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SE84UFO25 and SE84UFO3 with 25th Anniversary Mods (Read 3473 times)
DowdyPrime
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SE84UFO25 and SE84UFO3 with 25th Anniversary Mods
01/12/22 at 21:08:59
 
Please excuse a noob post.

I've tried to collect relevant information from various threads, but I thought it might be useful to have an explicit thread. [Especially as I'm considering this decision at the moment  :) ].

How would you characterize the sonic differences between a SE84UFO25 and a pair of SE84UFO3 with 25th Anniversary Mods? I'm sure not many people have had the chance to hear both! But if you have (lucky dog), any insight would be appreciated.

Many thanks.
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Lon
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Re: SE84UFO25 and SE84UFO3 with 25th Anniversary Mods
Reply #1 - 01/12/22 at 21:24:40
 
Somewhere on the forum Steve mentioned the difference as being "masculine" and "feminine" in character between the two. He said that they were very close and that the Monoblocks with the mods were "a bit masculine" in nature and the 25th UFO was a bit "feminine" in comparison. In terms of pure power the Monoblocks, due to their design, have a bit more than the single chassis amplifier. Perhaps that is at the core of his description.

I have had the Monoblocks with the mods for a few years and I do think of them as "masculine." With the preamp and ZROCK2 and high volt input from the ZBIT they seem powerful, though also refined and delicate when needed. I'd say they are "a sensitive male" in nature.

Unfortunately I have never heard the 25th Anniversary UFO amp.
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HR-1,ZTPRE,ZBIT,ZROCK2,SEWE300B,CSP3-25mod,Taboo MkIV;Rega RP3 all GrooveTracer mods;PSAudio:PST+DSD,P15,NPC,PowerBases,AC-12 pwr cbls,Reference spkrcbls;Mapleshade SamsonV3;VooDoo:Cremona+Amati interconnects, IsoPods; headphones:Sennheiser HD800S,ZMF Ori,Oppo PM1
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Archie
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Re: SE84UFO25 and SE84UFO3 with 25th Anniversary Mods
Reply #2 - 01/13/22 at 00:30:46
 
Wow, masculine and feminine sounding amps.  That conveys nothing useful to me.  The descriptive language sometimes gets ridiculous IMO.
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ZLC
Technics 1200G TT w/ Ortofon Jubilee MC cart
ZMC1
ZP3 (25th A Mods)
ZR2 (25th A Mods)
CSP3 (25th A mods)
ZMA (25th A mods)
Homemade Big Betsy Speakers (F15s)
Silver Cabling
DIY Isolation platforms under amps & TT.
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Lon
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"Love without
guts is
worthless!"
Philip K. Dick

Posts: 23312
Re: SE84UFO25 and SE84UFO3 with 25th Anniversary Mods
Reply #3 - 01/13/22 at 00:41:59
 
I get it myself. One a bit more powerful, forceful, the other a bit more refined and ethereal.  The former fits my Monoblocks in use often, so I could relate to his description that way.
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HR-1,ZTPRE,ZBIT,ZROCK2,SEWE300B,CSP3-25mod,Taboo MkIV;Rega RP3 all GrooveTracer mods;PSAudio:PST+DSD,P15,NPC,PowerBases,AC-12 pwr cbls,Reference spkrcbls;Mapleshade SamsonV3;VooDoo:Cremona+Amati interconnects, IsoPods; headphones:Sennheiser HD800S,ZMF Ori,Oppo PM1
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Archie
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Posts: 2731
Re: SE84UFO25 and SE84UFO3 with 25th Anniversary Mods
Reply #4 - 01/13/22 at 00:54:29
 
I want a non-binary amp.
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ZLC
Technics 1200G TT w/ Ortofon Jubilee MC cart
ZMC1
ZP3 (25th A Mods)
ZR2 (25th A Mods)
CSP3 (25th A mods)
ZMA (25th A mods)
Homemade Big Betsy Speakers (F15s)
Silver Cabling
DIY Isolation platforms under amps & TT.
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Lon
Seasoned Member
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"Love without
guts is
worthless!"
Philip K. Dick

