2. amps-preamps
  3. 1283540711

Decware - any substance here?

With such a nice and extensively detailed website, I've long been curious about Decware. But with little in the way of genuine reviews, and not much in the way of discussion here, I always wonder if they are nothing more than that, a great website. They clearly have a dedicated fanbase, but my problem with the fanbase is this: most of them (not all of course) seem to have limited experience with products besides Decware, as if they stumbled upon Decware and never bothered with other brands. Maybe this is positive, that once experienced they don't have the typical audiophile itch to try other amps. I'm specifically struck by the new Torii MKIII push-pull amp, which in description and looks is just beautiful. So does it interest anyone here? Has anyone actually heard it, or it's previous incarnations? If so how does it rate amongst the other quality tube amps, whether Blue Circle, Cary, Vac, Almarro, Atma-Sphere, etc...?
128x128jtnicolosi

Showing 3 responses by gopher

gopher
499 posts
 
Jwt,

From what you've written it sounds like the Torii is hyper resolving--is it ever distractingly so? I favor musicality, tone and dynamics over uber-detail. Do you think the amp errs to the analytical side at all?

For example, I have owned and ultimately sold Atma-sphere which seemed to do most things very right and impressively, but ultimately was uninvolving for my preferences.

The Torii is a serious contender for me--especially wanting a successor that sounds as good or better than my 845 SET without being as big a safety hazard to my infant son/putting out as much heat.
gopher
499 posts
 
I'm using the Torii 3 to drive a pair of Zu Soul Superfly speakers and it is an outstanding amplifier. Top to bottom control over my drivers I have not experienced previously. DEEP POWERFUL BASS, exceptional dynamics, really great texture and tone and some of the most harmonically developed sound I've heard.

This is a reference level amp and I consider myself difficult to please. Immediately before the Torii I was using a Shindo preamplifier with 845 SET monoblocks and the Torii (naked) does most things as well, some things better!
gopher
499 posts
 
The Torii by itself is not a romantic sounding amp and probably errs a bit towards the analytical. I found to flesh out emotion and involvement an excellent preamplifier was in order. I used an Audion pre when I had my Torii--a nice pairing.

Note: The Torii is hard to made to a preamp.
More to discover