Octave HP 700 -the new tube pre-amp benchmark?

[Glareskin]

I have just read a review of this amp in Audio magazine and I am very impressed by what I read and see. A new dimension of silence, depth and clarity. And very natural. Nothing is painted more beautiful as it is.
Anybody had a listen to this baby yet?

[Glareskin]

Here is the ranking from Audio:

[CPP]

Here is the ranking from Audio:

OK, what does it say.

[Glareskin]

OK, what does it say.

Oh yes I forgot that not everybody speaks German It just said that the ranking is based on sound quality only with no consideration for build-quality or price.

What is the value of a list? Of course you'll have to listen for yourself. However Audio is one of the respected German magazines and even if it is not absolute it says that the Octave is a darn good pre-amp. And the price is right so I am very interested. I hope the amp makes it to the US as I would like to have your impression.

[LL21]

Interesting...i have read great things about Octave. Question - the tubes inside...are they 6922s? And is it a bit of a pain to have to retube by unscrewing the entire top off to get inside? (I ask because when i re-tube my CJ GAT...or if a tube gets noisy and i need to take it out, tap it and re-seat it...its easy since the tubes are in their own sockets in tube guards outside the unit.

[mep]

Interesting...i have read great things about Octave. Question - the tubes inside...are they 6922s? And is it a bit of a pain to have to retube by unscrewing the entire top off to get inside? (I ask because when i re-tube my CJ GAT...or if a tube gets noisy and i need to take it out, tap it and re-seat it...its easy since the tubes are in their own sockets in tube guards outside the unit.

Lloyd-Are you getting lazy as the years advance?

[XV-1]

Like Lloyd, Joe , Myles and quite a few others, listen to the cj GAT before declaring best tube pre amp.

[Glareskin]

Interesting...i have read great things about Octave. Question - the tubes inside...are they 6922s? And is it a bit of a pain to have to retube by unscrewing the entire top off to get inside? (I ask because when i re-tube my CJ GAT...or if a tube gets noisy and i need to take it out, tap it and re-seat it...its easy since the tubes are in their own sockets in tube guards outside the unit.

As I can see in the article you just need to unscrew the lid (4 screws).

According to the article the output entodes are Mullard EF184

And according to the designer the Siemens D3A also sound good


The output tubes are driven by the ECC-82 double triode from Tung-Sol

[Glareskin]

Like Lloyd, Joe , Myles and quite a few others, listen to the cj GAT before declaring best tube pre amp.

I am sure the guys from Audio have done that. But have you listened to the Octave that you can make this statement?

[XV-1]

I am sure the guys from Audio have done that. But have you listened to the Octave that you can make this statement?

No they haven't

What statement?

You are the one making grand statements.

[LL21]

Lloyd-Are you getting lazy as the years advance?

Always lazy/hate re-tubing!!! Actually, i have managed to avoid too much of that stuff, other than the CJ which seems to eat tubes. On that one, i hate having to undo, redo, tap-tap, put back in...tube rush, take out...tap-tap. I have managed to find tubes that so far go for about 12-18 months before noise sets in...so thats quite good actually.

[wisnon]

Why would you assume they havent? These guys in the Trade can get access to most anything that strikes their fancy.

iI now see Why certain posters like Elberoth MUST be taken seriously in their gear comments. Not that one must agree, but source considered, you can't brush his comments aside as whimsical opinion.

[Glareskin]

No they haven't

Are you in insider with Audio? This magazine has been around for a long time so the chances are that they have heard the CJ.

What statement?

That one should listen to the CJ first before declaring another amp the best pre-amp. I think that is a valid statement but then again the other way around is as correct. So my question is still open...

You are the one making grand statements.

Maybe you want to point out the grand statements? As I read back I read only that I have stated to be interested if anybody has listened to the Octave amp as I appreciated the article.

[XV-1]

Are you in insider with Audio? This magazine has been around for a long time so the chances are that they have heard the CJ.

That one should listen to the CJ first before declaring another amp the best pre-amp. I think that is a valid statement but then again the other way around is as correct. So my question is still open...


Maybe you want to point out the grand statements? As I read back I read only that I have stated to be interested if anybody has listened to the Octave amp as I appreciated the article.

Every magazine has access to any HiFi gear.

I have never read a review of the cj GAT from Audio. Have you?

Your grand statement is the thread title - the new tube pre amp benchmark?
Or did you forget that?

All I said was before making statements like that, have a listen to the cj GAT

Any more questions or anything you would like me to clarify?.

[wisnon]

XV, doesnt the question mark preclude it from being a statement?

[XV-1]

XV, doesnt the question mark preclude it from being a statement?

No. It is an opinion/statement asking for an response.


I think you know that as well.

[Glareskin]

Every magazine has access to any HiFi gear.
I have never read a review of the cj GAT from Audio. Have you?

