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The best investment I have made in audio gear. I went from solid state lifeless sound to tube sound without some of the drawbacks,such as rolled-off top ends,and flabby, slow bass. These units have a "you are there" vividness that is hard to described but definitely there! There is also exceptional imaging and localization of instruments particularly with 5751 tubes in place of 12ax's. By the way the tube tuners are just as impressive!
- Victor
I received the Scott amp, and I must tell you that I am really surprised. It performs beautifully, and holds its own against amplifiers many times the price. It is hard to believe! Well done.
Many Thanks,
Tom
Thank you for telling me about your tube amps. After purchasing one I was truly amazed by the sound. The best thing is I didn't even know you made them until I asked you myself about tube amps.
I have listened to many high end consumer level and professional level amps and have heard none better. I have heard louder but none better. I have heard some costing over 20 times the price and some were on par but none better! I have to say all the years of engineering and listening you have done has filtered directly into your products. All of your testing simply make sense. If it sounds good you use it. If it sounds bad you don't!
I don't even have any other modifications done to the amp.It is stock as it comes from you.
If people are wondering about that "tube" sound all I can say is this. The bass is tight, quick and powerful. The mids are clear and sharp and every sound wave in the air can be heard. The highs are precise and can have the speed and transient response like a live performance in your living room! I have been caught off gaurd by the transient response and volume of this so called little 15 watt amp! Listening to the same music I have listened to for years. It just sounds like new music with this amp. The amp plays just as loud as my 120 watt per channel solid state. It has far better sound.
You should sell these amps for at least $2500. This is all my own personal opinion. I am truly a believer in your products. Everything I have purchased from you has performed like it should. Thank You!
- Clinton N.
I recently purchased a modified vintage Scott amplifier from Mapleshade and have been very impressed. Indeed, it smoked my 6,000.00 setup, which included a well regarded tube preamp and mosfet base amplifier from one of America's oldest high end companies. It wasn't even close.
Moreover, the Scott includes a pretty fair sounding phono stage, which brought the level of performance up another notch. Considering that I would need to spend an additional 1500.00 or so for an equivalent stage, that means that the 1100.00 modified Scott replaced 7500.00 worth of equipment and improved greatly upon the sonics.
In short, the Mapleshade modified amplifier is a ridiculous value that presents the recording in a clearer, faster, more coherent, and more natural fashion then I have yet to hear.
- Joe M.
For those who want to get right to the nitty-gritty: if you want to build a terrific-sounding stereo system but do not want to spend your entire life savings on it, I cannot think of a better way to drive it than one of these amps.... it sounds magnificent. I am using it to drive a pair of Paradigm Reference Studio 60 loudspeakers which are moderately-efficient, floor-standing 3-way speakers. Depending on the source material, that little Heathkit can drive them to too-loud levels with the volume control at less than 50% and no noticeable distortion (though note that I am listening in a small room with the speakers well out from the walls and maybe 6 feet from my ears).
Bass response if full and much tighter than I would have expected from such a modest tube amp. The very lowest of the low bass tends to be lacking, but that could be as much a limitation of the speakers, which do not have a huge woofer. Midrange and highs are clear and very well imaged. I detect no false "sweetness" that many tube detractors often complain of.
I listen to many types of music, from Kieth Jarret solo piano to Pink Floyd to Beethoven symphonies, and all sound better now than with the amp I replaced (the well-respected $1500 Creek 5350SE). My only real complaint with my current system now is the very small "sweet spot" for good listening results. I think this is largely due to the size and geometry of my current listening room, so I will be interested to see how things improve once I finish remodelling my basement.
System components:
Amp: Mapleshade modified Heathkit tube amp
Speakers: Paradigm Reference Studio 60
Digital source: Marantz DV6400 universal disc player
Analog source: Sumiko Project Perspective turntable with Sumiko Blue Point Special cartridge
Analog preamp: Monolithic Sound PS-1 phono pre-amp and HC-1 power supply
Cabling: Audioquest interconnects and Tributaries speaker wire
- Charles Reace
Please be advised that the 222-D upgraded Mapleshade vintage amps are hands down, one of the current best values in audio. This amp has a great soundstage, with great depth,and realistic musical dimension. This royal musical gem has it's place in audio history. Along the years, many an entrepenuir would copy RCA tube manuals and claim to have a great circiuts to employ. HH Scott was a leader of their day and still reap the fruit of the hard work they put into circuit engineering. Honest, clean,and wholesome company that one could and still can trust to deliver. Great job, guys!!!!!
With great regard, Joe
I'm writing to convey my sincere thanks for providing a great turnaround service on my tuner. The unit supplied is doing it's job with aplomb. Just last night, I was listening to one of my favorite radio shows, "All Blues", on the local NPR affiliate. My seventeen year old daughter came into the room, and walked up to the stereo looking for the CD case. She remarked her suprise on seeing the tuner all aglow. Our CD player is a Wadia 830, with a small Krell integrated amp, and Martin Logan hybrid speakers. This tuner fits seamlessly into the rig. Thanks very much for providing such a nice tuner!
Mark Nelson
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