What's best low cost 845?

I own the Audioromy 845 integrated that Phil mentioned. I won it at Russ Prince's (Rcprince) annual Christmas party last year.

It's sonic and build qualities are off the charts for the price. In fact, in some areas, such as immediacy, openness, and naturalness in the midrange, I have trouble naming a product that eclipses it; an incredibly engaging and musical amplifier. There is also a nifty pass through to allow you to use it as a power amplifier, which I sometimes do.

Its weak area is its low frequency performance, but perhaps with a bit more power supply added to it, that would be improved, but, I'm not totally sure. I don't want to mince words here, the amp is truly bass shy with the wrong loudspeaker, and still isn't going to blow you back even with the right one. The other nit I can pick is that its 2 blue LEDs are so obnoxiously bright that Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer's nose would have been considered understated in comparison. I need to put a piece of black electrical tape over them - maybe tonight...

In short, this is a crazy good amplifier for the money, and I highly encourage anyone to purchase it. It's certainly earned my recommendation. My father, who is our service tech, and incredibly hard to please, calls it the best built, best sounding amplifier I've put in front of him.

DISCLAIMER: I am the importer/distributor for all Opera/Audio products in the USA and Canada. I have no affiliation whatsoever with Audioromy

Phil, by the way, while I thank you for your mentioning the Audioromy 845, in rereading this thread, I noticed you commented on the Consonance Cyber 845 tube monoblock amplifiers in your comparison to other products.

Please let me know what your experience is with the Consonance Cyber 845 tube monoblock amplifiers.

Hello, Phil.

Any response on when/where you have heard our Consonance Cyber 845 tube monoblock amplifiers? I'm curious.

While I personally welcome all comments - good, bad, or indifferent, I also want to ensure the information being put out there is coming from the appropriate perspective and experience.

Thank you,
Joe

Cobra,

I'm also curious as to the source of your comments. Did you lump Consonance with Dared because they're both Chinese? Have you ever actually heard the Consonance 845?

I've owned both, actually, and believe me they are in different leagues in about every way - build quality and sonics.

I should mention that I am a Norvinz Field Rep and hence represent the Consonance line. Perhaps I should not have stepped in the conversation, but having owned both of the products lumped together -

The Dared 845 I had was my first SET, and it sounded good. However, the build quality was definitely not to Consonance levels. The Dared had some mechanical tranny hum and got so hot you could not touch parts of the case after it was warmed-up. The casework was not as good-looking. For the cost, however, it is a killer deal!

The Consonance products are a level up in fit 'n finish and cosmetics. More along the lines of Prima Luna and EE in that regard - perhaps a bit better.

Honestly, though, sonically, while the Dared is quite good and gives the SET sound, as I said, the Cyber monoblocks are in another league - and they should be for the money.

Read the reviews for other opinions.