PX25 SET amps-Art Audio, Audion, Wavelength???

Gord's Saturns are $6,000, so all three amps are comparable in price. The only other PX25 I've heard of is the Tron, made in the UK - I don't know if it's available over here.

I obviously have an Audion bias, but I'd think long and hard about the Art Audio. Joe Fratus was the first to build a commercial amp around the modern KR PX25 tube, and he is one seriously good amp designer. Gord Rankin swears by the new TJ tube, but in my amp they are notably inferior to the KRs - I don't know if they have different operating points though. I haven't seen many comments on the Saturns.

Joe and Gord are both on this continent and are very approachable, why not give them each a call and let them talk about their babies? While you're at it, call Randy Bankert at OSS Audio - the NA distributor for Audion.

Based on other Art Audio amps I've heard, the two Audion PX25's I've had in my system, and my Wavelength amps - I'd bet hard cash on all of the three amps being very good.

Factor in dealer support as well. If you can find a local dealer for any of the lines it will really help. If not, buying from a manufacturer on this continent is a hedge against disaster. I had shipping damage in my Audion, and without a competent local dealer I'd have been in trouble.

Be very careful, not all well reviewed amplifiers, no matter at what price are necessarily that good. A lot of the members of the hifi listening public and reviewers alike are sold mainly on the hifi nature of the sound, not its musicality. Musicality seems to be a more after thought when pieces of equipment are described. Indeed I think the idea of musicality is a word that many believe they understand but donot in my opinion fully appreciate.

In which case I believe your choice is very limited. There are only two or three companies whose name comes under the banner of sounding musical time after time and I own them.Jadis and audio note.

It is a joy to not have to analyse the system and just be absorbed and overwhelmed by what the musicaians are trying to do. Indeed if this bit of the hi fi process is done correctly then the rest of the hi fi bits not suprisingly will also be right too.

I think any one of the 3 you mentioned would be among the best with each designer putting his voicing signature on it. I personally like Art Audio, the product, and the man, Joe Fratus.

Thanks all for your comments. I know of one Audiogon member that had terrible luck with an Audion product and worse luck trying to get the distributor and manufacturer to resolve it (but I guess every company has one skeletan in the closet) so I'm a bit leary but on the other hand Gliderguider does speak hightly of his Ottawa dealer. Tron is almost non-existent here so reselling would be difficult. Which leaves Art Audio and Wavelength. Given the stellar reputation of Gords designs I'm surprised that there aren't and reviews of his PX25 amps . . .

Paul - by the way, I did speak with Gord at Wavelength the other day and he suggested that for our FAB Model 1 speakers that his Cardinal X2 amp would be better for it than his Triton Blue amp (but he didn't elaborate as to why). Just something I thought you'd find interesting . . .

Anyone else have PX25 experience or recommendations?

Thanks, Kevin

I've listened to the Art Audio and Audion PX25 amps in my home. Where are you located? If you are buying in the US, Audion's US distributor here in Los Angeles has an excellent local technician and he stands solidly behind everything he sells. You should not worry about Audion reliability. I have 6 Audion products in my various systems and have had no problems with them.

Of the two amps, the Art Audio is the more romantic sounding. It is warm and euphonic, certainly very good. The Audion is the more accurate however. It is fast and defined, highly resolving, especially the hand-wired Mark II version. I've heard it with KR PX25 tubes and it was sensational if you prefer an objective presentation of fidelity. The bass from this amp is about the tightest I've heard from a triode tube amp and in fact it didn't sound triodey at all -- very much better on the bottom than any 300B. The PX25 is a slightly lean sounding tube, not lush like the 300B on top. But mids are breathtakingly clear, an Audion strength. I'd go with the Audion.

Phil