Sonneteer Alabaster

Platinum Member

Username: Artk

Albany, Oregon
USA

Post Number: 10558
Registered: Feb-05

Posted on Monday, August 17, 2009 - 09:45 pm:

My next big audition. I pick it up this week. Any experienced Alabaster or Campion users.

Nick K

Gold Member

Username: Nickelbut10

Post Number: 2725
Registered: Jun-07

Posted on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 - 10:45 pm:

Looks fancy Art. I have personally never heard of the unit. I searched it up though, and it looks very well built. Very high end. Can't wait for the audition.

Gold Member

Username: My_rantz

Australia

Post Number: 2418
Registered: Nov-05

Posted on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 - 10:46 pm:

And interesting, does the Unison not do it for you now Art?

Platinum Member

Username: Artk

Albany, Oregon
USA

Post Number: 10562
Registered: Feb-05

Posted on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 - 11:07 pm:

The Unison sounds wonderful I just have a good opportunity to try this amp and possibly accquire it at a price I may not be able to refuse.

Platinum Member

Username: Artk

Albany, Oregon
USA

Post Number: 10563
Registered: Feb-05

Posted on Wednesday, August 19, 2009 - 10:26 pm:

The Alabaster has arrived. If I were to characterize it's sound so far I'd say it's a cross between a Naim amp and a Sugden A21SE. High PRaT with a big deep soundstage. Microdynamics are outstanding. Tmbre is just a bit shy of the Unison however. Very good amp. Here's a gander.

Upload

Gold Member

Username: My_rantz

Australia

Post Number: 2420
Registered: Nov-05

Posted on Wednesday, August 19, 2009 - 10:38 pm:

Nice Art - I suppose your going to give it some decent running time before making the big decision?

Platinum Member

Username: Artk

Albany, Oregon
USA

Post Number: 10564
Registered: Feb-05

Posted on Wednesday, August 19, 2009 - 10:51 pm:

Actually it's 3 1/2 yrs old and has been used as a demo and in the dealer's wife's home studio so it's well broken in. I will give it plenty of time for my ears to get used to the sound. Depending on price I may sell the Creek and keep the Sonneteer and the Unison, even though I like them both the economic reality is that I will likely have to choose.

Gold Member

Username: My_rantz

Australia

Post Number: 2421
Registered: Nov-05

Posted on Wednesday, August 19, 2009 - 11:05 pm:

Sounds like it might be a tough decision unless you sell the Creek. As long as the music is fine - good luck with it.

David Mitchell

Gold Member

Username: Dmitchell

Ottawa, Ontario
Canada

Post Number: 2925
Registered: Feb-07

Posted on Thursday, August 20, 2009 - 07:34 am:

Looks neat Art. Changing things up a lot lately, huh?

Platinum Member

Username: Artk

Albany, Oregon
USA

Post Number: 10565
Registered: Feb-05

Posted on Thursday, August 20, 2009 - 08:41 am:

You bet David...

David Mitchell

Gold Member

Username: Dmitchell

Ottawa, Ontario
Canada

Post Number: 2926
Registered: Feb-07

Posted on Thursday, August 20, 2009 - 08:45 am:

You change your gear almost as much as I do :-)

Doubt I'll be upgrading from the Macs anytime soon, tho.

Platinum Member

Username: Artk

Albany, Oregon
USA

Post Number: 10566
Registered: Feb-05

Posted on Thursday, August 20, 2009 - 10:28 am:

I had the Rega system for about 2 1/2 yrs, but lately I've had some opportunities to upgrade...gotta like that.

George

Silver Member

Username: Soundgame

Toronto, Ontario
Canada

Post Number: 911
Registered: Jun-08

Posted on Friday, August 21, 2009 - 09:00 pm:

Sweet looking unit, Art. Waiting to get more details on your audition, as you get more settled with the new gear in your system.

Platinum Member

Username: Artk

Albany, Oregon
USA

Post Number: 10576
Registered: Feb-05

Posted on Friday, August 21, 2009 - 09:52 pm:

It's one of the 2 or 3 best sounding solid state amps I've ever heard. Sweet and detailed with incredible inner resolution and just flat sings with the Gibbons, like it was made for them. The control the that this amps exerts over the bass drivers on the Gibbons is incredible. This is one of the best systems from a synergy perspective that I have ever heard, and it's mine...YIPPIE! Now I need a good phono amp.

Gold Member

Username: My_rantz

Australia

Post Number: 2422
Registered: Nov-05

Posted on Friday, August 21, 2009 - 10:44 pm:

Sweet!
Congrats Art.

Platinum Member

Username: Artk

Albany, Oregon
USA

Post Number: 10579
Registered: Feb-05

Posted on Saturday, August 22, 2009 - 12:18 am:

Thanks MR...I sure could use your Saturn!

Gold Member

Username: My_rantz

Australia

Post Number: 2427
Registered: Nov-05

Posted on Saturday, August 22, 2009 - 12:41 am:

No chance, it's staying Art :-)

Glad you're lovin' that amp - getting it right is a satisfying thing.

Platinum Member

Username: Artk

Albany, Oregon
USA

Post Number: 10581
Registered: Feb-05

Posted on Saturday, August 22, 2009 - 01:01 am:

Yep...the economic reality is that the Unison must go and so after a short, hot love affair I must bid it farewell and just chalk it up to a summer romance. It was delicious but just couldn't last.

