Thread: MasterSound - Evolution 845 Integrated Amplifier ... Anyone hear one or have one ? ...

Parallel single ended output stages are simply a way of providing more power than a single tube can supply while maintaining single ended operation. Manley Labs has a 300B power amp that uses such an output stage configuration, but it is also switchable to push-pull operation. I'm sure that some single ended purists may dismiss such designs as not being truly single ended, since there are likely some additional issues introduced like if the pair of tubes are not closely matched.

Originally Posted by joeinid

Hi Paul,

Did you like it?

I love my LM-219IA but have a wandering eye.

Hi Joe,

I also have a LM-219IA. Mine is paired with Acoustic Zen Crescendo speakers 90db efficient. I've not listened to music in such a deeply satisfying way in some time. Suffice to say I'm very happy with it, but I wander sometimes if I could benefit from a little extra wattage and too have looked into the Mastersound Evolution 845.

Are te you still using the Line Magnetic? I love it to, but have a wandering eye as well.

This is old but I ran across it while tracking down reviews. The Evolution was recently redesigned and improved upon. This is my main demo amplifier and it is intoxicating.

Hi Joe!

I own the Mastersound Reference 845 that was the model that was discontinued when they released the Mastersound Evolution 845. Like the Evolution 845, the Reference 845 uses a quad of 845 tubes in parallel-single-ended configuration. The main differences are the Reference 845 as 40W/ch and after the Tungsram 12AU7 I use are Bendix 6900 driving the 845 tubes instead of the 6SN7 the Evolution uses. I can tell you that I purchased it new in 2001 and haven't found anything I'd replace it with yet. If you have any specific questions for me, please ask...


I'm listening to: Rossiter Road by Ahmad Jamal


Thetubeguy1954 (Tom Scata)


Central Florida Audio Society -- SETriodes Group -- Space Coast Audio Society -- Full-range/Wide-range Drivers -- Front & Back-Loaded Horns -- High Sensitivity Speakers

My System: Musical Paradise tubed DAC, YBA Genesis CD4 CDP/Transport, Mastersound Reference 845 Integrated SET amp, Beauhorn Virtuoso Speakers w/Lowther DX4 drivers.

Originally Posted by joeinid

Hi Tom,

Thank you so very much for joining the forum. Welcome. I am a member of your Yahoo group. What a great resource. I appreciate all you do there. I appreciate your offer, thank you.

I am sorry I did not see your post until just now.

Joe, Thank you for joining my forum as well! As far as my post goes I only posted it last night so I'd say you responded fairly quick. For anyone interested in actually hearing my Mastersound Reference 845. I live in Orlando and if anyone would like to stop in for a listen sometime being on disability I'm home 99% of the time so just drop me an email at thetubeguy1954(at)yahoo(dot)com and we can setup a time for you to come over with a few of your favorite recordings for a listening session!


I'm listening to: Passages by Rick Crittenden


Thetubeguy1954 (Tom Scata)

Central Florida Audio Society -- SETriodes Group -- Space Coast Audio Society -- Full-range/Wide-range Drivers -- Front & Back-Loaded Horns -- High Sensitivity Speakers

My System: Musical Paradise tubed DAC, YBA Genesis CD4 CDP/Transport, Mastersound Reference 845 Integrated SET amp, Beauhorn Virtuoso Speakers w/Lowther DX4 drivers.

Originally Posted by Phil A

Welcome Tom - see you tomorrow. Thanks for giving us such great info.

Phil, Mike and I will be over at the agreed time. As always it will be great seeing you again and getting to hear your wonderful system(s)!


I'm listening to: Passages by Rick Crittenden


Thetubeguy1954 (Tom Scata)


Central Florida Audio Society -- SETriodes Group -- Space Coast Audio Society -- Full-range/Wide-range Drivers -- Front & Back-Loaded Horns -- High Sensitivity Speakers


My System: Musical Paradise tubed DAC, YBA Genesis CD4 CDP/Transport, Mastersound Reference 845 Integrated SET amp, Beauhorn Virtuoso Speakers w/Lowther DX4 drivers.

