Fisher X-100-C

[thekid]

As mentioned in another thread I picked up my Fisher X-100-C from the shop today. They cleaned it up replaced a few switches and repaired the tube sockets. The bill was a bit over what it costs to take to the family to a dinner and a movie.

Got it home and started to agonize over how I was going to set this up. When I finally decided that before I even put it in place I should at least try it out. I hooked it up to the Heresy II's and the Oppo 970 and got started.

The tech said when I picked up today that this was a good amp which I took as a good sign given the gear that goes through that shop. After a solid hour of listening to "Blonde on Blonde" and "Around Midnight" I am very very impressed with what this little machine can deliver. Hearing Dylan my son came out of his room and when he got in front he pulled up a chair and began to listen-something he has never done before when I am trying out gear. We both could not believe how this amp lays out the entire sound stage. The Adcom gear was the first time I got the sense of where the instruments were laid out in the room and really had separation. The Fisher just takes that experience to a slightly higher level. Vocals are just really centered,accurate and detailed. This also might be helped by the Oppo which is just an outstanding source for playing CD's and SACD's. The Heresy's are a different speaker on tubes and I think the Fisher really fills out the bass much better than the Adcom does with these speakers. Now I am not trying to ignite a thread war about tube vs solid state but I will say I now understand why there is a debate. I did not ask if they tested the tubes but I am sure if any were on the their last leg the shop would have recommended replacement. Not sure how many hours I can expect to get out of them but based on my son's comment "I want to play everything on this" it won't take long before I need a new set of tubes.