AudioNervosa
Systemic Development => Amplification and Preamplification => Topic started by: mresseguie on July 25, 2017, 12:00:50 AM
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Hi, gang.
I've got some questions regarding SS amplifiers. I don't have a lot of experience with amps, but I'm learning. I started 5 years ago with a Denon AVR 2113ci (?). It sucked. Then, I bought a used Sim Audio 3.1 integrated amp with DAC added. This was a good step up because I could actually hear the improvement in my speakers. An AVA 400R and AVA Synergy 240/3 for HT came next. Once again I heard the SQ improvement. This satisfied me for about 2 years.
For my Taiwan home I bought a Nuprime IDA-8 int. amp/DAC. It's sort of like the /sim Audio. I love this amp for its convenience. It's my travel amp. I may keep it for a while. Last Fall I bought a Nuprime ST-10 amp (150w/ch). This was a step up. I had actually compared it to my 400R and was favorably impressed. I bought the ST-10 because my speakers were Fritz Speakers LS/5-R speakers. They sound great, but are 83.5dB 4 ohm. They need a wee bit of power to sound right. Yeah. I know 150w isn't big enough, but in my small living room, it works.
I've been aching for really good quality floor standing speakers for a couple years. My vagabond lifestyle, dental expenses, my son's college education, and a couple 'surprises' prevented me from buying speakers.....until last month. I bought a pair of Daedalus Audio Apollo speakers. There are three-way 86.5dB 8 ohm puppies that image like crazy. I bought them earlier than I had planned because I got a good deal on Lou's test speakers, which aren't pristine looking, but let's call them an 8.5/10. I either bought them or had to wait 3 months for a new full-priced pair. [Hmm. Think hard, Michael. Save enough to buy a nice amplifier, or pay full price on $14k speakers. - I hesitated for all of 30 seconds.]
The nice amplifier is a Don Sachs KT88 Kootenay 120 tube amp that just happens to match perfectly to my D. Sachs Model 2 preamp. The amp is being assembled now. It ought to be ready in a month or 6 weeks. Both the amp and my Apollos will fly to Taiwan in November. If you're in the neighborhood, we have a guest room with a queen bed.... :thumb:
Now why did I tell you that, and why am I asking about amplifiers? I'll tell you.
When I auditioned the Apollos, I first used my 400R for a solid three hours in order to get a solid feel for the speakers and their strengths (many) and weaknesses (few). Then, we replaced my 400R with Lou's Modwright KWA-150 SE amp and began playing many of the same songs. Well, holy sheeyut! What a huge difference! Yup. I finally REALLY get it. Those expensive amps that I had always referred to as "outrageously expensive" actually make much better music than those 'reasonably' priced amps like the 400R. Consider me educated.
I sold my 400R recently. I'll eventually sell my 240/3 or hand it to my son if he's interested (not very). My wife and I have decided to sell our home in Corvallis, OR and buy a new home in Vancouver, WA. My 87 yr old mother is there and she already had a near-death event 3 months ago that scared the shit out of me. I want to live near enough that I can be there fast if needed, or have a place to come back to if I have to fly back from Taiwan. [Taiwan is our winter home.] I will want to have a nice system in our new home and I know I'll want a really good amplifier. I'm not sure which speakers I'll have, but they likely will be 92dB or higher sensitivity. I'm not interested in buying a new KWA-150 SE or a new PASS xxx, or a new whatever because I don't wish to spend that much on an amplifier. I'l happily buy a used amp. I haven't thought about a preamp yet. Perhaps, I'll get a kickass integrated. Who knows?
So....now that I have heard the KWA-150 SE and appreciate what it does, what other comparable amps are out there that I want to research and eventually audition? I've got over a year before I need to plunk cash down, so I won't get stressed out.
What suggestions have you got for me? Oh, I know. I need to tell you my budget. Um. $4000(?), but cheaper would be nice. Who knows? A year from now I might decide $5k is okay. You know how it goes. Class A, class A/B, Class D are all okay.
