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Valvet E1R Mono Amps

Just picked up a pair of these this morning from jimndre. Great transaction and he is a true gentlemen! Very easy to work with. It took a while to get everything set up but I've been listening to them now for about 2 hours. They haven't been played in a while so I suspect it will take a couple days before they fully open up. First impressions frankly have me floored. They are so smooth & uncolored, or in reviewer speak... organic. When I say smooth I'm not saying the top end is rolled off either, its not. So far they sound "right". For those not familiar with this product, these are single ended 10 watt solid state mono amps. They are also little space heaters :-), although I doubt they run much hotter than the tube amps I've run in the system prior to this. I'm not going to compare the sound of the prior tube amps to these yet, but will after I get more familiar with them. BTW they are driving Lowther speakers. The pre & phono amps are tube powered.   
boxer12
boxer12 OP
1,703 posts
 
Thanks Paullb. I can touch these without pain :-), but they do run hot.  
skiroe's avatar
skiroe
86 posts
 
Sounds like you got a good deal on these esp being mono's makes it that much better.    The prices on their amps have continued to rise it would appear and not sure they carry these anymore ..   re/your phono stage---  SF built quality  equipment.   Im on my 2nd  Line 1 preamp and sent it in to Parts Connection  for an upgrade awhile back..  Nothing too expensive..  The upgrade to the volume control chips .    At one point years ago I was reading everything I could find on Melos and there was someone that was part of the company I think that was doing service and/or upgrade on them to further enhance their sound reproducing.    I have gotten a bit too dependent on remote controlled pre's these days so probably won't venture into that realm but can appreciate the simplicity of a remote free setup. 
boxer12 OP
1,703 posts
 
Valvet replaced this model (mono blocks) with a one piece stereo amp. I am really digging these amps. I second SF's build quility. The Phono amp has to be one of the most reliable pieces of high end gear I've had to date. I've owned it for years & it operates flawlessly. Melos is also very good sounding equipment. There is absolutely zero support for that gear anymore however. To my knowledge the schematics never made it out of the failed factory either. Bummer. 
skiroe's avatar
skiroe
86 posts
 
Im finding  that apparently a  Mark Porzilli  was the most recent person to offer services on Melos.  It would seem from what I have read that he was  original designer  for Melos .    There is a site called  The Memory Player 64  which he was involved in as his name is mentioned but no contact info ... 
boxer12 OP
1,703 posts
 
Thanks skiroe!
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