CAYIN TA35 tube amp & MG 1.6 QR: strange listening results - help welcome - george

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CAYIN TA35 tube amp & MG 1.6 QR: strange listening results - help welcome

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Hi
yesterday, I got a Cayin TA35 Tube-Amplifier for testing purposes (it's the "old" model, not the upgraded TA35S). Compared to my standard chain, I got some very strange results, that I'd like to discuss here.
My setup: "normal" Denon 3805 and Pioneer 565, Cardas Quadlink 5c Interconnects, Cardas Crosslink and Audioquest Caldera Speaker cables, Magnepan 1.6 QR SE. The Cayin TA 35 is already "broken in".
Although the Denon 3805 is not really High-End, it gives me a wonderfully detailed and quite deep stage. Positioning of instruments is great: very exact, I can clearly distinguish even two flutes that sit close to each other. Definition of instruments is clear, the amp exaggerates a bit for my taste.
Completely different the TA 35: listening to strings (Violin, Viola, Bass) and Brass provides a wonderful timbre. But I have the feeling, that all is covered with reverb, smoothed out, it's more like playing "Mantovani" than "San Francisco Symphony". Strings for example: I do hear a big GROUP of instruments, that is SOMEWHERE on the stage, rather than a collection of different string players. You could describe it with the word BLOB... (Nothing against "grouping" instruments, as long as you do not loose focus..)
Soundstage is deep and wide, but, as I said, with loss of positioning. Listening to Mahler, which does provide a rich and full instrumentation, I must note, that the more complex the music gets, the more the TA35 looses "orientation". On the other hand, it sometimes surprises me with a solo-instrument wonderfully embedded in the orchestra.
Also, I note a lack in "fine"-dynamics - little changes in volume or sound are not as well reproduced as I can hear it with the Denon (again: this is a pretty normal receiver, well developped, but not high-end!)
I do not want to bother you with more details, but could provide them, if you want.
What is happening here? The TA 35 does have a good reputiation & tests, and my listening volume is far from "overdriving" the tube-amp's 35 Watts - I tend to listen more at lower levels. So I am never in the danger of driving the TA 35 into "saturated" regions.
Can anyone explain, what I am experiencing here?
I spoke with a former Magnepan-Importer - he strongly suggested NOT to use tube-amps with Magnepan, especially the new Magnepan with the quasi-ribbon ("impedance of the Maggie gives a tube-amp problems, a Maggie needs a high "damping"-factor to sound exact"). I know about the discussions here, that many of you succesfully do use tube-amps, I just wanted to add that quote...
Your comments are more than welcome, looking forward to read them!

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Topic - CAYIN TA35 tube amp & MG 1.6 QR: strange listening results - help welcome - george 23:22:18 04/21/04 (5)

Try Monarchy amps - mark maloof 23:34:16 04/22/04 (0)

Your dealer's right..... - Marc Bratton 20:47:42 04/22/04 (0)

Did you try repositioning them? Different amps may require different speaker position. (nt) - Alan Ggt; 14:39:48 04/22/04 (0)

amplifier output impedance - EdG 08:39:04 04/22/04 (0)

you need more watts, or try using 2 amps for biamping (nt) - paco 02:57:33 04/22/04 (0)

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