After that I've owned several push pulls, SE pentodes, SETs, you name it. Power amps, integrateds, tubed pre amps etc. A common story. Every amp have had their own strenghts and weaknesses, but all have shared the very same nature of tube amps - a lovely, lively, natural, warmish sound character - which every single sand amp lacks. Lack of life, excitement and drama.
One of the best tube amps that I have encountered during recent years has been the Pilot SM-244 integrated I bought last spring from a croatian fellow. It was a totally restored piece and represented the '59 vintage. 18 watts of EL84 power in very handsome package; four EL84's, three sets of 12AX7's, one 12AU7 and one rectifier tube, GZ34, so total of 12 tubes.
When I connected the amp and swithched it on for the first time in conjunction with my Garrard 401 and DeVore Nines speakers I was simply stunned. Never heard such a crystalline clarity alongside with the power and bass control from my DeVores. Midrange was very liquid, articulate and the treble was very silky and extended. The combination simply made fantastic music together.
The Pilot's iron had been held untouched (big part of the amp's fabulous sound lies there for sure), it was a 115V machine and I used it with a step down transformer without obvious negative shortcomings. I still can't anything but wonder how they builded such amps over a half century ago..which equalled or bested their modern siblings in sound quite easily. Amazing stuff!
Anyhow, the Pilot isn't for all loads and speakers..well, that's not necessarily true, but..even though it sounded stunning with 8 and especially with 16 ohm speakers I found it not so stellar with 4 ohm Auditorium 23 Hommages which are equipped with 4 ohm legendary WE755A driver..and they'll need , once again, quite presumably, even more delicate SET power..but that's another story. ;-)
When writing this, I've just sold my Pilot. That might be one of the biggest mistakes in my audio hobby so far. Only the time will tell. In the meantime, congrats for the new owner! I'm really happy for ya'!
