Steve is talking about sound that isn't 'stuck to the speakers' but seems to be out in the room and the previous video of Grant's first pair of speakers that he'd ever bought and sold with his harman/kardon 680i receiver, were Genesis Physics 44, a very 1970s design of cabinet developed by KEF of England in that decade, for flat pack kits, only for kits, too expensive for the mass-market but in the United States you know ... Genesis offered it but eventually went out of business. So the 44 has two panels at each side of the baffle that are angled backwards and that type of speaker cabinet delivers the 'throughout the room' sound Steve is describing of his tube amplifier with the Volti Razz horn speaker.
It never ceases to amaze me the items Steve reviews....a good few I have never heard of. Just when I thought I was knowledgeable along comes the expert.....😁
Well you know the Sarah and Allnic 300B are 'Class A', not Technics or Yamaha 'New Class A' but more important is that in the previous video Grant had a harman/kardon HK680i with two heat-sinks. These were designed by Sidney Harman to give a simulated 'Beam tube' sound and they're awesome Solid State amplifiers but if you have a 'Class A' tube amplifier, we cannot use the same speakers used with a 215 watt integrated. If somebody claims they did ... you know, they're just not being honest. To help buyers out, tube 'Class A' is whole different ball game.
Fortunately, I'm a lucky owner of one of ten Fezz Audio Titania in the world (Super Titania), heavily modified by the italian dealer of Fezz (with full approval of the Company), now a dear friend, that elevated (even more) the performance of this excelent amp. Now it works in full triode mode with KT88's, 22.5 Watts per channel, with and external power supply (only for feeding the tubes). I've also upgraded all the tubes: a pair of Mullard NOS 12AX7 and a quartet of KR KT88. The result is superb :) Steve, you should also review the others on the catalog.
You know Steve is uh ... comparing the Decware Sarah with the Fezz, so let's help out here. The Sarah is 'Class A' and therefore lower Damping Factor than than the 'Class B' Fezz and so the Fezz, will cope better with a 'Class B' designed loudspeaker. We've already tipped Steve off about back e.m.f. from Disco type speakers with large magnets. A true 'Class A' tube amplifier with even 8 watts is useless for Disco speakers, they just run with their own speakers, usually a single driver and often a field coil single driver like Western Electric coupled to one of their huge wall hung horn systems that were popular in New York a while back. So Steve should try his Sarah on a Western Electric horn system and you know, the Fezz as a 'Class B' family of speaker will then lose out if compared because 'Class B' is for other speakers.
That's a beautiful amp. My solution to the tube/ solid state dilemma is to use both. I have an Allnic 300b amp (transformers also wound in house) and a Kinki Studio 215w integrated and switch between them according to the music and desired volume. I wish I had done this years ago. Matching the hardware to the music just makes sense and increases my listening satisfaction immensely.
I too have reached that solution/conclusion. The music dictates which approach works best. I favor tube application/crossoverless single driver for jazz, folk, vocal and music with simple instrumentation. I favor solid-state/multi-driver speakers for rock, orchestral and highly dynamic/loud music.
Now that the Galion TS120 exists for $3,500 and $4,500 special edition… all tube amps under $7-8K are ho hum. Heard them at Apoxna ‘23 and can’t believe how good the Galion was.
McIntosh does their own transformers in house also. I know you already know this but probably just forgot. But this amp is a beauty and one I’d definitely consider adding to my system.
I own a FEZZ Mira Ceti 300b from the old range in white and I completely agree with you. But I must point out that I'm 66 years old and perhaps younger people will have a preference for the new aesthetic ?
Hi Steve Nice review (as always ;)) I really hope you will review the Fezz Audio Mira Ceti (300B amp) and how it compares with the Feliks Audio Arioso.
A low power SET amp requires a fully horn loaded design to shine. If you do so a SET doesn't have any issues at all playing at high SPL levels with complex music. I play pipe organ, reggae and metal at hi levels with my 300b and horns.
The more I listen to your reviews of tube amplifiers other than the Decware, the more I'm gravitating towards Line Magnetic array of integrated amps especially the more expensive 845 IA which is a hell of a lot more money than the Fezz.
