Comments on Ray Samuel's Stealth?

[markl]

I see, so you suspect it's the Sonys that are breaking up, not the amp? Have you heard any other tube amps that you felt did loud rock well, or is this just a general feeling you have with tube amps? I listen chiefly to rock, and I've enjoyed the few tube amps I've had with that kind of music (although I like the HR-2 more), but I definitely see how this could be where personal taste comes in. I guess my basic question is not whether the Stealth is subjectively, aesthically pleasing and good for you with rock, but whether you feel the amp might not be on its best footing physically/electrically/operationally with loud music and low-impedence cans. Sorry to belabor the issue. Cheers.

[john_jcb]

I think what is happening is that at loud settings on the very dynamic rock music the Sony's are taking all the tubes have to offer with low impedance cans and when they need more there is nothing more to give.

"but whether you feel the amp might not be on its best footing physically/electrically/operationally with loud music and low-impedance cans. "

Basically this is how I feel. With the Sony's you can go quite a bit louder than the Grado's. What high is is also subjective. I just did not want someone that listens to nothing but metal and has a pair of RS-1's to be disappointed when they crank it and they do not get the response they expect. The Sony's being more efficient go louder but have limits. But as I said at my normal level things are great.

[gpalmer]

John,

How would you compare the sound to the HR-2?

[busaganashi]

John,

How does it perform compaired to other amps in your inventory or even other amps you've got a good memory of?

Thanks.

[john_jcb]

Originally posted by gpalmer
John,

How would you compare the sound to the HR-2?

They are really different animals. Also I have had a few days with this amp and months with the HR-2. It is really headphone dependant though.

With the Senn's they are very close. The one thing both amps share is a dead silent background at all volumes. Between the notes there is nothing. If I had to choose for the HD-600s I would go with the Stealth. There is a little something special that I need more time to think about and describe accurately with the Stealth and the HD-600

With the CD-3000 for Jazz and vocals I listen at low levels and the stealth takes the edge off as I mentioned. Both sound good though and the HR-2 gives you more versatility to go louder as one might with rock. I have not had a chance to listen to the R-10's with the HR-2 tonight. Maybe tomorrow

Grado's - For me I would choose HR-2 just because I think tubes are a bit limiting with low impedance low efficiency cans. I like certain music at low volumes with the stealth but in the end I listen to a wide variety of music and sometimes at fighter volumes even though it is for a short time.

Originally posted by busaganashi
John,

How does it perform compaired to other amps in your inventory or even other amps you've got a good memory of?

Thanks.

It would really not be fair for me to reach back in my memory and compare this to other amps as time plays funny tricks with your memory. You remember certain things and forget others. I have not had my Cosmic hooked up at home for well over a year it is strictly portable. So even comparing that one would not be right. The HR-2 I discuss above. I have recently heard the Stealth alongside the Wheatfield HA-2 with some very expensive NOS tubes and at this point I would give the overall nod to the Stealth. They are close though no major differences jump out at you.

[gpalmer]

In respect to the 600s, I would say that is quite an endorsement, since I really think the HR-2 and the Senns go well together. Thanks for taking the time to do this review, it was very helpful!

[darkclouds]

Thanks John for the very well done review.

Looks like I'll be seeing the stealth on my rack. Although I must say I'm a little dissappointed that, from what I gathered from your review, the Stealth is less than optimal when paired with lower impedance cans. On the brighter and better side, my primary cans will be a pair of HD650.

[john_jcb]

Originally posted by darkclouds
.......... Although I must say I'm a little dissappointed that, from what I gathered from your review, the Stealth is less than optimal when paired with lower impedance cans. On the brighter and better side, my primary cans will be a pair of HD650.

Like I said at lower to medium listening level depending on the headphone they work fine for most of the ones I listened to. I just did not want someone who listens loud to be surprised.

[Kieran Comito]

I John. I sure would like to know your impressions of the HR-2 with the R 10 vs the Stealth with the R 10s with rock/pop music. Thanks

[john_jcb]

Originally posted by Kieran Comito
I John. I sure would like to know your impressions of the HR-2 with the R 10 vs the Stealth with the R 10s with rock/pop music. Thanks

I pulled out the following and listened to them first on the HR-2 and then again with the stealth with the R10's:

Black Crowes "Shake Your Money Maker"
The Best of ZZ Top
AC/DC "Back in Black"
Led Zeppelin III

The volume setting was at the 9 O'clock position on the HR-2 for listening. To me 10 is really loud, 11 start of pain, 12 too loud for anything but a few seconds. There was absolutely no distortion at any of the settings. Great detail a real joy to listen to at 10 O'clock reminding me of my concert days. I had forgotten how this music makes you feel, and the R-10's are so involving.