Nuck

Platinum Member

Username: Nuck

Post Number: 13232
Registered: Dec-04

Posted on Saturday, August 22, 2009 - 05:39 am:

hehe Art.

If you are looking at a phono stage, I suggest you look into a Jolida JD9 unit, but with an improved tube over stock.

Platinum Member

Username: Artk

Albany, Oregon
USA

Post Number: 10585
Registered: Feb-05

Posted on Saturday, August 22, 2009 - 09:36 am:

No thanks on the Jolida. Heed, Dynavector and Sim are on the short list.

Gold Member

Username: Stu_pitt

Irvington, New York
USA

Post Number: 3440
Registered: May-05

Posted on Saturday, August 22, 2009 - 10:18 pm:

The Sim and Dynavector are great. It all depends on what you're willing to spend IMO. Haven't heard the Heed.

I haven't heard Sonneteer nor much about them before. I'm glad its working out so well! A cross between Sugden and Naim? How is it not more popular?

Platinum Member

Username: Artk

Albany, Oregon
USA

Post Number: 10595
Registered: Feb-05

Posted on Saturday, August 22, 2009 - 10:29 pm:

Probably poor marketing. The Sugden is well recognized for it's performance but due to the heat it generates not many want to own it, same can be said of my Sonneteer...it's one hot mama. Designed that way just like the Sugden..sounds great. Stu, the Heed is by far the best of the three phono stages I listed.

Gold Member

Username: Stu_pitt

Irvington, New York
USA

Post Number: 3447
Registered: May-05

Posted on Monday, August 24, 2009 - 10:31 pm:

If the Heed is by far the best of the 3, that really says a lot. How much does it go for? I may have to track one down.

Platinum Member

Username: Artk

Albany, Oregon
USA

Post Number: 10609
Registered: Feb-05

Posted on Monday, August 24, 2009 - 10:50 pm:

$1K...and worth every penny!

http://eugenehifi.com/Heed/htm/Heed_Quasar.htm

Gold Member

Username: Stu_pitt

Irvington, New York
USA

Post Number: 3449
Registered: May-05

Posted on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 - 09:00 am:

I somehow knew it was going to be out of my price range. Maybe I shouldn't track one down.

I've been contemplating getting the internal DAC for my B60. Only problem is that I'll lose the phono card - not enough room for both. I was thinking about the Sim and Dynavector as both are probably the definitive ones for their price.

Chris H

Silver Member

Username: Hawkbilly

Nova Scotia
Canada

Post Number: 657
Registered: Jul-07

Posted on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 - 01:29 pm:

Stu, if you're the least bit interested you should check out the new Vista Audio Phono 1. It's around $300 and from the limited feedback I've ready it's a great unit. If I didn't already have the Moon I'd give it a try myself. 2 year warranty I think. Here's the feedback thread from Audiocircle...

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=e87gc76a4d2s7f7ev4dqvsgnk6kujtjq& topic=69666.0

Dan L.

Silver Member

Username: Kbear

Canada

Post Number: 229
Registered: Dec-06

Posted on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 - 08:07 pm:

Imagine how good that amp would look alongside the Sonneteer CDP...

http://www.everestaudio.com/products/Sonneteer-Alabaster-integrated-amplifier-ss i.htm

I'm glad it worked out for you Art. Good to hear that the Sonneteer lives up to it's high billing. I briefly considered buying a Sonneteer amp when I bought my new integrated. I think there was a used one I came across. Never actually listened to it though, but ultimately decided I couldn't swing it along with the other upgrades I was making. Maybe for the next upgrade the Sonneteer will be on my list.

Platinum Member

Username: Artk

Albany, Oregon
USA

Post Number: 10618
Registered: Feb-05

Posted on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 - 12:20 pm:

Problem is that the Sonneteer CD player sucks. It's slow and ponderous...a real dinosaur. The amp is fabulous so they really need to update the CD player.

Gold Member

Username: Stu_pitt

Irvington, New York
USA

Post Number: 3451
Registered: May-05

Posted on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 - 09:31 pm:

I always wondered how a comapny can hit the nail one the head with one product and fail so miserably with another. Do they have a different listening panel when evaluating the CD player than they had when they evaluated the integrated?

Chris,
Thanks for the suggestion. I'll keep it in mind if I need a new phono stage. Its going to be very hard to beat that Moon phono pre you have though.

Platinum Member

Username: Artk

Albany, Oregon
USA

Post Number: 10619
Registered: Feb-05

Posted on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 - 09:48 pm:

Actually Stu it's more like a good sounding cd player 12 yrs ago doesn't match up to a mid fi one today however an excellent amp 12 yrs ago will still be excellent today. They simply haven't updated their cd player in ages and their amp needs no upgrade.

Chris H

Silver Member

Username: Hawkbilly

Nova Scotia
Canada

Post Number: 659
Registered: Jul-07

Posted on Thursday, August 27, 2009 - 07:20 am:

I took a quick read of some reviews of this amp Art, and it seems folks like it an awful lot. Nice pick-up. I hadn't heard of that brand before.