kramered Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 Hi all, Just got delivery of the most outstanding amplifier - valve or solid state - I've ever heard. The new Cymer Audio Southern Star SE-35 Signature is the culmination of Elson Silva's decades of experience in valve amplifier circuit and transformer design. Build quality is second to none inside and out. These monoblock amplifiers have the best and most over-engineered transformers Cymer could build making for a valve amplifier (of 35 watts) with DYNAMICS, detail and control over the bass as good as any state-of-the-art solid state design (even on my low impedance Wilson Audio Sasha) but with a harmonic bloom and timbre that I haven't heard from solid state. Overall sonically these amps are on a level that is unmatched, in my experience. Truly a transcending product from a valve amplification artist. Cheers, EK [ATTACH=CONFIG]28642[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]28643[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]28644[/ATTACH] 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Drizzt Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 Congrats on the new purchase. Hopefully they bring you joy for many years to come. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tax Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 Congratulations Edgar! Elson put a lot of love into those amps :-) I got my Audio Notes serviced a while ago and he showed me how he was putting your amps together. Work of art. Enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest yamaha_man Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 What speaker cables you running now Ed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adrocks Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 Edgar A very nice looking pair of amps there. Glad to hear you think they are superb. Its a good feeling when you get a new piece if equipment and it not only exceeds your expectations but blows you away. As Tax said, Enjoy!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Full Range Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 Here is a great article about the man himself and a review of the Cymer PA 3.1 + 300B SE 9.1 Single Ended Its a great read http://www.highfidelity.pl/@main-89?=en FR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CraigC Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 Congratulations Elson and Edar on some beautiful amps. Nice to see they are well built too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
proftournesol Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 rather substantial looking transformers there! It seems like they sound as good as they look:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tricka Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 Wow. All I can say is Wow. Congratulations Ed. Wonderful to see such quality here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JohnA Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 They surely do look the part. Congrats Ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaspert Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 Wow! Massive trannies. They look fabulous and I really like the high gloss finish. Congrats. What complement of tubes did Elson use? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest atilsley Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 Ed, what is the large output valve...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kramered Posted February 6, 2011 Author Share Posted February 6, 2011 Thanks guys. @YM - I'm using Gryphon PSC Reference I have on loan at the moment. @Jaspert and atilsley - The output valve is a 13E1 driven by a 45 - best of both worlds, the drive and balls of the 13E1 coupled to the midrange beauty and resolution of the 45. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCR33 Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 Hi Edgar, Very nice amps and I know how much Elson cares about quality. Need to visit you again soon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest atilsley Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 The 13EI looks a bit puny...couldn't you have gone for something a bit more imposing......?;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kramered Posted February 6, 2011 Author Share Posted February 6, 2011 @JCR33 - anytime Jack, let's talk or PM and arrange a time. @atilsley - yep, maybe one of those Kron things as big as a 2L coke bottle ;>)) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Young Skywalker Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 Congrats on receiving the new amps Ed. Knowing how much of a perfectionist Elson is these must surely be something special in the world of valve amplification. I must arrange a time to come by for a listen. YS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kramered Posted February 6, 2011 Author Share Posted February 6, 2011 Yes Young Skywalker, as you know, Elson is a fanatic when it comes to quality, meticulous engineering and transformer design that pushes the limits (the very best off-the-shelf transformer designs do not compare). And the level of sonic quality he has managed to wring out from this unique design is beyond any amplification I've heard in my system. Truly extraordinary. Cheers, Edgar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kramered Posted February 6, 2011 Author Share Posted February 6, 2011 Oh, and anytime as far as visiting - when you're ready just call or PM. EK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolster Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 Don't know how they sound, Edgar, but they look sensational. Thanks for sharing them on SNA. Cheers wolster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vic Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 Hi Edgar, Amps look great , enjoy. Cheers Victor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kramered Posted February 8, 2011 Author Share Posted February 8, 2011 Thanks to all who complimented. Clocking some hours on the amps and even with only 6 hours on the clock (among other circuit componentry that is being run-in, I'm told the Mundorf Silver/oil caps need lots of time before sounding their best) this amp is far and above anything I've heard in my system. Extraordinary. Cheers, EK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samman Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 Hi Edgar The amps look sensational and from what you say they sound just as good, congratulations and may you enjoy the sound for many years to come...Love to hear them one day when I'm in Sydney.. Regards Sam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith_W Posted May 17, 2011 Share Posted May 17, 2011 Hi Edgar, a few weeks on and I am still thinking about the sound of your system Am still very impressed. Great work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kramered Posted May 18, 2011 Author Share Posted May 18, 2011 Thanks Keith. Did a bit of speaker shuffling last weekend to wring a tad more bass performance. Ended up with the speakers about another 8-inches away from front wall. Tidied upper bass/lower midrange a smidge and gave me a bit more focus and stage depth. Broke my back but worthwhile exercise ;>)) Catch up soon I hope. Cheers, EK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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