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| Letters -- July 2004 From a Blue Circle buyer July 22, 2004 To Ross Mantle, Have you compared the Naim NAP 250 with the Blue Circle BC24? Currently I'm a Naimiac, but I am looking for an affordable amp that has all the PRAT and musicality of a Naim, but is better. The three-grand price range is where I'm at -- and I'm leery of getting involved with tubes (sorry!). I'm told by the local "experts" that a used Levinson would be the "best of all worlds." Since I'm in Canada, your review of the BC24 got me interested in this product. Tom Frisby I haven't done any direct comparisons between the BC24 and the Naim or the Levinson amps you mention. All three are competent products with good reputations. The BC24 is a hybrid. It has small tubes on the input stage of the amp, but a solid-state output stage, which allows it to escape from the hardness and the etched quality that is a characteristic of some pure solid-state amps. As you know, I think the extra hassle of tubes is well worth it. The BC24 decreases the hassle because it is only partially tubed. My best advice is that the BC24 is likely to outperform either of the other two amps you mention when the stock Soviet tubes in it are replaced with premium matched tubes (you're talking about spending anywhere from $50-350 on upgraded tubes)....Ross Mantle. I bought the BC24 and I am delighted that I did. It really creams the Naim as is. I intend to change the tubes in the near future, and I anxiously await the pleasant surprise in store. Tom Frisby Computer audio July 19, 2004 To Ross Mantle, Your editorial "My Dream of Convergence" inspired me to experiment with the idea of using a PC to play music CDs. In actual fact, I had the same notion years ago but just did not get the required mental support. Basically, I ripped CDs into a computer using EAC and output the .WAV files through the S/PDIF of my M-Audio Audiophile 2496 soundcard. Initially, I played the music via Media Player 9, but later found that the SoundForge 6.0 produced better-quality sound, for reasons I could not figure out. However, the downside of using SoundForge 6.0 is that you have to play the .WAV files one by one instead of by playlist. The digital files were decoded by an old Krell DAC and played through a Krell amplification system with B&W speakers. To sum up the result, it's simply stunning. As you said in your article, a hard drive makes a great CD "transport." I decided to assemble a dedicated PC to store my entire CD collection and play the music from the PC from now on. I wonder if there are other people in the world who like to use the PC as a CD transport as I did. I'd like to share my experiences with them; in particular, I wonder whether there's another software player that can do the job better. Michael Fung As I said in the piece, at least one manufacturer I know of is going in this direction. I also wonder whether something similar could be done with video to enhance quality there. I'm sure other readers will write in with their own experiences....Ross Mantle Tube upgrades for Blue Circle BC24 July 13, 2004 To Ross Mantle, I work with Penaudio from Finland as a consultant and beta site. I am also the Finnish Trade Commissioner to the US. I recently purchased a Blue Circle BC24, running it direct from a Muse 10 with the attenuator module. My other amp is a CJ MF-2250A. I use Penaudio Charisma/Chara speakers and Analysis Plus Oval 8 and Solo Crystal Oval cables. I fully agree with your review and now need to change tubes. The BC's soundstage was flat compared to the CJ and there was a definite high-end veil. With the CJ the musicians were in the same room. With the BC, they were in the next room. I am hoping to eliminate this with new tubes. You stated that you settled on the Siemens and Halski CCa tubes. I have tried Russian military, Siemens CCa, and Telefunken tubes. The Russian tubes had the most body but were not very open. The Telefunkens were very two-dimensional and recessed-sounding. The CCa tubes almost get me the sound I want. The 3D soundstage is back and there seems to be a very slight top-end compression or roll-off, which makes me want more midrange bloom. I have a pair of used Ampex coming from a friend so let's see. Are the Siemens CCa tubes the same as the ones you used? If not, what were the other tubes you used and which do you think would eliminate the problems I am hearing? Finally, where can I buy them? Val Kratzman I asked Dave Parry of AVTAC, who lent me the tubes, to help with your question. His answer is below....Ross Mantle From Dave Parry: "Siemens was once upon a time Siemens & Halski. At some point around the mid-'60s they dropped the Halski for some reason. It is very difficult to differentiate between the two vintages. You can to a certain degree rely upon the overlaid S/H logo silk-screened on the tube. On real vintage tubes, the logo and writing on the glass will rub right off very easily. It was never paint. If it is paint on a pair of so-called early S&H CCa tubes, they're fake. If the tubes come with the original retail packaging, the best you can get are blue-and-yellow boxes. These would be late-‘50s/early-‘60s vintage. Blue and orange or orange with a blue outline are later Siemens (no Halski). These are inferior to the earlier S&Hs, but still pretty darn good. Never buy any CCa tubes from 1975 up through the ‘80s as they tend to be very bright. The older ones I've mentioned seem to have just the right balance of bass, mid-bass, and midrange. The newer ones lack this and are shrill as a result. For a good source, I recommend Tubeworld.com. Their prices are a bit high, but you get what you pay for. If he says it's a 1960s CCa, it is. Also, the Telefunken CCa tubes of the same era are just as good as the Siemens and Halski. They're typically in the same price range and definitely shouldn't be excluded from consideration. Hope this helps." Gryphon versus Gryphon July 11, 2004 To Jeff Fritz, I just read your most entertaining exposé on the Gryphon Antileon Signature. After reviewing their website I see that the company also makes the Encore amp. This new amp is 500Wpc! The Antileon Signature is only 150W. Shouldn't the more powerful amp be more expensive, like with the Krells? Why would anyone pay more for less power? Also, your writing is wonderfully entertaining. Thank you. Ronaldo The Antileon is biased in pure class A, whereas the Encore is biased in class AB. A good explanation on the benefits versus the drawbacks of class-A amplification can be found here: http://www.sound.westhost.com/class-a.htm. I can tell you that the Antileon Signature is a larger, more substantial amplifier than the Encore. How all this translates into the sound-quality differences between the models I can't say, as I've not heard the Encore. But I'd say overall, you can't go wrong with a Gryphon. Be on the lookout for a factory tour of Gryphon on SoundStage!...Jeff Fritz More, more, more July 9, 2004 Editor, I love this site -- I visit it daily. The only thing I ask is: Can you publish more reviews? I can't get enough. Jim Reynolds
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