Great review Steve! I like tubes, right now I have the Carver Crimson 275 with kt88’s but to my ears most of the time I prefer my McIntosh mc352. I’m going to split my La Scala crossovers so I can bi amp them and try the tubes on the mid & highs, and the 352 for the bass. Always looking for a different way to enjoy the music.I love this hobby of ours! By the way I was visiting NYC last weekend and stopped into Audio by Singer and had a nice visit with a fellow named Michael, who knows you. I was looking for noise cancelling ear buds, but they did not stock anything like that. But ended up getting the tour and a number of great stories of past audio shops he had worked at. We also talked about what Audiophile means, and what kind of Audiophile I am and the type Michael is. Fun chance meeting, Any way keep up the great work!
Perhaps the name of the album "Felt" is an indicator of why the piano recording sounded so good. Someone must've done some special work on the sounding board and hammers and type of felt used.
Regarding David's system (Thanks Steve for showing it): I love the Elekit Tu-8200. I assembled mine several years ago and each time I put it back in my system I wonder why I don't listen to it more. For David, if you have the time can you share more on your tubes and coupling capacitors for the 8200, also the tube dampers you use? Finally, was that an Elekit TU-8500 preamp on the top shelf behind your desk? I've built a couple of them and would love to hear about any mods you've made. My one regret with Elekit is that I once had a chance to get a good price on the TU-8600 300B amp from Victor Kung but went with the higher powered push-pull amp that was available at the time. I wish now I had gone with the 300B amp.
You know EMI of England (the record label) made 'affordable speakers for 'Class A' tubes and they had an accordion type surround for the low damping factor but ideally, these were coupled to huge quarter or half wave rear horn system but more often used as just small boxes, very LOUD and used the 4-layer voice coil construction for high efficiency at low volumes and you know there are 10.5 x 6, and 13.5 x 8 but in those days people made their own boxes. These are really meant for horn coupling to get high efficiency at the lowest possible volume, these are horrendously complicated but you might be able to find internet calculators but the physics needed is just as difficult as it's possible to get. EMI were only for professional studio constructors.
@@keplermission Re tube dampers, I was referring to mechanical devices designed to reduce microphonic distortion caused by extraneous vibration of amplifier tubes. You can see a set of them on two of the tubes in David's Elekit amplifier. This has nothing to do with speaker mechanical damping.
@@waltergist8923 ... I know about tube dampers, rubber rings around the glass envelope of pentode-type tubes not only bad for microphone type spurious noise but also bad for x-rays, and in war radios had a steel envelope instead of glass that blocked the x-ray and IR radiation when used up close by radio operators with headsets. Vintage glass envelopes like PEN383 had a part 'metallised' glass envelope to block the harmful emissions and didn't need tube dampers due to the damping aspect of the metal. But you know, David never replied on coupling capacitors. You know just fit +/- ten times your value and you'll get an idea but you might prefer both values. Increasing the value, these are bad mods. You should just leave things or build your own from your own design.
Nice ! Thanks Steve me love Tubes' But your right about Transformers Sansui made some of the best transformers ever ! Actually Sansui started out as a high end parts Manufactor for radios Co they mainly built transformers' even Mackintosh tried to sue Sansui over the R transformers but that didn't work out well For Mac - Thanks again the more we know 🌈
Nice review Steve… can’t ever consider tube amp with my Dynaudio C5s…. They only put out 83 db…at the std. measure …. I do use a HYBRED preamp with tubes on-the front end..
Hello Steve , and thanks for your reviews . It mays seem out of place , but which tube integrated would you pair with harbeth 40.2 or 40.3xd ? ( if you have experience with this harbeths of course) , Thinking about : line magnetic 845 premium , nat single gm70 hps, manley neo classic 300b pre + monoblocks, Allnic t-2000 30th anniversary . Accuphase e-800 is also a possibility ! Thanks . I am only collecting ideas here and there .
Two questions: Does the Polish manufacturer have customer service in US. As a tube amp owner since the mid seventies, I would like to know about about biasing the tubes.
A $3,500 Amp with a plastic remote? Makes me wonder, where else did they go cheap? EBay has half a dozen metal universal learning remotes under $40 bucks...
Well what's the problem, a lot of amplifiers costing in the multi thousands of dollars come with plastic remotes, they're not the only one buddy. Perhaps they didn't cheap out on anything, perhaps instead of fussing over having some super high quality remote they decided to put all the money and to making a high quality amplifier?
