TRL Dude Dilemna


Based on all the high praise for the TRL Dude preamp here and other sites, I took a chance and bought one from a local A-goner to see if it could displace an Air Tight ATC-2 preamp currently in my system. The two amps I currently use are a McIntosh MC-402 and Viva 845 SET Monos. It turns out that the Dude is not compatible with either amps due to an impedance mismatch. So I only got to hear the Dude in a compromised performance mode.
I was not quite wanting to give up on the Dude yet given everyone else's enthusiasm about its performance. I am considering the Samson monos as a natural match. I can convince myself that the Samson's could be better than the MC402..My real issue is that I would have to give up the Vivas. Not sure I can make the leap that a solid state amp will satisfy me as much as those SET Vivas. Then there is the leap of faith that I cannot hear the Samsons with purchasing them....
Has anyone replaced their SET amp with Samsons and remained satisfied with the decision? My speakers are the Green Mountain Audio Continuum 3 which are about 90db efficient with an impedance 6.5 Ohms, +/- 0.75 Ohms 150Hz to 20kHz. Thanks for your input..
tellefsen
Charles1dad you are spot on with your last comment. I will also add we Aphiles also change our minds on what we think is "awesome" sounding as time goes by. This is natural and expected.
I think you guys are missing the larger point here (one that is actually pertinent to the OP and cannot be sidestepped by bland philosopical posturing): SS amplification can and does achieve the "purity" and "thereness" of a SET. Gary/Glory has experienced it (Art Audio>Audionote>Atmasphere>Tenor>ASR). I have. SS (I include tube hybrids) amps now exist which produce little to no mechanical edge, no hi frequency fizz, 3D soundstaging and midrange palpability. There is lots to choose from depending on your budget, including Symphonic, Burmester, ASR, Ypsilon, Tenor, TRL, Neodio, Dhartzeel, Sovereign, just to name a few.

Grannyring, I presume this has been your experience as well....
Hi Agear,
I don`t believe any point is being missed at all. The fact of the matter is ultimately each person will choose what thy think is best(within their means).Glory,you and many others find complete satisfaction with SS amplifiers, perfectly understood.

Some other listeners like me have heard many SS amps but simply realize that certain tube amps just have unique qualities that in our opinion elude SS amps(others would dispute this of course) it really is personal.

I`ve heard the elite class of SS amps for example Dartzeel,Vitus,Solution,MBL,Tidal,Technical Brain etc. If I had to choose a SS amp the Dartzeel would likely be it. Yet none of these ultra SS amps do what my SET amp does at the same level(sense of uncanny presence,realism and tone). But hey that`s just one man`s impression,that`s all. There are many who would select any of those SS amps rather than mine, but again not me. I`d never tell someone my ears are better so my choice is right and yours is wrong, makes no sense.

Agear you could hear my system and perhaps not like it much, understood completely. My only point is a simple fact, we all hear differetly and and react emotionally to what our ear-brain axis processes, Thus class D amp for that guy,Otl,SET, or Class A or AB SS for that guy over there, like I said what ever pleases you most.
Best Regards,
"That "purity" and "thereness" you mention is very hard for most other types(non SET) of amplifiers to achieve, at lease when compared to the better built SETs."

Charles, you make a statement like that and provide directional counsel to Tellefsen, and then revert to sonic relativism. What SS amps have you heard in your own system in recent history? Audio shows are relatively worthless in educating our sensibilities.

I have spent the last three months doing extensive A+B testing of three different amps, including a SET, and have come to my own conclusions which I will share at a later date in a more appropriate setting.

Tellefsen (Norwegian I presume), you obviously have an itch. Let us know where is takes you.