you have long serving equipment. That’s exactly how it should be. At home I run my 1976 QUAD, it had an overhaul in 2015, but not been touched since (and I cannot imagine it would ever need to be).
@@PearlAcoustics quad is nice quality equipment. I have ESL 57, love them.
Driving them with Harman Kardon citation 12 deluxe and citation 25. Thorens turntable and Marantz cd80. All at least 30 y.o. and had them serviced once.
Bought ifi dac and BT. Because I think these areas will get more innovation in the coming years, so didn't want to spend much. But impressed with the build and Sonic qualities specially for the price.
The piece of gear I use most is my hifiman Deva pro. Love the utility for daily driving my sonic needs. Bt/dac/conventional it does it all.
Perfect specs don't guarantee perfect music listening, it seems. Even if the Eigentakt modules might be as close as currently possible to measurable perfection for a current amp/power amp, you seem to prefer feeding them with a slightly "coloured" input signal from the Sparkos Op-amps.
In the end the user probably does not really care where in his chain the magic happens, so... what.
Nice video, looking forward to your release of the interview!
Thanks
It reminds me of the Carver Cube.
Hi sir. Your entering into interesting territory, some might even say a minefield 😂. This has the potential to certainly disrupt the low to mid range of the hifi market , because it could totally level the playing field . As you rightly say those with the cash to splash will always operate outside the everyday marketplace . But what you’re envisaging is a one box solution that has the potential to decimate the whole of the industry . And as you rightly pointed out , most manufacturers are catering to people who just want the best sound at the best price . I would definitely include myself in that group , so if you can produce such an item that is equal or better to anything else why would I bother going to a different manufacturer . And judging by the actual component count, this could be mass produced and bring down the cost even further so what’s not to like . If as I assume you might be consider helping with bring this to the mass market with some of the component upgrades , then many in the industry will be breaking out into cold sweats . The perfect mouse trap or even the perfect toaster , food for thought dear sir Ps. At least everyones still got the speaker industry and play back formats to play with Best wishes and kind regards as always 😀👍👍👍
Thanks your very kind appreciation. And thanks for your excellent contribution to the topic. Best wishes from Belgium
Hi Harley, what if compare to SMSL VMV A1? And off topics, which Sibelius speaker combo (wood & drive colour, with/out stand) is your favourite? thanks for your share. 🙏
Hi. The two amplifiers are quite different. The Purify is very dynamic and extremely detailed. Whereas the VMV is ‘laid back’. The difference is not massive but it’s there. My favourite combination / colour mostly depends on the room. I have always been fond of the Naturals because you’re basically seeing the wood ‘as is’. I like to have them on their stands because the bass is a bit more detailed and faster. The cone choice with natural is SG (for me personally). I am also very keen on medium oak, over the years it goes darker and becomes very warm and golden brown looking and is fabulous with the CG. Hope that helps?
I think the terminology you’re looking for is:- ‘harmonic richness’ or, perhaps, ‘acoustic mass’!
Hi Howard, I like your idea of ‘harmonic richness’ or maybe ‘harmonic detail’? It’s about hearing all the information that I know is there and not just an approximation. Thanks for the tip.
Harvey have you tried or are you considering the Nad M32. The buffer, power supply and eigentakt module are all designed in house. Maybe it has what you are looking for.
Thanks Will. Yes we have tried it and indeed it’s very good and if I could only have one amplifier in the world, it might be that one. But I love the imperfections of my Sugden A21SE or the Torri v - something happens there that is truly extraordinary. Best wishes from Belgium
Guess you are aware of Schitt Freya - a pre amp with switchable tube/SS/and passive modes. Probably not quite what you're looking for though the concept is there. Neurochrome has made a Purifi specific buffer too. Always thought class D had the potential to 'pass the buck' of the sound sig down to the buffer/pre or even DAC.
Yes indeed, thanks!
I thought of Freya+ to this Purifi amp to drive it in bypass mode, but Freya+ balanced output impedance is 600Ω, too high for Purifi 4.4kΩ without buffer. Plus I think you can't bypass the VTV input buffer and its opamps/tube. It's either 7 or 14db gain by the internal jumper.
