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HOME THEATER MAGAZINE (Israel) - Review of the model i34 amplifier (in Hebrew and Google translation)

"This small and unassuming integrated amplifier blew down my perceptions of what was possible from an affordable valve component. Not only is the i84 deliciously engaging, it also offers a sense of balance, tone and detail that I've never encountered before from a tube amp anywhere near its price", Sean Fowler, Affordable Audio (voted an "Extreme value in the affordable tube-amp category", January 2008 issue)

I've been able to spend a couple of days listening to it and it is a wonderful sounding amp.

It has a nice organic, musical sound without being too bloated or fat. It may not have quite the punch of my previous solid-state amp,
but it makes up for it in quality of sound. It's everything I expected, and wanted, in a tube amp.

I still can't believe the performance vs. price of this amp. The price of the i-34 is almost a third of what my old system was and has no
problem delivering a sound equal, and perhaps better, to it. I'm sure as it gets fully burned in it will become even more musical.

My son and I use tube amps for guitar playing. I've found that while power tubes don't make a lot of difference to the sound, pre-amp
tubes can give a different "flavor". Do you see any problems trying out different pre-amp tubes in the i-34?

Thanks again for the great product and service that you have given me. D. B. California (model i34)

Love the i84. It is perfect for my office. It sounds very natural to me, never calling attention to itself, which, for me, is very important, and it's more dynamic than I though it would be with my Epos 3 minimonitors. I wasn't originally planning to get a tube unit for the office, but I am so pleased that I did. I feel as though spending the time searching was rewarded. I like the way it looks too. My wife, when she first heard it in the office said how great the system sounded. Great product! J.Z. Louisiana (model i84)

I am very happy with the amp! I was impressed with how QUIET it runs,and any lack of transformer vibration. It has very excellent staging abilities,with great detail w/o glare or harshness.A very nice match (w/o any tube substitution) with the Spendor 3/5 speakers....

The amp is one that I'd feel comfortable in promoting. I think you will be successful with the sale of this amp. S.G. New York (model i34 prototype)

I just wanted let You know that amplifier arrived today in good condition. I've listened to couple of CDs already and IT'S REALLY PUSH ME DOWN!!!!! Excellent sound, even Jolida could not reproduce so sweet sound. I gave up my "omegas". There is very poor LF,but on My B&W sound is unbelievable. Even low freq. are so sweet and accurate...

I was worried about sound pressure but I could not believe that it's only 5W coming out from this little piece, and my B&W's are only 90 dB spl. Z. K., Illinois (model i82)

It is not so often that we find a new audio company driven by the desire to deliver high quality, superior sounding products at affordable prices. New York based Vista-Audio is a prime example of an engineering driven company run by audiophiles.

The first couple of model i84 amplifiers that we got our hands on where a pleasant surprise. They where built well, they were looking good on our measuring tests & most importantly they sounded exceptional in our listening tests. Audio Limits, Canada (model i84)

Hi Boris, the amp arrived earlier today. Very nice construction. I tried the amp using it connected straight to a Toshiba SD-2109 dvd player. Listening/watching Symphonic Yes dvd, Steve Howe's guitar solo was very clean and pleasant, good definition. Next was Starship Trooper. The bass on this track was very respectable, although it could have done with some bass eq uplift. I first tried a pair of speakers with a 6" woofer. Bass was tight but not overly loud. I then switched to a speaker set with a 12" woofer, similar good response, although not much improvement in bass volume, again a little eq would bring it right out. I suspect the amp drops of a little in the lower bass as is to expected. I'm very impressed overall and happy with the amp. I will take it to work and do a bench check of distortion and frequency response. My listening room is quite large with a high vaulted ceiling, the amp provided lots of volume, in fact I had to turn her down after a while. Most people would laugh at 10w/channel, but then they don't understand the relationship between sound pressure and power in watts.....

Hi Boris, I fed the amp from the Toshiba through a graphic equalizer. I put on Emerson, Lake & Palmer's 1996 DVD of their live concert in the Royal Albert Hall. With no eq the sound was very good, I added a little bass eq and a little boost at 1khz and 2.4khz. The music just shone right out. Carl Palmers drum kit was excellent esp. the hihat ensemble he has. Keith Emersons keyboards sounded out so clear I was hearing subtleties in sound that I had not heard on the DVD before. Brought tears to my ears. And plenty of volume again.....

Hi Boris, one set of speakers are home made (2 way with a 12 bass unit) The other pair is a 2 way unit by Quest with a 6" bass driver that I bought to use with my electric piano. Not sure of the sensitivity of either unit really, but the amp drives either pair very well. I listened to Peter Gabriel's "Secret World Tour" dvd last night, I'm still hearing new things on listening with the tube amp. J.M., British Columbia (model i84)

I was shocked when I got my tiny triode from Boris and swapped it with my $2000 SS amp and the overall sound quality of CD and LP was more natural and smooth. Bbchem, on Audiogon (model i82)

A truly wonderful sounding amplifier! Boris is a true gentleman! Highly recommended! Gvcycleman, on Audiogon (model i84)

I wanted to take a moment to thank you for building such nice sounding amplifiers. I really like them.... Both amplifiers are easy to listen to and non-fatiguing. I'm listening to the SET amplifier now. The best single thing that I can tell you is they are enjoyable to listen to. G.W., Arizona (model i84 and model i82)

The amp works very well and I like the sonic signature a lot. I hooked it up with my Blueroom Minipod speakers and played it for a couple of hours so far, mainly with CD's that I know well. What I hear so far is the extended bandwidth, a better sound stage and more detail, but not in a way that the sound gets more unsettling or edgy. W.F., Connecticut (model i84)

Outstanding amplifier! Great person! Highly recommended! ggv125, on ebay (model i82)

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An absolutely great amplifier!! Perfect packing and timely shipping. Very nice! cruisaire, on ebay (model i82)

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Thus far I have paired the amp with a Toshiba DVD/CD player and my trusty Playstation 1 as CD sources. Both are "alternative audio" sources and not even qualifiers as "mid-fi", but they can sound right with the correct setup. The PS1sounded okay, but the Toshiba is remarkable!! I'll let you know as soon as I finish gathering information. Suffice to say, I am more than pleased with the amp.....I tried a couple of older, Fostex full range drivers with the amp last night, fantastic and they weren't even in a box yet!! The 92 dB DCM speakers and the Denon CDP are still my favorite. R.M., Georgia (model i82)