whats your favourite big fat solid state amp?

shhhhh!!!

 

Gamut?

 

Graaf 5050.

I certainly hope so because if it's solid state I'm really not interested ;-)

 

nope and nope!



its not solid state (I know, I know..) but I felt like I was asking everyone whether I should have lumpy custard or lumpy gravy... some people turned out to know me better than I knew myself.

 

Ah.

Is your lodger involved somehow?

 

Haven't got a lodger.

A former lodger may have had a hand....

 

Well done then!

All that talk of solid state rubbish......

 

=)

 

If anyone's got a Graaf 5050 spare, I want it. Had one for a while, want it back.

 

Chris,

Looky

 

Chris, you're a tease.

 

ok...

I've gone for one of these:


www.hificollective.co.uk

Since it's a complete about face, here's the reasoning:


1) It sounds really really good. A big fat full sound, that the Altecs love. They sounded a little hard and plain with the 6550 CJ amp, good as it is.
2) Now I have a Sub on a high pass filter, I can crank the **** out of the volume, with no worries about clipping... BTW, the amp can drive most speakers, but I often play at very high volume, and listen in the garden or the kitchen while cooking. It was this fear of clipping at insane volumes that scared me off SETs. It is now not a worry any more.
3) I get more use of the volume control.
4) I know the guy that makes them .. well enough that I can get it fixed easily if I ever have any problems, he made it so I dont need to worry about my lack of skills. It is all hard wired, and well made with good components so I'm not expecting faults.
5) We're putting a switch in, so I can bypass the pre-amp stage and run it as a power amp only, or switch the pre in.


I've always praised the hificollective 300B amp - I think its the best sounding and looking 300B kit at its price point.

I'm pleased to be putting my money where my mouth is.


Cheers
Chris

 

Looks lovely. JJ or Mesh Plate output tubes?

 

Nice one=)
I love mine, it drives my 89 db-ish IPL t-line speakers wonderfully.
Welcome to the Glasshouse lovers club=)

 

thanks

probably going to use mesh plates (like in the photo) as they look cooler.


Dik - Im glad you mention the sensitivity of your speakers, I wouldnt want anybody to think that the amp isn't powerful (it is). "Chris-in-the-garden" volume levels are far louder than anybody else is ever likely to play at, and my personal fears of clipping should be dismissed by others.

 

Indeed=) I havent head any sign of strain or compression from mine, I don't play LOUD, but my IPL's do go deep, so if there were any problems with grip and drive they would show it up, and they don't. When I first got the glasshouse I was a little worried that the bass would be a bit lacking compared to the midrange that 300b SETs are renowned for.. but the Glasshouse has more grip than Arnies ****ing hand=)

 

yeah, they have BASS and lots of it. I think the big, fat transformers and valve rectified power supply help this.

incidentally, I never in the past got the glasshouse to clip, even when heavily cranking it and using it full range without the sub. I did however get my old border patrol amp to clip, and that's what scared me at the time.

The glasshouse realistically pushes out about 11watts, and this combined with the build quality is what makes all the difference I am guessing.

 

Looks gorgeous Chris. As for that amp...

Sorry

Well done mate.

 

Congratulations on the new amp!!



Edit- Just thought I'd mention I've got a 2-week old unopened matched pair of Electro Harmonix Gold Grid 300Bs which I could sell for exactly what was paid- £70 plus post for pair! They are surplus to requirements. Recommended by Definitive and others if you cannot stretch to the WE's.

 

Sorry guys.

Did I kill off the thread with my 300b plug