I got my tube monoblocks back from Blackie Pagano yesterday. The total damage was $827.04. It was worth every penny, and then some.
A lot of little improvements have added up to one huge overall improvement. The bass is a little bit better -- a little bit tighter and a little bit deeper. The soundstage used to favor about 2' or so in front of the speakers, to about a foot or so behind them. Now, it begins slightly in front of the speakers and goes all the way back to Riverside Drive. Soundstage width use to have a few holes in it, but nothing worth criticizing. Now, it is wall-to-wall seamless. The amp always did the vertical dimension well, and that hasn't changed. The speakers always seemed to disappear, but now they are flat-out gone. Upper mid-range and highs are more liquid. I used to love the lack of grain from these amps, but now there is even less. I hear this as a greater transparency.
The dynamics were always good to excellent, program material dependent. Now, I can feel the wind. With no pain. Of course, I have sensitive speakers. I will NEVER buy the other kind again...why fight physics?
This experience has been a revelation to me. Blackie is God, when it comes to tubes.
For the record, the amps were very good to begin with (Audio Innovations Model 1000 monoblocks). Blackie said he couldn't believe his 'scope when he analyzed them. Full power available to 30 Db -- and THIS from an EL34-based design. And, get this -- flat to 60,000 Hz. Blackie also noted that most of the supposed "Class A" designs he has seen aren't really Class A. This one is. He couldn't believe I got them for a grand, when they went out of business.
Still, Blackie made 'em better. Thanks, Art, for the reco. You da man. I always knew it.
I got my tube monoblocks back from Blackie Pagano yesterday. The total damage was $827.04. It was worth every penny, and then some.
A lot of little improvements have added up to one huge overall improvement. The bass is a little bit better -- a little bit tighter and a little bit deeper. The soundstage used to favor about 2' or so in front of the speakers, to about a foot or so behind them. Now, it begins slightly in front of the speakers and goes all the way back to Riverside Drive. Soundstage width use to have a few holes in it, but nothing worth criticizing. Now, it is wall-to-wall seamless. The amp always did the vertical dimension well, and that hasn't changed. The speakers always seemed to disappear, but now they are flat-out gone. Upper mid-range and highs are more liquid. I used to love the lack of grain from these amps, but now there is even less. I hear this as a greater transparency.
The dynamics were always good to excellent, program material dependent. Now, I can feel the wind. With no pain. Of course, I have sensitive speakers. I will NEVER buy the other kind again...why fight physics?
This experience has been a revelation to me. Blackie is God, when it comes to tubes.
For the record, the amps were very good to begin with (Audio Innovations Model 1000 monoblocks). Blackie said he couldn't believe his 'scope when he analyzed them. Full power available to 30 Db -- and THIS from an EL34-based design. And, get this -- flat to 60,000 Hz. Blackie also noted that most of the supposed "Class A" designs he has seen aren't really Class A. This one is. He couldn't believe I got them for a grand, when they went out of business.
Still, Blackie made 'em better. Thanks, Art, for the reco. You da man. I always knew it.