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https://www.decware.com/cgi-bin/yabb22/YaBB.pl EQUIPMENT FORUMS >> SE84UFO25 >> Thoughts on the SE84UFO vs. the 25th Anniversary https://www.decware.com/cgi-bin/yabb22/YaBB.pl?num=1723599973 Message started by Mr. Toy on 08/14/24 at 02:46:13 |
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Title: Thoughts on the SE84UFO vs. the 25th Anniversary Post by Mr. Toy on 08/14/24 at 02:46:13 I'm in the 700th slot on the waitlist for a SE84UFO25 amp, which I'll pair with my Klipsch Forte IVs and mainly stream through a DAC. Anyway, I was wondering if anyone can describe the difference they hear between the regular SE84UFO and the more expensive 25th Anniversary model. Can you point to specific songs you've compared them with and your thoughts on the two? It's difficult to find detailed feedback around the 25th Anniversary, and I would greatly appreciate your advice. |
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Title: Re: Thoughts on the SE84UFO vs. the 25th Anniversary Post by CAJames on 08/14/24 at 06:15:56 Welcome to the forum! I can help with this. My Decware journey started in 2020 with a pair of UFOs with the “anniversary mods” which at the time were upgraded signal and power supply bypass caps. And long story short they were so good I got back on the waiting list for a pair of UFO25s that I received last November. I will say without hesitation or qualification I am very happy with the UFO25s and the best way I can describe the difference is to say it is just more of what makes the UFO so good. More transparency, more detail, more dynamics, bigger sound stage. The “sound” of the amp, and the frequency response are pretty similar between the two, but more on that below. FYI/FWIW you can see my system in my sig. I’m guessing what you’re really after is whether the 25 is worth the money vs the UFO. There are at least a few other posters who have upgraded and I’m pretty sure none of them have regretted it. But I will say this, if money is an issue the UFO with the mods gets you pretty close to the UFO25, esp. if you are not interested in tube rolling. If you plan on exploring tubes, both amps are a playground, but the extra transparency plus VR tubes in the 25 gives you options to tune the sound way beyond what’s possible with the UFO. Of course this can be a double edged sword because it has made me a little crazy at times trying to get everything just right. But, if you see yourself sticking with the Decware tubes, which sound great, you might find the cost difference better spent upgrading e.g. cables or power conditioning or your front end. Of course if you have the budget for a UFO25 then see above for unhesitating, unqualified recommendation. You asked for songs and I’m not going to do that, because what I said earlier applies to everything to which I listen. I listen to a lot of classical, more orchestras than chamber or solo instrumental. I listen to some jazz, mostly golden age stuff:Stan Getz, Bill Evan’s, Rollins, Miles, those kinds of cats and also big bands. And I mix in a little classic rock as well. My UFOs played it all great. The UFO25s play it even greater. I hope this helps, I’d be happy to discuss further but I’m heading out of town and off the grid for a couple weeks so if you have questions or comments I’ll respond when I get home. |
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Title: Re: Thoughts on the SE84UFO vs. the 25th Anniversary Post by Tony on 08/14/24 at 15:05:49 I think CAJames' answer to your question provides sound logic for decision-making. I have had both amps; in terms of satisfaction and outright listening pleasure, I prefer the 84UFO25. If one had to consider budget, most of us do, you can be more than happy with the SE84UFO. When you also factor in that in the end, you will have spent three years waiting, and you might not do that again; go for the 84UFO25. You still have lots of time, and you will probably go back fan more than once. In the end, you might choose another one of the Decware amps. Part of the fun is the research, the planning, and the fantasy. Enjoy the journey. |
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Title: Re: Thoughts on the SE84UFO vs. the 25th Anniversary Post by ArtMan on 08/14/24 at 20:38:33 On an earlier forum, someone described the difference between the two and it remained (paraphrased) in my head. It was described as such: With the UFO, every so often you have those WOW moments. With the 25th, those moments happen much more often. It is a simple but apt description. Having upgraded myself, although I have not listened to the UFO in several years, there is another level of refinement in the sound, perhaps somewhat attributed to the VR tubes in the 25th amp. There is a darker background due to the lowering of noise and that allows greater detail to come through. I've never regretted upgrading to the 25th anniversary and I've yet to reach the bottom of this musical rabbit hole. It is possible it might be the most transparent tube amp out there. |