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac it's worth mentioning that viewers in Europe can buy the legacy version which looks a bit worse but doesn't sound different (according to Fezz). The legacy version is $1500 and some dealers in Poland still have it
Prima Luna, like many other brands around, is all about publicity, unfortunately. Each amplifier for Fezz (Mira Ceti, Silver Luna or Titania) are in another level. They are a lot better, in every aspect, when compared with PL or the vast majority of tube amps around on the same price range (and even more expensive ones). Built 100%, "in house", in Europe (Poland).
I know, and that's OK. People buy amplifiers to listen to them, not measure them. But I concede that if measurements are an issue for potential buyers, well, this one's not for you!
Absolutely love the design of these. Very minimalistic.
Steve is talking about sound that isn't 'stuck to the speakers' but seems to be out in the room and the previous video of Grant's first pair of speakers that he'd ever bought and sold with his harman/kardon 680i receiver, were Genesis Physics 44, a very 1970s design of cabinet developed by KEF of England in that decade, for flat pack kits, only for kits, too expensive for the mass-market but in the United States you know ... Genesis offered it but eventually went out of business. So the 44 has two panels at each side of the baffle that are angled backwards and that type of speaker cabinet delivers the 'throughout the room' sound Steve is describing of his tube amplifier with the Volti Razz horn speaker.
It never ceases to amaze me the items Steve reviews....a good few I have never heard of. Just when I thought I was knowledgeable along comes the expert.....😁
Fezz is from Poland. Its not well known outside
Well you know the Sarah and Allnic 300B are 'Class A', not Technics or Yamaha 'New Class A' but more important is that in the previous video Grant had a harman/kardon HK680i with two heat-sinks. These were designed by Sidney Harman to give a simulated 'Beam tube' sound and they're awesome Solid State amplifiers but if you have a 'Class A' tube amplifier, we cannot use the same speakers used with a 215 watt integrated. If somebody claims they did ... you know, they're just not being honest. To help buyers out, tube 'Class A' is whole different ball game.
'Ain't going to do it without the Fezz on.'
1st song I would play 🎵 😂
Steely Dan
@@hamidrezahabibi8111 From the album "The Royal Scam"
Oh no! 😅
Fortunately, I'm a lucky owner of one of ten Fezz Audio Titania in the world (Super Titania), heavily modified by the italian dealer of Fezz (with full approval of the Company), now a dear friend, that elevated (even more) the performance of this excelent amp. Now it works in full triode mode with KT88's, 22.5 Watts per channel, with and external power supply (only for feeding the tubes). I've also upgraded all the tubes: a pair of Mullard NOS 12AX7 and a quartet of KR KT88. The result is superb :)
Steve, you should also review the others on the catalog.
You know Steve is uh ... comparing the Decware Sarah with the Fezz, so let's help out here. The Sarah is 'Class A' and therefore lower Damping Factor than than the 'Class B' Fezz and so the Fezz, will cope better with a 'Class B' designed loudspeaker. We've already tipped Steve off about back e.m.f. from Disco type speakers with large magnets. A true 'Class A' tube amplifier with even 8 watts is useless for Disco speakers, they just run with their own speakers, usually a single driver and often a field coil single driver like Western Electric coupled to one of their huge wall hung horn systems that were popular in New York a while back. So Steve should try his Sarah on a Western Electric horn system and you know, the Fezz as a 'Class B' family of speaker will then lose out if compared because 'Class B' is for other speakers.
Mullards 👍
@@tothemax324 , soundstage :)
@@tothemax324 Not Mullards, in the US we use Tung Sol from New Jersey. Mullards were uh ... you know, British sound, poor low frequency.
That's a beautiful amp. My solution to the tube/ solid state dilemma is to use both. I have an Allnic 300b amp (transformers also wound in house) and a Kinki Studio 215w integrated and switch between them according to the music and desired volume. I wish I had done this years ago. Matching the hardware to the music just makes sense and increases my listening satisfaction immensely.
I too have reached that solution/conclusion. The music dictates which approach works best. I favor tube application/crossoverless single driver for jazz, folk, vocal and music with simple instrumentation. I favor solid-state/multi-driver speakers for rock, orchestral and highly dynamic/loud music.
This review is why I listen to the channel. I really got a feel for what it sounds like by Steve’s description
Thank you!
Nils Frahm 💜
i love all his albums even electronic
Now that the Galion TS120 exists for $3,500 and $4,500 special edition… all tube amps under $7-8K are ho hum. Heard them at Apoxna ‘23 and can’t believe how good the Galion was.
McIntosh does their own transformers in house also. I know you already know this but probably just forgot. But this amp is a beauty and one I’d definitely consider adding to my system.
