On 09-28-96, Steve McTague was found by police, naked and mumbling:
SM>While I won't debate the fact that there aren't many different
SM>units being made, there ARE some good ones out there. The Acurus
SM>DIA, tubed Anthem, and YBA come to mind in the $1000 to $2000
SM>range.  
        I have heard the Acurus and it is an excellent unit, but still 
not on a par with "separates" offered by Krell, Bryston, Sumo, 
Macormack, etc. My experience with tubed gear is nil, so I would be way 
out of my league in even attempting to discuss them intelligently. I 
have, however, been playing with the idea of beginning a tubed system as 
I have heard many good things about them, love the warm sound and 
believe they would be a tinkerers delight.
        I haven't heard the YBA nor DIA units you speak of either.
SM> JA> well as begin going to live performances. To not do so would be
SM> JA> an invitation to wasting your money. As far as my statement that
SM> JA> power capabilities of an amp (the more the better) having to do
SM> JA> with better control of the speaker and its' mechanics, beyond
SM> JA> its indication/ability of volume levels, I will have to stick by
SM> JA> this
SM>This is where my opinion differs, but I suspect its more
SM>related to the types of music being listened to.  My little
SM>40watt per channel Golden Tube amp killed EVERYTHING in the
SM>sub $1000 price range for the jazz and folk music I listen
SM>to most.  I will agree the 7 or 9 watt single ended amps out
SM>there are pretty crazy.  Other low watt amps that sound great
SM>are the 30watt Pass, and the BEL (50 watt?). Unless you fall
SM>in love with a hard to drive speaker, or play super dynamic
SM>and full range speaker at concert levels, better quality amps
SM>do better IMHO.  
        I listen to everything from classical, chamber, stringed 
quartet, 60/70s Rock to Satisfy my Viet Nam flashbacks, New Age, 
American and Japanese Folk music and everything in between. So I drive 
my speakers very hard at times and very little at others. On CDs like 
Kataros Enchanted at live levels, a system really gets a workout and the 
power reserve of a larger capacity amp can make a noticeable difference 
in both definition and image. The sound stage and image don't begin 
blurring during complicated passages as they do on less capable amps. 
Here I cannot speak for tube units like yours and would be interested in 
hearing how your system handles like music, and if you notice this 
blurring or if it stays rock solid. I read recently some ads for 
integrated tube amps with 85 WPC advertised for rock music. Until then I 
didn't believe the two went together.
SM> JA> also. However, beyond a certain point, power capabilities ONLY
SM> JA> give bragging rights and offer nothing more to the control of
SM> JA> the speaker. This cut off level will depend largely on the
SM> JA> speaker themselves,
SM>Many owners of my amp use speakers of average efficiency (86-
SM>89db) with much success, mine are 92.
        My speakers claim a 98dB@2.83V with a frequency response of 16Hz 
to 30K, */- 2dB. Yet even with that sensitivity I can hear a noticeable 
difference between the lesser powered amps and the couple integrated 
amps we have hooked them up to and my Carver bi-amp setup. And let me 
add, I do not have "golden ears", own mega buck equipment, nor balance 
wooden disks on my speaker tops for resonance control above the 
frequency range of gifted guard dogs, nor will you find a single green 
felt pen anywhere near my CD.
        Cheers, John
        [Team OS/2]
þ CMPQwk 1.42 1664 þWelcome To Hell. Here Is Your Copy of Windows 95.
--- Silver Xpress Mail System 5.3M1f
---------------