If you need more info, I'll be happy to answer. Since I haven't even bought this future home, I can't tell you dimensions or flooring. Just have fun with this. It's a fun hobby. Let's do it!
Thanks!
Michael
P.S. First post of the day! :rofl:
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Michael,
I have a combo pair of Bryston BP-25DA & 4BSST which I can let you have for cheap.
Hugh
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JRiggy has a Wells Audio amp with Lou's speakers and seems to like it a lot. Perhaps he'll weigh in here or just PM him.
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The sensitivity is 96.5, not 86.5 dB. Your tube amp will be enough power, imo. But it's a very different sound than SS, especially Modwright.
Seems like you already found the amp you want, get the Modwright! :thumb:
Your speaker was voiced using the modwright, so it will best deliver Lou's intended result. That may not be your preferred result, but only time will tell. Your initial impression of it was too short to know if you will love it long term. You already own the tube amp, so I would use that long term, while keeping an eye open for a used Modwright to try. Maybe one that is already in Taiwan. Let Lou know you want his. Everybody upgrades, no amp is perfect. Your price target is about right for a used one.
Another amp of the Modwright sound type (lean and clean) is the Neurochrome (https://www.neurochrome.com/)Modulus-86 (60W) and Modulus-286 (120W.) I guarantee they are as detailed and incisive as the Modwright or any other amp of any tolopology. They are dry so you can hear classical and other acoustic instrument tone very clearly. You can wet it with the tube preamp or an input transformer to tame highly produced music. They are DIY kits, but you can do it. Instructions are profuse and clear and support is the best in the DIY business. My Mod86 (60W) is almost enough for my 86dB speakers, it would be more than adequate for yours. I have 6 channels of these amps, they are awesome.
A commercial amp I loved hearing a couple years ago is Classe Sigma 200. It is very musical sounding, not lean like NCore, and not fat like DAC cherry.
If you come to NC next year you can hear my friend Sol's I-60 amplifier. :thumb:
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Hi Michael,
Ah, the quest for a great amp with some muscle 💪... a noble pursuit! I've not had the good fortune of
auditioning many ss amps, but I've been ever so happy with my McCormack DNA 1 Gold mod. It's a stereo amp and Steve ...or Kris .... told me it's puts out about 185, not the advertised and conservatively rated 150. I've had it for 3-4 years. A used DNA goes for about $900 and the mods are probably $2,000. Then there's the beast, the DNA 500. A used 500 goes for about $3,300 or so. Any questions, Steve or Kris will respond. Great customer service!
I've made cable changes the last year and now with the Uber from Dave, the McCormack hasn't missed a beat delivering the extra detail that's been revealed. Musical, dynamic, powerful....a great combo.
I'm hoping guys chime in on the Pass and other brands. Lots of very good stuff out there.
Hmm, a fully paid vacation to Taiwan....that's what you said, right?? 😀
Good luck on your search
Nick
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Oopsies!
Richidoo is correct. My lazy finger struck the "8" instead of the "9" when I typed the Apollos' sensitivity. They are indeed 96.5dB.
McCormack is a name that pops up in forums fairly often, but is one of those amps that I've never actually seen or heard. I'll keep my eyes peeled. Fully paid vacation....oh, sweet....I must have hit the jackpot. :lol:
Bryston will surely be auditioned. Thanks for the offer, Hugh. I'll remember your offer when the journey begins.
I forgot to say I'd be interested in kit amps, so I'll say it here....Kit amps are interesting options! I'm all thumbs, so I'd definitely need to exercise caution here.
I hadn't realized Jason is a forum member here. Cool. I came THIS close to buying his speakers. Yes, Wells will be added to the list.
Just for clarity:
I'm not seeking to replace my tube amp in Taiwan nor am I seeking a SS amp to power my Apollos in Taiwan. I'm considering a future system in my future home in Vancouver, WA. The speakers for this system could well be used, built from a kit, or ordered from one of the many fine manufacturer direct companies. [Salk, Daedalus, Selah, HumbleHomemadehifi, GR Research, and myriad others are all candidates at this point.] As I get closer to realizing my goals of buying a new home and selecting new (to me) speakers, I will be better able to decide which amp is appropriate. I highly value being able to spent a lot of time researching and auditioning amps to find the one that will keep me satisfied for years to come.
