https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2gqd05geno

I personally went with Cherry on my Sarah 300B, and it looks stunning in person, really warm and classic. I haven't seen one in African Padauk, but I've heard it gives a more vibrant, reddish tone.

I think it’s sad, due to DR’s significant influence, that many will no longer consider full range crossoverless drivers as a possibility. They will never know what they are missing.  Ignorance is bliss, or so they say.

I saw that too, Donnie. Made me laugh. To each their own I guess.

One of my favorite Joshua Redman albums. Two bassists, and two drummers.

Joshua Redman "Compass" Nonesuch cd

Joshua Redman – soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone
Larry Grenadier – bass
Reuben Rogers – bass
Brian Blade – drums
Gregory Hutchinson – drums

Test tone party on a Saturday night !!  could be fun. I remember as a child enjoying watching the off air color band test pattern on TV for hours after everyone else went to sleep. It carried a test tone as well so I'd turn the volume way down. Good times !

Quote:



The title "Are Big Wide-Band Drivers the Answer to Everything?" prompts the question "What drivers are the answer to everything?"  Danny is the answer to everything because he "fixes" every manufactures loudspeakers that were all incompetently designed.

I recently made a short video this summer about Dynamics that gives some counter points to Dans approach:  https://youtu.be/VgHoTVcxPCQ

Steve

Mozart's Magic Flute has nothing to do with Christmas or a Christmas like story, but for some reason the holiday season makes me want to listen to it. Not that anyone needs an excuse to listen to some of the greatest music Mozart, which is to say anyone, ever wrote.



16/44 FLAC rip from CDs

There are a bazillion recordings of  Die Zauberflöte out there but I am partial to Ferenc Fricsay's. As I am to most everything he recorded.

I almost hit the link you posted Donnie, but decided to share my progress instead. 14 crossover parts to make a speaker work, hmm. I remember doing that once many moons ago. Don't remember the exact count but it probably was more then 14. Well the next guy came along and did it with four parts and it sounded better to my ears!

The outlet benches are wired and ready for installation. The four columns of outlets have different circuits. The outer ones with yellow SO cable will serve the capacitor modules and have Zwave control switching. Two, one and one duplex receptical(s) will be switched individually. This results in a much safer and solid connection then previous done with the white lamp extension cords. The inner two will each have its own individual circuit of dirty power from the mains for wall worts, motor driven devices, lamps etc.
The covers over the Zen16 zwave devices are not in place yet. There may be issues with reception of signals coming from the zwave mesh being the modules are enclosed in metal boxes. I took some precautions by drilling holes near the modules and did not install end covers on the metal boxes. The module that was used with the old setup was installed closest to the controller and should work well being it is part of the current mesh. The new module should connect fine being the old one is close. When the covers are installed? Fingers crossed!

The latest addition to the Charoit is a Crown 275 watt power amp. This will complete an old DJ system. Guess I can't totally leave it go! System number 7 will reside in the Charoit as yet another memory from the past. It will join the old mixer with dual CD player,  ESS speakers, and a new Bluetooth receiver. I mentioned in another post about using a chip amp to power the system for an upcoming birthday party. Well that changed as soon as it was found out that there would be over 70 people attending!

Well according to Danny Richie of GR Research, it takes 14 crossover parts to make a Tang Band 8" driver to work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGdXgp9xios

I notice that you have to knock 10dB off of the efficiency so that the driver measures flat.

He also said that Lii drivers are really bad about ringing.

Hmm, I guess that listening to a test tone is how we need to start entertaining ourselves from now on. That sounds like a real entertaining Saturday night to me.

Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto go together like chorizo and eggs.



On CD.

Up to the reader to decide who is chorizo and who is eggs.

Quote:


FWIW there were (at least) two different  kinds of hum I experienced with my (non-Decware) 300B amp. One, I think it was 120 Hz but it has been awhile, was what you could adjust with the pot. The other, I think 60 Hz, was from the tube itself and the pot had no effect. With the noisy tube I could clearly hear one frequency hum respond to the adjusting the pot while the other stayed constant.

Wonderful sounding amp, and looks really cool, no 2-year wait. Selling because I have a Decware Torii
Included with the SE84UFO Amplifier
2) 6P15P
1) CBS 5U4G
1) RCA 280 globe = 5U4G
1) PIN Adapter
1) 6N1P
1) Wood cradle
1) Standard Power Cord

Price is $1500.00 shipping is included in asking price USA only, via Paypal Friend or Paypal plus 3.5%, or Local pick up with demo.
Tubes will be shipped in a separate box, the amp can be shipped to you directly or I can ship to Decware.

TRANSFERRING THE LIFETIME WARRANTY
Per Decware if you want to transfer the life time warrenty, the cost is 10% of the current amp price, plus the cost of a new set of tubes required for testing the amp ($150), plus the cost of any repairs Decware deems required, plus the cost of them shipping it to you.
It maybe less but you would need to talk to them.

