Mastersound Reference 845 vs ????

Posted by thetubeguy1954 (A) on May 4, 2006 at 11:29:12

First and foremost this is not meant to start a pissing or a mine is better than yours match. This post is an attempt to educate myself.

As some/many of you know I own a Mastersound Reference 845 integrated amp. It is IMHO the best amplifier I've ever heard, period! Still after saying that I'll readily admit I've not heard many other 845 based amps, integrated or otherwise. Fact is I've only heard four 845's, including the Mastersound. The other three are:

1) I've heard the Cary CAD-805, which I found a bit "slow" and over-ripe sounding. Perhaps saying it reminded me more of vintage than todays typical tube amps describes what I didn't like about it most suitably.

2) I've heard the Antique Sound Lab 845 amp. Which though nice was noticably not in the same league as the Mastersound, Cary or Audio Note.

3) I've also had the honor & priviledge to have heard the Audio Note Ongaku. This is IMHO the Reference Standard amongst 845 SET's. When I first heard the Mastersound I thought it was (as best as I could recall) very "Ongaku-like." A couple of others have also said this very same thing when listening to the Mastersound.

Amps I haven't heard but would very much like to include the New Audio Frontiers 845, the Zanden 845, Art Audio Carissa, Sophia Electric S.E.T. 845 and the Komuro PP 845 amp. I don't want to offend anyone here but I find the deHavilland Aries 845G too ugly to consider. For the kind of money these amps command I want to love how it looks as much as how it sounds!

What I'm curious about is this, often when someone describes hearing a good 845 amp they say it's very "Ongaku-like." This started my thinking. If these good/great 845 amps are "Ongaku-like." When considering amps like New Audio Frontiers 845, the Zanden 845, deHavilland Aries 845G, Art Audio Carissa, Sophia Electric S.E.T. 845, Mastersound Reference 845 and the Komuro PP 845 amp. Are they all basically more alike than different, with each having it's own set of pluses and minuses?

OR are you finding that some of these 845 amps are quite noticeably superior to the others? If that IS the case, I have a question. Has anyone here also heard the Mastersound 845 Reference in addition to these other amps? If so how did it compare IYHO?

Also if you honestly believe some of these amps are quite noticeably superior to the others is the Ongaku still the reference standard? Of course I know this all comes down to preferences and opinions. So what I'd like to know what are yours?

Thetubeguy1954

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Topic - Mastersound Reference 845 vs ???? - thetubeguy1954 11:29:12 05/04/06 (20)

Re: Mastersound Reference 845 vs ???? - Thorsten 05:48:29 05/08/06 (0)

If you are willing to consider... - krisjan 09:49:23 05/06/06 (0)

Re: New Audio Frontiers 845 SET amps - Jim Ricketts 16:57:51 05/05/06 (3)

Re: New Audio Frontiers 845 SET amps - thetubeguy1954 08:59:07 05/08/06 (0)

HE2006 LA. Which - Jon L 00:24:09 05/07/06 (1)

Re: HE2006 LA. Which - Jim Ricketts 03:43:09 05/07/06 (0)

Re: Mastersound Reference 845 vs ???? - B.Zak 03:54:16 05/05/06 (3)

Re: Mastersound Reference 845 vs ???? - thetubeguy1954 07:53:24 05/05/06 (2)

No offense taken...... - B.Zak 09:40:49 05/05/06 (1)

Re: No offense taken...... - thetubeguy1954 11:55:30 05/05/06 (0)

Mastersound Reference 845 vs Music - Sych-Deli 21:34:39 05/04/06 (1)

Re: Mastersound Reference 845 vs Music - thetubeguy1954 08:54:57 05/05/06 (0)

Re: Mastersound Reference 845 vs ???? - WildWest 19:37:11 05/04/06 (1)

Re: Mastersound Reference 845 vs ???? - thetubeguy1954 09:10:41 05/05/06 (0)

Re: Mastersound Reference 845 vs ???? - Darek 13:47:40 05/04/06 (1)

Re: Mastersound Reference 845 vs ???? - thetubeguy1954 09:13:38 05/05/06 (0)

Re: Mastersound Reference 845 vs ???? - Sherlock 13:18:17 05/04/06 (1)

Re: Mastersound Reference 845 vs ???? - thetubeguy1954 09:14:56 05/05/06 (0)

Re: Mastersound Reference 845 vs ???? - MINGSU 12:31:25 05/04/06 (1)

Re: Mastersound Reference 845 vs ???? - IRON-LEIF 02:18:38 05/05/06 (0)

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