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Decware
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Not ridiculous. They have a small staff, and build everything to order in East Peoria, IL. They have a long waiting list because they make great stuff.
And to the OP, yes, I've used both their Taboo and Torii amps with Cornwalls, and it's a perfect match. Those amps have moved on, but I still have and use their CSP 2 pre/headphone amp. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
mhardy6647
Lunatic Member
I have one of Deckert's early products, an SE-84B.
It is an Ok amplifier: simple, cheap, sounds good, very quiet (for which he gets credit), very low power (which he -- misrepresented -- for a long time until he pretty much had to fess up). Not really suited for full-range use even with a pair of Klipsch Cornwalls, though.
His stuff is decent, but his Drew Kaplan-esque hyperbole (and discovering better, "entry level" single-ended stuff from, e.g., Bottlehead) put me off of the brand fairly quickly.
Now Deckert's stuff is considerably fancier and has gotten to be pretty expensive, too.
It is an Ok amplifier: simple, cheap, sounds good, very quiet (for which he gets credit), very low power (which he -- misrepresented -- for a long time until he pretty much had to fess up). Not really suited for full-range use even with a pair of Klipsch Cornwalls, though.
His stuff is decent, but his Drew Kaplan-esque hyperbole (and discovering better, "entry level" single-ended stuff from, e.g., Bottlehead) put me off of the brand fairly quickly.
Now Deckert's stuff is considerably fancier and has gotten to be pretty expensive, too.
bjlefebvre
Super Member
I've always been kind of half-interested in their Tori, but I don't think it would drive my Yamaha NS-690s very well. But I heard that the Decware amps, while superb for jazz and acoustic, may not have the oomph for something like, say, Iggy & The Stooges. Or is that an old wives' tale?
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Currently have a 5.1 SS sys and am ready to go 2.0 tube.
I have done a fair amount of research and have settled on a short list of amps and the pair of speakers I will purchase, but need advice on the amp.
The amp short list is:
Decware SE34I.5
Decware Torii jr
Raven Blackhawk LE
Speakers I have decided on are Tekton Pendragon
Room size is 14' x 20' open on one corner to a hallway and opposite corner open to kitchen.
Concerns:
I fear the 6 watt SE34I.5 will not provide enough power for the low end.
The Torii jr and the Blackhawk LE won't image as well as the SE.
Any and all advice will be much appreciated.
I have done a fair amount of research and have settled on a short list of amps and the pair of speakers I will purchase, but need advice on the amp.
The amp short list is:
Decware SE34I.5
Decware Torii jr
Raven Blackhawk LE
Speakers I have decided on are Tekton Pendragon
Room size is 14' x 20' open on one corner to a hallway and opposite corner open to kitchen.
Concerns:
I fear the 6 watt SE34I.5 will not provide enough power for the low end.
The Torii jr and the Blackhawk LE won't image as well as the SE.
Any and all advice will be much appreciated.
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You should call Steve Deckert and get his opinion. I think it you might run into trouble with the 6 watter, but Steve will give you honest feedback. Also,if you haven't already, ask the same question on the Decware Forums. Lots of very knowledgeable folks over there, particularly when it comes to Decware products.
MurrayLives
Born to lose, live to win
I thought the phono stage with a spark gap was kind of clever, though I've never heard one. 3 to 4 months isn't completely beyond the pale for a small shop that does made to order artisan work, but I do understand the frustration.
Poultrygeist
Lunatic Member
The Pendragons are 95 dbs and 6 watts is plenty.
I use a 3 watt SET with my least efficient speakers which are 93 db Fostex BL horns.
My Zenith Alnico OB's are 96 dbs and they'll wake the dead with my 4 watt EL84 SE.
I doubt I've ever used a single watt with my 98 db Lowthers.
I use a 3 watt SET with my least efficient speakers which are 93 db Fostex BL horns.
My Zenith Alnico OB's are 96 dbs and they'll wake the dead with my 4 watt EL84 SE.
I doubt I've ever used a single watt with my 98 db Lowthers.
Poultrygeist and Berger,
Thanks for the reply. I was really concerned that 6 watts (although may be plenty loud) wouldn't provide enough low end to fill the room.
sberger,
I followed your advice and emailed Steve Deckert and his reply:
"The Pendragons will mate very well with the SE34I.5 for sure. If you have a choice between the 8 and 4 ohm, get the 8 ohm because the amplifier will have a touch more power."
I will give this a bit more thought but am currently about 70-30 in favor of the SE along with the ZSB switch box with volume remote.
Also, I was 100% in on the ZCD240 network cd player but unfortunately it is now discontinued.
Now back to the drawing board on a DAC.
I've owned several Decware products. I think you will be impressed. In a medium size room it should drive your Cornwalls very nicely. Not sure what kind of music you listen to but you may consider adding a self powered subwoofer for below 100hz.
cipriano
Well-Known Member
I've had my SE84UFO for over a year, and I'm super happy. Never turned my volume past noon. And that was only to show disbelievers what it could do. For everyday listening I'm between 8:00 to 10:00.
With Cornwalls you could actually go with a .75 Darling tube amp and have enough power.
With Cornwalls you could actually go with a .75 Darling tube amp and have enough power.
ab2forever
Active Member
What is the whole rubbish about?
I only had to read this and immediately nearly threw up.
FYI
In several double blind testing by some of the world's best soloists, it's well known the Strad was often marked as the worst instrument compared with a line up of different violins including several modern brand new ones.
Not knowing this is ignorance.
Ignorance is bliss.
"One of the reasons it can do this is because like a Stradivarius violin, each amp is hand voiced down to the finest details. For the same reason a Stradivarius sounds superior to mass produced violins, the Zen is simply untouchable by mass produced amplifiers"
I never read such a load of bollox in my life!
I only had to read this and immediately nearly threw up.
FYI
In several double blind testing by some of the world's best soloists, it's well known the Strad was often marked as the worst instrument compared with a line up of different violins including several modern brand new ones.
Not knowing this is ignorance.
Ignorance is bliss.
"One of the reasons it can do this is because like a Stradivarius violin, each amp is hand voiced down to the finest details. For the same reason a Stradivarius sounds superior to mass produced violins, the Zen is simply untouchable by mass produced amplifiers"
I never read such a load of bollox in my life!
Poultrygeist
Lunatic Member
Wrong forum for a violin discussion
cipriano
Well-Known Member
You never know - Maybe 317 years from now, hand built P2P wired tube amps may fetch big bucks. There will be bespectled experts who can judge the condition of the jupiter capacitors, all the solder points and the aesthetic condition. Fancy auction houses will need a deposit of 5 million just for people to enter the bidding. Stranger things have happened. 
Heck, stranger things have happened just this week!
Heck, stranger things have happened just this week!
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mhardy6647
Lunatic Member
"What's all this talk about too much violins on internet forums..."
http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/emilys-editorial-reply/3506031