On the stealth to get the same loudness as I had on the HR-2 at 9, I had to go to between 12:30 and 1 O'clock. At this loud level I heard some distortion. Backing off to around 11 it is still loud and the distortion goes away.

I hope my selections are what you had in mind for Rock/Pop. I think if the R-10's were mine and I listened to rock like I selected and little else I would choose the HR-2. Listening like this serves to remind me of my age, what sounds really loud now sounded like heaven when I was 18 attending concerts in Seattle. Like my earlier post a lot depends on what level you listen to. I can tell you it has been a very long time since I have cranked it up to these levels. If you had different music in mind let me know and I will see if I have it.

[Kieran Comito]

Most of that music is a little to heavy for me, but like you at 18, that is what I listened to when I was younger(i'm 35 now). I mainly listen to 80s alternative, Echo and The Bunnymen, The Smiths, Stone Roses, The Church, The Replacements, The Psychedelic Furs, ect...Anyway, it seems like the bottom line is the HR-2 is better suited for rock music. Thanks.

[tk_suki]

Markl wrote "Have you heard any other tube amps that you felt did loud rock well"

I just heard the Spark 834A briefly and first impressions were it could play rock LOUD! I like classic rock 60`s-70`s and this unit performed well, louder than I could handle for more than a few seconds.

I posted a reply to a similar thread on the Ciyan amps. Will f/up there with more or start a new one.

Sat-in a few hrs for me will head to Akhihabara where the two JP dealers are located to see what else they have to offer there was another preamp which recd + comments elsewhere Cayin HA-1A(similar mfg).

More to come, will bring my camera, er actually always, do since integrated in my au-KDDI Hitachi phone(very convenient) but polite to ask b4 snapping and did not have time too this Fri Eve on my way home(long route where stores close early).

-tk

[john_jcb]

What headphones were you using when you did your listening? In my listening the higher impedance cans went very, very loud without problem it was the lower impedance ones that normally have issues with tube gear.

I should go pick up a sound meter so that I can quantify a little more accurately what I mean by loud. The listening I did last night with the R-10 was really quite a bit louder than I listen normally.

[Ray Samuels]

Hi Kieran Comito...
John is stating all the truth that he found in his listening to the Stealth. All transformerless tubes are limited to how much they can output with low impedance cans, specially those which are not efficiant. Now the R10's & the CD3000 even being low impedance cans, they are effeciant as to how much volume they can output. The listening level that John is talking about is the level that would be very high if tuberoller would be listening too, because any time where ever we are & I am listening to a certain level & Tube , or even John listen after me, they go & put the level down. If a 16 years old gets hold of this amp & wants to blast his ears with heavy metal with low impedance cans, I would say this amp is not for him. Any person listening to jazz or female vocals, or any strings, then I would recommend this amp.
Mark l...
If the tube amp that you metioned EMP had enough volume for your listening pleasure, then this amp is way higher in output than that by a big margin. What cans did you use with that amp? If it was HD600 then I can understand, but I do not ever think that the EMP will drive your R10's to any level that can make you happy.
These are facts that John & I are stating so the headfiers know before hand as to what to expect, This is in no means a commercial or praise to the Stealth.
Ray Samuels

[markl]

Yes, the Earmax Pro was used with the HD600, and drove them fine. The standard Earmax (a worthless item, IMO) was unable to even drive the HD600 without clipping. I never got to hear the EMP with any real low impedence cans, just the Etys at 100 ohms. My conclusions from that experience was that the EMP was worthless for anything with lower impedence than HD600 (which it drove quite nicely, actually). Others have reported success with the EMP and low-impedence cans, so my comments are just speculation. I would be VERY surprised if the EMP could drive the R10 to anywhere near decent volume levels for me, which is ironic considering that the sole US distributer for the R10 audioadvancements, also sells the EMP as the amp for them.

I listen to the HR-2 at the 10:00 position with my R10s, which is loud, but not horrendously so. That's still just at the very very beginning of the HR-2's potential volume spectrum. R10s start to distort between the 11:00-12:00 position, but this is due to driver breakup, not the amp. The R10s go loud, but not as loud as a few other cans before trouble starts. It's possible that john_jcb is just hitting the upper end of what the R10s can do as headphones, not necessarily the Stealth running out of juice. I hope to be able to get to the bottom of this mystery myself.