Hi Ken, the 701's are a bridged design. This is somewhat of an oversimplification but inside each 701 are two 711's side by side. Each internal 711 as it were drives each channel coming out of the mono block. One of the advantages of this design there is a better structure for grounding than is possible in the stand alone 711. The housing for the 701 is much bigger and therefore can dissipate much more heat.
This is important because the 701's are biased for the first 60 watts to operate in Class A. This is about 10% of the total output of 600 watts into 8 ohms. But when you put your hand on top of the 701 it barely feels warm. This is also because of the replacement of the huge transformers with the fully regulated switch mode power supplies. No need for a separate AC system in your listening room!
As for the sound I think that Harley gives a pretty good description in the January TAS about the sheer dynamic verve and assertive immediacy. I'd encourage you to read his account. I think that he captures the essence of the sound quite well. As he said in a different entry "their is probably not a more musically compelling amplifier out there".
As for which way I'm leaning, well I don't know. The 701's are a much bigger chunk of change. But when you consider that you are getting four 711's (two per mono block) instead of one it puts in a better perspective. There is probably nothing that the 701's can't do. No speaker out there that they can't drive. They are powerful and subtle at the same time.
When they go head to head I'll know better. My feeling is that the 701's are certainly the SOTA.
Hi Ken, the 701's are a bridged design. This is somewhat of an oversimplification but inside each 701 are two 711's side by side. Each internal 711 as it were drives each channel coming out of the mono block. One of the advantages of this design there is a better structure for grounding than is possible in the stand alone 711. The housing for the 701 is much bigger and therefore can dissipate much more heat.
This is important because the 701's are biased for the first 60 watts to operate in Class A. This is about 10% of the total output of 600 watts into 8 ohms. But when you put your hand on top of the 701 it barely feels warm. This is also because of the replacement of the huge transformers with the fully regulated switch mode power supplies. No need for a separate AC system in your listening room!
As for the sound I think that Harley gives a pretty good description in the January TAS about the sheer dynamic verve and assertive immediacy. I'd encourage you to read his account. I think that he captures the essence of the sound quite well. As he said in a different entry "their is probably not a more musically compelling amplifier out there".
As for which way I'm leaning, well I don't know. The 701's are a much bigger chunk of change. But when you consider that you are getting four 711's (two per mono block) instead of one it puts in a better perspective. There is probably nothing that the 701's can't do. No speaker out there that they can't drive. They are powerful and subtle at the same time.
When they go head to head I'll know better. My feeling is that the 701's are certainly the SOTA.
, but I still say the caps are beneath the mb. It says so in Chapter 3 of The Head of the Pin Dance Instructions.