Oh, one other thing in case someone wonders - of course I'll consider tube amps. It's just I want to keep posts in this thread limited to SS only.
Michael
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Oopsies!
Richidoo is correct. My lazy finger struck the "8" instead of the "9" when I typed the Apollos' sensitivity. They are indeed 96.5dB.
McCormack is a name that pops up in forums fairly often, but is one of those amps that I've never actually seen or heard. I'll keep my eyes peeled. Fully paid vacation....oh, sweet....I must have hit the jackpot. :lol:
Bryston will surely be auditioned. Thanks for the offer, Hugh. I'll remember your offer when the journey begins.
I forgot to say I'd be interested in kit amps, so I'll say it here....Kit amps are interesting options! I'm all thumbs, so I'd definitely need to exercise caution here.
I hadn't realized Jason is a forum member here. Cool. I came THIS close to buying his speakers. Yes, Wells will be added to the list.
Just for clarity:
I'm not seeking to replace my tube amp in Taiwan nor am I seeking a SS amp to power my Apollos in Taiwan. I'm considering a future system in my future home in Vancouver, WA. The speakers for this system could well be used, built from a kit, or ordered from one of the many fine manufacturer direct companies. [Salk, Daedalus, Selah, HumbleHomemadehifi, GR Research, and myriad others are all candidates at this point.] As I get closer to realizing my goals of buying a new home and selecting new (to me) speakers, I will be better able to decide which amp is appropriate. I highly value being able to spent a lot of time researching and auditioning amps to find the one that will keep me satisfied for years to come.
Oh, one other thing in case someone wonders - of course I'll consider tube amps. It's just I want to keep posts in this thread limited to SS only.
Michael
I am somewhat confused, are you thinking about powering the Apollos with these new SS amplifier? I do have experience with McCormack amps, I used to have a DNA 225, which output out around 200 watts+ and according to the old Stereophile review, it could even push more than a kilowatt when called upon.
I call the signature of the DNAs and I guess other McCormack amps, exciting. They used to power a set of Canadian Gershman X-1 along with their companion stand subwoofers SW-1s. It could make these speakers, whose load was not necessarily easy, effortlessly...but this "excitement" of sound got tired sonically after a while.
Perhaps it is just a theory but I believe that the best sound of SS amps will be gotten with amps that have sufficient headroom/output in order to drive the amps BUT never over headroom. This was the case with the McCormacks...the amp had more than ample power but it sort of made the speakers a little too jumpy, uncontrolled.
In my mom's place in Atlanta, I have a Infinity Kappa 9 which I have refurbish and this speakers, being acoustic suspension which emphasized non compromised low frequencies with 2 12" drivers per channel, with crossovers designed to extract maximum low frequency compromising low ohms at the low frequencies, it is fed by a H20 Henry Ho S250 digital amp which puts out 375 watts/8 ohms and can even push almost 1 kilowatt at 1 ohm when necessary. For this speaker, this sort of bear amp, be it the H20 or amp like the McCormack DNA 225 would work wonders.
Strangely enough, in my current on/off system, most of the amps just push out 25 watts or less. I have been playing with one of the last Fleawatt amp which barely pushes out 5 watts/8 ohm but then the speaker in question presents a very easy load at just 92 db using a 2.5" full range driver in a hybrid horn/TL setup. It sounds wonderful for what it is But the Kappa 9s with the H2O make a massive wall of sound.
:thumb:
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Bemopti123,
Hello.
I am not thinking of powering my Apollos with this amp. That system is set and getting ready for take off. I am researching a future system for my (as yet) unpurchased new home. [Yeah. Sounds weird, but we're going to place our current home on the market. Once it sells, we're going to search for a home in or near Vancouver, WA in order to be closer to my aging mother.] This new home may take a year to materialize, but hopefully will be found by Spring of 2018.
