WOOLCOT AMPS - Anybody heard these?

Khrys, the revision you spoke of would lead one to believe this is a product going through some evolution. The Wolcott's design is essentially unchanged, the revision is a selector switch on the rear that will allow these amps to be used with a larger variety of speakers. This feature is minor, and can be added to older amps, often by the owner. The only other revision is the OPTION of a new wide band transformer. This was developed specifically for the Soundlab speakers, as their impedance in the extreme top (@ 22K HZ) is 2.6 ohms. This is NOT a revision, the amps are still available with the original transformer, and the new wide band is an option, for an additional cost of $500.00. I might add, unless you and/or you dealer have listened to the Wolcott for at least 250 hours, you have not really heard it at it's best. The changes mine have gone through are amazing, and they are still breaking in. Tubes are absolutely critical to the performance of this amp, and I am still surprised at the changes that are occurring as I test with various tube combinations. One last thing, you did not say what other amps you and your dealer are comparing these to. I have compared my Wolcotts to many other amps, and there are not many that are even in this price range. The Wolcott is only $8495.00 retail. The Atmasphere MA2 MK11, the VTL 700, the Viva Aurora, Tube Research GT400, and others are all below, equal, or slightly better in performance to the Wolcott's, depending on your speaker and your opinion. All these I mention are from $20,000 to $32,500.00. From two and a half times, to nearly quadruple the price, certainly something to consider when making comparisons.

My suggestion for listening for 250 hours simply implies that dealers often get a product line for listening, and give it a week or two and make a judgement. This would be wrong if placed in the company of demo units that have had sufficient time to reach full maturity. Even more the case if compared to used gear as you suggest. Often used gear sounds better than new for this very reason. My comment about evolution is a direct response to your comment that these were a "work in progress" this implies that they are an unfinished piece, undergoing some continuous changing of design or parts, as the term applies to music or other projects. My point is that the design is not revolutionary, it uses EL34 tubes as an output, and 6922's as an input, and those two tube types are about as common in high end audio as it gets. The only revolutionary item is the bias control circuit that sets the tubes at start up so there is less tendency for the user to run the tubes out of bias. I personally find this a terrific feature, as meddling with meters and a screwdriver cuts into my listening time. Finally, one of the guys in my group plans to put my pair of Wolcotts on his Vandy 5's this coming week. He will have them for 16 days, and we will be getting a report as to how they fair with his system. I cannot compare with Wilson's as there is no one in my circle of listeners who owns them. I will accept your comments that the Wolcott does not work well on them. By the way, the rear panel switch is not an option, it is simply an addition that provides a way for the user to have more control over a wider range of speakers. The wide band transformer IS an option, and no stranger offering than the toroidal transformers in the Soundlab speaker line. They are an option in that case as well. Both of these products remain available either way. The customer decides if it is important to spend the extra dollars. That option is not evolutionary or new either, simply an attempt to be more responsive to the needs of all the customers that are considering the purchase.

Wolcott amps The best tube amps? Is the original posting by Snook2, on 01-27-00. To get there you must click the "next 50" postings button three times. The last posting was on 09-03-00. Hope this helps.

I already asked Hank about other octal based tubes, such as the 6L6 and KT88, and he said that he was uncertain that the auto bias circuit would accommodate these tubes. I have a friend who is an amp designer, who said that there was an old military Bendix tube that would work in this circuit, near identical bias and drive character, and would match the output transformer as well. He is uncertain as to if it would work without a slight circuit mod, and requires me to ship the Wolcotts for inspection before this test. This engineer also said that the circuit with the Bendix tubes could be capable of 400 watts per channel with this mod, provided the power supply will handle it. I like the amps a lot even as they are, but the 6922 driver tube that comes in them is TERRIBLE! Not just poor, or undesirable, but just plain awful. The Siemens CCA 6922 was a major improvement, and I am still going to try the Mullard 6922 as well. I have Telefunken AEG EL-34 tubes in there right now, and they are much better than the Sovtec tubes supplied from the factory. I have a complete set of Mullard Dual Getter EL-34 tubes from the 1960's coming from a tube dealer, and will try the test with them next. I hope my friend with the Vandersteen 5's will run these amps to death for the next two weeks, it will be nice to try them (more) broken in as the next test, then with the Mullard tubes in the outputs. I am supposed to get Telefunken and Amperex 6GW8 drivers for the Wolcott, to replace the nice (but not ultimate) Tungsram that came with this unit. I hope in the end, that they will perform to a level that I will not concern myself with anything except listening to the music they make. Until then, lots of homework to do.