Nope. But that does it mean they didn't hear it?

Your grand statement is the thread title - the new tube pre amp benchmark?
Or did you forget that?

The question mark says it all. I wondered if it might be the new benchmark. In fact I ask if anyone here has listened already. No I did not forget asking that question.

And I am not the only one understanding: Norman did.

XV, doesnt the question mark preclude it from being a statement?

Any more questions or anything you would like me to clarify?.

Yes. I realize that you have a couple of Conrad Johnson amps as it is listed in your signature. And I am pretty sure they are sounding great. But does that make you feel offended if someone raises a question about another amp? Aren't you just interested in just learning about new gear all the time?
Let me clarify: I do.

[Glareskin]

No. It is an opinion/statement asking for an response.

It is not. And that is a statement.

[XV-1]

Nope. But that does it mean they didn't hear it?

The question mark says it all. I wondered if it might be the new benchmark. In fact I ask if anyone here has listened already. No I did not forget asking that question.

And I am not the only one understanding: Norman did.



Yes. I realize that you have a couple of Conrad Johnson amps as it is listed in your signature. And I am pretty sure they are sounding great. But does that make you feel offended if someone raises a question about another amp? Aren't you just interested in just learning about new gear all the time?
Let me clarify: I do.

Why would I be offended. I purely said to have a listen to the GAT before declaring statements like benchmark.

Always interested in new HiFi. The two phono stages in the HP 700 is of interest to me.

Cheers

[wisnon]

No. It is an opinion/statement asking for an response.


I think you know that as well.

Sorry, I dont know that. In strict English it cant be a statement. I understand poetic licence, but knowing Hans, he is not that kind of a guy. There is a Dutch/English translation joke floating around in the internet. The English fellow makes a statement like .."that's an interesting idea" and the Dutch guy interprets it as , "he likes my train of thought", while the real meaning is: "what a dumb idea". Long and short, the Dutch shoot straight and knowing that and knowing Hans, he means exactly what he says.

[Glareskin]

Sorry, I dont know that. In strict English it cant be a statement. I understand poetic licence, but knowing Hans, he is not that kind of a guy. There is a Dutch/English translation joke floating around in the internet. The English fellow makes a statement like .."that's an interesting idea" and the Dutch guy interprets it as , "he likes my train of thought", while the real meaning is: "what a dumb idea". Long and short, the Dutch shoot straight and knowing that and knowing Hans, he means exactly what he says.

LOL that is a great example! And 100% correct. Thanks for the excellent clarification Norman! I realize I need to be more in the Anglo-American way of expressing myself.

[wisnon]

"The Dutch are too honest to be polite and the British are too polite to be honest". There's a lot of truth in that; Jayne and Gerald know all about it! The Translation Guide below points out a few of the differences.

ANGLO-DUTCH TRANSLATION GUIDE
WHAT THE BRITISH SAY	WHAT THE BRITISH MEAN	WHAT THE DUTCH THINK THE BRITISH MEAN
By the way, …	What I really want to talk about …	This is not important.
Could we consider some other options?	I think your idea stinks.	He has not yet made a decision.
I almost agree.	I don’t agree at all.	He almost agrees.
I hear what you say.	I disagree and do not want to discuss it any further.	He accepts my point of view.
I was a bit disappointed …	I went ballistic …	It doesn’t matter.
I would suggest …	This an order.	I am welcome to do it, if I agree.
I’ll bear it in mind.	I am not going to do anything about it.	He’ll probably do it.
I’m sure it’s my fault.	It is your fault, bloody fool!	It’s his fault.
It is a pity.	I am angry.	It doesn’t really matter.
Perhaps you’d like to think about …	Do it.	He wants me to think about it.
Please think about this some more.	This idea stinks: don’t do it!	He thinks this idea has potential.
Quite good.	A bit disappointing.	Quite good.
That is an original point of view.	You need a good doctor.	He likes my mind.
That’s not bad.	That’s good or very good.	It’s poor or mediocre.
Very interesting.	I don’t believe you. / I don’t agree.	He is impressed
With the greatest respect …	I think you are wrong (or a fool) …	He is listening to me.
You must come for dinner sometime.	Goodbye.	He’s going to ask me over for a meal.
You’ll get there eventually.	You’ve got a snowball-in-hell’s chance, mate.	He is encouraging me to go on.

[wisnon]

anglodutch_final.gif

[Glareskin]

anglodutch_final.gif

That is hilarious Norman!

[wisnon]

Yes Hans…quite a hit at work. LoL

[bzr]

I'll play, only to stop an incessancy of derailments & personal diatribes.I am interested in a very good preamp with an exceptional phono stage that will better my Soulution 520, as I consider the preamp the most important component in the chain, you have my interest with the Octave, I'll keep it on the radar.Will you get to listen to one in your system?