I will not wait until we've moved into the new house to begin researching new components, so I am beginning now. Hopefully, I'll have made my decisions prior to moving into the new home.
Michael
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You must decide on what speaker to use and then decide on the appropriate amplifier that will be synergistic either on paper or in reality to match it.
From your post I can surmise that you have lots of experience with either SS or Tubes. I keep hearing from people who are into H efficiency and low power SET and also read about people who sold off their low power SET system and went back to SS and low efficiency setup.
From my experience, I have once had a high power tube amp + mid efficiency bookshelves, the Gershman X-1s back around 2003...it sounded great but somewhat boomy. Perhaps it was a bad combination of low damping amp + mid efficiency bookshelves...Could not tolerate that boomy sound, although mids were incredible.
Do you already have a speaker in mind? I remember you are inquiring around in AC etc.
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You are correct that I must first decide on which speaker to buy. I will eventually settle on a pair. However, I've discovered that it is very fun to research speakers, amps, DACs, and preamps. This is my passion now. I visit audio shops in N. America and audio shops in Asia. I audition components whenever possible.
Currently, these are some of the speakers that occupy my list:
Honemadehifi.com Plutone speakers
My Adelphos + subwoofers
Troels Gravesen kits
Salk Exotica monitors
MTM + powered woofers built to order
Three-way special order speakers
Used Daedalus Audio speakers
Used Von Schweikert speakers
There are others but my mind is blank tonight.
That'll have to hold you for now. I'm beat.
Michael
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If your speakers are as efficient as you mention I am seriously wondering why you want to go SS? I would think tubes would be the perfect match.
Those of us with inefficient speakers are stuck with using high current SS amps (I have a McCormack DNA 500 powering my Apogees), but I only wish I could use tubes. You have that possibility and yet you want SS. Not really sure why.
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Before I ventured into integrated amps (currently extremely happy with Devialet Expert Pro), I had a DNA-500 driving a pair of Aerial 10T speakers. I absolutely loved that amp! It had the muscle to bring those speakers to life and the finesse to make them sing. I have no regrets getting rid of all the separate components, but that was one amp that I hated to sell.
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Get a PrimaLuna Dialogue Premium Integrated ($3300) and upgrade to KT150 tubes ($400) - Total about 4k. If you get the HP (high powered version) with upgraded 8 KT150's, that'll be like 5k.
That's the best tube amp I heard so far at that price range. It is comparable to the Mcintosh tubed equipment (amp and pre-amp) that costs about $11k.
A solid state amp that beats the PrimaLuna is the Mark Levinson NO585 Integrated which costs about 13k. That's the price range I would need to look into to hear a good amount of difference to justify a purchase compared to the PrimaLuna with the KT150's.
Shawn
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If your speakers are as efficient as you mention I am seriously wondering why you want to go SS? I would think tubes would be the perfect match.
Those of us with inefficient speakers are stuck with using high current SS amps (I have a McCormack DNA 500 powering my Apogees), but I only wish I could use tubes. You have that possibility and yet you want SS. Not really sure why.
Hi, BobM.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, I'm not ignoring tube amps. The exercise in this thread is to determine what sort of SS amps to research. By picking others' brains, I can discover amps that I might otherwise discard as unfit, or miss entirely due to my ignorance of their existence. I wish to avoid the "buy amp 'A' only to sell it a year later to upgrade to amp 'B' only to... I want to buy an amp that will make me very happy for many years yet won't cost an arm and a leg. If I never hung out on audiophile forums, I would not have to worry so much about upgrade-itis with amps. However, I do hang out on audio forums, and I do read about this or that awesome amp, so, of course, it makes me question whether my amp is good enough. [You may have discovered we Audiophiles tend to do this.]
