Hello gentlemen,
Have a field report on my experiences with two great SET amplifiers driving the DI's. However, I would want to comment on driving the Ulfbertht speaker with either the BK or Carver amplifiers. I preface this with that in our hobby there is no right or wrong, it's personal taste and how we experience the illusion of how a total system produces music. Because the DI's are true conduits, and I'm sure the Ulifbertht's are too, I can't imagine that I would enjoy either of Eric's speakers being driven by the above mentioned amplifiers. I try never to speak in disrespect or ignorance about any product or someone's opinion. I have reviewed the Carver amplifier and found it at best to be just average in its performance, another OK sounding tube based amp. I have spent hours listening to the BK amplifier and again thought it was OK, but nothing special at all. Yes, it has received rave professional reviews, but compared to other SS amplifiers such as Accuphase or Pass Labs, which I have used to drive the DI's, it sounded to me like scores of "HIFI" sounding SS amps meaning relatively grainless, but somewhat sterile in tonality and color.
On to my field report.
I now have spent hours with both the Triode Lab SET 2A3s-EVO single chassis amplifier and the Canary Audio M-80 SET 300B mono-block amplifiers. Each was driven by the Micro-ZOTL and each amplifier was totally tubed with the finest NOS tubes that based on experience give me the musical flavor I'm seeking in my system. The only tube I had no prior experience with was the 2A3, so after some experimentation with new stock and NOS tubes my favorite turned out to be RCA 40's black plate tubes in the Triode Lab amplifier.
Well, guys which do you like better a Ferrari or a Lamborghini? Both these amplifiers are reference level performers and if I had very deep pockets I would by both of them for my stable of amplifiers. The Canary Audio 300B amps are highly detailed, silky smooth, throw a palatial soundstage, and rock on overall dynamics with the best bottom extension/power, more then the SS amps I mentioned above, that I have heard on the DI's so far. If you love rock and big orchestral types of music, with the finesse of a SET, these mono-blocks would be a dream for you on the DI's. My hunch is that because these amps have very big power supplies and the quality of their in-house designed and hand built transformers is excellent they sound much more powerful then you would expect for a 8 watt amplifier.
The Triode Lab SET 2A3s-EVO, like the Canary Audio is beautifully built with the finest of transformers and internal parts, takes the resolution, speed/dynamics, and 3D imaging of the Micro-ZOTL and adds on amazing "meat on the bones" image density, the most beautiful color/tonality/timbres to all instruments and presents the music in an effortless way that just floats out of the DI's. This amplifier is not dark or overly "romantic", but has a relaxing overall presentation that draws you into the music in an emotional way. It will do "big" music, however it really shines on vocals and acoustic instruments. 95% of my listening is Jazz recorded on analog tape, therefore this amp tickles my musical heart.
Both of these SET amplifiers are truly beautiful music makers. Paired with the Micro-ZOTL each drives the DI's, I should be getting shortly the Ulfbertht's for review/my hunch is that each will drive this speaker with abomb, to a level that any music lover would find enchanting indeed. Which do you like better silk or velvet? They are both wonderful materials, however which you find more pleasing to touch? Well, these amplifiers offer different textures/flavors, easily drive the DI's, so it comes down to personal taste and matching the synergy with your preamplifier and source.
