Aric Audio Super 2A3 SET


It just arrived just about a week ago, but I feel inclined to write a few words about it since my level of satisfaction with this amplifier is immense. I have nothing but praise to give in regards to the level of customer service I have received starting with a curious inquiry to having the amplifier in my home. Since I'm no expert in the world of tubes, I had quite a few questions.

It started with me asking about the 2A3 amplifier listed on his webpage and Aric got back to me with a suggestion. He said he had been waiting for the next order of a 2A3 amplifier and was eager to revise the product and put some new ideas and upgrades into it.
Me being a novice only understood half of the improvements he listed, but it all sounded good to me. I told him about the 2A3 amplifier that got me into looking at a 2A3 based amp and he was very familiar with the one in question and described in detail what he would do to make his version "better". I was sold, and I pulled the trigger, and oh so happy I am that I did.

It is a dual-chassis design that has an all film-capacitor power supply with toroidal filament transformers, DC filaments using Schottky diodes, and film cathode bypass capacitors. Audyn "true copper" foil coupling caps and a choke-filtered power supply, Vishay wire-wound resistors used throughout. 6SL7 SRPP driver stage and 2A3 single-ended output stage producing 3.5 watts per channel into 8 or 16 ohms. I'm running it with the supplied rectifier tube (CBS 5U4GB) and a pair of NOS Tung-Sol 6SU7GTY "Super 6SL7" and a pair of PSVANE WR2A3.

The amp from Aric replaced my old trusty Audio Space Galaxy 88 that produced 48 wpc in ultralinear and 24 wpc in triode. My first impression was that this feels like way more power! at only 3.5 wpc. The bass is deep, tight and "meaty", I hear midbass like I never did before. It's so clear and well defined and when I turn the volume up my walls are shaking, with 3.5 watts(!). Vocals sound like they are floating around the room and with an acoustic guitar I'm just there in front of the stage. It has speed and a level of transparency that is on a completely different level compared to my old amplifier. It also has a completely dead black background.

This amplifier just plays in another league compared to my previous one. I can only recall from memory another comparison of a much more expansive 2A3 SET that got me interested in the first place, I heard it for a lengthy session at a friend of a friends house and it blew me away. This amplifier beats it if my memory serves me right.

I can't imagine a better amplifier at this price and I could use a bunch of more superlatives to describe it.
My current speakers are a pair of Zu omen plugged in on the 16 ohm taps and it seems for now to be a match made in heaven.
128x128tby
Aric,
Thank you very much for your detailed and informative reply. I completely understand your rationale for the numerous choices that have to be made in regard to design and implementation of such a high quality amplifier. Given all the factors that one has to weigh I would choose DC heating rather than AC heating as well. I wish you continued success. 
Charles 
My experience with Triode Labs/Finale Audio in buying a 7189 MK2 integrated is the complete opposite of lalitk's ; excellent and patient communications with Frank regarding options offered , assessment of each , build time, shipping etc. Build quality is excellent and musical amp. That said, I haven't read one thread that hasn't been very complimentary of Aric and his products; hard to beat that testimonial.

@tby you might want to email member teajay I believe that he has Triode's 2A3s and can offer you some direct insights. Also, I believe he is familiar with some of Aric's products.


@lewinskih01 The Triode Lab 2A3S-FFX was on top of my list. However, I never got in touch with them. I had previously engaged with Aric and had a very positive experience even though it did not end with a purchase at that time. In light of this I reached out and asked about his 2A3 design.
I was going to go with the 2A3S-FFX, I had heard it and I loved it. The one I had listened to with its options would cost a lot more, considering the price and what I felt being a better design I chose to go with Aric Audio. Having listened to Aric's 2A3 for hours daily since it got here I find that it has a better grip on bass and sounds more fluid, the background is also dead black, likely due to the power supply being in a separate box. Another selling point in favor of Aric for me personally was the wooden chassis options.

sorry meant this for @ lewinskih01

you might want to email member teajay I believe that he has Triode's 2A3s and can offer you some direct insights. Also, I believe he is familiar with some of Aric's products.
Aric is a true gentleman, professional in his approach, and has proven to be an invaluable asset to the audio community!