[shellylh]

Quote:

Originally Posted by s1rrah /img/forum/go_quote.gif Question for Raptor afficianados (couple, really): 1. How long can I listen before giving the amp a break? I've heard various limits of 8 to 10 hours with Woo amps and I'm curious if the Raptor is different in that regard due to it's solid state power supply? 2. Also something I've heard regarding Woo amps is that it's bad to run them without an audio signal being pass to them. Is this the case with the Raptor or is okay to have it turned on without music playing? Thanks for any comments.

By the way, I don't think it is the case that you need to have an audio signal being passed to a tube amp. It is just the case that some tube amps need to have a load (headphones plugged into them or the preamp being used) while they are on (but I guess not OTL amps). At least this is my interpretation of what I have read.

 

[s1rrah]

Going on a good 20 hour listening session (granted ... with about four hours of sleep a while back) ...

And I just thought I'd mention that the Raptor amp and Havana DAC get along phenomenally well ...

...

...

Tubes galore.

At source and at resolution.

Not at all too much.

Very very fine.

I've whittled away the past 10 hours or so being seranaded by the full Grandaddy Discography ...

Quite fine.

(please don't take my sunshine away!)

 

[vic1890]

Joel, you tempt me with the Havana again - I can't wait to see how it'll fair with my Paradisea and 650s

And I'm glad the raptor can be stacked on top the dac!

 

[s1rrah]

Quote:

Originally Posted by vic1890 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Joel, you tempt me with the Havana again - I can't wait to see how it'll fair with my Paradisea and 650s And I'm glad the raptor can be stacked on top the dac!

The Paradisea is a win DAC for sure. No worries! The Havana just removes a bit of the grain/etch that comes with the OPAMP circuit in the Paradisea variants. Bit more resolved ... bit more detailed and "clarion" ... but they are definitely identifiable as related.

Truth be told ... the slightly more articulate, slightly more detailed nature of the Raptor, set next to ... say ... A Woo 6 or Woo 6 SE ... is what attracted me to the RSA option. Don't get me wrong ... I positively LOVED the Woo amps I demo'd at the last Houston meet ... so lush and seductive and gorgeously built.

But I'm primarily a fan of solid state amps; I lean towards appreciating detail and resolution over lush qualities. And I think what Ray has down with the Raptor is just the right equation in so far as using tubes to compliment an already great solid state sound.

Had I the paycheck to support such a pairing ... I'd think owning a Woo amp and the Raptor amp to be about the best and most ideal pairing anyone could have. But alas ... I'm not that well endowed financially at the moment!

But anyway ...

Paired with the Havana (and a kick ass JW branded WE396A tube) ... the Raptor is producing velvety sex through my GS1000's ...

I'm looking forward to a possible HD650 purchase soon as well ... and I'm sure those cans will be lovely as well.

Post some thoughts once you get your gear, yo!

Best.
.joel

 

[peanuthead]

Hmmm, "velvety sex," that's a new one for me...

 

[WittyzTH]

lol

I really love Raptor too, but since I got WA6SE, I prefer Woo sound signature over the RSA. lushhh and mellowwww...

 

[peanuthead]

Quote:

Originally Posted by WittyzTH /img/forum/go_quote.gif lol I really love Raptor too, but since I got WA6SE, I prefer Woo sound signature over the RSA. lushhh and mellowwww...

What tubes are you using for the 6SE? "Mellow" would be the last word I'd use to describe my 6SE sound...

 

[vic1890]

I finally got my JW 2C51 as well, it does sound lovely - looking for the bendix now. I'll surely post my findings once I get my hands on my raptor. I just it doesn't end up being too tubey. I know the raptor goes very well with the 650s, but since its a dark pair of cans to begin with, I'm hoping the Paradisea's tube buffer won't muddy up things.

Fingers crossed.

 

[WittyzTH]

Sophia with Sylvania 6EW7 or GE 6FD7.

Well, I can't say it's completely lush or mellow like Single Power amp, but when comparing with Raptor, it's lusher and more mellow.

Raptor with my preference tube - Sylvania 5963 & Tung-Sol 5687 gave me really good PRaT.

----

EDIT: another reason I switched to Woo amp is the sound stage of the 6SE which Raptor cannot beat.

 

[peanuthead]

Quote:

Originally Posted by WittyzTH /img/forum/go_quote.gif Sophia with Sylvania 6EW7 or GE 6FD7. Well, I can't say it's completely lush or mellow like Single Power amp, but when comparing with Raptor, it's lusher and more mellow. Raptor with my preference tube - Sylvania 5963 & Tung-Sol 5687 gave me really good PRaT. ---- EDIT: another reason I switched to Woo amp is the sound stage of the 6SE which Raptor cannot beat.

Ah, I see.

 

[Covenant]

Quote:

Originally Posted by WittyzTH /img/forum/go_quote.gif I prefer Woo sound signature over the RSA. lushhh and mellowwww...

So you could say you were...

Wooed?

 

[Wiza_Gab]

I have several questions,

what is the best amp between Cayin Audio HA-A1 and RSA Raptor for Senn's HD650 ?
Is there really a noticeable difference ?

Does the Raptor come with great tubes ? Is there a big difference if $200 is invested in tubes, if so what are the best tubes in this price range (electronic music, alt rock, hip-hop, jazz)

Can you get the RSA Raptor cheaper than on the official website ?

Thanks !

 

[peanuthead]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wiza_Gab /img/forum/go_quote.gif I have several questions, what is the best amp between Cayin Audio HA-A1 and RSA Raptor for Senn's HD650 ? Is there really a noticeable difference ? Does the Raptor come with great tubes ? Is there a big difference if $200 is invested in tubes, if so what are the best tubes in this price range (electronic music, alt rock, hip-hop, jazz) Can you get the RSA Raptor cheaper than on the official website ? Thanks !

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f42/rs...-tubes-376487/

$950 with stock tubes.

 

[s1rrah]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wiza_Gab /img/forum/go_quote.gif I have several questions, what is the best amp between Cayin Audio HA-A1 and RSA Raptor for Senn's HD650 ? Is there really a noticeable difference ? Does the Raptor come with great tubes ? Is there a big difference if $200 is invested in tubes, if so what are the best tubes in this price range (electronic music, alt rock, hip-hop, jazz) Can you get the RSA Raptor cheaper than on the official website ? Thanks !

I think the stock tubes that come with the Raptor are quite good. I'm not gonna sell them, that's for sure. Good to have back up's and all.

I preferred slightly leaner tone of the RCA Bronze Plate 5687's though and so am going with those as my main set of driver tubes. I just ordered a NOS set of the same RCA's off ebay for like 20 bucks. Hopefully they will be okay as that price is pretty dang good.

But yeah. I think the stock tubes are fine. Also, contrary to a lot of other folks' opinions, I find the much lauded Tesla 5687 as drivers to not work well at all ... just so puffy and bloated sounding. But try 'em anyway as a lot of folks like them.

Best.
.joel

 

[Wiza_Gab]

Thanks

Would you say that the Paradisea+ is better than Stello DA100 (especially when matched with Raptor) ?