matt49 said:
Yes, but valve owners will say the same kind of things about any solid state amp, including Class A. So you kind of shoot yourself in the foot with that one.
With the dishonourable exception of one rank idiot on PFM ('Disbeliever') and a couple of Naim owners (less said the better), I've not heard or read of one person saying they prefer a solid state amp to a Devialet. No Class A owners have chimed in to say their burning beasties are better than a Devialet. Doesn't that strike you as odd?
Anyway it matters not. We know in our hearts that we want different things from our systems. Vive la difference etc etc.
Almost every review of the 35i has said that this is the amp for Valve lovers, who don't want the faff, as well as having a lot of the characteristics associated with that topology. It does have (imo) much of the benefits of both....so no foot shooting.
Hi Fi World: "There’s a smoothness, delicacy and warmth to this amplifier that I haven’t heard outside of a valve amplifier, and it was so pronounced that I’m still trying to fathom it weeks after first setting ears upon it."
Soundstage: "Who should be interested in the Musical Fidelity AMS35i? Someone who loves the sound of tube amplifiers but not the hassle of maintaining them.."
Australian Review: "The sound was superbly pure and accurate over the midrange, with a juicy, liquid sound that was as far removed from a dry presentation as you can imagine.."
Stereophile: "The AMS35i had a rich, full-bodied, sweet, harmonically pure sound that worked to ameliorate the less than perfect, especially digital recordings or remasterings.."
I don't get into what is better, only what is preferable to a particular individual. With the exception of Singslinger, I don't know how many Pink Fishers have heard a 35i; and with the exception of your good self, I don't know of anyone who has heard a 35i and a Devialet, let alone directly compared them.
When Acalex (former member) on here, did detailed head to heads between the Jadis and the 35i, he said they were surprisingly close, with the 35i being slightly more versatile across different music genres and the Jadis being slightly more emotive with simple Jazz and the human voice. He could have happily lived with either, but the Jadis edged it for his music choice (and his girlfriend preferred its aesthetics).
His friend Roby was also in for most of the auditions and went with the 35i, because his music choice was more hard core and varied (and needed the better bass welly/control of the SS amp).
There is no better or worse in this debate, and one's own personal preferences are always right...and you are perfectly within your rights to defend your choices.
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