Home Propeller Head Plaza

Technical and scientific discussion of amps, cables and other topics.

[ Follow Ups ] Thread: [ Display  All  Email ] [ Propeller Head Plaza ]
[ Alert Moderator ]

Expectations go both ways...

I think John Curl's JC-2, like the original Jaguar XK-E, is one the classiest looking preamps of all time. Simple. Elegant. I found it to be among the best sounding in its day. While I was in college, a friend of mine had one. I lusted after it. Later, I really didn't want a more plain jane looking Audio Research unit I heard to sound better (at least to my ears). Guess which I later purchased? Twenty five years later, however, I built a passive patterned after the JC-2 look.

Similarly, I purchased VTL monoblocks despite their basic appearance. Mind you, they are well built, but have precious little sex appeal. Prior to that purchase, I heard my amp's big brother directly against the far cooler looking Edge Signature monoblocks. The pictures, BTW don't give the Edge justice. They are simply gorgeous in person with the soft red backlighting, counter sunk machined hex bolts and engraved everything. Even the cooling vents on the top cover are beveled. While the front panel of the Wotans is anodized aluminum, most of the chassis is painted steel using plain 'ol screws. The middle pic shows both of them. Which would you choose for your $30k on looks alone?


or

It was the Wotans, however, that recalibrated my perception of what an amplifier could do to convey the full emotion of the music.

The librarian beat the playmate again, dammit. As for my speakers...

rw

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
  Sonic Craft  

Follow Ups Full Thread
Follow Ups
You can not post to an archived thread.

[ Top Top of Page ] [ Contact Us ] [ Support/Wish List ] [ Copyright © 2025, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
[ General ] [ Speakers ] [ Tubes ] [ Vinyl ] [ Digital ] [ Hi-Rez ] [ Video Asylum ] [ Cables ] [ Tweaks/DIY ] [ Music ] [ Films ]