Fatman iTube Carbon with speakers

This amp is now available via ebay for £150. I bought one lured by the price and promise of a 'warm sound'. I am using an Arcam 7se CD player and Monitor Audio Bronze BX2 Speakers.

The pairing had peviously sounded harsh using an ancient Arcam amp, which surprised me. Sadly, with the Fatman, the combo still sounds harsh. For £150 I can't complain; at moderately loud volumes there is plenty of pleasure to be had from the detail, surprising weight (considering the 25w per channel output) and overall quality of the presentation.

But...if this system sounds harsh with an Arcam CD player then what of the 'compensating warmth' applied to MP3's? I dread to think.

Maybe it's the speakers, I don't know. Maybe I'm expecting too much. I just can't hear any evidence of the valve warmth. Anything over 2/3rd's total volume is too painful to listen to in a 7x5m room.

Back to the drawing board.