Hi. Great info. What’s the speakers we. Are seeing in your audio room. Brand and model
Thanks! The loudspeakers are our Sibelius Loudspeakers by Pearl Acoustics. Pearlacoustics.com
Well done sir. It sounds like the amp you described will become the industry standard soon if not the industry best. Zero distortion may not be the goal for musicality. As we know Nelson Pass uses some 2nd or 3rd order distortion. Why? Because that is what his test audience prefers.
Me Too. It is why I have a Pass INT25. Sounds better even to my tired ears.
Best possibly for low cost limited space but for industry best....come on let's get Real
Indeed, you’re absolutely right. PassLabs amplifiers are an absolute joy to own and to listen to.
Hi David, it might surprise you that the professional recording industry has been using class D designs for decades. You’re not likely to see a class A tube amplifier in any recording studio for playback purposes. Except for fun. Even then, there’s just no room in the mixing room, and the one thing we don’t want in there is heat.
it's just the difference between a coffee-flavored drink and a real espresso coffee, some may even love the former more but real things are real things as well as substitutes. Enjoy
@@giampierovecchio2681 for me only the fully authentic real deal best will suffice. Can't stand second or third rate... especially pretenders
Well, a great video, as always that I have listened to at least 3 times !! Now the VTV you experimented is out of stock, maybe because of your appreciation of it !
Finally I understand you said we should not throw away our Sugden and the like but, did you prefer the sound of this VTV amplifier more than that of your various Sugden ones ? I am asking because I am still wondering if I should go to the Sugden route or maybe the VTV one (I already have a TDAI 1120 after viewing your videos).
Hi, thank you for your kind appreciation. This is a tricky topic. To be thorough, although the Purify modules are ‘perfect’ I still felt something was missing. Given a choice between the VTV or a Sugden ANV50, or SPA4, I would choose the Sugden. Although there is quite a price difference. I hope that helps?
@@PearlAcoustics it definitely helps. Thank you !
I'll stick with my Audiolab 8000M's. 20+ years old and when I sent them for a service a few years ago all that was needed was a clean to remove the residue from my misspent middle age. They measured perfectly on test so I was advised to leave well alone.
I'd be interested to know if they are among the most reliable HiFi components ever made?
Perhaps it's because they have been left on for most of those 20 odd years only being turned off when making/breaking connections, cleaning or going on holiday?
Hi, I am not very knowledgeable on Audiolab gear. But good quality equipment should last a lifetime, in my opinion. Indeed, leave well alone - and if something needs changing go to someone who really knows what they are doing. Best is always the manufacturer, if in any doubt.
It's fascinating that sources, amps and speakers are often loved, admired, chosen and cherished for their sonic and technical failings (sound signatures) or very considered and added character colourations and flavourings.
And many still claim that vinyl is still sonically better and superior to digital media ....even though technically on paper the bandwidth is more limited on vinyl!?
Again, people love tube or class A amps even though they often measure very poorly and worse than many cheaper super clean class D products....yet class D still seem not quite as harmonically musical although technically amazing.
Therefore...as sound reproduction is highly emotional , technical and subjective ....for me a good tube buffer/pre amp or class A preamp often works well with class d power modules.... But the real breakthrough for me would be to get a very talented programner to create an amp simulation/modeller module or chipset - like in current digital guitar (modelling) amps - where they could create or replicate many known, renowned and loved tube or class A amp sound simulations or variants ...Now that would be the real game changer for most people! Except for the purists who will still want and desire the authentic things!
But imagine being able to switch between a having a Pass labs, McIntosh, luxman, accuphase, prima luna, krell, naim, hegel, meridian, quad sounds etc, etc.... and get close to perhaps 90% of their sound signatures ...or be able to tweak them further ...wow!
But that said .. when considering the other sonic variables and the mixed diversity of good and bad recordings .. the hobby still remains a highly compromised and fickle process...with moments of pure bliss ...followed by moments of sonic pain 😂😂😂😂
Thanks for your interesting contribution to the discussion. I would certainly like to try the DSP simulator amplifier! 😉
Class D amplifiers are amazing. Indeed. It is difficult to imagine that they sound so good being efficient as they are. As class D amplifiers are being developed? Mains voltages will be of concern. I am in the United States. 120 Volts? Something will give.
