Oh man! All the reviews I read about this amp were bang on Nick. It doesn't sound like any tube amp I've ever heard, in fact, it sounds almost like the best solid state amp I've ever heard. Attack like a Marshall stack, and the musicality of it is insane. I was cranking some Maiden this 'aft and I couldn't help smiling and tapping my feet. And it goes LOUD man - like louder than my 840A at 120 watts. I was using a sub before when I was using the 840A in the listening room, but now I don't need it. Crazy....
It's actually quite a bit smaller looking in real life than all the photos convey, and it's relatively light - only 30 lbs.
It came retro-fitted with all JJ's except for one odd-man out EL-84. I dropped in some extra JAN-Phillips (my favourite so far) 12AT7 input tubes this aft I had kicking around, but haven't had a chance to listen yet.
Anyone have any recommendations of their favourite EL-84 tubes? Jan? Mike?
For tubes, check out Manley. They usually have a large supply that they sell to their customers. It would be interesting to see what they're currently using.
Stu, this is an older one - the run from 1998 to 2005. It does have the UL/triode switching, but no sub out, and no remote. I was a little hesitant about the no remote thing, but back when I had my BP-20 (with no remote) it sounded so good, the trade-off was fine. Life is all about trade-offs, right Nuck?
Anyway, I got for a price well below what most are going for and I'm very happy with it.
I checked out the Manley tube store awhile back, but I can't remember what tubes they're using for 84's. I do know that the 6414 splitter tubes are getting pretty rare, but there's other options.
The remote wasn't added until the Stingray 2, which came out sometime this year. I don't think the sub out is any big deal - a lot of other ways to connect one if needed.
The UL/triode switch is important, from what I've read. Not 2 completely different sounding amps, but definitely different. Can't remember which I liked better. Both settings sound excellent though.
Not that pics tell the whole story, but it looks practically brand new to me. Glad you didn't get that awful gold plated face plate.
I agree Stu. Thankfully Manley buried the gold-plated edition after a short run. To me, the non sub-out is no biggie. I don't feel the need to run a sub at all. It does have the UL/Triode switching. So far I've only listened to it in UL mode.
Awesome David. I'm glad you like it. As for the EL-84's, my favorite's (of the few I've tried) are some NOS Sylvannia's. Much better than the Harma's, new Mullards, and JJ's that I had tried previously.
Hey guys, how important is it for the bias to bang on? The EL84's are supposed to be biased at 250, but I checked this morning and they are all between 225 and 275.
well, even is best. too low or uneven removes some dynamics and creates biased seperation(and stage), too high is heat and longevity. +- 10% is pedestrian, +- 3% is neurotic.
Thanks George. Still getting used to it, but so far I love it. All the reviews we've read on this amp are true. Only tried it so far in U/L mode. Still have to play around with it some more.
Thanks Bryan. I'm expecting a new shipment of EL84's today. There's a mis-matched no name one currently on the amp, and one of the other JJ's has lost most of it's silver coating on the inside, so I wonder if it may have lost it's vacuum.
I'll take some pics of the rear-end for Leo once the new tubes are in.
I actually had some issues with the Stingray awhile back, I was getting some distortion in the right channel. I took it to a tech here in Ottawa who comes highly recommended. I don't know what he did, but when I got the amp back I was absolutely stunned by how good it sounded. I was actually kicking around the idea at one point of selling it but I've decided to hang on to it now. It just sounds that good.
You might want to ask the tech what he did. It's possible he performed some basic housekeeping; cleaning connections, biasing output tubes, etc. that you should learn to do on at least an annual schedule. Tubes will, IMO, show their appreciation for that sort of attention more than most solid state products will. That transistors do not require the user to check bias or clean tube pins was a selling point for solid state back in the 1950-60's - just set it on your shelf and forget it was a common sales tool. However, with their higher circuit impedances and voltages, overall simpler signal path and greater linearity, tubes reward the fastidious listener - as long as you don't overdo your fastidiousness and turn it into an@l-retentive, obssessive compulsive behavior.
I think the Stingray is destined to become one of those products that twenty years from now has a growing cult reputation for good sound.
Apparently the distortion issue was being caused by one of the input switches being loose. He did mention that he biased the tubes for me, other than that I'm really not too sure what else he did. It would actually be good to know. It was definitely worth the 130 bucks he charged me.
