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