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Title: Re: Thoughts on the SE84UFO vs. the 25th Anniversary Post by Mr. Toy on 09/06/24 at 15:16:18 Thanks for the feedback everyone. I currently have an old Marantz receiver with thick, not-so-detailed bass and not much in the mids to speak of. It's hooked up to a pair of Klipsch Forte IVs that I know are not reaching their full potential with its current amp. I think I haven't really experienced my Forte's mid-range yet, and this Decware amp will deliver that, but I'm curious if the amp is still punchy enough on the low end for rock bands like Zeppelin, The Who, Chicago, Radiohead, The Dead, etc. |
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Title: Re: Thoughts on the SE84UFO vs. the 25th Anniversary Post by CAJames on 09/06/24 at 20:34:52 Quote:
The short answer is yes. The longer answer is I would call the UFO25 bass "honest" rather than "awesome." It will give you all the low end punch that is in the recording and that your speakers and room are capable of reproducing. But not more. I'm not a bass head, but for me, in my smallish room with 6 1/2" single driver speakers, listening to e.g. Kashmir is everything I want n the Led Zeppelin experience. |
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Title: Re: Thoughts on the SE84UFO vs. the 25th Anniversary Post by JOMAN on 09/07/24 at 14:55:27 Quote:
I would agree with that statement and add the following to "honest" - transparent, or honestly transparent. Specifically relating to bass, therefore the entire frequency spectrum but in this case bass. Questions: To what degree is your source capable of revealing bass as it is in the recording??? To what degree are your speakers capable of revealing bass as it is in the recording??? The UFO25 will very honestly/transparently let you hear bass as it is in the recording, as the source resolves it and as the speakers let it through (and the room allows). I've been on an upgrade path in both aspects, actually all three, and the difference between sources and speakers in letting one hear and feel bass is nothing less than mind bending. In many cases I would not have thought that the UFO25 was capable of bass at the levels that I'm now getting. After experiencing what I thought that I always knew, I would add a source of any dollar value to the UFO25. Yes, ANY dollar value. The real question then is: Will this be awesome for you??? (Keep in mind that what initially can be awesome, in time can become tiring and boring if it isn't honest.) |
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Title: Re: Thoughts on the SE84UFO vs. the 25th Anniversary Post by Mr. Toy on 09/13/24 at 22:48:02 Quote:
I appreciate the thoughtful answer, yet its length, to me, indicates that the bass is not ample. You're poetically beating around the bush—which I totally get; this is a tube amp and not a solid-state amp. The low-end is likely not forward and punchy. I guess a more pointed question about bass is: If you play 'On & On' by Erykah Badu or 'High By The Beach' by Lana Del Rey, does it rumble? Those songs sound great on my Forte's, and while I don't listen to a lot of hip-hop, I'm curious how those types of songs play since I'm unable to test the amp in person. Curious to hear your thoughts! |
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Title: Re: Thoughts on the SE84UFO vs. the 25th Anniversary Post by ArtMan on 09/14/24 at 01:58:16 If you want exaggerated bass, I would not get the 25th's. If you want honest bass, i.e. like it sounds in real life, with quickness and articulation, then the 25th is awesome. On my speakers, Caintuck Magnum F15's, a full range 15" speaker, the bass has weight, slam, an excellent leading edge, everything I could ask for except deep, deep bass. The depth of the bass has only been limited by my speakers, not the amp. Even without the deepest bass, I've never felt that the bass was lacking in any way. It is that good. What has really surprised me most about the amp is that it has excellent dynamic range, something one would not typically associate with a low power tube amp. I would suggest you have a listen to the amp before you decide it is inadequate for your speakers. It may surprise you. |
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Title: Re: Thoughts on the SE84UFO vs. the 25th Anniversary Post by CAJames on 09/14/24 at 02:42:00 Quote:
Exactly this. I might even say if you want exaggerated bass don't get any Decware amp, cuz I don't think more watts get you "more" bass, they just get you better performance with less sensitive/more power hungry speakers. |
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Title: Re: Thoughts on the SE84UFO vs. the 25th Anniversary Post by JOMAN on 09/16/24 at 15:20:33 Quote:
I think that you missed the point. Note: Quote:
It's not all about the amp, any good amp. The recording, the source, the speakers and the room play a huge part. We often neglect to take those factors into account. The UFO25 will not compensate for any shortcomings in those factors. |
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