Integrated Tube Amp

[Tgaboy]

Hi,

I am going to buy the above in the near future but haven't owned tube gear previously. I have a budget of $2500 give or take a little.

Came across Melody amps but can't find anywhere that you can purchase them? Any help appreciated?

Regards,

Ben

[Owen Young]

A while ago, Axent Audio had a few of them on demo.
In fact they have currently have a s/h one listed (http://axent.co.nz/digital/amptuners.html).

[Tgaboy]

Whats the deal with these amps? Chinese and with multiple brand names is what I'm assuming. Reviews are all very favourable but no companies sell them anymore. What happened....

[Cooksferry]

I've been running my SPR9 for a couple of years and very happy with it. I'm unsure what happened to the Aussie agents. I purchased mine from Pure Audio in Sydney and about a year after that they appeared to special off all their Melody stock.There also used to be an an outfit in Melbourne who carried the range as well.
http://www.focussoundvision.com.au/default.asp not sure where in Aus these guys are.
I think they may have manufactured for other suppliers using the Genisis and Onix names.
There's still a range of the amps available through Catty Link in Hong Kong so I'm assuming that the company still exists.
I'm very happy with mine, love the remote control and the auto bias. The build quality appears to be very good.
Only downside is the weight, around 30kgs, which is a struggle for a man with a crook back when it comes time to move things around.

[Owen Young]

Cooksferry's amp (& system) can be seen here (http://www.audioenz.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/12114-System-update?).

[webbed]

Melody seems to be trading.

http://angelcityaudio.com/products/melody-valve-hifi/

I had some of their gear from Axent, the SET mono blocks / pre and then the KT88 80 watt mono's. I couldn't live with those models, no bass. I remeber Clary listening to them on his set up and he couldn't understand why they sounded that way. I'm sure when they went to the piano gloss finish, and reading reviews, that they must have sorted that out. As far as a decent integrated for 2.5k, has to be worth a look.

[foveaux]

Hi Ben

I am going to buy the above in the near future but haven't owned tube gear previously. I have a budget of $2500 give or take a little.
Came across Melody amps but can't find anywhere that you can purchase them? Any help appreciated?
System synergy is critical with any valve integrated amp.
If possible, try a home demo of potential amps in your system - that will allow you to hear and decide 'best fit'
Cookferry's Melody is terrific value for $ and a superb sounding amp (but then Im biased - excuse the pun - to KT88s)
Recently I heard a small Yarland valve amp at Strawberry Sound - and it was highly musical, I was impressed with the modest cost too.
Prima Luna do an integrated for about $2.5k - I trust JR at Totally Wired when he rates these amps. I'm yet to hear any PL amp however.
Good luck with your quest and, prospectively, welcome over to tubes! :cool:
cheers, f

[Tgaboy]

Thanks Gents,

I checked out your suggestions and links aswell as investigating Triode amps. I am drawn to Melody Astro Black 22 but have no chance of hearing a demo so it seems. The Aussie distributor lists the 'old' model; I2A3. Do you know if this the same amp? Price is similar.

I'm auditiong a Tri TRV-88SE amp tomorrow here in Hamilton. Taking my speakers along too. The dealer has one he can sell me for $2062 which is a good saving compared to $3000.

I am not at all clued up with regards to various tube amp designs or the characteristics of different tubes. The Triode dealer recommended KT88 tube amp for the music I listen to, more drive and punch he said.

I have read a lot of good stuff about I23A tubes as in the Melody amp above. Any input about the sound of these tubes would be helpful. Also I have Rega Jura speakers and want to make sure the amp can drive them adequately.

Thanks again for your input; it's much appreciated.

Owen: I'm still going to modify my CDP and have purchased soldering station and solder sucker etc. Waiting for the bonus from work to set everything in action. I've got a Deno 1450ar and the Marantz Cd273. See you on the DIY forum in the near future.

[Owen Young]

Hi Tgaboy,
It's difficult to characterise the sound of valves by type, esp these days when there are many sources from different countries with own tooling (& design variations).

Amplifier type & power are probably your key variables to consider... and the place to start is always your lspkr requirements. What spkrs do you have?

[Tgaboy]

Hi Owen,

Ok, I have Rega jura speakers, 90db.

[Owen Young]

Fairly sensistive spkrs...assuming that they offer a fairly consistent 8 ohm load & you listen quite loud in a moderately big room, then you might need 30-40wpc minimum into 8 ohms.

In a smaller room, lower listening levels, you might get away with 10wpc.

However, with a SE amp, you need to try it with your spkrs. SE amps are not so as tolerant of difficult spkr loads but have an ability to match nicely sometimes with certain type of mid-bass spkrs, adding some warmth/fullness.

Ideally you need to hear it in your room & with your music. Music programme affects the amount of dynamic headroom the amp needs to have in reserve for music peaks. 1 or 3 watts might be enough to deliver loud average SPLs in your room, but musical peaks might demand occasional 10 or 40 watts. Try to arrange a home audition.

Oh & not sure what the Jura specifs are, so maybe check both the 6 & 8 ohms speaker connections on the TRV-A88SE. My 2 cents ;)

[Tgaboy]

I have an open plan area with high beam ceiling. I couldn't audition the TRV-A88SE at home in this instance but did take my speakers along. I liked the EL34 version for some of my music but the bass didn't impress me with heavier music. KT88 version was what I decided to listen to.

Very different from my current Naim amp, thats for sure (which took me quite a while to get used to)

I have a Yarland Pro-88IISE on the way for audition, should be here on Friday. I'll give that a go and see how it sounds in comparison.

Have to say that I was blown away by the beautiful vocals and space in the music. First tube amps I've heard. Wow

Thanks for your advice Owen

[Owen Young]

Sounds like you'll need a bit of grunt at home for a satisfying result. (Large space, wide range of music.)

I'm surprised that the Tri EL34 (Push-Pull model?) didn't float your boat, compared with the Tri KT88SE amp....ie 45watts of PP vs 12 watts of SE. However, a SE amp can be pretty beguiling in the broad midrange (tone, see-through soundstaging, dynamic contrasts, etc) if you're at all that way inclined.

Despite its label, the Yarland Pro 88SE looks to be a fixed bias 50watt push-pull model (unless I'm mistaken), so that should also have plenty of power reserve.

[Tgaboy]

To be honest Owen I don't know anything about the difference between the two types of amps. It was difficult to decide which I preferred until I listened to the KT88 then switched to the EL34 and back to the KT88.

Your right though, I do enjoy some grunt and bass.

Why were you surprised that the EL34 version didn't impress me? I'm asking for a basic explanation as I'm not aware of a difference in output

[Owen Young]

Why were you surprised that the EL34 version didn't impress me? I'm asking for a basic explanation as I'm not aware of a difference in outputOK... (this is from my limited experience) you mention an EL34 amp. I am assuming that this was the TRV-35SE which is a single chassis push-pull amp with 45wpc, as compared with the TRV-88SE which is a 12wpc SE amp.

On paper, the more powerful P-P amp should exhibit its LF power when compared with the SE amp...because of its better damping factor (bass control) & additional power reserves.

However other factors... (i)your spkrs are v sensitive & may be an esp SE-friendly design load-wise (ii)the 12wpc amp may be quite unstressed under your listening demands (iii)the sonic magic of the SEnded amp was esp appealing.

Morale of story: Trust your ears ;)

[Tgaboy]

That makes sense to me.

I have the Yarland Pro88 at home now, definitely heaps of power.

Once again thanks for your help.