Voltages are not an issue. High quality class d amplifiers, all have mains smoothing circuits. In fact you can see a simple 5v smartphone charger as a class d amplifier in reverse….
@@PearlAcoustics I have so many questions about them. Thanks for the input.
@@tnasburypl you’re welcome
@@PearlAcoustics No worries, I as a person who spends a lot of money on amplification? Seems high end speakers can be found at relatively lower cost verses amplifiers. i am intrigued. In so am following such things.
Thank you for the excellent summary and precious information on amplifiers. Your videos are amazing, I only recently discovered your channel and am very glad for it.
Please allow me questions:
- What is the hi-fi rack you have the components on - manufacturer, model?
- Ad Musical Fidelity: besides the M8s-500s stereo power amp, do you have any experience with the M8s-700m monoblocks? Why did you choose the stereo power amp and not the monoblocks please?
Thank you
Hi, thank you so much for your very kind appreciation, very kind.
To answer your questions: the rack we built ourselves, it is kitchen worktops and off the shelf metal legs. On the back we hung black cloth, so that all the wires would not show.
We went for this option because we wanted a very specific set up and at that time we didn’t have any of our own. Now we make stands from oak to match our loudspeakers.
Yes, the MF monoblocks are very impressive. Very well priced. Because the Sibelius loudspeakers are very easy to drive and only need 16watts, two monoblocks would have been a bit over the top 😉. However, in a home set up, I might have gone for the two monoblocks but in our listening room we don’t have so much space and these guys are very heavy!
I hope that helps?
@@PearlAcoustics Thank you very much for your reply.
Hi-fi rack - great, looks very good and professional with a nice clean design. Congratulations on such an excellent custom build.
Please allow me to follow up on the MF question. I am choosing an amplifier for my Fyne Audio F502sp speakers. One of the candidates is MF - I like the sound of the M8 series very much. I've tried all sorts of things, but I'm still drawn to the MF. I am considering the M8sPRE preamp + M8s-500s stereo power amp or 2 x M8s-700m monoblocks. I use the audio system in a listening room of about 21m2. In the audio community I am advised to get monoblocks straight away - or rather, that I can expect that if I buy a stereo power amp now I will want monoblocks after a while anyway and sell the stereo power amp at a loss. And also that I'll have a reserve for upgrading the speakers in the future (yes I'm considering that too). So actually by buying monoblocks I will save money 😊I would like to know your point of view please. Thank you so much for the reply and direction.
@@PearlAcoustics Hi, please allow me to politely ask if you would be able to comment on my above comment. It would help me a lot in making a decision. But of course, I fully respect that you may be busy and that it is impossible to reply to everyone. Thank you
@@jipe175 hi, briefly… I really don’t think monoblocks make sense in your case. The MF 500 and 800 series is extremely powerful. The stereo is a dual mono but in one box. In your room it will be full on! Overkill even. But fun. You will probably never use more than 10-20 watts. Even taking peaks into account.
To me, mono blocks make the most sense with lower powered tube amplifiers, L like them from an aesthetic point of view, but they don’t make much technical sense.
My rack is self built from kitchen worktops cut to length and legs from a diy store.
Btw the MF pre 800 is a very good pre-amplifier with lots of functionality. I have a demo set in my listening room. But I guess you are a long way from me 😉
I hope that helps?
@@PearlAcoustics Hi, thank you so much for the answer. I appreciate your insight and recommendations. I think I will do that and instead of the M8s-700m monoblocks I will get the M8s-500s stereo power amp and the M8sPRE preamplifier. For my 21m2 room this will probably be sufficient. I would like to visit you in your listening room in Belgium, but it's far for me, maybe I can make a trip sometime😊I appreciate your help. Please keep doing what you are doing - the videos are excellent.
Hi Harley, thanks a lot for your videos. I am new here, did you already have a look and listen of the Benchmark, which in my ears have a truely borring but wonderfull sound.....
