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Clayton Audio Class A amps. Need amp advice

Hi Guys,

I am looking to change my amps and for a few reasons.

First because I just upgraded my DAC from the great PS Audio DirectStream to the incredible Bricasti M1 DSD USB DAC. I love the Bricasti and it has shown that in my system it could offer me more with a more resolving and neutral amp IMO.

I am currently am using the wonderful sounding CJ Premier 12 mono tube amps. I love them and tubes in general but my speakers are the great Ascendo C8 Renaissance and look to present a somewhat benign load being 88 efficient and 6ohm but they are unique and have an internal firing 21 cm Kevlar Bass driver that is great but stubborn and the speakers I think will really shine with a iron fist control of that driver.

I love tubes, always have and always will but I grown tires of a flabby bottom which is exasperated by a unique and somewhat difficult to grip bass driver set up I spoke about above.

I want an amp that can give me as much tube sound as possible but with Grip and bottom end. I know this is a lot to ask for in the used $5k to $7k price range.

I have read and it seem like the Clayton offer exactly what I am looking for but wanted to hear from some of you guys if anyone has ever heard them or know of them or anything. Any info would really be appreciated. Here is the info on my speakers and I will also list the rest of my system in case you think that is helpful. Thanks

C8 Renaissance
Technical Data
Principle
• Three-Way with SASB bass unit (TOS Off)
(current damped outer driver with semi symmetrical band pass)
• Four-Way with SASB bass unit (TOS On)
Dimensions (W/H/D)
• 28 / 80 / 40 (without Base)
• 28 / 108 / 40 (with Base)
Weight
35 kg
Frequency Range
29 Hz (-3 dB) – 32.000 Hz
Power Rating
350 W Program (min)
Impedance
6 Ohm
Sensivity
88 dB / 1W/m
Outer Chassis (COAX)
• 25 mm Neodymium-fabric-tweeter
• 18 cm Woofer with XP cone
Inner Chassis
• 21 cm Chassis, Kevlar cone
TOS Chassis
• Ribbon-tweeter
TOS Function
• switchable (TOS Unit - Dipole AN / AUS)
Sockets
• Single / BiWiring Base
Dimensions (W/H/D)
28 / 18 / 40 cm
Weight
11 kg

Ascendo C-8 Renaissance Speakers (Germany) Speaker
Purist Audio Design Corvus Praesto Revision 2.5m Bi-Wire Speaker cable
Darwin TRUTH Pure Silver Reference 1 Meter RCA Interconnect
Darwin TRUTH Pure Silver Reference 1 Meter RCA Interconnect
Bricasti M1 USB / DSD / Volume Control DAC (New) DA converter
Tellurium Q BLACK DIAMOND Reference USB Cable
Decware ZSTAGE External Triode Output StageTelefunken ECC801S
Audio Research REFERENCE 1 MK II w/Rhodium IEC/NOS Tubes Tube preamp
PS Audio PowerPlant Premier AC Regenerator
Conrad Johnson Premier 12 Mono's 140 Watts Tung-Sol KT120's Tube amp
Salamander Amplifier Stands (2) Synergy System AV Furniture Stand
BMI Shark Jeweler Grade Platinum 9 AWG AC Power Cable
Mad Scientist PC-NEO with Power Purifier 11 AWG Power Cable
Sablon Audio Petite Corona 2.0M 7 AWG AC Power Cable
JPS Labs The Power AC+ 2M 8 AWG AC Power Cable
Synergistic Research Labs Tesla Series SE T1 AC Power Cable
Synergistic Research Labs Tesla Series T1 AC Power Cable
PS Audio Noise Harvester (5) Converts noise to light
OYAIDE RI Beryllium Power Outlets (2)
Blue Circle Audio The Yalu Balula Industrial Surge/Spike Protection
JPLAY v5.2 hi-end audio player turns PC into a digital transport.
Fidelizer Pro Version 6.1
JRiver Media Center 19 Music Software
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jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
I am not familiar with your speakers, but maybe that is part of the problem. Just looking though a review in Stereo Times, the reviewer seemed to really love the speakers except for this:
"If there was one caveat, one single area I felt the C8 Renaissance needed improvement, it would be in respect to low bass slam."

That said, I too love tube amps, and I have owned a pair of Clayton Audio M100 monoblocks. While Wilson Shen knows how to make some very good solid state amps, they are definitely not as palpable as tube amps, IMHO.
The M-100's were very full bodied and had great bass control, so they will probably work better with those speakers than your CJ monoblocks.

However, if it were me, I'd be looking for some speakers that worked with my tube amps, and not looking for SS amps to mate with my speakers.

Cheers,
John
zd542
5,339 posts
 
You're Premier 12's are very "classic" sounding tube amps. They're a textbook example of a traditional, laid back sounding, warm type of amp. You don't, necessarily have to get rid of tubes altogether, you may be happy with a more modern sounding tube amp. You would probably like one of the more powerful offerings from ARC, Quicksilver or Rogue. Or possible even a newer amp from CJ. The newer CJ amps sound much more modern than your 12's.
tfl303's avatar
tfl303
74 posts
 
I own the Clayton
M300 they are the real deal
I've owned many tube amps
Clayton gives you slam speed pace and musicality
Built like a tank don't under estimate Clayton
Audio. Match with a good preamp ie audio research 5SE
YOU WILL BE IN HEAVEN
fsmithjack's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
fsmithjack OP
605 posts
 
Jmcgrogan2

Thanks for the response and in that review and all the others they totally gush over these speakers and say the bass is amazing in these speakers. They actually get a lot of accolades for their deep, controlled, tuneful and musical bass but your right they don't have that true high end Wilson, Magico, Focal bass slam but heck 95% of the speakers out there under $12,000 don't have that. I thought about the speakers but before these I was on the Merry go round and had Kharma CRM 3.2FE, Wilson Sohpia 2, Wilson Watt/Puppy 6, Revel Studio, Martinlogan Vantage then Spire, Sonus Faber Cremora Auditor, Merin TSM-MMI not in that order but to name a few and in all honesty none were even close to these speakers. These are the best speakers I have ever owned and by far its not even close in my system IMO. They really are great and they resolve and image with a sophistication that was a total game changer for me. Its just after I got the Bricasti the sound improved so much I could then sense / feel there was more there and that stubborn for tubes critical Kevlar driver needs more grip I can feel it and I think then the rest will fill out even more and blossom but at what cost? That is why I am reaching out to my Agon comrades. I am trading my amps as part of the deal and really would love and get as much feedback before I take the big plunge. I have a friend that keeps pushing and telling me to do what ever I can to try and get my hands on the Ayre AX-5 Integrated. I never even thought of that and still have my sights set on the Clayoton audio M300 monos but what do you guys think? Is that Ayre integrated that good? Its tough if I give my beloved tubes which I am willing to do I hope to get overall better sound...
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
Well if you love the speakers that much, then obviously, stick with them. I would probably look to try ZD542's advice, and look for a more modern tube amp. CJ Premier 12's do have that classic tube sound, sweet, syrupy, but can be a bit sluggish. My VAC tube amp is as tight in the bass as any SS I've owned. More modern tube gear has better control and definition down there than the older designs.

I'm sure the M300's would sound great though, but I would think that 300 wpc would be overkill for those speakers, but hey, if you got the dough, why not? I would go that route and stick with a tube preamp before giving up tubes altogether and going with an Ayre integrated amp.
As always, YMMV.
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