My best stuff is going to be in my home in Taiwan for a number of reasons. My lifestyle there is quite different from my lifestyle in N. America. I get out less there. I spend much more time in my flat. I listen to more music there. I like that my D Sachs gear is very unique there (bragging rights); Daedalus speakers do exist there, but this will be the first pair of Apollos in Taiwan (more bragging rights). As an 'outsider' audiophile who can chat audiophile lingo in Mandarin, I'm something of a curiosity there. Owning unique and very good sounding gear in Taiwan that no one else owns is fun for me.
More later...
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If you are in NY after Nov come over for a listen before you make a final decision. :thumb:
charles
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Hello, Charles.
I'm closer to NYC this week than I have ever been in my life. We're staying in an AirBnB in Cambridge until August 31st. I do not foresee my getting to NY this year or next. Our next destination is Atlanta, GA where we will stay for one month in an already rented house in Decatur.
Thank you for the invitation.
Michael
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More than welcome. Anytime you can Italian homemade dinner, wine and music, oh my!!
charles
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I was in Cambridge last weekend! Nice weather this year, enjoy the Charles River!
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You may be able to talk someone into building one of my amps up very nicely. Certainly enough power, blows away Brystons. I didn't think the Modwright 150 SE was that special in comparison (I am sure there are bigger fans of MW gear than I). And it was compared with Daedalus speakers.
Well, it is budget friendly any way. Hell, it is friendly even with a preamp built that I like.
The other thing I would try is a tube amp so you probably don't care about that.
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If anyone wants one of Jeremy's amps built, I can do this on a custom basis. You buy the parts and I'll do the assembly.
OR
I have a build with non-stock components that I think is great for very sensitive speaker systems that uses a combination of Mills, PRP and Takmans resistors with Jantzen output coupling caps.
Please let me know if you are interested.
Also, there are some additional considerations for other applications. We can talk about your particular application and I will work with Jetemy to build you a Killer amp.
His amps really do sound amazing for very low dollars.
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If anyone wants one of Jeremy's amps built, I can do this on a custom basis. You buy the parts and I'll do the assembly.
OR
I have a build with non-stock components that I think is great for very sensitive speaker systems that uses a combination of Mills, PRP and Takmans resistors with Jantzen output coupling caps.
Please let me know if you are interested.
Also, there are some additional considerations for other applications. We can talk about your particular application and I will work with Jetemy to build you a Killer amp.
His amps really do sound amazing for very low dollars.
I swear I felt like someone was whispering in my ear suggesting I email some guy I know in ABQ (who does amazing things with BUSSes and other stuff) to ask if he's got the time or inclination to build a Folsom amp for me. Hm. I think I have his email address here.
What am I getting myself into here? :shock:
Give me a little time to read through his thread on AC to better understand it before I plunge into a commitment. We'll be in Atlanta in two days, so I'll be pretty busy for the next week or so.
Michael
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If anyone wants one of Jeremy's amps built, I can do this on a custom basis. You buy the parts and I'll do the assembly.
OR
I have a build with non-stock components that I think is great for very sensitive speaker systems that uses a combination of Mills, PRP and Takmans resistors with Jantzen output coupling caps.
Please let me know if you are interested.
Also, there are some additional considerations for other applications. We can talk about your particular application and I will work with Jetemy to build you a Killer amp.
His amps really do sound amazing for very low dollars.
I swear I felt like someone was whispering in my ear suggesting I email some guy I know in ABQ (who does amazing things with BUSSes and other stuff) to ask if he's got the time or inclination to build a Folsom amp for me. Hm. I think I have his email address here.
What am I getting myself into here? :shock:
Give me a little time to read through his thread on AC to better understand it before I plunge into a commitment. We'll be in Atlanta in two days, so I'll be pretty busy for the next week or so.
Michael
Michael,
You won't be disappointed. Jeremy has designed a great implementation of a great analog/linear chip amp that delivers the goods. It just rocks. I've been listening to mine and like it so much that I never got it off of the exposed pieces of BB ply that I mounted them on to test.
