[ogodei]

I pre-ordered, should get the Aficionado in October. Am planning a shoot out with Stellaris & Stratus but that's probably end of month.

 

[Peti]

Yeah, I remember reading your post at the beginning of the Aficionado thread over there...so they have put the Stellaris over the Af, like an upgrade? I've had the impression that the Af is kinda close to the Stellaris.

No that I know of. I don't think there are any Stratus owners that ordered one, but I could be wrong. I placed an order early on but was talked out of it as after hearing the Stellaris, Marve and Craig changed the AF signature. I took that as very, very high praise for the DNA amp.

 

[Peti]

I pre-ordered, should get the Aficionado in October. Am planning a shoot out with Stellaris & Stratus but that's probably end of month.

Looking forward to hear your impressions!

 

[bigfatpaulie]

Yeah, I remember reading your post at the beginning of the Aficionado thread over there...so they have put the Stellaris over the Af, like an upgrade? I've had the impression that the Af is kinda close to the Stellaris.

I didn't say that. All I said was that after hearing the Stellaires the voicing of the AF was changed. If you've read what Marv's said about the Stellaris you'd know he holds it in the very, very highest esteem. It's the amp that, if had the extra money, he would 'put next to his bedside'.

 

[Thenewguy007]

I pre-ordered, should get the Aficionado in October. Am planning a shoot out with Stellaris & Stratus but that's probably end of month.

Can't wait for your impressions!

 

[ogodei]

Picked up a new ZDS to throw into the shoot-out mix. Want to hear the tuning difference between the old and new schools of EC and if either can approach the Stratus.

 

[mysticstryk]

Picked up a new ZDS to throw into the shoot-out mix. Want to hear the tuning difference between the old and new schools of EC and if either can approach the Stratus.

Those 3 are the ones I'm looking to upgrade to myself, interested to see what your conclusions are.

 

[Thenewguy007]

Picked up a new ZDS to throw into the shoot-out mix. Want to hear the tuning difference between the old and new schools of EC and if either can approach the Stratus.

What's your main headphones you'll be using with the amps or will you be testing all of them equally?

 

[ogodei]

Have primarily been listening to Stellaris with Utopia and HD800 so will definitely be comparing them. Goal is to find 'synergies' with the amps though so will throw pretty much everything at the Af and see what sticks.

 

[CoLdAsSauLt]

Anybody having experience with LCD-4 and Stratus? They're said to be rather hard to drive....

 

[m17xr2b]

They are hard to drive but the Stratus does so with ease. It's on the same level with the Woo WA5 and 600i just a different flavour. I usually listen at 4 out of 10.

 

[bigfatpaulie]

Yes. With the right glass the Stratus will make the LCD4's about as good as they will every be.

 

[CoLdAsSauLt]

Yes. With the right glass the Stratus will make the LCD4's about as good as they will every be.

Great

The right glass... that's probably for the next upgrade round, when the wallet recoverd from that LCD-4-shaped whole in it. I'm a freshman Stratus owner and still getting to know it with the stock tubes, as advised by Donald himself as well, to familiarise myself with the sound and create a reference point to tube-roll against. But what glasses did you have in mind exactly to pair with LCD-4?

 

[m17xr2b]

If you can, get the Ken Rad 2A3 black glass. It has dual plates on the inside, my favourite tube with the LCD-4 above the mono plates and it comes up on ebay also as G.E. sometimes for around 200$ for NOS.

 

[CoLdAsSauLt]

I have honestly no idea where to start looking for tubes without overpaying and/or being scammed/sold crap. ^^