That could be a useful YouTube short Steve!

No it is sold

Just a side note:  Best way to (only accurate way) to set the hum balance pots on the Sarah is to connect an AC volt meter to the speaker jacks (keep speakers connected) and adjust for the lowest value, which is determined by the tube.  Most of the time you can adjust as low as 0.114 volts ac.

Why I like music downloads: 16 CDs of Bach Organ music, in excellent performances from the Trinity College Chapel at Cambridge for less than 10 bucks and 0 shelf space.



16/44 FLAC download

Bach was considered "old fashioned" even during his own lifetime, and he was at his most reactionary in his organ music. Also, ironically, his most unconventional.

Hey Morgan, is the Torii still available?

Quote:


I couldn’t resist and went straight to that song on Qobuz… wow.  What a great piece of music..very fluid and engaging.  It was streamed in the work vehicle, so I have to give it a second listen at home.  Great recommendation.   Now switching to an audiobook on Crypto…so I’ll revisit some classical music later on this morning.  

Thank you, I was asking for the particular SE84UFO unit that is on sale here.

I found this today. I thought some of you might like if I shared it:

Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.  - Plato
     

Brian

I don't have much more to offer—I am a UFO listener—but I am interested to know more about your thoughts on the 45 amp. I have been interested in those for a long time and they seem to fly a bit under the radar.

Here's the link to David Denyer's review of Vadym Kholodenko's recordings of Beethoven's Last 3 Piano Sonatas.
https://thereeltoreelrambler.com/2024/05/23/woah-on-being-blown-away-by-beethove...
ns-final-three-piano-sonatas-from-ultraanalogue-recordings/

Enjoy
Ed

Duke Ellington and his Orchestra “The Centennial Edition: Complete RCA Victor Recordings” disc 12 of 24

Just an FYI: I may be out of action until the weekend. . . my laptop charger died this morning and I'm nearly out of juice. I won't have one in until Friday. I'll try to stay sane til then.

Personally I think the two amps are going to sound different, they use different output tubes at the least, are designed differently. I don't think you'll get the same sound with more power, you will get more power (the difference may not be quite as large as you think with the wattage) and you'll get the Decware sound, not the Had sound. You'll probably LOVE it, but it won't be exactly the same.

I’ll probably be stoned after this, here goes. I own way too many amps. My two favorite are my Decware Torii MkV and my Dennis Had Type 45. The 45 has a wider soundstage. Like how is it possible to be that wide. As you said though, the power is the limiting factor. In a small room with efficient speakers it is great. Expand the room or lower the efficiency and you feel jilted.

I would gladly trade my Sarah for another 45 to run a pair in mono. This is an unfair statement though as my Sarah has an inexplicable hum I cannot get rid of. Eventually I’ll send it back to the mothership and hope it comes back and I get what everyone else has with it.

I like being able to go between both the Torii and the Type 45. Each has benefits. The 45 is a dream though. When I put it in my smaller room with the HRv2’s it is amazing.

Never hurts to have both of what you want.

I'm sorry, I didn't see your reply post.
I asked people to email me if interested. If you're interested in future events, please email me. ultraanaloguerecordings@gmail.com
It's just outside of Toronto in Canada.

It was amazing & I will post a video soon of the concert. I think it was likely the best concert yet, such moving music performed with great verve & emotion.
I've been editing the video with the videographer & can say the Triple Concerto is amazing beyond words. 4K cameras & for once, the sun cooperated & we had gorgeous natural lighting.

Ed

The 45 SET is very open and transparent with great top and bottom extension and tight, defined bass. It throws a huge soundstage and has very precise and weighty imaging.  For small scale music/vocals it's the best I've had. It's downfall is power - a little less than 2W.  Also, it only has an 8 Ohm tap, so my 4-6 Ohm XRS may not be completely showing their true colors.  

If the Sarah can do all of what the 45s can do, while being able to turn things up a bit more, I'm really looking forward to hearing it.

As far as tubes go, I had ordered the full set of Cryotone tubes a few months back as I was coming up on page one.  They've just been sitting here.

I've been on page one for quite some time.  Back in early October Sarah had said that she would be sending out invoices final payments for November 2022 deposits "soon."  I still haven't received my invoice, so I'm wondering if there are issues with getting parts right now.

Plugged into a Roland JC120  
Have goofed around again a bit since I lost much of my left side.

On the very short list of my favorite pieces by Dvorak, or anyone, is the piano trio no. 4, aka the Dumky. FWIW/FWI dumky is the plural of dumka which is a Slavic ballad, typically a mediation on, shall we say the frailty of the human condition. Regardless, Dvorak's trio is one of the pinnacles of romantic chamber music.



