veloaudio Posted January 24, 2009 Report Share Posted January 24, 2009 I'm waiting to hear back from Stephen from Rockhopper audio about a possible home B22 trial. While I wait, can anyone comment on comparing tubes to a B22? I have a Woo Audio 6 SE so any direct comparisons would be great. As far as music goes, I listen to almost everything (no country) but right now I'm mostly listening to folk and indie rock. Thanks in advance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
postjack Posted January 24, 2009 Report Share Posted January 24, 2009 compared to most OTL type tube amps I owned, the beta22 was more open, fast, immediate, and intense. however, at no point have I heard a beta22 be bright. its just neutral, clear, and powerful. sorry for the audio magazine language. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
veloaudio Posted January 24, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2009 about how revlon nail clippers compare to all kitchen implements. Thanks ... I laughed out loud. So if I'm translating your comment correctly, no contest? Makes me want to hear a B22 even more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crappyjones123 Posted January 24, 2009 Report Share Posted January 24, 2009 think of the sound coming out of a metal whistle thats been washed with acid. squeaky clean sound. very powerful and controlling. i find most ss amps cold but i think all my opinions dont count for anything since i was sourcing my old beta with a laptop line out so what i was hearing was probably completely rubbish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guzziguy Posted January 24, 2009 Report Share Posted January 24, 2009 Actually, I think that Jacob is saying that they are different. Since you're getting a β22 soon you'll be able to compare for yourself. Of course, you will only be comparing it to one tube amplifier and what you hear may or may not translate to other tube amps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
veloaudio Posted January 24, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2009 compared to most OTL type tube amps I owned, the beta22 was more open, fast, immediate, and intense. however, at no point have I heard a beta22 be bright. its just neutral, clear, and powerful. sorry for the audio magazine language. Thanks, that is helpful. I realize that the question isn't any easy one which is why I'm trying to my own A/B comparison. Just trying to see what others have experienced before I can do it myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
postjack Posted January 24, 2009 Report Share Posted January 24, 2009 Thanks, that is helpful. I realize that the question isn't any easy one which is why I'm trying to my own A/B comparison. Just trying to see what others have experienced before I can do it myself. oh sure man, its fun to ask these kinds of questions on forums, especially when you are already excited about an incoming product. I loved my beta but really it ended up being too much amp for me in my now humble headphone rig. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
veloaudio Posted January 24, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2009 oh sure man, its fun to ask these kinds of questions on forums, especially when you are already excited about an incoming product. I loved my beta but really it ended up being too much amp for me in my now humble headphone rig. I don't have one coming in yet. I'm hoping/trying to listen to one before I buy. Another alternative is to go to the Southern Canfest in Charlotte, NC in February and listen to one there. I started down this B22 qwest with the intention to build one but with our second child on the way that probably won't happen. Not to mention I'd spend way too much money and time trying to get the case work just right Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grawk Posted January 24, 2009 Report Share Posted January 24, 2009 I used to live in greensboro. With luck, maybe one day you'll escape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n_maher Posted January 24, 2009 Report Share Posted January 24, 2009 I'd be shocked if anyone was running a beta22 loaner program, that's an insanely expensive risk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hopstretch Posted January 24, 2009 Report Share Posted January 24, 2009 I'd be shocked if anyone was running a beta22 loaner program, that's an insanely expensive risk. Compared to what? Dealing with Singlepower? Pffft! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grawk Posted January 24, 2009 Report Share Posted January 24, 2009 Is anyone running a singlepower loaner program? Additionally, no one stands to gain much from a B22 loaner program. It's an amp built by hobbiests, not commercial entities. Even rockhopper is essentially doing this as a hobby. His margins are frighteningly small on his amps. One lost/stolen/destroyed B22 would significantly impact any non-huge entity's bottom line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
veloaudio Posted January 24, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2009 I'd be shocked if anyone was running a beta22 loaner program, that's an insanely expensive risk. I'm just going by is website (Bottom of this page): Ordering/Shipping I'm close enough where I could drive up and listen too if I could work that out. I agree it is risky if you start shipping a loaner cross country, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hopstretch Posted January 24, 2009 Report Share Posted January 24, 2009 Is anyone running a singlepower loaner program? Quite a few Singlepower owners, apparently. But only to Mikhail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
veloaudio Posted January 24, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2009 no, you didn't translate my comment correctly. you asked us to compare a specific item to an entire category of vaguely related items. my point was that there is no "tube sound." tube gear runs the gamut from anything to whatever, just as kitchen implements do. I agree there is no "tube sound." I've owned three 5 tube amps over the years and they all have sounded different. Not to mention my sources and speakers has changed so there are a lot of variables. Maybe the question I should have asked is, has anyone compared a tube amp to a B22 and if so what amps? How did they compare? No right or wrong answers and very subjective but I still thought I would ask. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grawk Posted January 24, 2009 Report Share Posted January 24, 2009 I compared an 007t to a B22. I preferred the 007t with my esp950s, but the B22 worked a lot better with my grados. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusty Chalk Posted January 24, 2009 Report Share Posted January 24, 2009 I compared a β22 with my Singlepower Supra++. The β22 was deliciously transparent, but I still prefer tubes. It's probably just psychological. You know, "ooh, orange glow == fire == good to caveman". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smeggy Posted January 24, 2009 Report Share Posted January 24, 2009 I'm gonna get some tube heaters and stuff some tubes in my Beta 22 to make it moar tubey and betterer. I was also thinking of randomly soldering blackgates inside because everyone knows moar blackgates = win! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusty Chalk Posted January 24, 2009 Report Share Posted January 24, 2009 WANT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aardvark baguette Posted January 24, 2009 Report Share Posted January 24, 2009 I compared a β22 with my Singlepower Supra++. The β22 was deliciously transparent, but I still prefer tubes. It's probably just psychological. You know, "ooh, orange glow == fire == good to caveman". This was my finding as well, between a B22 and the HP4. But it was very, very close. Honestly, I could live with either. It was a while ago, but when I compared the two, there was a difference in tone, and I preferred the HP4's. I'm not sure that it was a right/wrong thing, more of a preference. Maybe the B22 was more transparent, and the HP4 too lush, but it seemed at the time that there was just a bit of grain or edge, maybe a slightly stronger attack in the B22. It seemed like the HP4 was a little gentler. I cant remember for certain, but I want to say there was a bit more bass quantity with the HP4. I have no idea if it was the tubes/transformers/other that made the difference, its just what I heard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.