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SET Asylum: REVIEW: Song Audio Ltd SA-34SB Integrated Amplifier (Tube) by rrebel123@hotmail.com Single Ended Triodes (SETs), the ultimate tube lovers dream. |
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Model: SA-34SB Category: Integrated Amplifier (Tube) Suggested Retail Price: $1900.00 Description: EL-34 SET 0NFB 4 watt Manufacturer URL: Song Audio Ltd Model Picture: View
Review by rrebel123@hotmail.com ( A ) on November 20, 2003 at 13:20:44
IP Address: 24.112.154.105Add Your Review
for the SA-34SB
I will never buy another audio amplifier. I decided that when I heard a demo of the Song Audio SA-34 SB integrated amplifier and Loth-X Amaze speakers in my home.To sum it up: it's magic. The sound is unreal. It made the hair on my neck stand up. I have never heard sound so clear, so musical, or so beautiful. Every detail, breath, echo buried in any recording is brought out.
The players in the recording literally step into the room. Each instrument is still clearly discernable from the other. The bass is tightly controlled; each note is clearly reproduced replacing the usual rumbling mess.
Any background noise in a recording is reproduced exactly, as though it had been recorded on its own track. This is not a fault of the system; it merely reproduces everything in the recording, including the noise. This is the same for cables and speakers, only the most pure and simple components can be used as every flaw is reproduced.
A pair of ultra expensive interconnects muddy the sound, whereas, simple, inexpensive Kimber Kables Silverstreak Interconnect sound much better at 1/5 the cost.
The one driver, no-crossover design of Loth-X Amaze speakers and inexpensive van den Hul speaker cables compliment this idea of simplicity.
The system is easily able to handle everything from piercing electric guitar solos to the most delicate piano solos. This is true at any volume level. Even with the volume at 100%; the amp will not clip. The amp uses a single EL34 to drive each channel to 4 watts per channel. 4 watts and zero feedback!
Product Weakness: Needs 50-75 hours to sound warmest, fine out-of-the-box though; makes good, expensive cables sound terrible; will provoke impulse purchase; nothing else wrong Product Strengths: No distortion even at 100%, live sound, so real, warm, emotional, no high/low tube issues, tight bass, all music sounds great metal, electronic, acoustic, classical
Associated Equipment for this Review: Amplifier: SA-34SB Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): None Sources (CDP/Turntable): Naim CD2 Speakers: Loth-X Amaze Cables/Interconnects: van den Hul speaker cables / Kimber Kables Silverstreak Interconnect Music Used (Genre/Selections): rock, alternative, electronic, acoustic, classical Room Size (LxWxH): 18' x 19' x 8' Room Comments/Treatments: area rugs, curtains, wall hangings Time Period/Length of Audition: 5 months Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Target R1, filled Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner
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Topic - REVIEW: Song Audio Ltd SA-34SB Integrated Amplifier (Tube) - rrebel123@hotmail.com 13:20:44 11/20/03 ( 6)
- Song Audio Ltd SA-34SB Integrated Amplifier (Tube) - andy evans 05:39:12 11/21/03 ( 5)
- Re: Song Audio Ltd SA-34SB Integrated Amplifier (Tube) - fc 07:11:20 11/27/03 ( 0)
- Great point! The magazine reviewers are often guilty of the same. nt - Krisgel 04:59:02 11/23/03 ( 0)
Objectivity... - Ivan303 06:03:22 11/21/03 ( 2)
- Re: Objectivity... - rrebel123@hotmail.com 16:06:39 11/27/03 ( 1)
- Re: Objectivity... - fatbottle 14:06:22 12/4/03 ( 0)