Posts: 23312
Re: SE84UFO25 and SE84UFO3 with 25th Anniversary Mods
Reply #5 - 01/13/22 at 02:11:55
 
Good for you. Maybe you have one.
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HR-1,ZTPRE,ZBIT,ZROCK2,SEWE300B,CSP3-25mod,Taboo MkIV;Rega RP3 all GrooveTracer mods;PSAudio:PST+DSD,P15,NPC,PowerBases,AC-12 pwr cbls,Reference spkrcbls;Mapleshade SamsonV3;VooDoo:Cremona+Amati interconnects, IsoPods; headphones:Sennheiser HD800S,ZMF Ori,Oppo PM1
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Archie
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Re: SE84UFO25 and SE84UFO3 with 25th Anniversary Mods
Reply #6 - 01/13/22 at 02:28:18
 
Good for you, maybe you are one?
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ZLC
Technics 1200G TT w/ Ortofon Jubilee MC cart
ZMC1
ZP3 (25th A Mods)
ZR2 (25th A Mods)
CSP3 (25th A mods)
ZMA (25th A mods)
Homemade Big Betsy Speakers (F15s)
Silver Cabling
DIY Isolation platforms under amps & TT.
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DowdyPrime
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Posts: 20
Re: SE84UFO25 and SE84UFO3 with 25th Anniversary Mods
Reply #7 - 01/13/22 at 02:28:53
 
Wow, Lon, I can't believe I've (lurkingly) read so many (informative) posts by you and never clocked that you haven't listened to the 84UFO25!

Yes, I recall now the masculine/feminine metaphor. Stereotype aside, I get what it is trying to say and I'm glad you agree with the description, as a kind of validity check.

I imagine the sticking point is what the distance between the two sonic presentation really is, and what it might amount to in 'drier' language (i.e., faster bass? recessed mids?). My sense from what I've lurkingly learned is that the difference might even be too small to characterize like that, but that's why I figured I'd ask ... thank you.
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For now: Technics 1200MK2, Jolida 9A preamp, Pi2AES streamer, Bifrost Gen 1 DAC, Chord Mojo Gen 1, Reisong A10, Peachtree Decco65, Zu Audio Dirty Weekend Omens, Monitor Audio Silver 6s. Monoprice/Morrow cables.
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Lon
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"Love without
guts is
worthless!"
Philip K. Dick

Posts: 23312
Re: SE84UFO25 and SE84UFO3 with 25th Anniversary Mods
Reply #8 - 01/13/22 at 03:05:57
 
I've had the Anniversary Mods in the Monoblocks, a CSP3, a CSP2+ and a Taboo Mk IV. . . but haven't heard the SE84UFO25. Still I think I imagine the differences aren't that great between the Monoblocks and the 25. My guess from what Steve wrote is that the primary difference is the little bit of power, the Monoblocks have a bit more. Which is why I chose them--I guessed correctly that they would work with my HR-1s in my rooms.

I don't think you can go wrong but if you think a bit more power is a good thing, the Monoblocks offer that. With the voltage regulation of input and output tubes--a major plus in my opinion of these amps--there's a lot of tailoring of the sound you can indulge in, they're amps that just won't bore you.
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HR-1,ZTPRE,ZBIT,ZROCK2,SEWE300B,CSP3-25mod,Taboo MkIV;Rega RP3 all GrooveTracer mods;PSAudio:PST+DSD,P15,NPC,PowerBases,AC-12 pwr cbls,Reference spkrcbls;Mapleshade SamsonV3;VooDoo:Cremona+Amati interconnects, IsoPods; headphones:Sennheiser HD800S,ZMF Ori,Oppo PM1
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Lon
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"Love without
guts is
worthless!"
Philip K. Dick

Posts: 23312
Re: SE84UFO25 and SE84UFO3 with 25th Anniversary Mods
Reply #9 - 01/13/22 at 03:11:17
 
Archie, I meant to write "You may have one. . . "