Originally Posted by joeinid

Hi Paul,

Did you like it?

I love my LM-219IA but have a wandering eye.

Joe, thats one of your best one liner's yet

Originally Posted by joeinid

Skip or Tom,

Regarding the 845 tubes in your Mastersound amps, what kind of tube life in hours can you expect to get? I am under the assumption that the 845/211 tubes can last upwards of 10,000 hours in my Triode Corp amps. I don't know for sure but I would love your opinion on tube life.

Thanks!!!

Joe I've never actually calculated the hours of usage on my 845 tubes. But I can tell you this. I replaced the stock 845 tubes that came in the Mastersound Reference 845 as soon as Shuguang released their 845B tubes. I then kept those 845 tubes in my amp in the Mastersound until Psvane released their WE845 replica tubes which I purchased just about 3 years ago ---{For everyone's information yes I know WE never made an 845, but rather a WE284 tube. Psvane simply made a regular 845 and then voiced it to sound like a pair of WE284 tubes they had and referred to them as WE845 replicas!}

I can tell you being disabled and home 99% of the time, I probably listen to music a good bit more than most do. Sometimes from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. but these days more typical is 12 noon to 4 p.m. or so. My point being that the 845B tubes I have are still running strong and at the time I was using them I was putting 40 to 50 hrs on them weekly. With tubes my philosophy is this: If you start hearing a problem ---fix it--- beyond that, enjoy the music!


I'm listening to: Premonition by Paul McCandless


​Thetubeguy1954 (Tom Scata)


Central Florida Audio Society -- SETriodes Group -- Space Coast Audio Society -- Full-range/Wide-range Drivers -- Front & Back-Loaded Horns -- High Sensitivity Speakers


My System: Musical Paradise tubed DAC, YBA Genesis CD4 CDP/Transport, Mastersound Reference 845 Integrated SET amp, Beauhorn Virtuoso Speakers w/Lowther DX4 drivers.

Originally Posted by Phil A

Welcome Tom - see you tomorrow. Thanks for giving us such great info.

Phil I had a great time at your home yesterday! As always you were a wonderful host. The food was great and the people and music was even better.


I'm listening to: Premonition by Paul McCandless


​Thetubeguy1954 (Tom Scata)


-- Central Florida Audio Society -- SETriodes Group -- Space Coast Audio Society -- Suncoast Audio Society --
Full-range/Wide-range Drivers -- Front & Back-Loaded Horns -- High Sensitivity Speakers


My System: Musical Paradise tubed DAC, YBA Genesis CD4 CDP/Transport, Mastersound Reference 845 Integrated SET amp, Beauhorn Virtuoso Speakers w/Lowther DX4 drivers.

Originally Posted by thetubeguy1954

Joe, Thank you for joining my forum as well! As far as my post goes I only posted it last night so I'd say you responded fairly quick. For anyone interested in actually hearing my Mastersound Reference 845. I live in Orlando and if anyone would like to stop in for a listen sometime being on disability I'm home 99% of the time so just drop me an email at thetubeguy1954(at)yahoo(dot)com and we can setup a time for you to come over with a few of your favorite recordings for a listening session!

Hello Tom!

I'm thrilled to hear that you have had such a successful run with the Reference 845. I've heard great things about it but have not heard it. If you ever do get that 'wandering eye' and want to move up to the Evolution, please feel free to contact me as we might be able to work out a trade-up program for you to do so. It would be beneficial for me to get to know the history of their amplifiers better since I only became their distributor this year.

Originally Posted by joeinid

Skip or Tom,

Regarding the 845 tubes in your Mastersound amps, what kind of tube life in hours can you expect to get? I am under the assumption that the 845/211 tubes can last upwards of 10,000 hours in my Triode Corp amps. I don't know for sure but I would love your opinion on tube life.

