cogitech
Full Ranger
I recently took advantage of Grant Fidelity's huge liquidation sale on "heavy" gear by buying the Shuguang I-25 at nearly half price. That's right. $400, shipping included. I simply have to say, this is an unbelievable audio bargain!
And it is heavy! Over 30 pounds. Heavy and gorgeous. That was my first impression while unpacking it. This is not your typical Chinese mass-produced junk. Quite the opposite.
Before I go too far, I should mention that they are sold out. However, the Psvane TS-66 (essentially the same amp) is available for the same price.
This is my first tube amp. I have been a solid-state listener for about 25 years. I have had various levels of SS quality during that time, but most recently had been using Yamaha's current 50 wpc 2-ch, the R-S300. For the money, a nice receiver - I was getting along with it fine.
Yesterday I decommisioned it and setup the Shuguang in my system. Source is usually FLAC/APE but I have quite a lot of high bitrate MP3. This is served up from an Asus EeePC running Linux. DeaDBeeF is the player of choice, and it is configured to bypass the Linux sound system and output directly to my USB/SPDIF converter, then optical to my HotAudio DACWow, then to the I-25. Speakers are DIY; dual CSS (MarkAudio) EL70 full rangers in Planet-10 Hi-Fi designed "microTower" enclosures. No crossover, just two 4 ohm drivers in series, connected to each channel.
As far as I can tell, this is a match made in heaven.
I only have a few hours of listening in so far, but all I can really say is that I am amazed and extremely pleased with my purchase. This amp just does everything better than the Yamaha. It has half the power, but somehow it produces music with so much more authority. The bass, in particular, just has more balls. The mids and highs are more "real". The tones! The warmth!
I'm officially a "tube guy".
All of this for about $100 more than the Yamaha?
Unreal.
And it is heavy! Over 30 pounds. Heavy and gorgeous. That was my first impression while unpacking it. This is not your typical Chinese mass-produced junk. Quite the opposite.
Before I go too far, I should mention that they are sold out. However, the Psvane TS-66 (essentially the same amp) is available for the same price.
This is my first tube amp. I have been a solid-state listener for about 25 years. I have had various levels of SS quality during that time, but most recently had been using Yamaha's current 50 wpc 2-ch, the R-S300. For the money, a nice receiver - I was getting along with it fine.
Yesterday I decommisioned it and setup the Shuguang in my system. Source is usually FLAC/APE but I have quite a lot of high bitrate MP3. This is served up from an Asus EeePC running Linux. DeaDBeeF is the player of choice, and it is configured to bypass the Linux sound system and output directly to my USB/SPDIF converter, then optical to my HotAudio DACWow, then to the I-25. Speakers are DIY; dual CSS (MarkAudio) EL70 full rangers in Planet-10 Hi-Fi designed "microTower" enclosures. No crossover, just two 4 ohm drivers in series, connected to each channel.
As far as I can tell, this is a match made in heaven.
I only have a few hours of listening in so far, but all I can really say is that I am amazed and extremely pleased with my purchase. This amp just does everything better than the Yamaha. It has half the power, but somehow it produces music with so much more authority. The bass, in particular, just has more balls. The mids and highs are more "real". The tones! The warmth!
I'm officially a "tube guy".
All of this for about $100 more than the Yamaha?
Unreal.
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