Web Page : https://www.decware.com/newsite/minitoriise.htm


Safe to say with the popularity of our 2009 released Mini Torii, very few have actually heard how good it can get... but that all changed this fall when we did our final re-design of the amplifier's chassis.  





We changed from an aluminum plate to a steel plate adding 150% more mass to the mini torii.  Then we put a black 1930's typewriter finish on it that frankly made the entire amp look twice as expensive.  
The four coupling caps were upgraded to a level even higher than we could achieve with VCAPs in this amplifier. Cryo treated beeswax and foil with silver leads by Jupiter are now being used.

And the last but perhaps most outrageous is the two switches that turned on or off the OC2 regulator tubes were eliminated in favor of a 10 position pot that allows you to reduce the feedback from it's factory setting of 6dB all the way down to nothing unleashing the raw speed and attack this amp is capable of. Just one click on the dial brings a huge amount of midrange presence and additional detail and openness. Two clicks is even more - probably too much for some. However, there are occasions where even less is desirable - like on certain speakers, or when the amp is used to drive the center channel in movies where more articulation is desirable.

This is the Mini Torii at it's fully realized potential, both visually and sonically.  

For those with white mini torii's, the adj feedback mod is $100 and the Cryo treated Jupitor Caps are $300 which will bring your amp up to spec with the current production version II.

Great Steve! Now just don't change the Torii Mk III.

Sure looks like a winner.

Looks (twice as) lovely as usual....

The Mini Tor(II) is aptly named.

Gee...I just got mine. I guess the honeymoon had to end sometime.

Hi Steve,

Im currently on the waiting list for a Mini Torii (invoice 3430).  My order was placed before this newer model came out.  Will I be getting the older version of the Mini Torii or the newer sexier and improved version ??

Regards
Carlos

Carlos,

The quickest way to get in touch would be via phone.  Sarah is extremely helpful.

JD

Hey Les:

Mine is a 2010 model with 6X4 (EZ90) rectifiers. I have 7 to 9 pin converters so I could use the EZ80 6CA4 rectifier if I wanted to. I might send mine in for the updates that Steve rolled out. I'll never run the amp with the 0C2 tubes off, thus don't mind giving up those on/off switches.

You should keep yours around for a while before you contemplate doing this.

RR,

I never run mine with the regulators off either and I see no need to change anything at this time. I almost used Jupiter caps in my amp but went with Jensen. Both are very good...not that the stock caps were bad.

Les

I would be very surprised if the adjustable feedback impaired the sonic quality in any way other than offering a way to tailor the sound. "Crowding the signal path". . . I'm not sure it necessarily would and beyond that I've discovered that at the hands of the best designers departure from the purest of signal paths can have sonic benefits. And Steve is one of those designers. I agree that it may not make sense to send the amp back for modifications, but it's likely a great change to the model for new buyers.

Similarly, in the hands of Steve triode and pentode and even single-ended and push-pull are not intrinsically one better than another, a lot of the old thinking about these things don't apply with his designs. For example my push-pull Toriis sound so similar to the single-ended Zena amps I've had that it's a non-issue, and when I could switch between triode and pentode in my original Zen amp I preferred one over the other for weight and pace reasons more than the differences in the two modes.

Amen, Brother Jim.

Lord knows I would never want to prove you wrong, that's not how I ever operate, and I'm of a different sort as far as logic and facts go, I can't ever know the absolute everything and often don't draw conclusions with definitiveness from what I do know. That leaves a lot of gray and I'm okay with that.

Anyway, I wouldn't say "I wouldn't use the negative feedback selection option" because I probably would, I prefer designs that I've heard without feedback to be honest, so this would be a plus for me. I like having options, and this seems like a good one and would be a selling point for me.

And again, I have owned seven different Decware amps and they have been both push pull and single-ended and one allowed me to choose between triode and pentode operation. I've made a conclusion about Steve's skill at maintaining a homogeneity of excellent sonics across several different circuit design based on my experience with seven amps. (And other tube amps I've owned). You can dismiss it, but I think it's more facts and experience about Decware amps first hand than you have accumulated.  I think that there's truth to the fact that some of the amps have a bit of 'magic' others may not, but there are many reasons for that, from circuit design and layout to tube types and power supplies and it's not just 'purity of a signal path' etc. I don't see these improvements to the Mini Torii as taking away any of its magic, and I don't believe Steve would alter the model if it did.

My experience tells me that I don't think that adding the negative feedback selection will mar the dynamic ability of the amp in any way. I would not be surprised if Steve verifies that. I don't see the donwside--in fact this is likely to offer more benefits with no downside.

So I'm not attempting to prove you wrong, was offering my facts based on experience and not contesting with you. And I have no dog in the hunt of whether you decide to upgrade the amp or not. I have chosen not to upgrade in the past, and I've been a bit disappointed that Steve upgraded an amp after I bought mine but in the end I'm always offered a chance to "catch up" and it's my choice.

I find this new Mini Torii design more attractive for my needs than the first. I could consider one of these and a pair of the DNA Horns for a nice second system one day. Intriguing improvements to a proven amp. Way to go Steve.

Okay. . . .

I didn't know we were arguing.  Are we?  :o

You're right about your 'wait and see' attitude, Donnie.  But one has to consider pros and cons before deciding upon a mod, to avoid trial and error.  

Let's see what information we get eventually from the new amp's manual.  

Come on down Donnie and we'll misbehave together!

I was trying to say the same thing, I take Steve at his word. And I didn't think we were arguing.

I own a Mini Torii II so my impressions of it may be helpful. I've found the adjustable feedback extremely useful, especially for music with high gain guitar. Reducing the feedback just slightly really brings it out and makes it sound "right" for lack of a better term. As a guitarists I really appreciate this. I've also noticed that it helps some vocals and can breath life into weak productions.

I listen to a wide variety of music and generally I'll use the default feedback setting, however for about a third of my collection I'm finding the adjustable feedback a must. It could be useful for different speakers and rooms as well, though I haven't experimented with that yet. I'm not really sure about the concerns some have mentioned about it. Mini Toriis have always had feedback built in, the ability to adjust it is nothing but a plus to me, and makes an already wonderful amp way more versatile.

As for the Jupiter caps I can't really comment as I have nothing to compare them too. Though I'm thrilled that mine has them. The new wrinkle finish is very nice too.

I owned the MINI TORII serial number three, the one that they based the ongoing production models on. The MINI TORII is special indeed. Particularly impressive is the stereo separation, which is the first thing I noticed with mine. Then it was startling to turn off the OC2 tubes and listen to the sound without them. I would turn them right back on again. It is not surprising that the Version II leaves the OC2's on all the time. Jupiter caps and adjustable feedback I am certain make a great amp even better.  Also EZ81 rectification eliminated problems with the delicate but wonderful sounding 6X4.

Thanks Lon!

BW,

Thanks so much for the thorough reply. I see your points and you're probably right.  There must be instances where a device like that may come in useful, especially given the huge variation in the quality of recordings.

I personally would be more interested in the caps upgrade, but I can see now the usefulness of being able to further tweak the recording playback more to your liking.

The Mini Torii is a great little amp, and so far I don't miss any dynamics in my system. My main objective, therefore, is to get the best sound out of it, and so the idea of trading that for more dynamic potential just didn't ring a bell.

Once you have yours fully broken-in, you'll really appreciate its real potential.  I'm sure those caps will be quite helpful getting there.

Enjoy it!