Greetings,

I've actually been lurking here, on and off, for a couple of years.  I've been running an Audio Space Ref 3.1 300B, with Zu Soul Superflys.  The A-S is a fine amplifier, but incredibly big and heavy, as well as being not especially cost-effective to re-tube.  Getting the sound that I wanted from the A-S involved trying several 6SN7 variants and taking a leap of faith on a quad of 300Bs.  I really wanted something that I could roll without spending megabucks on tubes.  And I wanted something that would match nicely with my Zu's.  Plus, having had the great pleasure of dealing with the folks at Zu, I thought it might be cool to have an amplifier built a little closer to home, by people I might contact with questions and so forth.  So, for financial, aesthetic and philosophical reasons, I set about looking for something new.

Fast forward to last Tuesday, when I received notice that my Torii had been shipped from Decware.  Yay!  I couldn't be at home to sign for it, so I had it held at the UPS Customer Center just down the road in Alexandria, VA.  I drove over on Friday night, bringing my wife along for moral support, and to call the paramedics if I herniated myself getting it in the car.  As I was eyeing the various wobbly wheeled hand trucks and carts in the Customer Center, wondering which would be best to get the box to the car (and really worrying about getting it from the car to the music room at home) the UPS agent strolled out from the back room pulling a wheeled Pelican case, addressed to me.  Oh yes! Brilliant!  Thank you Decware.

I got it up running without incident.  Having verified that all was well, and being an inveterate tube roller, I decided to go with some new and NOS tubes that I have on hand for the break-in period.  Always a quandry, what to start off with, as I don't typically make any changes during the first 100 hours or so (barring bad tubes or plain awful sound).  Tesla 6922s, Phillips 5R4GYS rectifiers, and (this part is a little embarrassing after my rant about expensive tubes) a quad of the new Psvane TII 6CA7s, purchased in anticipation of receiving my Torii.

Thus far the sound, from TT, DAC and CDP, is very impressive.  Particularly nice is low volume (a regrettable necessity on occasion), and no-sound sound (i.e. "blackness").  At the moment, it does not offer the same airiness as the A-S, but then there are knobs yet to be twiddled, as well as the fact that it has not had the opportunity to really bloom.  I'm expecting changes over the next 100 hours or so, and can honestly report improvement over the last 10 hours.

That's it for now.  I'll keep you apprised of developments.  Thanks to the folks on the forum for sharing your experiences-- they helped me make the choice that I did!

-Chris

Chris! Welcome! Congrats on receiving your new Torii. You CAN expect improvement over the next 100 hours. And the following 100 hours. I've had mine for years now and I think it is STILL improving. And  you will find the right tube, cables, etc. to make it sound great over time.

I think you made a brave and right choice and keep us posted!