PX25 SET amps-Art Audio, Audion, Wavelength???

Gord's Saturns are $6,000, so all three amps are comparable in price. The only other PX25 I've heard of is the Tron, made in the UK - I don't know if it's available over here.

I obviously have an Audion bias, but I'd think long and hard about the Art Audio. Joe Fratus was the first to build a commercial amp around the modern KR PX25 tube, and he is one seriously good amp designer. Gord Rankin swears by the new TJ tube, but in my amp they are notably inferior to the KRs - I don't know if they have different operating points though. I haven't seen many comments on the Saturns.

Joe and Gord are both on this continent and are very approachable, why not give them each a call and let them talk about their babies? While you're at it, call Randy Bankert at OSS Audio - the NA distributor for Audion.

Based on other Art Audio amps I've heard, the two Audion PX25's I've had in my system, and my Wavelength amps - I'd bet hard cash on all of the three amps being very good.

Factor in dealer support as well. If you can find a local dealer for any of the lines it will really help. If not, buying from a manufacturer on this continent is a hedge against disaster. I had shipping damage in my Audion, and without a competent local dealer I'd have been in trouble.

After a bit more thought, I'll throw up a more concrete opinion. Unless you have a good local dealer with excellent technical capabilities I'd be wary of buying Audion. My story turned out OK in the end, but there were serious bumps in the road. The amp arrived with both assembly and shipping damage that required replacement parts ( a cap and power transformer) to be obtained from Audion. That added about two months to the already extended delivery time. Fortunately the repairs were done here and didn't require the amp to make two more Atlantic crossings. If I hadn't had such a good dealer I'd have been in real trouble. I'm glad the things turned out well, because the amp I got is exceptional in every way, but I'd be hard pressed to recommend that someone else expose themselves to this kind of risk.

I have no way of choosing between Wavelength and Art Audio, but if I had to do it again I would definitely choose one of them.

Kevin,

My understanding is that the Model One is essentially a 6 ohm load. Am I misinformed? Be that as it may, I have absolutely no issues with the bass on my amp with its 8 ohm output, down to the limits of the speakers. The subs make up for the speakers' shortcomings, not the amp's. I hear no difference in bass extension between my PX25 and my Triton 300B amps, though the bass resolution is better with the PX25.

On the question of tubes, I just don’t like the TJ PX25 that Gordon swears by. I find it overly warm, too bloomy and rolled off. I think the KR tube is far more neutral, transparent and extended - at least in my amp. Maybe that means I don't like "real" PX25's? So be it. The KR tube in my amp is a stone killer. Get Joe Fratus' opinion as well of the two brands before you make up your mind.

Well, this thread is now over 13 years old, but as one of the original contributors I just had to update it with my PX25 experiences in the intervening time.

The Audion PX25 Silver Night MkII that I had back then is still driving my Fab Audio Model 1's flawlessly. It's playing right now, as a matter of fact. It was out of service from 2010 to 2018 due to my lack of space for the system, so it just sat in the basement collecting dust along with the rest of my components : a Tom Evans Vibe/Pulse preamp, an Audio Note 4.1x Balanced Signature DAC, my Fabs and an ACI Titan sub.

I just set it all up again recently following my wife's death, and it is blowing me away as in days of yore. I guess almost a decade of listening to nothing but computer speakers made my ears hungry for music, and even the arrival of hearing aids hasn't dampened the pleasure. After a re-tubing the amplifier is rock-solid, and behaves as though no time had passed at all. I had forgotten just how damned good that amp is.

Kevin, if you're still out there I'd love to regain contact. I still remember my visits to your place fondly.

Here's to Audion, the PX25 tube and music.