Thanks!!!

Hey Joe,

I haven't had enough time to evaluate life expectancy of the tubes from my own experience, but I could check with MastersounD directly if you would like a more informed response. My expectation is that it is akin to any other high powered 845 amp (I realize some are driven harder than others). These ship with Shuguang 845B tubes and I've had long life from those tubes in the past on other amps.

I contacted them. I should have an answer by tomorrow.

Has anyone auditioned in a familiar system the MastersoundD PF100 (parallel SET with four 845s per mono amp)?

Originally Posted by RonR

Has anyone auditioned in a familiar system the MastersoundD PF100 (parallel SET with four 845s per mono amp)?

Ron hi,

I ve seen your post in the WTB forum and meant to write a reply, just never got around registering...Since the mid 2000I have had an extensive experience with the PFF100, as "mine" dealer in NY/NJ area has sold quite few of those , and let me to listen to them at his customers systems with wide variety of speakers.. I also own the Evo 845 integrated (the most recent version) .. I d say that aside from Tube Research Labs 400 outfitted with very rare NOS BRIMAR EL 34 (have not heard the 800 with tube power supply as those are EXTREMELY rare) these are the best currently produced modern tube amps that I ve heard, and I ve heard ALOT to say the least .... I know you ve received the Pendragon speakers and I think the PFF 100 will be a great match with your speakers... I am basing this on hearing the PFF 100 with the Eminent Technologies 6s (those are long discontinued, although Bruce Thigpen occasionally produces a custom pair for an enthusiast)... Now the ET 6s are unique in the way that they are push-pull designs and in my (non) humble opinion are the best ever when it comes to portraying the true dimensional presence of the orchestra …They are also quite inefficient at around 83db, or so, and I ve used mine EVO 845 (55 watts per channel, used via direct input mode) with Chario Sovrans and ET8bs and with Charios I was able to hit steady 106 db, listening 8-9 ft away in 25x14x10 non treated room in a NYC prewar apartment ... Now the PFF 100 have ALOT more grunt and driving capacity, as I have heard them to drive Chario Serendipity in my musician friends house amazingly well in St Petersburg, Russia(where I had gone on a business trip). Amazing dynamics and proper depth, and dimensional body plus that texture and frequently sought by all but seldom attained je ne se qui feeling.....As your Pendragon have 93 db (i think) sensitivity and have powered woofer columns I think for most intents and purposes the PFF should produce enough of sound pressure to satisfy the most demanding a listener, lest one wants to go deaf... Now, my dealer (who has introduced me to the brand) has done some amazing mods with the stock PFF 100 ( the unit you could see for sale on the Audiogon recently is one of them, and not the most elaborate one at that), such as constructing a unique cascading cap (Duelund, or Cardas caps) power filter add on unit which in effect made them what I think are the best amps in the world (even surpassing the aforementioned Tube Research Labs me thinks). Problem is the cost, which was I think around $30k or so, with another 100 pound Delrin made chassis added to the amp. I ve heard those in NYC with modified Nestorovic 5s and the only way I can describe the sound is that the amps were effectively NOT there (a holy grail if I ever heard one)! Of course that gentleman's system had top notch ancillary equipment with Rockport TT and Klyne 7 phono preamp with custom passive volume control.... As far as some people commenting on the WTB forum that some other 845 based amp being superior, not to sound arrogant, but those other amps can't hold a candle to the Mastersound brand ... The only ones that can be talked about being in the same class, but are in my opinion a step below are perhaps the New Audio Frontiers 845 (never heard the 211 based monoblocks by NAF thou), but they only produce the monoblocks that would not be able to drive your ribbon Pendradon mid-hi panels sufficiently loud/dynamic range would be too restricted compared to the woofer panels, at 50 watts per channel.. I have heard the NAF monoblocks with the DAnish Peak Consult Diablos, also in Russia, and the sound while most excellent (he had used the Air Tight large EL 34 mono blocks prior) in my opinion was not as dynamic as with the PFF 100s. ....And the NAF get really HOT... Paul at the USATube Audio has done some temperature measurement using a laser thermometer and boy those NAF got hotter than the MAsterosund by alot... I also heard NAF were using Mastersound-built transformers. All of the new gen Mastersound amps have silent running fans in them that cool the innards/circuitry of the amps pretty nicely, effectively extending the life of tubes and other components, making the amps even more reliable. I only have heard of failed Mastersound once, (out of 10 or so units that that my dealer has sold in NY/NJ area and that was because the owner had not had them biased for 3 years! The bias needs to be checked and adjusted once a year. Paul of the USATUBE AUDIO who personally owns the EVO 845 integrated also has told me that the ones that that had come in for repairs were the units that that used some crazy old tubes of unknown vintage and quality). Now my dealer claims that the old gen amps without the fan sound better, but that is the subject of another debate ... Once again I am sure the PFF 100 will provide the most refined and realistic (i.e. whatever the microphone captured during recording type of sound) 110 watts of power to your Pendragons…. They might not wow you at first, but then you will realize that how pure, and sonically "neutral”, and proportionally "proper" their musical signature is… I have not been able to properly evaluate the Pendragons ability to reconstruct the proper outline of the orchestra both in the front and in the back, similar to that of the Eminent Tech 6s and 8bs are capable of when properly set up, but I am sure that while the most modern amps (regardless of price) will be limiting the full potential performance of your Pendragons , the PFF 100 will not be, and in fact the opposite may be true ... Anyways, hope this helps and if you have any comments regarding 845&input tube variations (which make tremendous differences to the PFFs sound), and other questions, do let me know, would be happy to help&share experiences with fellow audiophile&music lover….

