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In Reply to: REVIEW: Quicksilver Audio M80 monoblocs Amplifier (Tube) posted by Marc Bratton on March 27, 2005 at 20:34:15:
Maybe it'd be helpful to list the 5 amps I've had thru my system in the last two years, and why these amps better them:
1.)AVA OmegaIII 260. Very clean, fast, dynamic as all get out. That amp, paired with his T7 preamp, gave me the most explosive kick drums I've ever heard...they were in the room! But, but BUT...harmonically threadbare thru the all important midrange and lower treble, and there was that ol' Class AB SS graininess...'textural issues', as I refer to it. Couldn't do it long term.
2.)Conrad Johnson MV75A1, hotrodded by Bill Thalmann. Now THAT was a NICE amp! Mids maybe a bit overblown compared to the Quickies, but really nice. Phenomenal treble...electric guitar would just HANG in the air in a manner I've never heard from any other amp quite the same way. Actually, if it wasn't for the SIZE of that beast, and its accompanying box, I'd probably still have it. But I'm in a small enough condo that such things matter. The Quickies flat out better this amp in the bass, no two ways about it. More of it, and deeper.
3.)Conrad Johnson MV52, also hotrodded by Bill Thalmann (can you tell I like his work?). This was a very lively, communicative amp that was actually really good with rock. But with large scale symphonic music, the term 'pentode glare' took on real meaning. Plus, it just sounded downright....dirty with horns, even with all new tubes. NOT good timbral accuracy there.
4.)Music Reference RM10. Now, there's a little sweet heart! This amp is a wonderfully voiced EL84 based, 35wpc amp looking for an obliging pair of speakers. Magnepan MG12's aren't those speakers.
5.)Forte 4a. Class A SS amp that I've commented on as being 'tube like'. At low listening levels, they are amazingly close to the Quickies. Wick it up, they sound dark, hard, and closed in compared to the M80's, which also handily trounce them in bass. I know this is counterintuitive, as the Forte is rated as 100 watts into the 4 ohm 12's, and the M80's are rated as 80 watts. Trust me, the M80's are a LOT more powerful sounding. I can't make 'em break a sweat. The Forte sounds dry and hard by comparison, though I would NOT describe the sound of the Forte in those absolute terms.
So, there you have it.
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- Addendum.... - Marc Bratton 22:02:58 03/27/05 (0)
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