Alright, I'm not looking at getting anything to replace the Pendant/Leeloo anytime soon, but just so I can keep my eye out for good deals, what would the next step above the Pendant be? Must be powerful enough to drive planars, must not be massive and 55 lbs like the new Aegis, must beat the performance of a Pendant with Top-tier tubes. Does it exist?
ZMF Pendant by Ampsandsound; impressions, tube-rolling, and general discussions
- Thread starter KPzypher
- Start date
shwnwllms
1000+ Head-Fier
Bigger Ben, Agartha, Nautilus, Red October
Yeah Bigger Ben, Agartha, and Mogwai SE are all around the same form factor. Nautilus and Red October start getting into super heavy territory.
I have my sights set on a DNA amp one day. I have feelers out for a Starlett. If I find one, that'll likely be what replaces my Pendant.
Add the Mogwai SE to that list as the direct next step up
It exists. Within the A&S lineup and certainly outside of it. Plenty of tube amps aren't massive and can drive planars well. The Pendant can do that, depending on the planar. Depends on your budget, if you're looking for a certain sound or tube type, etc
The graininess was something I started hearing when comparing the Pendant with my solid state amp. I didn't hear it on its own, but as soon as I had something to compare it to, it sounded off to me. And then there was no unhearing it. These Sylvania actually sound cleaner than that solid state, but with all the vibrancy and stage of the amp and other tubes, which is what I wanted. Maybe I'll give those later Valvos a try someday though! Halo getters?
Interesting. Those Sylvanias sound awesome, I would have definitely gotten a pair.
Yes, the later Valvos I picked up had halo getters. They were a bit more even sounding to me than the earliest 54 pair -- the pair I bought or traded with you I'm pretty sure. Though that 54 pair definitely had a bit of magic. I think a later pair might be worth checking out, pretty sure I paid less than $100/pair.
I would if I found a pair. Those things are hard to track down.
I guess the question is do any of those actually improve upon the sound of the pendant with upgrade tubes in their stock form? Or will they need upgrade tubes too?
shwnwllms
1000+ Head-Fier
Haha I think that comment about the ZMF/Decware OTL from the other thread is getting to you. Will they improve on the Pendant with stock tubes? Maybe. Has anyone actually stuck with stock tubes on those high end amps? I very highly doubt it.
shwnwllms
1000+ Head-Fier
I had always thought the same, but I’m always shocked when I come across Agartha and Rockwell owners who are still rocking stock tubes (they don’t know what they are missing)
Bigger Ben not so much as that is built for tube rolling and every owner I know has bought it for that express purpose
Stock tubes don't have that elusive tube magic simple as that
I'm not saying I would stick with the stock tubes. I'm saying that the baseline of the stock tubes would need to be better than my custom Pendant/Leeloo for me to make the jump to something more expensive. Then, improve from there.
Users who are viewing this thread
