Grant Fidelity Audio - Read Only

[smorgenroth]

I received my RITA on Monday. It was left on my doorstep while I was at work but I left Fedex permission to leave it. Yes, it was too heavy to move by myself. Later, with help, I got it in the front door and uncrated it and with help got it upstairs. Tubes and connections were no problem. Listening was a pleasure right from the start. The sound stage was good, dynamic, and exciting(which was not the case when I tried other tube amps). The words to songs were clearer than my other (much more expensive) solid state system. It produces better bass also that I didn't know my speakers were capable of. I have only listened for two evenings so far but it is all that is promised and I can't wait as it breaks in and gets better. I plan to try the power cords and conditioner soon.

[Rod Moysey]

I've sold just about every major tube amp brand in the past 30 odd years and I can say that the Rita is the best tube amp I have ever heard or sold.

It does everything right and with tons of power. At the retail price she is a no brainer for looks and performance. She hasn't missed a beat since we got her 6 months ago and is an excellent match for the Focal line of speakers, all the way up to the new $180,000 Focal Grande Utopia EM's.

Our floor model has been rolled with cryo'd Shuguang KT-88 tubes and cryo'd Shuguang 6SN7GT which to my ears even makes her even better, less lady like.

Rita, hooked up to a chair, would still sound great !!!

Highly recommended.

Rod Moysey,
General Audio

[smorgenroth]

I think its broken in now and all is well. Still enjoying the sound and prefer listening to it over my other components. Maybe next year I'll try different tubes but for now, I'm very happy.

[igrant]

I'll be doing some roll tests with our new Shuguang Treasure Series once we have some back in stock, my ones for Rita (KT-88's and 6SN7's) ended up going to EnjoyTheMusic for review. Gersimon here who did the first customer review of Rita, really liked adding some NOS pre-amp tubes (RCA grey bottles I think) to get more of a tube type sound out of Rita. I tried them too, but still prefer her in stock form so far.

The Shuguang Treasures didn't have enough time on them, they take about 300 hours to break in, to make a comparison. We've got so many amps now and some very expensive ones that we haven't launched yet and still nothing comes close to Rita as a 'just does everything right, with power' amp.

I've heard that your Rita will be used at your next Houston Audio Society meeting and that some members are already raving about how good your system is. One day I hope to attend one of your meetings and hear your system

We have a RITA-340 that has just finished being reviewed somewhere in Texas, which if your interested (the one from from RMAF), we can get shipped over to you then your could also do a EL-34/KT-88 comparison. We call her baby Rita as the casing was supposed to be smaller, but that changed once we brought her into production, basically the same amp, just different sized parts part to maximize the EL-34 experience and without the cast aluminum casing, so she weighs in a bit less.

Also, I'm now listening to Rita with the ShengYa V-518's wood horn tower speakers, this is an incredible match. Not sure of you saw Rod's post on Rita sounding great even if you hooked up chairs to her, all speakers sound great, but this match again, is something to hear. 2percent here is also running this combination.

Hope to hear from HAS's members on their thoughts of Rita.

Cheers,
Ian
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[smorgenroth]

Thank you for your reply and positive comments. Yes my system will be the focus of our next meeting and yes, I am getting very positive comments from people who have heard my system so far. I have just upgraded the CD-RITA interconnect and my phono cartridge to Koetsu-Urishi and I just put in a dedicated line. The RITA is in heaven. You are always welcome to our meeting and we can have you present anything you wish. You can even stay at my house-if you like dogs and cats. I will check out the ShengYa speakers you mention. I have Esoteric MG-20's right now and they are doing a great job. Regarding shipping the RITA 340 to me, I choose not to handle more heavy components right now but thanks.