SoundMods wrote:
Tom paid me a visit today to play with his toys in my system. A $95 D.A.C. and his Cherry Bomb.
Tom's Cherry Bomb MOSFet S.E.T. amp. was very surprising considering it was solid-state (UGH!). It only provides 15-watts/channel, but with efficient horns that is not an issue.
Having said that -- it and my Altecs got along beautifully. It had the musicality and slam of tubes without the issues associated with capacitor and transformer coupling. It was 100% DC coupled all the way.
It did not have -- by a long shot -- the irritating solid-state edge -- yet it had the transparency and detail one would expect from hi-end audio without the hard edgy quality I have come to associate with solid-state. The little beast served the music.
The problem with the Cherry Bomb is that it is a one-of-a-kind amp. and not a product one can buy.
The $95 D.A.C. was a remarkable surprise for both of us and competitive with my "He-Man" Sonic Frontiers D.A.C. Now this piece of kit can be purchased. Contact Tom with regards to where on can obtain one.
Thanks or the kind words. One minor correction. The FETs used in the amp are not MOSFETs, but rather VFETS. MOSFETs have the similar characteristics to pentodes while the VFETs behave like triodes. I'm including characteristic curves of the VFET, an 845 and a pentode for comparison.