WulfmanJax
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Sep 29, 2004
- Posts
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Quote:
*slap*
Dude, listen to what i'm saying:
I'm not mentioning THE MAESTRO. I'm talking about THE SUPRA. From what i've heard the two are VERY DIFFERENT. And i can definitely say the Supra is a VERY RAWKin amp but the R10s lend it the control it needs. The Maestro is around $3300 and ALOT of that $3300 is for the pre-amp function. The Supra is a dedicated headphone amp for around $17000 or $2000 with the NOS tubes which can give it as smooth or as rocking a sound as you want. If want extreme power and punch, get some Sylvania 6SN7Ws for the output tubes and a Ken Rad VT231 for the input and the Supra would probably have just as much, if not more punch than the Stealth. For my classical i prefer the gorgeous tone and balance that the Ken Rad VT231 input tube and matched Sylvania VT231 lends (this is combo Mikhail recommends too).
I think the fact that Supra is cheaper, is a dedicated headphone amp (which is probably WHY it's cheaper), and you can dramatically alter the sound with a tube change is why you should really consider it. I was really worried about the R10s and Supra being to lax on some of my harder rock and metal albums, but one listen to Meshuggah's Chaosphere put a big smile on my face. The fact that this same combo can then turn around and do something like Mussorgsky's Night on Bald Mountain so amazingly really shocked me. But i still think a little more research on those two amps on your part might not hurt.
Originally Posted by trevorlane I'll shed some light on the subject. Yes, I should probably have auditioned the mentioned items before purchasing them, but I cannot as R10s are not readily available in this area. In fact, the only phones I own of any value as of right now are the CD-3000s. Reading meet impressions actually became a large factor in my decision. It seems with agile_one's amps: R10 + Maestro/Stealth, people had different reactions when using either amp. The Stealth had a much more "in your face" type of feel, while the Maestro had a mellow, enveloping quality. Granted I listen to classical, but it's not to say I don't like my classical with a bit of power. I listen to classical in the Romantic and Modern periods, where much of the music lies in the glory of an imperialistic era gone by, into the darkness of depression, successive wars, and to new heights in the post 1950s. Not to say music from the Baroque period was peachy-keen, but if I am to match a system with the music, then I will base it upon its ability to convey emotion. I feel the R10/Stealth will do just that. But please, slap me if I'm wrong! |
*slap*
Dude, listen to what i'm saying:
I'm not mentioning THE MAESTRO. I'm talking about THE SUPRA. From what i've heard the two are VERY DIFFERENT. And i can definitely say the Supra is a VERY RAWKin amp but the R10s lend it the control it needs. The Maestro is around $3300 and ALOT of that $3300 is for the pre-amp function. The Supra is a dedicated headphone amp for around $17000 or $2000 with the NOS tubes which can give it as smooth or as rocking a sound as you want. If want extreme power and punch, get some Sylvania 6SN7Ws for the output tubes and a Ken Rad VT231 for the input and the Supra would probably have just as much, if not more punch than the Stealth. For my classical i prefer the gorgeous tone and balance that the Ken Rad VT231 input tube and matched Sylvania VT231 lends (this is combo Mikhail recommends too).
I think the fact that Supra is cheaper, is a dedicated headphone amp (which is probably WHY it's cheaper), and you can dramatically alter the sound with a tube change is why you should really consider it. I was really worried about the R10s and Supra being to lax on some of my harder rock and metal albums, but one listen to Meshuggah's Chaosphere put a big smile on my face. The fact that this same combo can then turn around and do something like Mussorgsky's Night on Bald Mountain so amazingly really shocked me. But i still think a little more research on those two amps on your part might not hurt.