Today is Gayle's first day of retirement and we will be leaving on a 12 day road trip up to Portland to see the kids on Saturday. Our oldest daughter's birthday is the 6th and we are stopping along the way to catch some sights along the way and I want to see 'a guy' in the Slat lake area.
Hit me with an email and I can give you the skinny about what I have found and what the build options are.
Say howdy to your lovely lady for us.
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Have a great time Dave. :thumb:
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If anyone wants one of Jeremy's amps built, I can do this on a custom basis. You buy the parts and I'll do the assembly.
OR
I have a build with non-stock components that I think is great for very sensitive speaker systems that uses a combination of Mills, PRP and Takmans resistors with Jantzen output coupling caps.
Please let me know if you are interested.
Also, there are some additional considerations for other applications. We can talk about your particular application and I will work with Jetemy to build you a Killer amp.
His amps really do sound amazing for very low dollars.
I swear I felt like someone was whispering in my ear suggesting I email some guy I know in ABQ (who does amazing things with BUSSes and other stuff) to ask if he's got the time or inclination to build a Folsom amp for me. Hm. I think I have his email address here.
What am I getting myself into here? :shock:
Give me a little time to read through his thread on AC to better understand it before I plunge into a commitment. We'll be in Atlanta in two days, so I'll be pretty busy for the next week or so.
Michael
Michael,
Today is Gayle's first day of retirement and we will be leaving on a 12 day road trip up to Portland to see the kids on Saturday. Our oldest daughter's birthday is the 6th and we are stopping along the way to catch some sights along the way and I want to see 'a guy' in the Slat lake area.
About time, brother!!!! Enjoy your extended time with Gayle and family!!!
Love you bro!
Pax,
Pete
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Folsom it would be a good idea to post in Manf. news here as well all about this little gem of an amp. Cost DIY, cost built,options, etc.
charles
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Just a thought, but the Belles "Reference" 350A amplifier is mighty good. Has to say "Reference" though.
Cheers
Steve
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Just a thought, but the Belles "Reference" 350A amplifier is mighty good. Has to say "Reference" though.
Cheers
Steve
Steve I agree VG amp, especially with Vandersteen speakers and Planars.
charles
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Just a thought, but the Belles "Reference" 350A amplifier is mighty good. Has to say "Reference" though.
Cheers
Steve
Steve I agree VG amp, especially with Vandersteen speakers and Planars.
charles
Interesting story Rollo. Went to northern Indiana to visit Earlmarc. Speakers from Indianapolis (can't remember name) were there, my 11A Line Preamplifier and Reference 350A amp. Played in a small Amphitheatre.
Speaker gent claimed his speakers could not be destroyed. So they popped in the Telrac 1812 with normal volume at the beginning. Well, we all knew what was going to happen when the cannons fired. Hands over ears for a destruction test. Amp clipped, speakers "exploded",
At 15 - 20 feet away, pounding on the chest. After it was over, the amp still worked, the speakers still sounded great. However, the speaker gent stated he was going to replace the drivers just to be safe.
Reference 350A and speakers were as tough as advertised. Regular music sounded mighty good.
Cheers
Steve
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Depending on the power range you are looking for, the Parasound Halo series amps are very good indeed. Have two friends with JC-1 monoblocks and going to try out the A23 stereo amps here.
Really like John Curl's amp designs since he did the Blowtorch and BBQ system from CTC Builders and now Parasound and Constellation Audio.
The Pass Labs amps also sound very good, so they are the two designers I watch for. Most are out of the price range stated.
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Thank you, all, for continuing to come up with ideas.
My amp shopping has taken a back seat to our searching for a new home in the Vancouver/Camas, WA vicinity to be closer to my aging mother. We hope to find a great home by April or May of next year, and sell our current home around the same time. One of several criteria is that there must be one room that is well suited to being used as a dedicated audio room.
Once a house is bought, I can go wild on buying an amp and DAC/pre.