16/44 FLAC download

My inspiration early this morning.

Duke Ellington and his Orchestra "The Centennial Edition: Complete RCA Victor Recordings" disc 5 of 24



It's time for some Duke. 1930 to 1931 recordings on this disc. Sonically rich and great music.

The SE84UFO does not come with any upgrades unless you order one with them at additional cost.

I am unsure of the cost for voltage conversion, and I think you may not find an answer here--in your shoes I'd contact Sarah@zenamps.com or give the Decware office a call.

I agree with James that most of us had not heard a Decware amp before we ordered one--I have done that numerous times, my first leap of faith paid off so well I repeated and repeated and repeated. . . .

And like James I have never heard a 45 amp, and so can't make a comparison though I have lived with a SEWE300B for over two years now. I have heard two other 300B amps before buying the SEWE300B though, and can say this: in comparison the SEWE300B is less "romantic," but more dynamic and transparent. I don't find a pronounced midrange, but a clear and open one--though a lot can depend on the tube complement in use.

So I can't say much more than "I think you'll not be disappointed." And if you are, you can take advantage of the return policy, or I think you'll find you can sell the amp easily on the second hand market.

FWIW, I think a lot of us ordered our first Decware amp without ever hearing one. I know I did.

Not knowing what a 45 amp sounds like I can only speak in the most general of generalities. The Decware SET sound tends toward the linear, transparent and detailed with liquidity more than warmth. Other SET amps might be relatively warmer and rolled off at the frequency extremes and lose some detail and dynamics in the SET yumminess. Regardless, I'm a big fan of Omega speakers and you should be getting outstand sound. Since it looks like you have plenty of tube amp experience you're familiar with "break in" and understand your amp will sound better after 100+ hours than it does out of the box.

Congratulations and keep us posted on you journey.

Does the SE84UFO come with any upgrades or it's the base model?

Also - does anybody know if it is possible to convert a 120V model to 230V and how much does it cost if done by Decware on warranty transfer?

I'm finally on page one for my Sarah, which I ordered without ever hearing one.  I used to have a pair of Wavelength Cardinal X-1s, so I'm somewhat familiar with the sound of the 300B, but keep reading that the Sarah has all the midrange with the fidelity of the Zen.  

I've never heard the Zen either, but I own a pair of Alan Eaton 45s with National Union Globe 245 tubes.  I'm running them with a custom pair of Omega Super Alnico High Output XRS with integrated deep hemp subs.

What can I expect from the Sarah vs the 45 monoblocks that I'm using now.  I know it will have more power, but sonically what am I gaining/losing?

Revisiting disc 3 of this excellent new reissue of two Bill Evans albums and many alternates/outtakes.

Bill Evans "Haunted Heart" Riverside/Craft 3 cd set, disc 3

A little snow last night. Looks like it may be one of THOSE winters. I'll layer up and put the shovel to use later.

Starting a session with
Wes Montgomery "The Complete Full House Recordings" Riverside/Craft 2 cd set, disc 2

I've always loved these recordings, and this was a welcome re-issue offering alternate material in great sound.

I'm reliving 1978 all over again.
There is an Uncontrollable Urge in me.
Weird music for Weirdos!  

This LP sounded fantastic through my SS rig but it really is impressive through the new analogue system I’m building around the UFO25.  The ZSTYX are slowly settling in and adding to the width, height and depth of the soundstage which is assisted by the quality of the recording, mixing and production of the 45 rpm vinyl.

Near the end of his life Dvorak wrote 4 "Symphonic Poems" based on Czech fairy tales that were the last symphonic music he composed. And they are a bit different than anything else he wrote. They still have plenty of obviously Czech influence, but the overall effect is more, I guess I'd say international. They are very atmospheric, and at times outright spooky. And they should be played and recorded as often as the Slavonic Dances.



16/44 FLAC download.

Pretty much everything Czech related Charles Mackerras touches turns to gold, and this collection with the Czech Philharmonic is no exception.

Thanks - that is what I thought.  I will probably take the plunge with the graphene sluggo once my LNBH arrives.

Alan, I have heard several times that the Infinity fuse provides same performance but has the adjustable amp levels for convenience and flexibility. I prefer the size and case of the SDFB but the dip switches are a really nice feature.  If I was to buy again I would get the Infinity.  I do change gear a bit and have had to get one of my SDFB sent in to reprogram which is a bit of a hassle.

Does anyone have the infinity fuse box?  Trying to figure out if there are any known differences between it and the SDFB other than that the infinity fuse is user programmable.  Thanks!

-- Alan

Tony, Glad to hear that is where mine will go due to space limitations👍👍

OK, got it. In front of the SDFB.

Tony, I was wondering where the AC tuning is located? 2 choices one in front of SDFB or 2 After SDFB.  Thanks