Regards, Ellie

Originally Posted by joeinid

Welcome to the forum Ellie, thank you for joining.

Thanks! Long time reader of your most informative forums...

Hi All,

interesting informative read, I really enjoyed that!

Thanks again Tom for your help back in August re the biasing voltage of the Evo 845, I changed the full set of valves but unfortunately my amp has developed a problem within. After patiently waiting in queues for 14 weeks ( let down twice ) I have managed to find someone both trustworthy and capable of working on this work of art and my pride and joy! We have contacted Mastersound Italy direct and also the UK dealer whom I purchased the amp from in 2010, no replies as yet. A resistor is "cooked" in the pre amp output stage and its value cannot be read, we think a valve base arc'ing caused this.

Ellie, I have reached out to Paul of USATUBE AUDIO as you mentioned he has had units in for repair, maybe he has a schematic I could purchase from him?

Hopefully he can help.

Thanks again everyone and any advice is always very much welcomed!

Kind Regards

Dean

Dean hi,

For schematics you can also try to get in touch with Steven at the " service department ct " (that is how to google it, no spaces) in Connecticut, USA , as he has handled warranty claims for the Mastersound in the Northeast USA, and I know that an ex dealer Soundapproach in Virginia, USA used to have a tech who had all the schematics for the integrated amps... As far as I know their design is fairly simple, any competent tube tech should be able to figure your problems.... Strange you have had problems getting answers from the Mastersound, they replied to my inquiry in a day or so, may be their delay is Covid related, as is pretty much everything these days.

Hi Ellie,

Thanks for your reply and the information above, if needed I will head there next.

Yes, Mastersound eventually did come back to us with the relevant information we requested. The work was carried out but unfortunately when I got home and tested there is still an issue with noise on the left channel. It looks like there has been more than one problem with the amp. It is due to go back in January.

Paul came back to me very quickly but was unable to help with the schematics.

Thanks again.

Kind `regards
Dean

Dean,

Hope you resolve your issues. The key to the Mastersound's reliability is bias checks (despite the factory claims of it being automatic, etc) and adjustment every 2 to 3 months, and using tubes from reliable sources.