Pinging Joe - re: Valvet E2

[daspringham]

Hi Joe,

I see from your signature that you list a Valvet E2.

I'm wondering if you would care to comment on this piece. Maybe reference to the Job 225 as that is something that I'm familiar with from past experience.

I realize that there is quite a discrepancy in terms of output power, however I'm more interested in comparisons regarding purity of sound. I'm intrigued by the Valvet's single-ended topography.

Was considering this for use with a pair of Reynaud Abscisse Jubilee. I realize that the Valvet might be challenged with it's 20w @ 4 ohm rating into an 89db speaker, however I listen a very moderate levels and am more interested in signal quality versus quantity.

Any comments greatly appreciated.

[joeinid]

The Valvet E2 is an amazing amp. It’s very natural and musical with a little more sweetness to it. I’m still a huge fan of Job. They (Job) are wonderful sounding amps but a little more lively and a touch less meaty with great 3D and air. The Valvet is a smoother and sweeter, almost tubelike and once warmed up and broken in has that classic class A sound - meaning it has a flow and overall rightness to the music. If you can live within the power envelope, no question the Valvet E2 would be preferable but it runs hot as heck. There’s a new SE version that I’m coveting. I can’t imagine it sounding better there are some physical updates with same basic design.

[daspringham]

Thanks Joe.

Would you say that the Job is faster with greater resolution (ie ability to produce inner detail). I'm looking for an amp that can keep up with the speed of the Reynauds.

[joeinid]

Thinking about that I’d have to say yes. The Job is a fast amp. It does have more detail but not at the expense of being harsh at all. As long as the speakers are an easy load above 3 ohms, the Job will be great. As with any Job amp, using a low gain preamp is very important.

Thanks Joe.

Would you say that the Job is faster with greater resolution (ie ability to produce inner detail). I'm looking for an amp that can keep up with the speed of the Reynauds.