Hi Jorgen. Thank you for your kind appreciation. I personally have not heard one in our listening room but a number of our customers swear by it, saying that it controls the Sibelius drivers perfectly. I love your concept of ‘boring but wonderful’ - exactly what a long term piece of amplification equipment should be! Enjoy
Speaking of,,,, see the Aurender AP20-Server/dac/amp integrated!
Thanks for the tip! I don’t know it
Disdain for Seiko, "quite rightly?... ? (questionable comment !)
Wires in that amp seem quite sloppy compared to the neatly braided lines in the components I have opened up!
Perhaps an interesting video(?), though I feel it had tunnel vision. Hopefully subsequent parts to this series will expand on this one with insight relative to other historically-respected amps (such as McIntosh MC275, etc.)
Hi, indeed my comment was not very well phrased. I felt bad about that but it was too difficult to edit out. Absolutely no disdain about Seiko, they are great value for money. And I would have no issue in wearing one.
Please build one. I covet your loudspeakers also - so tuned to them.
But I won’t be selling my First Watt amp or Cornwalls. I might just demote them.
😀👍😀
Can you please write the name and the exact model you tried in the video...? Thank you
Hi, sure… it’s this one: VTV AMPLIFIER Stereo Purifi Audio 1ET400A Amplifier with VTV Vacuum Tube Buffer
Amplifiers should be neutral. If you want to add color put it in the preamp or other specialized unit that can be varied depending on the room, speaker, and recording.
Hi Greg, I do indeed think that there is where we (the industry) are headed.
Agreed. Some say spend the most on speakers.. I say.. especially for a person who has only been in this hobby a couple yrs.. put ur money into a great neutral power amp. How do you know what sound you like when you bring speakers home but can't properly drive them? I went with the Coda No.8 high current neutral amplifier. Built to last 3 decades or more. :)
Well, to me a perfect amp would be the one that only requieres passive attenuation, not any color or character. Tubes wouldn't be needed. Neutral to me is the real representation of the recording, not lean or clinical. Usually neutral is a meant for that in reviews. If we need a tube preamp to approximate the actual sound, the amp is not right (you add to take back). Usually A/AB class amps don't require a tube preamp (do they add color or distorsion themselves or are they just 'neutral'?). I want the sound to be as I hear it when I go to classical concerts. A wire with gain is the mantra, but in reality you need a preamp synergy (with gain, color and impedance matching).
Great, objective, interesting and informative video as usual.
I had hypex nc500 based (Bruno's work also) amp with same modules, and used it with the tube preamp (primaluna), just to get that musicality back.
Thanks. Your kind appreciation and comment is much appreciated
Interesting. Any Primaluna preamp is three times the price of the Hypex.. 😞
So when is your amp coming to market?
Hopefully mid Summer (fingers crossed)
How would you compare the VTV power amplifier with the D-Sonics from your earlier review? Both are high-power Class D. Which would be better for long-term listening, particularly for large-scale classical? Greatly appreciate your insights and videos. You have a wonderful sense of curiosity. Looking forward to your future videos
Hi Bruce, that’s a very good question. And sadly I have not tried the comparison. I love the Pascal ‘D’ sonics, with the buffer Bruce made for me. They are very musical for class D.
I imagine they will be very similar. The point of my going for the Eigentakt in this video is because Bruno is such a genius and he has taken his original Hypex design to the next level and therefore it made sense to feature this up to the moment, very high performant design. I think the same applies to both amplification modules, the beauty in sound will largely be defined by the pre-amplifier, and what sits in front of it. Hoping this helps?
How can you say one amp is ideal
It is all amplifier/speaker synergy and room size
I prefer Single End Triode (no waveform switching / strong power supply), nos tubes - Very high efficiency conventional loud speakers
I can’t and I don’t think I did. It’s all down to preference and it depends how you look at the topic. Hopefully my video gets that message across clearly. Enjoy your system.
I am curious to hear an honest answer. Despite being a huge fan of high efficiency loudspeakers combined with a pure class A SET, it would be great if we can get this magic from a simple small and efficient box.
How far are we from this with this product in 2023? (Again this is genuine interest.)
