Clash of the Titans

Dear Albertporter-

I've heard
VTL 750
Wolcott Presence
Jadis JA 500

Listened to the 750 VTLs on Wilson speakers - very spectacular, dynamic sound. I heard them in a shop on the west coast. Levinson front end gear. Very nice system, not my particular taste however. Dealer claimed they are reliable.

I've heard the Wolcotts on Sound Lab M-1s. They made the other (SS) amplifiers the dealer had sound broken. I ordered a pair. The dealer and some others I've spoken to claim the Wolcotts in their present incarnation are very reliable. I sure hope so....what has been your experience?

I've heard this particular Jadis and some others - older versions - on several different speakers including M-1s, big Apogee Ribbons and Audio Physik something. They sound very good indeed. They really sounded fine on the Apogees! My buddy who had a set on his Sound Labs A-3s finally sold the Jadis because they blew up periodically, and at the time, needed lengthy repairs. (He also had several OTL amps over the years; he said their reliability is "getting better but they all blew up.")

He finally gave up and got a set of Boulder amps for his M-1s (he moved up from A3s.) Those sound very good indeed, but are a bit out of my range financially. It's nice to have a friend with a system like that nearby!

BTW I don't mean to gore anyone's particular ox here and I hesistated buying a high-powered tube amp myself so we shall see.

Allow me to chip in with my limited experience.
Jadis: sound can be best desctibed as emminently "musical" for wont of a better word. My experience with smaller models & briefly with 800, is of a very full sound where it's difficult to discern what you do NOT hear, even if listening critically to sound rather than to music. It is indeed difficult to listen to sound only; the music always took the upper hand with me. Reliability: VERY sensitive to the quality of the electricity supplied, so with loder models, small fluctuations could cause large problems ("blow-up"; allegedly, their components are driven to the limit). However, Detlof has such operational problems under control. Surrounding equip with Jadis 800: their own pre (the "big" one), Audio-Physic Medea speakers, Clearaudio ref TT/ Insider. Music was classical 100%, lieder & symphonic. Nordost cabling (spm throughout). Pls note that the Medea has an active servo sub, and 3x Manger drivers on each speaker for mid-high. The amps were driving the Mangers, ofcourse.

Atma-sphere 60W (model??) driving the same speaker. Same set-up; not very good matching s/where. We changed pre to a CAT ultimate, using the CAT phono. Better results, but we never quite matched the whole system -- we were doing s/thing wrong there... Only sonic comment: to me, the CAT/atma combo sounded slightly faster than the Jadis combo.
Reliability from hearsay, I'm afraid: no problem whatsoever from the few atma users I know... they display a "plug & play" psychology.

I have not experienced VTL, Wolcott, and T-Research well enough to comment.

Finally, a Soundlab experience: I was astounded by a smaller model's performance (still full-range panel: 1-2 below yours?) driven by the following unlikely combo: CAT ultimate pre, Symphonic Line Kraft 250 classA monos (ss), S. Yorke "Zarathurstra" TT/Pluto arm/clearaudio Accurate. Nordost valhalla cabling throughout. Music was classical as above, and included mono recordings and some blues. Full-range sound, astounding dynamics from a stat, top & bottom end I had never expected, and the wonderful feeling oof "being there" and not worrying about the sound per se -- just the music. From memory: effortless transients, natural timbres, harmony, and emotion... were all conveyed. (Pls note that while I listened, I wasn't thinking of all this poetic audio-critic mumbo-jumbo.) Magnificent speakers!
For what it's worth, both the CAT pre and the Kraft (particularly the latter) are very dependable...

Cheers!

Albert, I haven't heard them, but I've been told that the Convergent Audio Technology(CAT) JL-1 is a helluva amp. You can use 6550s, EL-34s, or 6L6s in it for your preference. Pentodes wired in triode. Push-Pull. Performs much stronger than the very conservative 100wpc rating. I've read reports of it playing as strong as the Jadis 500, but better. Still not the equal of low powered single-ended triode, but plenty of guts. If you can stand a lower power than that, the Wyetech Topaz using 572s is reported to be a real great one. I don't know if you like 572s or not. Supposed to be better than the VIVA that you had before. BTW, there is a Berning Siegfried 811 ZOTL on the A'gon classified right now. Only $2750. I've always thought that this would be worth a listen. Might not have the extreme power you are looking for, but it is 12 real strong great-sounding single-ended OTL watts. I know you are well aware of the trade-offs involved. Keep us posted on your progress towards amplifier nirvana!

Hi Albert,
I personally think you have to give the Atma-Spheres another shot. They are definately much better than the earlier ones Ralph sent you, besides that they are the most reliable amps I've ever owned. You can listen day after day and know they are going to work and sound great. What more could you ask for in an amp?
Rusty

I got an update on the VTLs, and alledgedly, their "togetherness" is questionable also, whatdayagonnado?