Choice of tube amp?

Mibviking, you should auditon the CAT JL2 (I think the JL3 is overkill). I purchased one used about three months ago
and it is the best I've ever heard. I am a long time user of VTL, Manley amps and did hear the VTL S400 at the show in NYC two years ago. The VTL S400 sounded very good and it is hard to compare from a show audition but there is something about the 3D presence that the CAT has that I haven't heard from anything else. My CAT is not even the latest production which from users that have heard the older model and compared it to the latest (JL2 Sig MK2), claim it is a substantial improvement. I also went to a local high-end dealer and heard the Wilson Maxx2. The amp he used in that system was the VTL S400 but it was out for repair.

Bart

I got the Wolcott and I`m now in the tube rolling stage. One of the 6922 input tubes from Electro Harmonic started making noise after 30 hours. I replaced them with Mullard (Made in Holland)E188CC SQ from the early 60s, huge improvment. Now I`m trying out Tungsram (Made in Hungary) ECL86 from the early 60s for the drivers, great sound but one of them haf a weakness where the pins penetrate the glass and had to be taken out. And left I have 8x SED "Winged C" EL 34s to be tested later :)

Viking ck out Jadis and be done with it. Have a Jadis Orch Refer 4 yrs, NO REPAIRS!!! The Jadis has the least repairs of any tube amp in the world. Let me see another tube amp top that record.

Now I`ve ordered 4x Telefunken Diamondbase ECL86 which are suppose to be better than Tungsram. So time will show.
Bartokfan: Whatever you write on the Jadis wont make my impressions go away ;)

Strongly agree on the Jadis "sound". Slow, sluggish, with a rolled off top end. These characteristics are particularly noticeable in the Orchestra Reference integrated amp, perhaps Jadis' worst effort.