Ok, time to start spinning LP's this afternoon. Below is the new Tavish Design Classic.
This really is sort of a competition, as there's a 30 day trial where I can return it if desired. (less a restocking fee)
I fully realized that it may be a lateral move from the Phonomena II, which is a fairly decent stage in it's own right. But once you've run tubes for a while, it's hard to go cold turkey.
One album I use for comparisons is Eric Clapton's "Unplugged". It's very familiar, just listening for the vocals, the bass (I think there's a foot or heel thumping on the stage at times), acoustic guitar, plus the various little percussion items like wood blocks and triangles etc. Not a bad sounding live album.
The Classic acquitted itself pretty well on that first outing. Top end is decently extended. A little less sibilance on some vocals, which is there as part of the recording. Bass was fully present but a little less ripe. It's really not a night and day difference between the two, but more time will aid the comparison.
As the albums progress there's perhaps a little opacity which is familiar - kind of like when I used the JJ ECC83S, ECC803, and EL84 in other amps. We'll see if that remains, because one of the reasons the Classic was chosen over the Vintage (with 6SL7's) was to be able to use my modest stash of RCAs, Sylvanias, and Raytheons.