• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Any thoughts on Bottleheads Paramour monoblocks kit?

Mr. Lin

Mr. Lin

Lunatic Member
So I think I'm just about ready to dive into the DIY tube amp world, and I'd like to go for monoblocks. I took a look at Bottleheads beginner-level kits (found out about Bottlehead on AK, of course), and the new Paramour monoblocks kit looks very attractive. Expensive, but I know as always it's not a good idea to skimp.

Does anyone have any experience with this kit, or any of Bottleheads tube amp kits?

I'm open to other suggestions for monoblock kits if you think there's something better for around the same price tag.

Btw, I'm thinking the new Klipsch RB-35 model speakers will be a good match as sensitivity is 96db, but I'm also open to suggestions for small very efficient speakers in the $300-$400 range.

As always I appreciate any thoughts or advice.

Dave
 
Register to hide this ad
Not to damn the Bottlehead or Klipsch products, but it sounds a lot like two stabs in the dark. You need to be happy with your system, you really should do some listening for yourself before you decide.
 
Dave,
I know where you are coming from. I was there not too long ago myself. I was on the fence between the Paramours and the Paramounts. Back and forth for months. I bet I read the descriptions to both kits at least 3 or 4 times a night. For me this was an expensive decision to make and I wanted to be sure I would be happy AND satisfied ( no remorse for not getting the TOTL kit ). I had just completed the Foreplay III and before that, the Seduction with C4S kit. I ended up with the Paramounts ( experimenters kit with both 2A3 and 300B tubes ). I built the Paramounts as 2A3s and I am tickled pink with the sound - just awesome. I highly recommend the Bottlehead kits, great instruction manuals with great pictures. I am running my Bottlehead system through my Klipsch Chorus IIs and they sound glorious, the 2A3 puts out enough power to run me out of the room. They seem to handle the low wattage so well I am considering wiring them up to some 45s.
I say go for the Bottleheads, you won't be disappointed. If you can find someone close to you that has some Bottlehead gear, give it a listen, then you will know for sure if that is the direction you want to head in. I hope this gives you a little push, and some info you were asking about. If you can think of any questions, just ask here or on the Bottlehead forum, they are both exceptional forums.

Kim
 
Thanks Kim, I really appreciate it.

While it would be nice to be able to audition some of these components, it's simply impractical. There aren't any Klipsch dealers in my area, and certainly no one I know has any Bottlehead gear or has even considered building their own amp. Many of my friends love music as much as I do, they're just not into the technical side of it. So I'm completely alone in this.

In any case, I don't see any reason why those speakers shouldn't work just fine with these amps.
 
One other question: What do they mean in the description by "hum balance pot"? Isn't that just the volume control?
 
The hum pots are just that, you adjust them to get the lowest "HUM" out of the amp. They are NOT volume pots, that duty willl come from your preamp. If you don't have a preamp, then mono blocks are not going to do you any good. If you don't have a separate preamp, I'd suggest you look at the S.E.X. amp from Bottlehead, it has a volume control, not mono blocks, but still SE and cheaper than the Paramours. Of course you could always go the the Foreplay III kit route first and get your feet wet with DIY. Keep 'em coming.

Kim
 
Last edited:
If you're leaning toward SE 2A3, you might consider scratch-building the JE Labs / Angela Instruments stereo amp. There's a fair amount of information (and pictures!) online, enough that a rookie like me was able to build one. See the link in my signature for more details on that amp.

Advantages are that you get to source all the parts and decide the layout yourself. Choosing your own parts could save you a lot of money over the kit options out there. I built my amp for around $700, and that included several key upgrades over the budget options. Deciding the layout yourself puts your personal mark on the amp.

Disadvantages may be that you have to source all the parts yourself (I ordered from no fewer than four companies), and you decide the layout (you might end up with something that doesn't work out as well as you'd hoped). Also, you'll have to work the chassis yourself, which can be pretty tricky if you don't have the proper tools.

I'm pushing recapped Klipsch Forte's with my amp, and I think it sounds great. Look for older Klipsch products - the Heritage and "Extended heritage" products can be great values and often mate well with low-powered tube amps. That said, Squidward is on the money when he says you should listen if you get the chance. But I jumped into this blindly, too. I had never heard a pair of Klipsch speakers before buying the Forte's, and I had never even seen a 2A3 tube (except in pictures) prior to building this amp. I consider myself fortunate to have found such synergy, but it took some muddling to get there, too.
 
I have a Bottlehead foreplay 2. I built it as a beginner having no electronics experence at all.I got it running after a few mistakes in a few days.The sound was better than the looks of the equipment would lead you to think.I thought about doing exactly what you are thinking about but decided to get some vintage tube amps instead.I like the old stuff and don't mind the small sound tradeoff useing a pp vs a set.If i were you i would get the upgraded capacitors from the get go.Im sure they have a deal on some. The stock caps while not sounding bad will look cheap mine did.Some solens or auricaps would sound better and save you from diging into the amps a second time.If you get the amps you will want to fool around with them once you start reading the bottlehead forum.Trust me:)I used klipsch heresy 2's with a 12 watt pp amp the harmon kardon a 224.At 96 db and with a small roon 13 x 20 it was just enough to enjoy loud music.So my point is you need some klipsch or altec's or lowther speakers to really get your moneys worth.If you already have them or are going to get them you will be very pleased with the sound for sure!
 