Hi Nick. There are SET amps and there are SET amps. Ie some are noisy and harsh, others are dull and muddy and some as close as what I call perfection, meaning I love listening to music with them. The vtv purify with tube buffer is incredible, if it is driven by a high quality (nice sounding pre) it’s better than most SET’s because it has dynamics snd control. But these things are still very subjective. I hope this helps? Just remember: what goes in comes out but louder.
@@PearlAcoustics thank you for your honest answer. I will give it a try.
@@nicktube3904 many manufacturers offer a 30 day return policy. That might be best for you.
I have a question : does the Purify not ‘perfectly’ amplify the distortion in the tubes before ? Or am I getting this wrong ?
Hi Chris, No you’re getting this 100% correct. The Eigentakt module amplifies exactly what goes into it. But it’s the ‘distortion’ or coloration of the tube that makes it sound ‘nice’. And that’s the problem. For example, test microphones that are technically ‘flat’ ie correct, are no use for recording classical or acoustic instruments, they just sound wrong. And that’s the problem. I hope I am making sense? Somehow ’perfect’ does not sound right.
@@PearlAcoustics Harley, you are making perfect sense. Although from a technical point of view this all is very difficult to explain. But the essence is that at the end of the day it does not matter. As long as we can enjoy our music the way we like it.
The new class D GanFet amps currently available seem well suited for bass applications in particular, right?
Hi Jeff, after speaking with Bruno on the topic if GanFet, I am not so sure. + if there is nothing wrong with a design, Ie it is technically ’perfect’, then it next comes down to economics, the environment and ease of manufacture. There cones a time, like with quartz watches, that one stops talking about accuracy.
Ehh anyone noticed how Harvey can snap his fingers with both 🙌 perfectly over and over again 😅
😂
Do you think connecting these to lyngdorf digital amplification wouldn't be kind of fully controlled solution?
I am a big fan of Lyngdorf equipment. I particularly like the little 1120 because of its capabilities. And I like to couple it with other amplifiers. I have not yet tried it with the Purify. Indeed it could be a very interesting combination
@@PearlAcoustics I am just ahead of testing all in one's line-up, as moved to streaming almost entirely. 1120 is on top of my list, with only add-on to be proper headphone amp. My question comes for potential future proofing :)
Not wishing to sound critical but I struggle with the concept of what is being called a "perfect" amp being coloured by an op amp. The mere fact that the two tested made the amp sound different regardless of whether better or worse means that although the final stage may be "perfect" it will always be affected by the op amp. And that Harley prefers, what I assume is a more "coulored" , as in less that totally transparent, sound means that to strive or even care about "perfect" is a waste of time. For what it's worth I would love to hear the op amp Harley liked less as for me I love the transparency and ability to dig into the minute detail.
Hi, thanks for your comment. The title of this video is deliberately provocative because of exactly what you say. There should be a pure voltage gain without any colouration. But then, when there is, somehow it is not so pleasant to listen to. At least now we can have options….
@@PearlAcoustics Not so pleasant for everyone. From what I've heard and read over the years audiophiles/ music lovers seem to fall into two basic camps. Those who seek utter transparency and detail vs ( not necessarily adversarial) those who prefer a warmer sound. I bought a Denon DL103R based on the positive reviews and was rather unimpressed by its lack of high frequency detail resolution. I could appreciate why some might like it though. I replaced it with a less popular if a little more expensive Audio Technica 0C9XSL which ticks all "my" boxes. I would live to hear live both iterations of the amp reviewed to see if a similar experience resulted. Thanks for your reply. 👍
Hi, Harley. Assuming we have found the ‘perfect’ power amplifier, I’ve been wondering about the importance of the preamp. I had noticed you had a Quad Artera. Did you find it adequate? I’ve been wondering if our money and focus is better spent in the amplifier, preamplifier, or equally. Thank you for the helpful videos.
Dear Jonathan. I wish there was a simple answer to your excellent question. I personally like the idea of there being a ‘perfect’ (or totally acceptable) power amplifier and then all we need to focus on is the front end.