Their factory is like 3km from the place where I live, I hope to visit them someday.
Do a video tour post it on yt
Fezz was great on That 70's Show. 😂
"I said "good say sir!"....
I prefer the previous case design but they are great tube amps specially the Mira Ceti line.
I own a FEZZ Mira Ceti 300b from the old range in white and I completely agree with you. But I must point out that I'm 66 years old and perhaps younger people will have a preference for the new aesthetic ?
@@douxreveur131 well I'm 42 so I don't know... btw I think the retro look of the previous case suits a tube amp much better.
People often forget how important the knob feel is. Looks like a great amp👍
I wish Steve would review the Cary Audio SLI-80HS tube amp. Also, the Rogue Audio Pharaoh 2.
Hi Steve
Nice review (as always ;))
I really hope you will review the Fezz Audio Mira Ceti (300B amp) and how it compares with the Feliks Audio Arioso.
They make cool hats too.
A low power SET amp requires a fully horn loaded design to shine. If you do so a SET doesn't have any issues at all playing at high SPL levels with complex music. I play pipe organ, reggae and metal at hi levels with my 300b and horns.
Killer shirt today Steve!
Steve - love that shirt - very nice color on you
Another great video Steve!
The more I listen to your reviews of tube amplifiers other than the Decware, the more I'm gravitating towards Line Magnetic array of integrated amps especially the more expensive 845 IA which is a hell of a lot more money than the Fezz.
Go for the line magnetic!
I have the older version (518ia) and it sounds amazing. Couldn’t be happier with my choice.
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac I'm saving my nickels and dimes as we speak Steve.
Another polish hifi reviewed by Steve. Nice. Expect lots of Poles in comments
Great review Steve! I like tubes, right now I have the Carver Crimson 275 with kt88’s but to my ears most of the time I prefer my McIntosh mc352. I’m going to split my La Scala crossovers so I can bi amp them and try the tubes on the mid & highs, and the 352 for the bass. Always looking for a different way to enjoy the music.I love this hobby of ours! By the way I was visiting NYC last weekend and stopped into Audio by Singer and had a nice visit with a fellow named Michael, who knows you. I was looking for noise cancelling ear buds, but they did not stock anything like that. But ended up getting the tour and a number of great stories of past audio shops he had worked at. We also talked about what Audiophile means, and what kind of Audiophile I am and the type Michael is. Fun chance meeting, Any way keep up the great work!
That's great, nice to hear you had a great meeting with Michael.
Perhaps the name of the album "Felt" is an indicator of why the piano recording sounded so good. Someone must've done some special work on the sounding board and hammers and type of felt used.
Great video steve!!
Regarding David's system (Thanks Steve for showing it): I love the Elekit Tu-8200. I assembled mine several years ago and each time I put it back in my system I wonder why I don't listen to it more. For David, if you have the time can you share more on your tubes and coupling capacitors for the 8200, also the tube dampers you use? Finally, was that an Elekit TU-8500 preamp on the top shelf behind your desk? I've built a couple of them and would love to hear about any mods you've made. My one regret with Elekit is that I once had a chance to get a good price on the TU-8600 300B amp from Victor Kung but went with the higher powered push-pull amp that was available at the time. I wish now I had gone with the 300B amp.
You know EMI of England (the record label) made 'affordable speakers for 'Class A' tubes and they had an accordion type surround for the low damping factor but ideally, these were coupled to huge quarter or half wave rear horn system but more often used as just small boxes, very LOUD and used the 4-layer voice coil construction for high efficiency at low volumes and you know there are 10.5 x 6, and 13.5 x 8 but in those days people made their own boxes. These are really meant for horn coupling to get high efficiency at the lowest possible volume, these are horrendously complicated but you might be able to find internet calculators but the physics needed is just as difficult as it's possible to get. EMI were only for professional studio constructors.
@@keplermission Re tube dampers, I was referring to mechanical devices designed to reduce microphonic distortion caused by extraneous vibration of amplifier tubes. You can see a set of them on two of the tubes in David's Elekit amplifier. This has nothing to do with speaker mechanical damping.
