Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2018 16:00:27 GMT
Seems recently that a growing number are reviving Radfords and ditching thinks of all sort of exotic creations.
The one that caught my eye and made me wonder was a fella on AoS who's ditching an INCREDIBLE looking EAR Poweramp in favour of a Radford TT100.
Am I missing something? Are they THAT good?
I'm not talking measurements, just opinion.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Jul 28, 2018 16:07:47 GMT
Seems recently that a growing number are reviving Radfords and ditching thinks of all sort of exotic creations. The one that caught my eye and made me wonder was a fella on AoS who's ditching an INCREDIBLE looking EAR Poweramp in favour of a Radford TT100. Am I missing something? Are they THAT good? I'm not talking measurements, just opinion. Some people do odd things. My mate kicked out an EAR Integrated in favour of a Naim 102/180. I really don’t know about Radford though, I had an SS integrated and that’s my sum total of experience. Jammy’s buying one though. |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Jul 28, 2018 16:10:41 GMT
It shouldn’t be too hard to grab a listen to one from someone at AoS. You might have to travel a few miles but well worth it for the expereince alone..
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Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2018 16:23:36 GMT
Like I say I've only ever heard me uncles one and that was a long long time ago but it left a lasting impression. Ugly as sin though.
Will of course let you know my findings once it arrives... hopefully before Xmas.
I've already dusted of my Jive Bunny Christmas hits in anticipation.
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Post by dsjr on Jul 28, 2018 17:07:00 GMT
People have been reviving Radfords since the mid 70's
They're good, probably among the very best of their type if truth be told, but they're not hugely powerful today and it's my view that jammy's existing amps are going to take a hell of a lot of beating *subjectively.* I think they sound rather more like good solid state amps than that false valvey 'glow' that many old valve gear has (my Croft rebuilt Quad II's for example which are glorious, but anything but truthful to what's going in).
Doesn't matter though. I enjoyed owning mine, but the gear I'd love to have back is on a totally opposite path to jammy's. Jammy, I hope you love it and treasure it  |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2018 17:09:55 GMT
Time will tell Dave.
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Post by macca on Jul 29, 2018 9:59:18 GMT
Seems recently that a growing number are reviving Radfords and ditching thinks of all sort of exotic creations. The one that caught my eye and made me wonder was a fella on AoS who's ditching an INCREDIBLE looking EAR Poweramp in favour of a Radford TT100. Am I missing something? Are they THAT good? I'm not talking measurements, just opinion. Yes. I've never heard anything by EAR that I've been keen on so I wouldn't hold that brand up as much of a benchmark for anything. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2018 10:56:28 GMT
Seems recently that a growing number are reviving Radfords and ditching thinks of all sort of exotic creations. The one that caught my eye and made me wonder was a fella on AoS who's ditching an INCREDIBLE looking EAR Poweramp in favour of a Radford TT100. Am I missing something? Are they THAT good? I'm not talking measurements, just opinion. Yes. I've never heard anything by EAR that I've been keen on so I wouldn't hold that brand up as much of a benchmark for anything. You're the second person today to say something similar to that. Maybe I've been seduced by bling. |
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Post by macca on Jul 29, 2018 11:12:17 GMT
Once you start down the bling path, forever will it dominate your destiny. Consume you it will.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2018 12:18:29 GMT
No chance, Macca. It wouldn't last here if it wasn't up to task. Regardless of how pretty it is.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2018 16:12:27 GMT
My mate has an EAR 861 power amp. That sounds damn good!
I had a soft spot for the old 834L pre-amp. It was a sweet sounding little thing. I liked it better than the similar looking 834P phonostage, which was nothing special.
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Post by dsjr on Jul 29, 2018 17:06:59 GMT
The 834L is severely 'valvey rose tinted' coloured though and what comes out is very different, or used to be, to what went in. Great if you like the sugary sonic processing these - and many CJ and ARC preamps too in my old experience.
I've spent a few hours with two EAR ampps in recent years. The 899, which continues the 'big softy 'EAR' sound for me, and the V6, which I absolutely adored - and feck it's silly UK pricing!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2018 19:11:34 GMT
EAR do have gold Knobs which i always find a nice touch.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2019 17:38:10 GMT
Seems recently that a growing number are reviving Radfords and ditching thinks of all sort of exotic creations. The one that caught my eye and made me wonder was a fella on AoS who's ditching an INCREDIBLE looking EAR Poweramp in favour of a Radford TT100. Am I missing something? Are they THAT good? I'm not talking measurements, just opinion. Yes they are THAT good. And they measure better than pretty much any other valve amp. TT100 is a strange beasty in that its a hybrid but the opposite of all others I can think of.... the output stage is valved (KT88's) but it's solid state up to that point! |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2019 17:41:18 GMT
Seems recently that a growing number are reviving Radfords and ditching thinks of all sort of exotic creations. The one that caught my eye and made me wonder was a fella on AoS who's ditching an INCREDIBLE looking EAR Poweramp in favour of a Radford TT100. Am I missing something? Are they THAT good? I'm not talking measurements, just opinion. Yes they are THAT good. And they measure better than pretty much any other valve amp. TT100 is a strange beasty in that its a hybrid but the opposite of all others I can think of.... the output stage is valved (KT88's) but it's solid state up to that point! Well, I have been offered the chance to audition a Radford 25, on loan in my home for as long as I want. I have declined, not for the belief that I wouldn't like the Radford, because I am sure I would.
Truth is, my 686 is floating my boat, thoroughly!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2019 17:49:49 GMT
Yes they are THAT good. And they measure better than pretty much any other valve amp. TT100 is a strange beasty in that its a hybrid but the opposite of all others I can think of.... the output stage is valved (KT88's) but it's solid state up to that point! Well, I have been offered the chance to audition a Radford 25, on loan in my home for as long as I want. I have declined, not for the belief that I wouldn't like the Radford, because I am sure I would.
Truth is, my 686 is floating my boat, thoroughly!
STA25 MkIII is one of my favourite amps at any price! What's a 686? |
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Post by antonio on Oct 18, 2019 18:00:15 GMT
He's a cheeky sod that Jez not reading all the threads and then asking a question.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2019 18:01:40 GMT
Wonderful amps Radford.. but the 70's Zero Distortion Transistorised models are more my cuppa Tea.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2019 18:08:29 GMT
Well, I have been offered the chance to audition a Radford 25, on loan in my home for as long as I want. I have declined, not for the belief that I wouldn't like the Radford, because I am sure I would.
Truth is, my 686 is floating my boat, thoroughly!
STA25 MkIII is one of my favourite amps at any price! What's a 686? neurochrome.com/products/modulus-686
Its a beauty!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2019 18:09:01 GMT
He's a cheeky sod that Jez not reading all the threads and then asking a question. fancy not reading EVERY thread!! lol |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2019 18:33:52 GMT
Aha yes it's that chip amp... Many seem to really rate them!
I have one I made years ago which I still use at times. LM3886 as used in the 686 but just the one per channel. I made it with ultra short signal path, point to point built, and used the heatsink itself as the chassis, with copper plated screws from an old Sony CD player taking things to ground which is the heatsink... 1/4" thick or so of aluminium makes a rather good ground plane! It sounds really good actually! It's seen off several £1000+ commercial amps and all just a £5 chip and a handful of resistors!
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Post by sq225917 on Oct 18, 2019 19:37:55 GMT
My 4-86 (mod86p bridged) are the best amps I've heard, sweeter than an n core in the treble and better in the bass than all other a/b amps I've owned. Theres nothing to the sound, just an open window.
They'll be wired and fired on sunday at the Sheffield bake off.
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