AudioNervosa
The Market => Group Buys, Groupons, and Tours => Topic started by: bpape on January 26, 2008, 11:48:33 AM
-
Folks.
I have the Korato KTA-100 amp out on the East Coast right now with the Ravers. It may be out there a couple more weeks pending Mike Fremer's schedule to get it in his system for a week or so. When it's done, if there is interest, I could have it shipped to another location instead of coming back to me if there are other groups that would like to evaluate it.
It's difficult bringing a new brand into North America and I think this is the best way to do it. It's been compared to some very nice amps and held it's own very well. If you're looking for a solid state amp with a ton of slam, very deep bass, good imaging, but warmer balance like a tube amp, this may be what you're looking for.
This is the unit that was shown at RMAF last year in the ACI room. If there is interest along the way in purchasing the unit, we can discuss some very attractive pricing for that particular unit.
Specifics:
100WPC (very conservatively rated)
30W Class A
All discrete
Bipolar outputs
Single Ended inputs only
True dual mono construction (only tied at the IEC inlet)
Let me know.
Bryan
-
Sounds like fun 8)
-
Hey Brian, I just went on the Korato website and i was wondering if you had a pair of the KVA 150 dcc tube monoblocks to audition :drool: thanks....WCW III
-
I was thinking about that a few weeks ago when I read about its raving in NY. It sounded so good at RMAF, I would love to hear it at home, and have a G2G so others can hear it too. I don't have a date booked yet.
Thanks Bryan!
Rich
-
Bunky - no, unfortunately, I don't have any of the tube amps in country right now - but the monos were something I was considering getting in for RMAF this year. I have a personal interest in this. I wanna play with the KTA-100 on the bottom and the monos on the top of a biamp setup :shock: :mrgreen:
Where are you located? Just trying to figure out logistics.
Let me know what's up Rich. Any other takers?
Bryan
-
I will book a party this week, maybe February? or should I wait til March til KTA-100 can come? I don't want to rush Mr Fremer from his chance to give you your class A rating! He is a decent reviewer. I hope he will print something! That would be AWESOME!!!!
-
Yeah - that's kind of the only caveat. If he has a shot and wants to listen to it, I hate to rush him. My guess is that March would be a better idea. He was supposed to have it this week but had some deadlines to meet. I'll know more in the next few days.
Bryan
-
The later, the better for me... 2 months from now I hope to have 'the room' nearing completion... March will be cutting it close... but if it's ready 'enough' I'll be happy to compare it to what I've got... otherwise I'll take a listen at Rich's.
-C
-
Bunky - no, unfortunately, I don't have any of the tube amps in country right now - but the monos were something I was considering getting in for RMAF this year. I have a personal interest in this. I wanna play with the KTA-100 on the bottom and the monos on the top of a biamp setup :shock: :mrgreen:
Where are you located? Just trying to figure out logistics.
Let me know what's up Rich. Any other takers?
Bryan
Hey Brian, I am located in the Maryland Suburbs south of Baltimore. I will pm you with my home adress :D thanks....WCW III
-
Bunky, I heard it at Bryan's show in Denver with Korato tube preamp, a very nice combo, had a lot of buzz in the hallways. With your 10A it should be fantastic. It is detailed, but very gentle and relaxed. But it's all there to hear, nothing rubbed off. My first class A ss experience, I liked it!
-
http://www.korato.com/
http://www.bspaudio.com/Korato.htm
toot toot!!
-
I'm in. If it stays around east coast Great. If not can wait. Love tohear it with the Pipedreams.
rollo
-
No further word on Mr. Fremer so I think I'm going to end the NY tour. Looks like the next logical stop would be Balitmore and then down to Carolina. You still in Bunky?
Where are you Rollo?
Just trying to keep shipping costs down to a minimum.
Bryan
-
I will book a G2G for mid March. Looking forward to hearing it.
Rich
-
Looks like the Korato will be heding to Rich's place soon. Looking forward to a few new sets of ears taking a listen on some different equipment.
Thanks Rich.
Bryan
-
We'll be ready for it Bryan! Thanks so much for sending it our way.
I think the Korato will be a perfect match for the mighty Usher Be-20's that are already here, thanks to hometheaterdoc!
(http://www.audionervosa.com/gallery/128_20_03_08_5_59_39.JPG)
The G2G is March 30, 5pm. I hope everyone who can make it will try to come! The G2Gs have been a lot of fun. This meet will be less gear swapping and lots more listening. So bring your tracks!
Rich
-
Mmmmm. I bet that will be a nice match. What preamp are you using? I might be able to swing sending you the entry level Korato preamp. It'd have to be my personal one that has NOS tubes and has had the output caps swapped from Mundorfs to VH OIMP's.
Bryan
-
I'll have my C220 preamp there... I just put some new Electroharmonix tubes in it.. They sound pretty good, I'm surprised to say. I might have some Groovetubes also to try before the meet... we'll see.
Is the Korato pre a really nice piece? How's it sound? or not sound? ;)
-C
-
MINE is very much a tube preamp sound. Tube regulated PS, 12at/12au7 setup. TONS of gain. I have NO problem running the reduced output of the Bolder SB. It's definitely on the warm and lush side but that's what my setup needed. I've had several other pieces in my system costing several times more and for me, in my system, this is a winner until I want to spend a LOT more. So you know where I'm coming from, the rest of the system:
Bolder Statement Mod SB3
Bolder Ultimate PS
Odyssey Stratos Mono Extreme SEs
Dynaudio Contour 3.3's
Harmonic Tech Pro-9
VH Audio Pulsars
Substituting the KTA-100 amp for the Odysseys is actually MORE bass and IMO smoother (I'm a sucker for Class A amps) but obviously not as much power - though it's not as big a drop as you'd think.
Scott F. has the same preamp with the same mods but has VH Teflons in the tube couplers. A bit more detail and a bit more forward but still nice.
In any incarnation, this preamp is very very accepting of tube rolling. Stock EH, vs 60's RCA Blackplates (this is what I run with a Tele in the power supply), vs NOS Mullards - 3 completely different sounds.
Remember this is the entry level piece. The next step up is a 2 chassis (PS and preamp separated), dual mono, etc. The basic is a sub $2k piece that can be made to sound pretty much however you want. It's a simple circuit like the amp.
The entry level is more 'tubey'. The 2 chassis is more neutral and 'accurate'. Both are receptive to tube changes and other circuit tweaks.
Bryan
-
Nice system Bryan! I would love to hear those Dynaudios. I started reading the Positive feedback review.
I'm game to try your pre Bryan, but I hate to take away the heart of your system? I couldn't handle that.
I am breaking in Carl's new EH pre tubes for him and it is really opening up. With ss output buffers it can drive anything easily. I love the Mac features but I think I still prefer the purist, all tube circuit design of Minimax which I love for it's sunny clarity with RCAs, but it is not as quiet as the much larger chassis mac. Mini has 110ohm output Z with 9dB gain so it should have enough grunt for the the KTA100. The speaks are 91dB (8ohms) so gain is fine. The Altmann DAC is very hot output. 2+Vrms.
So, we don't need the KVP20 to make KTA100 sound great, but it's up to you if you want to showoff two pieces. The guys that usually come are pretty curious so we would probably swap things a bit. If you send it we can plan well so you're not without it for more than a few days.
Thanks
Rich
-
If you get the chance, do yourself a favor and audition the Korato KTA-100; for what it offers, its music lovers, high end bargain.
FWIW,
Paul (aka Occam)