tri vista vs a308 pre pwr ?

ok chaps i have a choice of buying either a tri vista 300 int amp or the A308 pre/power with possibly a A308 cd player so which way should i go
i can't dem them both together so i need some advice
oh and my speakers are monitor audio gr20

 

If it was me I'd go for the 308 combo, wasn't impressed with the Trivista. Lumpy and leaden in the bass.

 

How about Gambits Moon I5?

 

strange I thought that of the 308 when I had it zero interest factor

 

308pre power is a proper muscle amp and a real pile-driver. it's fast tight and very live, bit of a party animal. tri-vista is it's sensible big brother-far more delicate and refined, it's subtle and very relaxed. think of charles' two sons... :JPS: :MILD:

 

Thats certainly not my experience with the 308. I think 'turgid' was the description we used at the time. I suppose it depends on what you have to compare against.

If you want a real muscle amp which actually sounds interesting, it's probably better to go with a Dynavector HX1.2 or the ZG fave the belcanto evo4.

 

308 & turgid sort of a synonamous pairing really, like salt & Pepper with lashings and lashings of ginger beer and hot summer days chasing butterflies in the meadow, with a extra dolop of niceness thrown in for good measure

 

I was giving my opinion between the 2 Taz mentioned, maybe he likes the MF sound, of the 2 I'd still go for the 308, what's your budget and other kit, Taz, what kind of sound are you looking for.

Not many MF fans on this forum, but suggestions for other kit to look for around your budget, will allow you to see if you really do like the MF's or you may find something else which will be more to your liking.

 

When I heard the 308 demo'd here in Lisbon (with Dynaudio Contour 3.3 speakers) my impression of it was much more like Alan's description than "turgid" or "zero interest factor". Unfortunately it seems fashionable to label every recent MF product in a negative way on here these days

Michael.

 

often doesn't help that anthony Michaelson himself can't make up his mind what the MF sound is!

 

well i just sold my cyrus gear cause it was to uninvolving it had a forward midband but sounded rather 2 dimensional to me not enough depth. i am looking for detail and a 3 d soundstage that is open and airy but not slow and ponderous i was thinking of adding a mf A308cd player or similar later on

 

I'd imagine there's a few MOre owners of MF kit than of evo4's on here.

Just that the MOre vocal members tend to be the anti-MF brigade.

 

I suppose that's what I meant, FWIW i like MF kit, just not the trivista, it's ok but I was underwhelmed.

 

trouble is it's hard to dem one these days so it's a case of buy it and if i don't like it sell it on

 

No, not being fashionable, just telling the truth about what I though of some MF kit that I have actually heard.

If people choose to ignore my views, I couldn't give a monkeys. Personal preference comes into it in any case. If Taz really wants a decent amp, he should get a valve amp instead of solid state anyway!

 

so i'm no further down the line then?
i find it hard to get out much so i am buying kinda blind really it will be either s/h or exdem and i listen to a lot of female vocalists these days

 

I think of the people here who expressed a 308 vs TriVista opinion most went for the 308.

As Robbo suggested though, you should at least consider the Sim Moon i-5 that Gambit is selling. It's a seriously good amp (at a seriously good price) and I'd by that before either the 308 or the TriVista.

Michael.

 

Me too

 

well stuck my neck out for a trivista (at the right money i must say) and a A308CD player all new boxed will let you know how they fit in