Electrohome Kalmar 120 push/pull tube amp with Phase Linear Model 3300 pre amplifier

I have been lucky enough to be listening to a Electrohome Kalmar 120 push/pull slave tube amp connected to a wonderfully clean Phase Linear Model 3300 pre amplifier.

The Electrohome Kalmar 120 is probably rated around 25 watts per channel and does an incredible job at powering any of my speakers to their best.

The sound is deep and powerful in the bass region, coupled with an incredibly open and transparent mid range topped with silky smooth treble that is crisp and clean.

There is a huge difference between the sound of tubes versus the sound of solid state gear that when comparing A/B between the both I find myself returning to the tubes.

So far this amp/pre amp combo sounds best with the Tannoy Oxford Golds, then the NAD Model 30's, it makes my Mission 770 Freedom IV's really come alive and with a bit of equalization, powers the University RRL-12 to new heights. Not saying that this combo does not do any other speakers in my collection justice, I just find myself coming back to the speakers noted above.


How does a Single Ended tube amp compare to a Push/Pull?

To my ears the single ended tube amp is not a clear in the bass region but far more open and forward in the upper mid range/treble region. The push/pull has much more punch and control in the bass along with stronger lower mid range. The upper mid range is a little more laid back and the treble region is not quite as hot/sizzling.

Both are amps are a true window into music with proper and I mean in the room with the musicians sound, the imaging is transparent, clean and true.

Once bitten by the tub amp sound one has a hard time plugging the solid state back into the wall.

Noresco 2570 Receiver

Re branded for the Canadian market, this Noresco 2570 is a Rotel RX-402 from the 1974-1976 era.

Conservatively rated at 25WPC into 8 ohms this little receiver sports a robust power supply with a hefty transformer and two Elna 6800uf filter caps. It is unusual to see such large caps in a 25WPC receiver. Rotel rated the RX-402 at 40WPC into 4 ohms which this unit easily sounds like.

The build quality is exceptionally clean on this unit. With such large capacitors for its' rated WPC the sound is very robust with the loudness switch off, similar as a tube amp.

My first foray into Rotel was back in the early 80's with the purchase of my first budget audiophile amp the Rotel RA-840BX amplifier. I had this unit for over 25 years and was a formidable, over built 40WPC unit capable of driving any speakers I could throw at it.

 
So far I have paired this unit up with the Mission 770 Freedom IV's and this unit does everything right, tight full bass, clear mid range and nice sparkling highs. I always opt to run these units without the loudness switch on as it gives a proper indication of how robust the power supply is.

(The difference with tubes vs. transistor amps is tubes give you a full sound stage at low volumes where as transistors usually sound best when they have some power coursing through them, Tubes sound amazing from the 1st. watt all the way through to they peak out. Transistors usually do not give you that fullness until 5-10 watts per channel.)

This unit was in exception condition, super clean on the inside, the wood case was immaculate, only one bulb needed replacing although the stereo indicator bulb will not work even though I soldered in a new bulb. The silver brushed face plate is blemish free. Once apart I cleaned all the pots and switches.

Noresco is probably a brand that gets ignored in the used market which is good for anyone wanting a fantastic Rotel receiver that was built with quality first. Unlike those who clamor over the same era Pioneer, Marantz, Sansui and Kenwood should find incredible value in either the Noresco line or Rotel's of this era.

Merak Mk1speaker update

So I have been listening to the Merak's on a pretty constant basis the past week and when hooked to the Creek 4040s2 amp the Merak's sound incredibly deep and full.

As with some speakers I get fatigued listening to them after an hour or so but the Merak's are as smooth as silk. They give a very deep image in where the instruments are laid out in front of you in a very 3 dimensional way and that is what I mean by depth.

The mid range is very smooth and the highs are just perfect without the brashness.

These speakers really do remind me of my Mission 770 Freedom IV's, they are just not as forward in the mid range as the Missions.

Matched with the Creek Merak Mk1's are a great find and a real pleasure to listen to and almost rival my tube amp/Tannoy combo in openness and clarity, and that is very high praise.

Creek 4040s2 with NAD Model 30 speakers.

So I have had some time to run through the speaker line up with the recently purchased Creek 4040s2 amp.

These two were meant to play together, the Creek 4040s2 has incredible detail and sound stage and the clarity of the NAD Model 30 pinpoints the music perfectly.

Due to the fact that the NAD Model 30 runs at 4 ohms it pulls 40WPC out of the Creek and fills the bottom end better than an 8 ohm speaker.

The Creek 4040s2 has been compared in many ways to the A&R A60 amp that I almost bought in the 80's but I opted for the Rotel RA840BX instead.

I spent hours running the Creek with Mission 770 Freedom IV's, the Tannoy Oxford Gold's, B&W D5's and by far the best pairing is the NAD Model 30's.

Wow!!!

Creek 4040s2 Integrated Amp

I came across this mid 80's Creek 404s2 amp yesterday on my way to work. I did not know anything about Creek but realized that this little amp was designed and built in England. I knew it would be worth while.

The 4040s2 is rated at 30 watts per channel into 8 ohms and 40 watts per channel into 4 ohms, there is a large toroidal transformer with two 6800uf caps, this unit states that it has 11 amps of back up power for peak music.

I have only had about 30 minutes of time with this unit playing through the Visonik Euro 7's, Tannoy Oxford Gold's and the B&W D5's and wow! does this little unit sound open and transparent.

I will run this unit soon with the Mission 770 Freedom IV's and the Celestion Ditton 110's soon.

There will be more to come in the future on this amazing little amp.

Celestion Ditton 110 speakers

This little pair of English speakers came home yesterday, a pair of Celestion Ditton 110 speakers.

A very nice sounding well balanced and neutral pair of bookshelf speakers, typical British sound that is very polite, with nice imaging.

One dome was slightly dents in and a quick shot with the vacuum cleaner popped the dome back out to the best it will get.

These speakers are not as exciting or in your face like Mission speakers that reside with me but more along the lines of the few pairs of B&W speakers that I have had.

Current Collection

Left to right
 NAD Model 30
Mission 700 Leading Edge
Mission 770 Freedom IV
Camber 2.5
B&W D5
Dual CL390
B&W DM100
Visonik Euro 7's
Angstrom Radix 300

All great speakers......Wow!! What a pleasure.