[Glareskin]

I'll play, only to stop an incessancy of derailments & personal diatribes.I am interested in a very good preamp with an exceptional phono stage that will better my Soulution 520, as I consider the preamp the most important component in the chain, you have my interest with the Octave, I'll keep it on the radar.Will you get to listen to one in your system?

I am not sure yet. Actually I am quite happy with my sound since I have upgraded my incoming power. But it looks so attractive... I think I will first listen to the HP700 at a dealer. What I really liked in the review is that they said that all to top amps are very revealing. However listening to the Octave is like lifting the last curtain. You see that is the kind of language that I love!

[atmasphere]

Did I read correctly that this preamp uses EF184s?

That tube is not in production as far as I am able to tell. Do they supply tubes with it?

[wisnon]

Did I read correctly that this preamp uses EF184s?

That tube is not in production as far as I am able to tell. Do they supply tubes with it?

You can buy 100 here from Brazil (Phillips) for about $300!!!

100 x tube EF184 - 6EJ7 PHILIPS / HICKOK 539C 100 buck amplifier | eBay

[Glareskin]

[joeinid]

Looks like a great preamp.

[wisnon]

Hans, the picture does not work...

[joeinid]

Hans, the picture does not work...

Attachment 8891

HP700_top.jpg

[Glareskin]

I am still very interested. Soundstage visited this 15 people company in the black forest in may this year. You can see they were already assembling the HP 700
SoundStage! Global | SoundStageGlobal.com | Octave Audio - May 12, 2014

[wisnon]

Matej is going bonkers over this preamp:

Mono and Stereo High-End Audio Magazine: Accustic Arts Mono II power amplifiers and Tube Preamp II MK2 test and review

[Glareskin]

Matej is going bonkers over this preamp:

Mono and Stereo High-End Audio Magazine: Accustic Arts Mono II power amplifiers and Tube Preamp II MK2 test and review

Thanks Norman. That Acoustic Arts tube pre-amp is looking fantastic too!

[Glareskin]

More pictures of the acoustic arts tube pre-amp. This thread is changing to a thread about new and awesome European made tube pre-amps

[wisnon]

VERY pretty uber amp!

[wizard]

A HP 700 review from HiFilive

[Glareskin]

A HP 700 review from HiFilive

Thanks for posting. It is always difficult to judge reviews but I haven't found a negative note yet.

While searching for more confirmation about this amp I saw that Stereophile reported the HP700 was playing the Dynaudio Evidence (not a speaker that is appealing to me) at the California Audio Show this summer.

[atmasphere]

This one's made in 'Merica.

[kzhtoo]

[QUOTE=Glareskin;106595]Thanks for posting. It is always difficult to judge reviews but I haven't found a negative note yet.

While searching for more confirmation about this amp I saw that Stereophile reported the HP700 was playing the Dynaudio Evidence (not a speaker that is appealing to me) at the California Audio Show this summer.

I remember being in that room. It was nice but no goosebumps or anything in that nature. Maybe I'm just not a Dynaudio person.

[Stringreen]

Do you believe everything you read? I have read glowing reports of the Bose 901 series speakers.

[wisnon]

I BELIEVE what you wrote. :-)

[Glareskin]

[QUOTE=kzhtoo;111841]

While searching for more confirmation about this amp I saw that Stereophile reported the HP700 was playing the Dynaudio Evidence (not a speaker that is appealing to me) at the California Audio Show this summer.

I remember being in that room. It was nice but no goosebumps or anything in that nature. Maybe I'm just not a Dynaudio person.

I am also no fan of the Dynaudio sound. I don't think it matters which amps are driving them, the character remains the same.

Do you believe everything you read? I have read glowing reports of the Bose 901 series speakers.

I don't believe everything I read. And I never read articles where the Bose 901 is a good speaker....

[Glareskin]

After people thought I was crazy writing about Octave as a potential reference or benchmark it is nice to learn that due to the Axpona 2015 in O'Hare both Peter Breuninger and Myles Astor have genuine interest in exploring more about Octave>

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrmbTDbvHPA

[Al M.]

I have just read a review of this amp in Audio magazine and I am very impressed by what I read and see. A new dimension of silence, depth and clarity. And very natural. Nothing is painted more beautiful as it is.
Anybody had a listen to this baby yet?

I've heard it, and I bought it today, after an extended audition at home.

[Mordante]

Always lazy/hate re-tubing!!! Actually, i have managed to avoid too much of that stuff, other than the CJ which seems to eat tubes. On that one, i hate having to undo, redo, tap-tap, put back in...tube rush, take out...tap-tap. I have managed to find tubes that so far go for about 12-18 months before noise sets in...so thats quite good actually.

Shouldn't pre amp tubes last a lot long than that? I'd expect power amp tubes to last for at least 2 or 3 years. Pre amp tubes should last almost indefinitely.