Michael
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Doug,
Thanks for your thoughts. :thumb:
Interestingly enough, there's now a reasonably good chance that my Daedalus Apollo speakers will not travel to my home in Taiwan as had been planned from the beginning, and may remain in Oregon/Washington for our new home. [This must be decided in the next 2 weeks.]
They really are a bit too big for my living room in Taiwan. Oh, I could slide them out to listen and slide them (nearly) against the front wall when not in use, but it would be a PITA the longer it had to be done. We're still looking into possibilities.
Anyway, this means the speakers would be already chosen and the amp would be for the new home in Vancouver.
I hadn't considered EC amps because I had assumed they were over my budget.
That's pretty amazing about the Devialet amps being sold because of the Folsom amp. Good one, Jeremy!
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I know you already got your Don Sachs tube amp, but we seem to read the same threads and I just wanted to mention I had someone build me a folsom amp and it's amazing, has a live dynamic quality and giant soundstage and I think it's my favorite out of all my amps. and it's small and doesn't get hot! I'm very curious to hear how you like the don sachs tube amp.. tubes are the one area I haven't gotten into yet.. too scared I"ll start collecting expensive NOS tubes :)
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I know you already got your Don Sachs tube amp, but we seem to read the same threads and I just wanted to mention I had someone build me a folsom amp and it's amazing, has a live dynamic quality and giant soundstage and I think it's my favorite out of all my amps. and it's small and doesn't get hot! I'm very curious to hear how you like the don sachs tube amp.. tubes are the one area I haven't gotten into yet.. too scared I"ll start collecting expensive NOS tubes :)
Hello, uncola.
I read your comments in that thread. I'm on the verge of ordering a kit and begging some kind soul to build it for me. [Even if I had the skills to assemble the parts, all my tools are in storage.]
I had hoped to have my Don Sachs amp over a month ago, but the reality is I will take delivery in about ten days. There will be a few days to use it to power my Apollos (IF I can borrow a temporary DAC/pre combo for that week) before I box it up for the flight to Taiwan.
Assuming I can find a loaner DAC for those few days, I will post my impressions even though the amp will not have burned in by that time. I'll post again perhaps a month or so after arriving in Taiwan.
Don has been absolutely swamped these last few months. It's not just orders that must be built, it's that he's spent a huge amount of time answering phone calls from potential customers. Apparently a good number of calls are tire kickers who ask umpteen questions only to decide they won't buy. I hadn't thought about this problem till he mentioned it. I believe he has cut back on calls and is encouraging emails to reduce his telephone time. Oh, he's going to celebrate his father's 100th birthday(!) in a couple weeks, so that will pull him away from home for about ten days.
It must be difficult running a one man operation especially in light of his new found popularity.
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Michael I can build the 7297 for you if you decide to try it.
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radu at simpletubepleasures built mine, he's done a few now and his assembly skills seem very good.. he even used these knockoff finite elemente universal cereball feet I got from singapore that didn't come with nuts for the screws heh. the wire twisting inside my amp is very sexy.. he doesn't charge too much. I'm loving listening to this amp every day. it's so good I'm thinking about upgrading speaker wire now
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I know you already got your Don Sachs tube amp, but we seem to read the same threads and I just wanted to mention I had someone build me a folsom amp and it's amazing, has a live dynamic quality and giant soundstage and I think it's my favorite out of all my amps. and it's small and doesn't get hot! I'm very curious to hear how you like the don sachs tube amp.. tubes are the one area I haven't gotten into yet.. too scared I"ll start collecting expensive NOS tubes :)
It must be difficult running a one man operation especially in light of his new found popularity.
Running a one person operation is one of life's really over rated little pleasures. Don't get me wrong I chose this road. Easily 50% of my day is spent answering inquiries via email or talking to "potential" customers on the phone playing 20 questions. None of this is necessarily bad or unwanted. It is part of the cost of doing business. It does make it difficult to have a normal workday or home life.
In the final analysis I love what I do and who I do it for. It's a great way to make a living :thumb:
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Do what you love and love what you do. :thumb:
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Do what you love and love what you do. :thumb:
I'm too damned old and set in my ways to do anything else! It is a good but challenging way to barely make a living. I should have priced my wares higher, but ethics got in the way 8)
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Ah, morals are the death of a number of potential millionaire.