However, the real focus needs to be the music and one’s enjoyment of it. In that regard, in my home set up, my Quad Artera does a wonderful job it performs absolutely as one would require, so much so, I don’t give it a second thought. The trouble comes when you are unhappy with the sound of your system. If you have the perfect power amplifier, then you can rule that out and try and focus on the weakest link. All said and done, a preamplifier can bake a big difference, more than a DAC or a streamer, and that’s where one’s focus could go to. (Assuming one’s happy with ones loudspeakers). Sorry if I haven’t answered your question sufficiently. I will come back to the topic in a future video.
Harley, which preamplifier did you use to evaluate the VTV Purifi? I'm not sure I heard it in the video. Thanks for a great review.@@PearlAcoustics
@@wyup hi, thanks for your question and kind appreciation. I tried it with a few pre-amplifiers: the Project RS Pre (which has a solid state and also a tube output), a Musical Fidelity M8 Pre, and a Sugden. It does reflect what you point at it. I hope this helps? Best wishes from Belgium
I wonder how the Purifi Eigentakt would sound with the buffer replaced with a Lundahl audio transformer?
Will the audio transformer give the same warm sound as a tube?
I will use it with Klipsch horn speaker so I don't think I need more gain then 13dB.
Dear Thomas, thank you for your interesting question and contribution. I am not a specialist in this area. A colleague suggested that you would still need an active gain stage as with the transformer it will drop the gain a bit more. So although it might be suitable for very sensitive speakers, like yours, with a suitable preamp, it’s quite a specialist offering. If you have the knowledge, why not give it a try? I would be very interested to hear the results.
My friend has a Naim unity atom and Jbl L100 s and he’s happy with it he’s no interest in changing it
Absolutely… if he’s happy with his system, there’s no reason to change.
He’s been in the Hifi game for over 40 years in retail and has heard everything and is retired and this is the system he picked up, he says every type of music sounds good on it
Any name brand amplifier, around $400 up, is the perfect amplifier nowadays. Yes, the do have different wattage so some will play louder than others. But they all sound the same.
My grandmother used to knit sweaters. Some people like to solve crossword or chess puzzles, some like to MAKE them. For $100 you can buy dozens of Transistors hundreds of Capacitors and thousands of Resistors. Instead of watching the NFL, tinker and make a power amp - it's as easy as baking a cake and it will change the way you look at humanity forever..... ⚛
😀
Seiko makes such beautiful watches that there is literally no need for anything more expensive. Snobbery is not a virtue, it never was.
Hi, I totally get your point. However, the humans’ desire for beautiful things seems to go back to the beginning of time. I am not sure if it is necessarily snobbery or simple ‘desire’? However we call it, it can be a curse.
So in what world does this set of designs really stack up as comparative in purity of actual state of the art complex signals designed gear...not just measure under controlled distortion tests but gauntlet level testing for ALL DISTORTIONS?
Hi David, I think in testing, on any level, the Eigentakt will outperform any kind of classic AB or class A design. But as I say in my video, that does not necessarily mean they sound ‘better’ than what we currently like. They do their job, amplifying what goes in but what we humans like is often not perfection. Our brains adapt to what we are familiar with and it can be hard for us to adapt. I certainly would never use a technically ‘flat’ B&K test microphone in any of my recordings because they just don’t sound ‘nice’. I know it’s mad but true.
Are the prices for your speakers public?
Hi Dougley, sure. Please visit the Pearl Acoustics website. You’ll find everything there. And the team can always advise you. Best wishes, H.
or will it be an active sibelius?
No active Sibelius 😉 but we can always plant an amplifier on the back of the stands 😉.
Isnt Purifi the audio research & development company owned by Peter Lyngdorf. ?
Hi. Yes indeed. Although I think it’s a consortium of owners, including it’s designer, Bruno Putzeys.
Class D !!!
He did ot want to say that lol
Seems like
Perfection?? Vanity!
I just need my systems to get close enough for my imagination to take me the rest of the way to recreating the musical event...
Every month I roll the valves or caps in my Musical Paradise preamp for a change in flavour.
(A wise listener realizes that all recorded music has already been coloured by the recording process. We just add our own in playback to taste;-)
A valve buffer in front of a "perfect" amplifier module?
Noted:-)
Anthony Michaelson of Musical Fidelity called it "The ineffable magic of valves". Why fight it?
Question:
If the modules are so perfect, why not daisy chain them to get the gain required? Is that possible?