@@waltergist8923 ... I know about tube dampers, rubber rings around the glass envelope of pentode-type tubes not only bad for microphone type spurious noise but also bad for x-rays, and in war radios had a steel envelope instead of glass that blocked the x-ray and IR radiation when used up close by radio operators with headsets. Vintage glass envelopes like PEN383 had a part 'metallised' glass envelope to block the harmful emissions and didn't need tube dampers due to the damping aspect of the metal. But you know, David never replied on coupling capacitors. You know just fit +/- ten times your value and you'll get an idea but you might prefer both values. Increasing the value, these are bad mods. You should just leave things or build your own from your own design.
Nice ! Thanks Steve me love Tubes'
But your right about Transformers Sansui made some of the best transformers ever ! Actually Sansui started out as a high end parts Manufactor for radios Co they mainly built transformers' even Mackintosh tried to sue Sansui over the R transformers but that didn't work out well For Mac -
Thanks again the more we know 🌈
Nice review Steve… can’t ever consider tube amp with my Dynaudio C5s…. They only put out 83 db…at the std. measure …. I do use a HYBRED preamp with tubes on-the front end..
Well I don't know with 35 watts you shouldn't have a problem it will get fairly loud loud enough for listening
I do not understand the "i never listen to music loud" statement. Why Never? There is so much pleasure in turning it up listening to the details.
I power my Amp Camp Amps with massive fully shielded Toroidy transformers - the transformers get about as warm as the amps.
The design resembles amplifiers from Feliks AUdio and they are Polish as well, how coincidental
I don't remember your name, but I recognize your fezz.
Your shirt, I have the same tiles in my bathroom backsplash.
Great shirt! 🎉
This is the second time the viewer system had a TT similar to mine with a Hana EH cartridge. Do you do cartridge reviews?
That shirt suits you...
Not specific to your review but good lighting on this video imo. 😇
Play some Tool now and then. You won't be disappointed.
Hello Steve , and thanks for your reviews .
It mays seem out of place , but which tube integrated would you pair with harbeth 40.2 or 40.3xd ?
( if you have experience with this harbeths of course) ,
Thinking about : line magnetic 845 premium , nat single gm70 hps, manley neo classic 300b pre + monoblocks, Allnic t-2000 30th anniversary .
Accuphase e-800 is also a possibility !
Thanks .
I am only collecting ideas here and there .
Two questions: Does the Polish manufacturer have customer service in US. As a tube amp owner since the mid seventies, I would like to know about about biasing the tubes.
Awesome review Steve. Can anybody recommend an all tube integrated amp (not a hybrid) with a high quality phono stage?
This is it, Stand High Patrol = The Bar............................Tune
In this price range thinking go quicksilver mid-monos + remote preamp
Love the video. Oh, what does your button say?
Listen for wetness , which refers to reverberation/ room sound in recordings
Hi Steve. Pls tell me what you think bout zesto. Preamp and amp.
I wonder how this would pair with the $1 million Dartzeel phono cartridge?
What was the thinking and reasoning coming up with the name fezz?
There's no audio on Robb's system
Do you think this is a match for modded Magnipan .7's that has had the fuse removed? They are in a moderately sized living room.
No
Steve does not give a hoot about Bluetooth. Perhaps a fan option is needed.
It's easy enough to add Bluetooth to any system, it doesn't have to be part of the design.
Sounds like this tube amp doesn't sound fezzy.
A $3,500 Amp with a plastic remote? Makes me wonder, where else did they go cheap? EBay has half a dozen metal universal learning remotes under $40 bucks...
Well what's the problem, a lot of amplifiers costing in the multi thousands of dollars come with plastic remotes, they're not the only one buddy. Perhaps they didn't cheap out on anything, perhaps instead of fussing over having some super high quality remote they decided to put all the money and to making a high quality amplifier?
ok, you got to the price. Uh oh
Isn't this the evo model?
Yes
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac it's worth mentioning that viewers in Europe can buy the legacy version which looks a bit worse but doesn't sound different (according to Fezz). The legacy version is $1500 and some dealers in Poland still have it
Luna? Evo? Sounds like Prima products?
Fezz sounds better
Prima Luna, like many other brands around, is all about publicity, unfortunately. Each amplifier for Fezz (Mira Ceti, Silver Luna or Titania) are in another level. They are a lot better, in every aspect, when compared with PL or the vast majority of tube amps around on the same price range (and even more expensive ones). Built 100%, "in house", in Europe (Poland).
KNob feel 😂
this amp measured terribly at Stereophile
I know, and that's OK. People buy amplifiers to listen to them, not measure them. But I concede that if measurements are an issue for potential buyers, well, this one's not for you!