Air Tight vs VTL vs Triode Corp of Japan

Mike

Mike

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Any thoughts on these three brands?

Do you prefer one over another? Why?

Which one has that classic tube sound?


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I'd Pass on the VTL's--too slow-- every time I've heard them they give me the impression they are struggling to keep up with the music

Sorry

Bruce
 
Bruce/Paul...which models did you hear and with what speakers?
 
Bruce said:
I'd Pass on the VTL's--too slow-- every time I've heard them they give me the impression they are struggling to keep up with the music

Sorry

Bruce
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Agree some what on the VTL, Luke will not be happy to hear , but i feel the same , not struggling per say , just soft , a bit laid back ,a bit tame sounding, granted i have only heard them on Wilson's ,(2 different systems) others have said the same to me with other speakers ....
 
Very interesting. Has anyone compared Air Tight to Triode Corp?


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I've owned the Tri 845SE - it was soft and lacked dynamics despite weighing 85lbs and even after rolling tubes. Voicing, not parts IMO.

I would look at the Dehavilland KE50s if the Scala's can run on them- think Garrett Hongo compares them with Air Tight in a review, so you could figure which one seems more your taste. I have not personally had either in my system. BAT might be another option to research too?
 
I think Garrett would agree an air tight amp driven by air tight preamp has a synergy that would beat the dehavilands
 
Who knows- have to ask Garrett. He's reviewed a bunch of P/P tube amps (AT, Vac, EAR, DH, etc) and I think articulates the differences nicely.

Prob also depends if you like EL34s or KT88s?

I always wanted to try the AT 211s...
 
cmalak said:
Bruce/Paul...which models did you hear and with what speakers?
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Blimey where to start !--well the worst I've experienced them was a Stereophile Show in a Hotel Near LAX about 93/94 I reckon

It was the VTL Suite running Master tapes into Klipschorn's --I cannot recall the exact Models of Electronics but they were all VTL--the sound was frankly hard to bear

And I'm sorry to say it's been all downhill from there

--yes even the RMAF Wilson demos with the latest VTL's in attendance sounded two dimensional --I've heard Wilson's sounding better

Your other two choices are far superior in my opinion

YVMV

Good Luck
 
I have owned VTL MB-750s since approximately 1995. I loved them then and I love them now. They are transparent, extended at the frequency extremes and amazing in the midrange (not traditionally "tubey" as in "fuzzy," but natural and liquid (especially in triode mode) and not artificial or dry (i.e., VTL will not be mistaken for transistors.).

I concede that VTLs do not have the finesse of low power tube amps such as those from Lamm. If your speakers have low-sensitivity (e.g., Magnepan, Martin-Logan) then high-power VTLs may be your only option.

Importantly, Luke Manley is very helpful if any issues develop. I am quite certain he will keep my 750w amplifiers operating for as long as I operate.

Over the years, Wilson Audio, Martin-Logan and Transparent Cable have often demonstrated their products on VTLs.
 
Bruce said:
Blimey where to start !--well the worst I've experienced them was a Stereophile Show in a Hotel Near LAX about 93/94 I reckon

It was the VTL Suite running Master tapes into Klipschorn's --I cannot recall the exact Models of Electronics but they were all VTL--the sound was frankly hard to bear

And I'm sorry to say it's been all downhill from there

--yes even the RMAF Wilson demos with the latest VTL's in attendance sounded two dimensional --I've heard Wilson's sounding better

Your other two choices are far superior in my opinion

YVMV

Good Luck
Click to expand...


Would have to have been 93, the 94 show was in fl .....
 
Funny how sometimes it's OK to say you don't like a product from a major high-end company (like VTL in this instance) knowing that other people on this forum own their products and other times we are told that we have to be sensitive to hurting other people's feelings when we have less than stellar things to say about components from a company that other people on this forum also own. I hope that RonR won't require years of therapy to get over the unkind remarks about the sound quality of VTL products. :lol:
 
In the world of tubes, today it seems there is ARC and then...everyone else. I'm trying to figure out who is tops and desired in the "everyone else" category.


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Mike said:
In the world of tubes, today it seems there is ARC and then...everyone else. I'm trying to figure out who is tops and desired in the "everyone else" category.
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Click to expand...

Most of these brands are boutique unless you're talking ARC, VTL, and CJ.

How about the CAT JL5 that you guys heard at Axpona? Its not so hot/unwieldy as the JL2. How many watts do you require?
 
Well there are others to ARC , as a matter of fact ARC/ VTL are pretty much par IMO, other favorites are VAC , BAT ,Then everyone raving now over the Kronzilla Stuff and Lamm to name a few. With tooobs, it's not as simple as whats best , there's low powered and high powered , pentode, triode , OTL, hybrids, push-pull and the often addictive SET's ...

I think picking whats best is much dependent on topology of choice, SETs for eg, I was pretty happy with the cary 805b's and thought them the best for SET's at that time...


Ohh, then There's Ralph, OTL OF CHOICE ... :)



regards
 
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