Thanks Mr. Lovegroove. Looking forward to the designer interview.
🎵🎶😉🎶🎵
Hi Carlito. Thanks again for your kind appreciation and interesting comment. For technical reasons daisy chaining them probably won’t work, but I love the approach! I think The problem is that we have to add some colour or distortion to make it sound ‘nicer’! How crazy is that?!
@@PearlAcoustics Hello again Harley 🙂
We should stop pretending to aspire to sterile "accuracy".
Beauty is Truth!
There I said it.
Let the AI and Amir listen to the specs;-)
@@carlitomelon4610 😀
Tried to catch the chord in the Tracy Chapman song and failed … can you give the time stamp, pls?
Hi, thanks for your question. It first appears at 01:27 “oh the tell me…”
Are we not on the way to having to embrace the equalizer? I mean, let's say we create the perfect amplifier, with no distortion, coloring, noise or anything else, a perfect clean sound. I think that nobody would like that sound and would miss the "good old days". Except if we give the user a way to adjust the sound to what that person likes, a perfect tone controls that made the sound perfect for that particular owner.
You make a very good point here, and only if it were so easy. The problem (or challenge) is not just eq, it’s more complex. I remember investing in a very sophisticated EQ machine in the 1980’s thinking I could change the timbre of my system. I was wrong. I could fine tune the bass the mid and treble but I couldn’t make two different voices singing the same note sound like each other. We have distortion, and soundstage and phasing and all sorts of ill defined science going on. That’s why the last stages of this challenge are so difficult and companies spend a fortune trying to reach their imaginary sense of perfection. But with this module it makes it more possible, without the use of DSP’s
The reason why we go to see live music is because it's not perfect, I don't want music to be perfect, I want it to be pleasurable, I don't want to hear it, I want to feel it.
Well said.
And in the home setting, I want to listen to (focus on) the music not the equipment.
Absolutely. I make these videos for two reasons: to help people make informed choices when building a system and 2. Because HiFi is a hobby in in itself for many people, just like cars or watches can be. At the end of the day cars take us somewhere and watches tell the time. And HiFi allows us to enjoy music from the beginning of recorded history. Our own little Time Machine. The only thing that can beat it is live music.
Absolutely!
@@PearlAcoustics As someone who has been going to concerts for about 50 of my 66 years of age there are exceptions to live music being the thing to beat. I would much rather listen to my hi-fi system in the comfort of my home than sitting in the nosebleed seats of a gigantic stadium that was designed more for watching sporting events. Live music in a venue with wonderful acoustics, sitting or standing in the sweet spot is a different matter all together and one that I wouldn't trade for any hi-fi audio system.
@@richardwestmoreland4796 absolutely! I firmly believe that If you really want to listen to and study music, there’s nowhere better than home. If you want an ‘event’ then one must travel outside 😀
Is that a Decware?
Yes indeed, we’ll spotted! It’s a Torri V. I am running it with KT66’s and it’s every bit as good as people say it is. (I will most likely do a video on it one of these days).
@@PearlAcoustics that Is great i am considering on one myself, btw I has the oportunitty to listen to your Sibelius alongside an Audionote cobra AND it was one of The Best systems i heard in my life
@@mauriciomucino1015 oh that’s great to hear. So pleased you could experience that.
Is it Seeko or Sayko?
Psycho
Seiko (/ˈseɪkoʊ/ SAY-koh, Japanese: [seːkoː])
Seiko.....
Seh-ee-koh
Lol I was like what is he saying its a Seiko for Japanes sake
Don’t you think that decision making is mainly based on marketing and social status?
Thanks for your comment. That’s very true, with regards marketing. However, I know a few very wealthy people that would not invest in an expensive hifi (even if the have several houses)! And just have a kitchen radio and a couple of Sonos boxes or possibly a Bose or Zeppelin unit. I also think we are all susceptible to marketing to a certain extent. Especially me, I like a good story and some kind of human connection to the products (in general) I invest in.
You are talking like you were going to use it for some proper speakers with 3 or 4 drivers!
You used it for 2 4 inch drivers how much power do you really need for those maybe a 10W tube amp?