Damn autocorrect.
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HR-1,ZTPRE,ZBIT,ZROCK2,SEWE300B,CSP3-25mod,Taboo MkIV;Rega RP3 all GrooveTracer mods;PSAudio:PST+DSD,P15,NPC,PowerBases,AC-12 pwr cbls,Reference spkrcbls;Mapleshade SamsonV3;VooDoo:Cremona+Amati interconnects, IsoPods; headphones:Sennheiser HD800S,ZMF Ori,Oppo PM1
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Archie
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Posts: 2731
Re: SE84UFO25 and SE84UFO3 with 25th Anniversary Mods
Reply #10 - 01/13/22 at 07:01:26
 
Apologies, I took it as a dig.
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ZLC
Technics 1200G TT w/ Ortofon Jubilee MC cart
ZMC1
ZP3 (25th A Mods)
ZR2 (25th A Mods)
CSP3 (25th A mods)
ZMA (25th A mods)
Homemade Big Betsy Speakers (F15s)
Silver Cabling
DIY Isolation platforms under amps & TT.
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busterfree
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Posts: 430
Re: SE84UFO25 and SE84UFO3 with 25th Anniversary Mods
Reply #11 - 01/13/22 at 07:58:50
 
I have both amps. Unfortunately, I cannot really comment on differences in sound because I am down to one system, and it is not easy for me to insert the mono blocks in my current configuration. Also, I am burning in a new amp at the moment.

I would say both amps are great. I think you should focus on the feature differences to decide what is best for you.

SE84UFO25 - meters, input closest to input tube, one chassis, can change input regulation tube

SE84UFO3 - slightly more power, two chassis (bigger power supply, better separation, shorter speaker cable, needs extra power cable, maybe longer interconnects depending on how you set things up?), black top plate instead of green
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Lon
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"Love without
guts is
worthless!"
Philip K. Dick

Posts: 23312
Re: SE84UFO25 and SE84UFO3 with 25th Anniversary Mods
Reply #12 - 01/13/22 at 14:16:20
 
J, nice to see a post from you. Hope all is well.
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HR-1,ZTPRE,ZBIT,ZROCK2,SEWE300B,CSP3-25mod,Taboo MkIV;Rega RP3 all GrooveTracer mods;PSAudio:PST+DSD,P15,NPC,PowerBases,AC-12 pwr cbls,Reference spkrcbls;Mapleshade SamsonV3;VooDoo:Cremona+Amati interconnects, IsoPods; headphones:Sennheiser HD800S,ZMF Ori,Oppo PM1
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DowdyPrime
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Re: SE84UFO25 and SE84UFO3 with 25th Anniversary Mods
Reply #13 - 01/13/22 at 21:56:05
 
Thanks, Busterfree, that is a useful rundown of the features. I suppose the tube complement w/ case, glass resistors option, and overall fewer tubes to take care of could be added to the SE84UFO25 list (although I suppose the first two could be special ordered).
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Waitlist Member!
For now: Technics 1200MK2, Jolida 9A preamp, Pi2AES streamer, Bifrost Gen 1 DAC, Chord Mojo Gen 1, Reisong A10, Peachtree Decco65, Zu Audio Dirty Weekend Omens, Monitor Audio Silver 6s. Monoprice/Morrow cables.
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Lon
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"Love without
guts is
worthless!"
Philip K. Dick

Posts: 23312
Re: SE84UFO25 and SE84UFO3 with 25th Anniversary Mods
Reply #14 - 01/13/22 at 21:59:00
 
I want to point out that the input tube regulation CAN be changed on the Monoblocks. . . just not as easily (you have to remove the amp from the chassis and address it from the underside).
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HR-1,ZTPRE,ZBIT,ZROCK2,SEWE300B,CSP3-25mod,Taboo MkIV;Rega RP3 all GrooveTracer mods;PSAudio:PST+DSD,P15,NPC,PowerBases,AC-12 pwr cbls,Reference spkrcbls;Mapleshade SamsonV3;VooDoo:Cremona+Amati interconnects, IsoPods; headphones:Sennheiser HD800S,ZMF Ori,Oppo PM1
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