In my case it's, well mor-on that later.
In Micheal's case would he be looking for best dollar per watt vs most watts per dollar scenario?
Don
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Ah, morals are the death of a number of potential millionaire.
In my case it's, well mor-on that later.
In Micheal's case would he be looking for best dollar per watt vs most watts per dollar scenario?
Don
Don,
When I began this thread, my intention was to get the best amp possible up to my subjective $4k max. Now that I will soon have a Radu built Folsom amp, my jets have cooled a bit. Time will tell if I'm satisfied by it though. I'll want a tube amp as well, so I'll begin casting about for something nice and sweet sounding. No hurry though. I also want a really good DAC, but won't need it till this summer.
My Apollos will stay in the States for a spell. [My wife has dug her heels in on the matter of my having them in our current flat in Taiwan. We hope to move to a larger flat in two years and they will be allowed then. It's not worth damaging my marriage to get them there now.] I'll need just a few watts to make them sing, I believe.
I guess that's my answer for now.
Michael
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...I should have priced my wares higher, but ethics got in the way 8)
perhaps a wise move - there is something known as supply & demand, and the law of diminishing returns... ;)
doug s.
well, crap! Now you tell me! :lol:
Note to newcomers in the industry. If you come up with a great product don't be afraid to ask what you think the market will bear. It is much easier to lower prices than it is to raise them.
Two of my problems were:
Underestimating the superiority of the BUSSes over 99% of what is available in the market place. I consistently get feedback from buyers that tell me how much better the Uber is than the $5K products that look frickin' fabulous. I always thought that it made more sense to spend money on the parts/pieces that make the BUSS-Line a stone killer instead of offering decades old technology in a really pretty case. That is why most of my customer's power conditioners
Second was not building in enough profit that would allow me to hire and train a mini-me that is honest (so he/she would not ripoff my intellectual property and do the same thing) with a really good work ethic. I have tried to hire some students... What a joke. They all want $25.00/hr. 90% have no clue as to which end of a common screwdriver is the business end...
Still, it is rewarding and fun. Go figure...
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If you were young you'd want $25/hr too. Life isn't cheap, college loans are not cheap, etc... especially when you didn't buy a home in the 80's so your mortgage is less than a studio apartment today (can be 1/3 the price in some places).
Morals are tough these days... make it in China so you can sell it to people that aren't rather wealthy, or charge enough that you slowly exclude people as prices go up.
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...I should have priced my wares higher, but ethics got in the way 8)
perhaps a wise move - there is something known as supply & demand, and the law of diminishing returns... ;)
doug s.
well, crap! Now you tell me! :lol:
Note to newcomers in the industry. If you come up with a great product don't be afraid to ask what you think the market will bear. It is much easier to lower prices than it is to raise them.
Two of my problems were:
Underestimating the superiority of the BUSSes over 99% of what is available in the market place. I consistently get feedback from buyers that tell me how much better the Uber is than the $5K products that look frickin' fabulous. I always thought that it made more sense to spend money on the parts/pieces that make the BUSS-Line a stone killer instead of offering decades old technology in a really pretty case. That is why most of my customer's power conditioners
Second was not building in enough profit that would allow me to hire and train a mini-me that is honest (so he/she would not ripoff my intellectual property and do the same thing) with a really good work ethic. I have tried to hire some students... What a joke. They all want $25.00/hr. 90% have no clue as to which end of a common screwdriver is the business end...
Still, it is rewarding and fun. Go figure...
Dave,
If you relocate to OR or WA, I'll take it on in stints when I'm not in Taiwan (commuting would be hell). You don't have to pay me $25/hr. I won't rip you off.
I seem to recall that I'm a little bigger than you, so I might be your maxi-me.
It had occurred to me that you needed an apprentice when we visited last year.
Enjoy your weekend,
Michael