[tiagocarneiro]

I’m a big fan of electrostatics.
I also have a Mjolnir Audio KGST and a Megatron. It’s not a fair comparison to the Solaris, but is what I experienced.

 

[tiagocarneiro]

Some gear.

 

[DuncanDirkDick]

That makes sense, I would have expected that both would outperform the Solaris.

 

[tiagocarneiro]

Even though, I love the Solaris with the 1266.
I changed my tubes with 8 NOS Siemens ECL805 and power fuse.
Increased natural sound, imaging, and better soundstage.
Great great Amp !
Anyone tried a “non-expensive” Power Amp to have that “tubey” sound to good Speakers ?

 

[DuncanDirkDick]

Darkvoice with 5998. Not great, not terrible definitely tubey. Drives 1266 fine

 

[Bonddam]

Do the tubes need to be matched on the Solaris? I'm not rolling, just want to be ready to buy 8 tubes when I have to.

 

[tiagocarneiro]

Honestly, I think the differences will be minor with the Solaris. Its design is like hybrid.
For instance, I have one burned (broken) tube and it still performs like it was fine. So I believe it do not need all 4 tubes (for each channel) to work perfectly. I replaced this broken tube by an original tube (Sovtek, I think) and didn’t noticed any sound change.
Maybe I could be wrong, but that is what I felt.

When I was talking about a Power Amp, I was referring to a “traditional” Power Amp (without any control - just On/Off), using the Solaris as a Pre-Amp. The idea is to have a tube Pre Amp to drive more inefficient Speakers (around 84-88dB).

 

[DuncanDirkDick]

The solaris has a pretty nifty auto bias regulator circuit, so you'll be fine

 

[Bonddam]

I'm not home to try but if I leave it in otl will music come out of the Stax output?

 

[DuncanDirkDick]

I'm not home to try but if I leave it in otl will music come out of the Stax output?

nope

 

[Ableza]

nope

But it does in the IMP position.

 

[DuncanDirkDick]

yep, with 24.5 db gain

 

[Bonddam]

That's what I need because I'm cranking the volume to max

 

[Ableza]

That's what I need because I'm cranking the volume to max

Have you tried using the gain switch?

 

[Bonddam]

Why would I do that?