Squidward said:
Not to damn the Bottlehead or Klipsch products, but it sounds a lot like two stabs in the dark. You need to be happy with your system, you really should do some listening for yourself before you decide.
Click to expand...

Let he who has not stabbed in the dark cast the first stone.

:D
 
I have the older version of the Paramours and have used them with the Klipsch KG-4. Bass is weak. the couple of watts that the Paramours produce just doesn't drive the woofer well. The RB-35 might be a better match, hard to tell, I've never listened to a pair.

This is not to say they sound bad together. Not at all. They sound very nice together, however, over time I've migrated to my Dynaco ST-35 clone.


Bottlehead makes some very nice kits and Don is a heck of a nice guy (and his wive is a real sweety). You can do a lot of experimenting with them (boutique parts, etc.). That being said... actually I don't know what else to say. I think that unless money is not much of an issue, the Paramours are an expensive start in the hobby.


Honestly, dollar for dollar I've been happier with my K-12M amp from S5Electronics (http://s5electronics.com/). I've made extensive upgrades to the original kit and have still come in under $300 for 8 watts of very nice sound (my original kit cost was $130, they have gone up a bit).
 
My opinion would be to go for the Paramount unless you really want to modify and redesign the Paramour. The RB-35's will work well with either but still are not the best match. This model Klipsch would like a sub to reinforce the bottom end. The Paramours being a little lite in the bottom combined with the same trait in the speakers will yield a super wonderful mid range, exemplary highs and make you almost believe you don't need bass. I have owned Paramours for several years and modded the heck out of them. They are a great starter amp and do deliver big bang for the buck.

Terry
 
soundmotor said:
Let he who has not stabbed in the dark cast the first stone.
Click to expand...

My earlier comment wasn't meant as an admonishment, but rather a warning to "not do as I have done". The road to audio nirvana need not be paved with expensive toys that almost, but not quite, made your personal cut. You can pair any speaker with any amp, and someone is bound to love it while another hates it. Obviously the OP is in a bind, can't audition before buying, but I still cringe when people put together a virtual system of components that they've never heard and asks, "Will it sound good?" The only real answer is, "I hope so!"

FWIW, I do believe that Bottlehead products are excellent choices for the money involved, and I like some Klipsch speakers, I just can't guarantee that anyone else would. Also, Klipsch products are all over the map in terms of price/performance/quality. If there's a smokin' deal on CL for a pair of local heritage Klipsch, go ahead and stab away! Odds are you won't lose much! However, I think that the OP was thinking of buying his system from a manufacturer, and possibly speakers off ebay. That could get pretty expensive pretty quick.

Redboy is also right: You can get even more value for your dollar buy building well known published designs that are not in kit form. And kits slay new products at their price points!
 
I would suggest you go here:

http://www.wardsweb.org/audio/paramours/build/build.html

Also ping Wardsweb or PM him. His pictures are of a build of the Paramour (one) what is sold now is the Paramour II. It is a larger chassis. That makes the build a little more easy.

I spent the weekend of Oct. 1 building a Paramount, but it was missing parts and I never heard it.

But as Squidward mentions, it is always best to hear the amp/speakers together in your room to decide if it is what you want. If you ask on the Bottlehead forum, you might find someone near you willing to bring his amps for an audition.

Good luck,
 
I like the completely random nature of picking out components, personally. It helps me communicate with my inner audiophile. :) My budget sort of forces trial and error with what I can find at thrifts but it doesn't take long to Keggerize your basement by using this methodolgy.
 
Ok, so I didn't realize that I'd need a preamp, and once again you guys saved me from learning something like that after the fact. Thank you all for your advice.

That said, I've gone over all Bottleheads products, and I still really want the Paramours. I don't have a preamp, just two tube phono preamps, one very sweet Wright 200C currently in use, and a Pro-Ject Tube Box II on standby. I'm willing to buy a preamp, I'll just have to spread this all out a bit, or...

Bottlehead has a package deal for the Foreplay III and Paramour II. Could someone explain exactly what the Foreplay could be used for? Could I use that as my preamp with the Paramours? That seems to be what they're saying on the site, basically with those two kits all you need is a source and speakers. So if anyone could answer that for me I'd really appreciate it. Kim?:D
 
The foreplay is a preamp. Another option you may want to consider is making a passive preamp using some slagle autoformers or some other alternative. Not that the FPIII is bad by any stretch, it has made many consumers happy.
 
Wow that was fast. So if I bought those two together I'd be set once I get a pair of proper speakers and hook up my source?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom