Our first winter blizzard and it's a roughie. Not much to do except stay indoors, catch up on post-Christmas cleaning and think about what to write as the aroma of pork and chicken adobo wafts through our small kitchen into the living room. "Hon," I ask Mrs Y, "should I write about just the new tube amps or how it feels like exiting the hobby?"
"First, let's get things straight, you're not exiting the hobby." She answered, much to my dismay. I've always taken pride in my colegiala-grade passive aggression and had hoped to *project* to you, dear reader, that she twisted my arm to buy these amps. So here's the study of my failed manipulation.
Since I'd been working from home at least once a week these past few months, I'd setup my workstation in front of a mostly iTunes-driven stereo. Working and listening doesn't mix with me, however, as I get distracted if I like the music too much. So, I took out my old push-pull 300B amp, rationalizing that I didn't need that much power to play background music anyway, and started listening to music that doesn't distract much, e.g., jazz vocals. Then I started "noticing" that Mrs Y would hang out much more in the kitchen, listening with me, as I work. Heck, I'd even bought a Grant Fidelity tube buffer to A/B with her once even as she'd already professed her preference for tubes back when we were just dating. But, my subconscious plotted, she has to be "thoroughly convinced."
Then again, I'm not so coarse to suggest that I baited the Mrs, knowing her preference for that warmer sound, especially since my birthday was approaching. Instead, I told her I had been up to some "tire kicking" in Agon, not knowing that this particular seller would further kamikaze his price. Imagine that! Who would've thought. (Btw, my acting was superb ) And to top it all, let me sell stuff I don't use or need and I'll recoup the investment. "Whatever," she acquiesced, "how about I just buy them for you as a gift?"
"Oh gosh, really? But... but..." You could almost hear my muffled protests even as I was wheeling these 90+lb (each) crates into the living room. So I took the time to edumacate my dear wife on the benefits of DHT-- how these 811A tubes in particular were transmitter-type tubes used in ham radio and sounded like her favorite 300Bs, albeit much more powerful, how this was the only amp monickered "Reference" in the manufacturer's lineup, and even got her to "proactively" interpret some Russian supplier websites so we won't run out of NOS Ryazan's... And to top it all off, the NAT Audio Generator's color scheme even matched our silver and black! Boy, was her excitement truly palpable! (Click below for bigger picture)
The truth of the matter is, I had long been curious about this manufacturer. When it comes to tubes, I like the DHT variety, preferably with as little or no feedback applied. The good thing about the 811A (or its substitute the 572B) is that it doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Sonically, these amps have that openness I love from the midband on up (reminding me a little bit of Atmasphere), tonally convincing, but stopping short of SET-seductiveness. Compared to the MSB M200, it sounds slower/relaxed and a little soft on bass but then one doesn't apply the same listening mindset on both amps. Now, answer that age old question, which is better, solid-state or tubes? If you ask the Mrs, she'd say, all of the above!
The blizzard isn't letting up outside, subzero temperatures with howling 40 mph winds. Our adobo leftovers now tucked into the fridge. That warm glow. Life couldn't be so good!
Thanks for reading.