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RE: Help me pick SET monoblocks

We did a shootout recently between three different AN models (Oto SE Signature, P1SE and Conqueror Silver) and a KR Audio VA350i on a pair of Odeon Rigoletto/2 loudspeakers. An Einstein "The Tube" preamp was used on all amps except the Oto SE Signature becuase it is an integrated (KR uses only a passive pre so volume was set to maximum and it is essentially a power amp with switching). The source was a Lampizator Golden Atlantic being fed by USB using Roon and HQPlayer. Cables were Goertz silver foil RCAs and NBS Monitor IV XLR interconnects. Speaker cables were Goertz AG-1 silver foil.

The results were as follows:

The Conqueror sounds warm and pleasant but quite wooly and indistinct in the bass. Foreground has nice 3d but sense of space is truncated compared to other amps on test. The output transformers are, despite being double C core, are quite small on this model for some reason and are for sure limiting its potential. Great at one or two things but poor in other areas leaves a very uneven listening experience. This amp seems to be poor value. I would much rather have a VAC 30/30 Class A 300B PP amp than this amp.

P1SE similar character in some ways to the Conqueror but less syrupy and a bit more taught in the bass. Reasonable but not exceptional resolution and detail. Soundstage and imaging less palpable than Conqueror but not quite as truncated. Mediocre all around...maybe fine at $1000 but a PureSound A30 will give it a run for the money even though it is PP and not SET.

The Oto SE Signature is something more interesting. First, it has tight, well defined bass from obviously superior output transformers from the other two AN amps on test. It also carves out a wide and deep soundstage with good resolution and extended high frequencies...I can imagine this is a significant upgrade over the non-signature Oto, which is essentially the P1SE mentioned above. The only thing that left a bit of a question mark is the tonal balance, which was slightly lean overall. Not bad but also not quite right. Imaging was also quite palpable and overall resolution was high. For the asking price this is only one of the three AN amps that I would recommend to audition against similarly priced competition.

You can forget, however, it being competitive with the likes of the KR Audio, which out resolves the Oto, out performs it in the low end, outperforms it for Soundstage resolution and imaging precision and palpability and outperforms it for dynamics. Tonality of the KR is better balanced overall as well. Now the KR VA350i is over $12K so it should do better.

An interesting comparison is with the Ayon 300B (early 2000s model), using 32B output tubes. This was about 7.5K new (1.8K used). That on the same system had significantly better tone than Oto Signature but the bass was inferior but better than Conqueror...again I put it down to the output transformers, which are not so big on the Ayon 300B. Overall, Oto is competitive here but not clearly ahead.

With the Crossfire III the results are similar to KR. Better everything and perhaps even more transparent than KR. Bass is very solid and resolved right up the whole frequency range. (Crossfire is 45Kg...a full 15 more than the Ayon 300B and most of that is in the output iron...and 9Kg more than KR). Transparency is world class. Dynamics are superb. An award winning amp and rightly so.

Finally, the JJ322. This amp has huge Double C core output trannies for what is only a 20 watt amp. Not quite as transparent as Crossfire but close. Softer highs well resolved bass with decent impact and very nice soundstage and imaging capabilities. Dynamics are good on high sensitivity speakers but not so great on normal dynamic speakers. Great for 93db and up. Can be found for only about $2K used and is a hell of a lot of amp for the money.

So, other than maybe the Oto SE Signature, I would not recommend any AN amps for under 3K. The Quest would be interesting but only as a Silver Signature version and that costs quite a lot and would have a tough time against the Crossfire or KR (see review in TNT on original Crossfire and what he says about it vs. Quest).

LM219ia is a good amp...almost bought one but got Wall monos instead (then Crossfire). LM219ia is good, a bit warm but powerful sounding. Not super resolved but pretty nice. Crossfire is far more resolving. Still, I can understand why someone would want LM219ia. I would actually be more interested in the LM210 300B amp. I would never pay the full retail for them given the drop in value...this is true for most hifi though and not just chinese stuff.

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