GoodSoundClub - Romy the Cat's Audio Site

In the Forum: Audio Discussions
In the Thread: Single Ended Pentode to go?

Post Subject: Zener drop for G2Posted by rowuk on: 5/20/2014

I have tried the 307A in triode connection in the "standard" no feedback moron 12Axx (in my case 12 AT7) easy configuration with a coupling capacitor and it was "nice". Critical listening was almost impossible, I kept zapping around to find more "impressive" cuts. With Alex Kitics RH concept I have more than enough power (+7Watts?), and very interesting "Sound". Good recordings have a certain "explosiveness" without the etched imaging or mush of the "easy triode". There seems to be some "intelligence" depending on how "thick" the instrumentalist plays. The most important aspect is that I am motivated to keep listening and discovering things not through more "detail", rather by being able to follow the musicians line.
The zeners seem to be one of the key factors to the Sound. I tried a resistor, but the entire presentation changed in the direction of "soft". I can compare this to different trumpets that I own. The RH amp has more core and meat, the triode was big and fluffy but was more like a 3d animation than the space that I have when I am on stage. I just turn on the amp. wait about 5 minutes and listen.
In the past years I have had EL34 and 84s in various configs, a PP config the longest with relatively inefficient speakers. I changed to a 4 way system with horns a couple of years ago and there was a fairly long list of things that I thought could be better that I thought were related to the amplifier - This is the first major step.
Alex Kitic is a very vociferous designer, very convinced about what he is doing - He is very responsive to questions by mail and this venture to get a reference "melody range" for myself has been very good in terms of the sonic results and in getting some independent background behind what I am doing.
It is worth looking through his website. I find plenty of inspiration and because he sells nothing and "gives away" his ideas, there is a credibility that is hard to find anywhere else - except here.......

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