As I mentioned in the body of the review, I was able to hear the Triolons with a variety of front ends, amplifiers and cables and to hear a number of other speakers driven by various combinations of the same equipment. This marathon listening session is more fully detailed at www.audiofederation.com/blog/ which includes pictures of the Triolons and some of the other equipment; consequently, no real point would be served in rehashing the same information. However, I would like to make several observations on the amps used with the Triolons and the effect that the amp used ultimately had on the sound.
Edge Electronics NL Reference "paramid" 800 watt solid state amps: the Reference was tubelike (here I mean classic tube sound). The highs were somewht soft, the bass somewhat less controlled, particularly from the mid bass down, very sweet and three dimensional with good detail and transparency and excellent dynamics. There was a tremendous sense of air and space. Image height was excellent. This was one of only two amps that made the side and back walls disappear. Imaging was never pinpoint but was very natural. This was one of my favorite amps on the Triolons, even though most of the other amps were more neutral. Think big and lush and fun to listen.
Edge Electronics Sinature One (400 watts): more detailed than the NL Reference, tighter bass, more accurate frequency response, more transparent but unable to recreate the sense of air and space that the NL Reference amps created. Lower image height, smaller soundstage, more pinpoint imaging but not as lush as the NL Reference. Very accurate but not as emotionally involving or fun.
Lamm ML1.1 90 watt push pull amps: closest sonically to the Edge NL Reference, but with flatter frequency response, but less power in the bass. The bass is tighter than that of the NL Reference. The ML1.1 has a better sense of depth and imaging than the Edge Signatures and a better sense of air and space but the air and space never equalled that of the NL Reference. This was a very nice amp and the best bargain of the amps used on the Triolons. This amp uses solid state rectification. Never as emotional or lush as the Edge NL. The micro dynamics were exceptional.
Lamm ML2 monos, 18 watts per channel, single ended, tube rectification: these amps are extremely dimensional with an excellent sense of air and space; very good in differentiating drum heads; excellent image height; very delicate and extended top end; very harmonically neutral; really glorious midrange; not quite enough power on big music like The Gladiator, but otherwise glorious; very clean with vanishingly low distortion; very sophisticated and emotional. Clearly and by a fairly significant margin, the best amp on the Triolons of the ones mentioned thus far.
Audio Note Kegon amps, 20 watts, single ended, tube rectification: clearly and by an audible margin the best sound heard on the Triolons during the entire listening session. How can a 20 watt tube amp have better control of the bass of the Triolons and better micro and micro dynamics than the two Edge solid state behemouths? This was the best bass of any of the amps auditioned, effortless. There was not a single area in which the other amps beat the Kegon. A truly synergistic match for the Triolons. I was told by the owner that the magic was in the silver wire transformers.
Further thoughts: I hope to hear the Einstein 60 watt mono OTL's in the spring.
Edge Electronics NL Reference "paramid" 800 watt solid state amps: the Reference was tubelike (here I mean classic tube sound). The highs were somewht soft, the bass somewhat less controlled, particularly from the mid bass down, very sweet and three dimensional with good detail and transparency and excellent dynamics. There was a tremendous sense of air and space. Image height was excellent. This was one of only two amps that made the side and back walls disappear. Imaging was never pinpoint but was very natural. This was one of my favorite amps on the Triolons, even though most of the other amps were more neutral. Think big and lush and fun to listen.
Edge Electronics Sinature One (400 watts): more detailed than the NL Reference, tighter bass, more accurate frequency response, more transparent but unable to recreate the sense of air and space that the NL Reference amps created. Lower image height, smaller soundstage, more pinpoint imaging but not as lush as the NL Reference. Very accurate but not as emotionally involving or fun.
Lamm ML1.1 90 watt push pull amps: closest sonically to the Edge NL Reference, but with flatter frequency response, but less power in the bass. The bass is tighter than that of the NL Reference. The ML1.1 has a better sense of depth and imaging than the Edge Signatures and a better sense of air and space but the air and space never equalled that of the NL Reference. This was a very nice amp and the best bargain of the amps used on the Triolons. This amp uses solid state rectification. Never as emotional or lush as the Edge NL. The micro dynamics were exceptional.
Lamm ML2 monos, 18 watts per channel, single ended, tube rectification: these amps are extremely dimensional with an excellent sense of air and space; very good in differentiating drum heads; excellent image height; very delicate and extended top end; very harmonically neutral; really glorious midrange; not quite enough power on big music like The Gladiator, but otherwise glorious; very clean with vanishingly low distortion; very sophisticated and emotional. Clearly and by a fairly significant margin, the best amp on the Triolons of the ones mentioned thus far.
Audio Note Kegon amps, 20 watts, single ended, tube rectification: clearly and by an audible margin the best sound heard on the Triolons during the entire listening session. How can a 20 watt tube amp have better control of the bass of the Triolons and better micro and micro dynamics than the two Edge solid state behemouths? This was the best bass of any of the amps auditioned, effortless. There was not a single area in which the other amps beat the Kegon. A truly synergistic match for the Triolons. I was told by the owner that the magic was in the silver wire transformers.
Further thoughts: I hope to hear the Einstein 60 watt mono OTL's in the spring.