SS for tube lovers, any taker?!

How long have I been not writing? 3 months? I am not sure as I was living a soulless life like a walking zombie! My audiophile friends know this, and noticed my lack of enthusiast towards life. How far can a fallen audiophile try to get good sound? Those who know can just say, PATHETIC! Anyway, that would be part of a series which I would share later, the insights to how I come to the decision of having this new combo in SG.

Eugene is a genuine dealer, never pushy and imposing. Gee, Eugene and genuine does rhyme! I came to know him because of Stealth Audio Cables, and I ended up being one of the first, if not the first, to buy Stealth in MY. Since the start of his business, he has been carrying Bladelius and Marten Design, 2 of the 5 brands in what better known as Swedish Statement now.

I do drop by the shop on and off to “blow water”. I would sometimes listen to stuff represented by Eugene, but he was never insisting in promoting his stuff. I guess he would rather let you discover for yourself than to tell you what to buy. Hence, I was never aware of the gem I ended up getting in front of me all this while. I could only briefly remember asking Leslie to go listen to Thor as I found it to be full of potential. Since I was not looking for a second love back then, it passed me by. It was an early sign, nonetheless.

I admit, I am anal about ARC tube sound, proudly claiming my fixation over them to anyone. I have to stress ARC over here as people could relate to tube sound, but they were lost when I stress about the wide extensions and high resolution traits I wanted. Am I lost or confused, as tube sound is euphonic and mid centric? Not that after I put ARC in the picture. They are the different tube company, exploiting the full potential of tube’s organic and grainless presentation, while giving you the resolution and extensions of solid state. I am not saying the traits are exclusive to the said implementations, but certain traits are easier to attain in the respective tube or solid state implementations.

Hey, have I just wrapped up the traits of Thor? It is indeed organic, grainless, hi resolution and it gives great extensions! But NO, it is more than that! It is a shame I could only relate what I heard 2 years back now. You know what my feeling and shock were the moment I heard this babe in an unassuming whitish (sorry for my over fixation over ARC) grey outfit?

一部可以令膽機同好尖叫的石機！

A solid state amp that could sweep the feet off the floor, feet of tube lovers, mind you!

I have heard serious stuff, serious stuff that were seriously setup, representing the best in their own rights! But you need that moment, that blink moment that tells you “this is it!” You know it when you hear it! And I got it with a few brands and ended up buying them, of course only if my wallet allows.

For something over the price tag of SGD 6400, it should be high resolution and giving great extensions. For something this price, it better be, coz forking out 6K is not anyone would do on a daily basis. But what is so special about this when any other 6K stuff is able to give high resolution and great extensions? I found part of the answers the moment Cindy unpacked and put the Thor to play. Organic and grainless, for something that is fresh out of box!

Fast forward to 2 weeks later, I discovered even more on the better run-in Thor! Has it ever occurred to you that a great performer, a great teacher, or a great component for our context, would silent the audiences when they started doing their stuff?! The moment I hit play, I was floored; it has the magic of silencing my doubt, shutting down all my auxiliary senses, heightening my mental awareness by letting me taking in the best of what is playing at the moment! This is the BLINK moment; the moment you know THIS IS IT!

This amp is special, although it is a solid state amp, I could have mistaken it for tube if it wasn’t for its ample power and clean, taut and defined bass. The highs really captivated me, they were substantial and rich. They shimmer with silky smooth delicacy and slowly dithered in thin air in an elegant manner. It is a trait easier to attain from Maggies driven by ARC Classic series power amp, my ProAc and lower powered ARC Classic 60 can do so albeit at lesser weight. Yes, I heard you regress yours is smooth also, but I don’t think yours is vivacious and colorful! Muahahaha, call me proud!

I ain’t no bass freak and having been living with bookshelves for so long, I would not be the person to turn to if you want to know better about bass. Nonetheless, I have heard how this little gem handled huge Charios and JM Labs. Hold on, there is something that makes this gem standing out against the rest! The way this amp handled power is in such composed and gentlemanly manner. Many people argued with loud voices at virtually shouting level, this gem is likened to a well learnt gentleman, putting forth good sense of wisdom and rationale, sending the rest to shame! In other words, power is put to good use only when asked for, in kung fu, we call this “yin” power!

Wait wait wait, do you think it’s easy to impress tube heads without the mid being put to test?! To fork out 6K for a tube amp make perfect sense for tube heads, but for a tube head to fork out 6K on a solid state make a solid case on how good this gem is! Many solid state amps worth its salt are able to give that refined, smooth, delicate and grainless vocals. But Thor tops them up with the right amount of bloom, moist and liquidity that makes vocal so emotional and full of expressions! Top flight MBL coupled with flying as high YG Acoustics is able to do so also, but they play at the state of the art league!

I am getting mine coming July, when are you getting yours?!