Grant Fidelity Audio - Read Only

[r3cc0s]

Hi everyone,

I've only as of late heard of this local line of tube electronics based out of Calgary.

I must say, after hearing a setup of the A348 and a Grant Fidelity CDP, I was quite impressed with the tone on the setup at General Audio with the Paradigm Monitor 11s

I'm sure the speakers held the limitations of the setup

I'm a Totem Arro user and I've been playing around with a few lines of tube products and intend to remain, as I love the sound of sweet sweet triode power

My setup includes the present following:
Jolida JD100A
Conrad Johnson CAV-50
Totem Arros
Tara Labs RSC Prime 1000
Ic's anytihng from kimber, straight wire, and even a cheapo that I like from Outlaw Audio
Power cables are Volex 17504s

So far the synergy is right, and I'm utilizing a matchup of tubes from Mullard, RCA & Electro Harmonix

What I'm looking for is a "tad" more power, as the Conrad I think is running out of steam, especially if I even attempt to try to get to a reference level of db. I'm running into serious dynamic compression.

My first inclination was to go to a Jolida 502 series or a Rogue device

However as they are not stock'd I have no real opinions other than what I've read

On the other hand, I've been fortunate enough to hear equipment from Pimaluna & Audio Space

of both were based upon 12AX7s and KT88 tubes
From one to the other, I think the overall imaging and control of the Audio Space was superior compared to the Primaluna Prologue 2
So is the price point...

So to Ian? (I think is the owner)
What would suit me best?
I appreaciate the sound out of the EL34' best, but severaly limitations on power
The 300Bs are possibly the best sounding "power" tube.. well at least the NOS Mullards are... however they are always a expensive rarity

I don't intend to stick with the Arros forever, but I am fond of unfortunately ineffecient speakers, such as the Fabers and even the Coincident line of speakers

However, for my current circumstance I'd like to know what you'd see a good fit, and whether they can perform to the par of Audio Space and the infamous Rogue electronics?

[igrant]

Thanks for the questions. Did you ask Rod to let you take an A-348 home for the weekend? If not I can also arrange. I have a few open box demo's here. Then you can see how it compares.

What is also very cool about the A-348 is that you can roll in KT-88's if you need a bit more power or the more refined KT-88 sound. As it only takes about 5 minutes to roll and reset the bias. I tend to go with the EL-34 for when I want to listen to music and the KT-88's when I want to listen to my system. I imagine you know what I mean

Let me know if you want to demo it.

Our A-534B will drive your hard to drive speakers loads too, having the EL-34's as driver tubes to the 300b's. I can shake the walls with the A-534 and our GF 85db 2 way Morels. That said you aren't getting the raw power of the A-348. The added big bonus with the A-534B is you are getting what could well be the best headpone amp on the market, with the headphones being fed by the 300B tubes, heaven

Ian

[r3cc0s]

Hi Grant,

Thanks for talking to me on the phone the other day.
I'm thinking that we should schedule a time for me to demo perhaps my speakers to your line of products to see which might be the best match.

After talking with you, the 300B 534 amp sounds like a great idea, but there have been mentions with other people that the Totems have such a strange cross over which tends to like more dynamic headroom, which might push me back to the EL34 or KT88 tubeset, rather than a straight SET amplifier.

I was also told that the best compromise of sound & power is in fact the KT66 tubes... where this push/pull pentode tube has the sound characteristics of SET...
So I'm wondering if that was something you were planning on designing?

[igrant]

[r3cc0s]

Grant, out of curiosity... do your amps have a pre-out for a subwoofer?

I was thinking of adding a REL 205 to my system and this would be a nice feature, rather than having to wire the subwoofer to the terminal outputs.

[igrant]

None of our tube integrated amps have a pre-out. We use the P-307 as a pre for that, when we need to split the signal, .25 v line level to the amp and .7v to the sub or wherever.

Ian

[igrant]

So, how is your GF A-88 with the Totems?

[r3cc0s]

This Amp has performed wonderfully

This A-88 has plenty of power in both Triode & full Pentode (UL) to deliver what I required with my Totems.

Both the Hawks & Arros are driven effortlessly with tremendous finesse.

As compared to my recently sold EL34 based Conrad Johnson CAV-50 (2,300 retail) I have retained the tube "sound" yet gained the following benefits:

Soundstage: Width, Depth and Air has improved
Details: Resolution is far superior, providing the airiness that I'm now experiencing
Mid-Range: Lucid smoothness with vocals in Triode, and full instrumental reproduction in Pentode
Timbre & Harmonics from Piano & Guitar are more accurately reproduced
Bass: Supurb control and better low frequency responce

Having the KT-88 Shuguang tubes power my setup has given me the dynamic headroom I required for the pace & swing of some "hard to reproduce" music that I occasionally listen to

This amp makes my Arros Sing... Tonally accurate and one of the best imaged setups I've listened to.

Present setup now:
Totem Arro (& Hawks but much prefer the Arros)
Tara Labs RSC Prime 1000 @ 8 ft. Runs bi-wired
GF A-88 with the PC 1.5 cable
eichmann eXpress 6 series 2 Interconnects
Jolida JD100A stage 1 Mods w/ Electro Harmonix gold 12AX7s

Brilliant... The only thing left is to buy another power cord from Grant
Those PC 1.5's really do open up your electronics.
Replacing my trusty Volex 16504 with this on my source (Jolida) has been most noticeable.
Increased resolution and bass control... not just a slight discernable difference, but significantly better encouraging better projected imaging and immersion

Brilliant stuff

Ian has been great to deal with. From letting me into his home and showing me his present lineup & future projects, I can tell you he has great confidence in his products and is an incredibly nice person to deal with.

Cheers!