Everest 211
The Everest series tube amplifiers are Melody’s top integrated models. Using a single large Melody 211 per channel (two in total) along with a single Melody 274B, 2x Western Electric 102, and 2x Western Electric 310A as driver/gain tubes, the Everest 211 offers 2x 13 Watts in pure Class A amplification. Incidentally, due to circumstances, my sample contained a Pavane 274B and Line Magnetic 310A’s instead of the Melody and Western Electric tubes.
Inside, Mundorf and Realcap capacitors and point-to-Point wiring are used. Bias control is accessible on top and can be set using the built-in and back-lit true ampere meters. As with the MDA2, the amplifier’s side cheeks are made of wood to add a gentle touch. Adding further to the classy appearance is the thick and softly curved front panel. Like all Melody amplifiers, the 211 has a Soft Start and a 30-second time delay. An aluminum cage and full aluminum infrared remote control are included.
The Everest 211 has the same layout and connectivity as the MDA2 but with WBT and Neutrik connectors
The amp offers 4 cinch inputs and an XLR input and has separate speaker taps for 4 Ohms and 8 Ohms. Unlike with the MDA2, the bias value is not indicated on the amplifier and the manual also makes no mention of this. Upon checking with Melody Hifi Europe, I learned that the 211 tubes should be set between 45-50 mA.
Listening
After switch-on, the 211 emits zero mechanical transformer hum and again there is no hum or hiss from the speakers, perfect! As with the MDA2, it took no time at all to realize that this was yet another huge step up. Boy, the MDA2 was already remarkable but now hearing the 211 makes the former amp sound, well, a little matter-of-fact in comparison. The 211 does nearly everything even better!
Thanks to its amazing midrange purity, the 211 sounds so much more emotionally involving, and with its considerably wider and deeper soundstage, the 211 simply makes the other amp sound static in comparison. Yup, SET amplifiers will do that.
Nothing beats using a single output tube per channel, it’s something that I have encountered several times before, but usually, the heightened emotional conveyance comes along with sacrifices in other fields. For instance, it is widely known that SET amplifiers are not bass champs. More precisely, it is often said that they are rolled off at both frequency ends. Well, that does not apply to the 211, entirely.
For starters, over the entire frequency range, the 211 sounds every bit as transparent and linear as the MDA2, but, as mentioned, along with the elusive quality in the midrange that only SET amps can manage. It is a kind of illumination from the inside along with seemingly Retina-like resolution and an even higher degree of naturalness. This is not only a matter of timbre, which with the MDA2 was also already highly natural but simply such that vocals and many instruments are simply rendered that bit more realistically.
The 211 has an absolutely gorgeous, super-delicate, and “singing” quality along with a perfect balance between subtlety and attack that makes one undergo the music rather than merely listening to it. Like the MDA2, the 211 is neither laidback nor hurried but just perfect in terms of pacing, and while it is smooth, it does not lack energy or attack. Oh, with 13 Watts, it is not a powerhouse, but even with the Xavians, the amp is plenty dynamic, so long as you don’t try to play at party-levels.
While most SET amps pay the price for their midrange beauty in the bass, even in this area, the 211 keeps its head up. Ok, it is indeed a little less precise and incisive in the bass, and overall, the bass range is slightly less powerful than the MDA2 but the amp’s overwhelming musicality makes up for it. Its lowest registers may not be as solid as those of the MDA2 and for this reason, the 211 is less suited to rock music or other hard-hitting music that requires more low-end punch and to some extent, this also goes for the MDA2. Still, the 211 is robust enough to handle most other musical genres very well. And I don’t mean merely adequately but absolutely beautifully. And if more grunt is on the wish list then Melody has other options in the product palette.
Ultimately, SET remains the holy grail if you value midrange purity and beauty over anything else and, even though it is very linear, the 211 also cannot change that. Nevertheless, this marvelous amp may be the most alluring and even-handed specimen that I have heard.
Once again, there was no need to change interlinks. In terms of speaker cables, also, again, I found that both the FoilFlex and the Driade worked very well. As with the MDA2, the 211 does not need sonic editorializing one way or another but I will say that even though it offers naturally deep imaging also with the FoilFlex cable, this aspect is further enhanced by the Driade cable.
Conclusion
I was very pleasantly surprised by these amplifiers. The Action Ultra offers good all-around performance at the price while the MDA2 turns in a performance that is, in many aspects, the best I’ve heard in this system. The Everest 211, finally, offers nearly everything that the MDA2 does and adds to this a heightened emotional conveyance along with an absolutely gorgeous, super-delicate, and “singing” quality with a perfect balance between subtlety and attack that makes one undergo the music rather than merely listening to it.
So long as speakers of adequate efficiency are used, both the MDA2 and Everest 211 turn in a hugely impressive performance. At its very reasonable price, the MDA2 is easily Highly Recommended. The Everest 211 performs even better but also costs a lot more, making it less of an easy recommendation. However, besides cost, I have absolutely nothing against it so if you can accommodate it and have the funds, by all means, go for it!
(MDA2)
External Links
Manufacturer: melodyhifi.com
Official EU Distributor: melodyhifi.eu (part of A Tube Hifi Import)
Official NL Dealer: A Tube High Fidelity
Christian,
Very succinct and well done! I was especially intrigued by the MDA2 review I am right now listening to a pushpull 2a3 amp on loan from my dealer. The 2a3 is my favorite DHT and running it PP as in the MDA2 makes for truly realistic power on tap. I agree the 2a3 sound is very linear and very transparent the MDA2 looks like an excellent value.
And I’ve never personally heard the 211 tube before but it was of course the power tube of the Iconic Ongaku so I can imagine how good that Everest sounded.
Cheers,
Jon
Cheers Jon!