"Vote" Solid State or Tubes..Which one is your Favourite? - Page 3

I guess the problem is not enough people have really heard these amps. Wouldn't want to vote just for the amp we heard of over the others we haven't heard, that just wouldn't be a proper comparison.

 

I am willing ot bet though that the C2C is much better than the Mini^3. I have a friend who has one, just haven't had the chance to go to his place and chekc it out.

Same as a lot of the guys here, I have not heard any of these amps except the m3. 

It was last year and at a meet,... And when Stephen from http://www.rockhopperaudio.com/store/ lived in Maryland. several years ago.. 

 

so all I really remember was it didn't do anything wrong. 

I haven't heard any of these amps, so I can't vote. But as the owner of a WA22 (tubes) and an ATH-RA5000 (SS), I would have to say it's a toss-up between them. I prefer the WA22 in balanced mode, but the RA5000 single-ended. It also very much depends on the headphones used with each amplifier, as synergy / compatibility between the amp and headphone is quite important IMO.

 

I use the RA50000 with W5000 and AD2000 headphones, or at least I am planning to. I haven't actually heard the AD2000 out of the RA5000 yet as it is in Japan for service, but it does sound very good with my EF5 hybrid amp and the W5000 is a dream with the RA5000 so I am looking forward to it. Balanced I haven't really maxed out the WA22 with top tier headphones yet, but the HE-5 and K701 did scale up quite nicely, as well as the HD650 which wasn't for me though.

 

All three amps are keepers but I do prefer the RA5000 SS and WA22 tube amps mentioned above slightly over my hybrid EF5.

 

Sorry I couldn't be of more help

Edited by grokit - 9/12/10 at 2:38pm

The M³ is a different beast than the Mini³.

 

And since OP wants some thoughts, the M³ is a proven design that has been here for quite a while and since it's a Solid-State design, it's inherently more flexible with headphones with various impedance and has higher price/performance ratio than its tube counterpart. And perhaps this is just me but the M³ is quite warm and pleasant sounding with OPA637/627 used and we know these are traits which people often associate with tubes.

I have not heard them all but...

 

M3 for ability to drive most headphones easily and smooth tube like sound.

 

DV 336SE but SKYLAB has never been wrong...ever. Just teasing SKY.

I agree...deceptive title to the poll.

LOL! You're one of the few guys who has reviewed more amps than I have, so the OP should listen to YOU ;-)~

Maltar, the longer you drag a decision out the longer you'll be without great sound. :) Don't worry about it so much. If you buy used, you'll be able to resell it and only lose the cost of shipping if you don't like it.