Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,142
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Post by Bigman80 on May 28, 2018 21:01:19 GMT
I've had so much upheaval and travel that I haven't been able to keep a system together at times, let alone develop it. 5 years ago my system would've been in a state of flux but I had better kit available, albeit at extra cost. My circumstances aside, I figured this was a good question for anyone to ask themselves. All the better if you've not had to put lots of extra money into it.
So what about it? Is your system really better today and has it come at a price?
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Post by dsjr on May 28, 2018 23:21:59 GMT
My main stereo has been pretty static for ten years now, but did make a slight step forward in when I changed the speaker cables. I took the three power amps out a year or so ago and was horrified at the state they were in, needing substantial cleaning (they live in a cupboard style unit with an open back). Compared to twenty odd years ago when I last had the big ATC's, I've lost loads of scale and 'palpability' but I can listen now at very low volumes without the sound shrinking into the boxes as these old ATC's used to do. From 1996 to 2008, I was very unsettled and unhappy with the main stereo..
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,142
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Post by Bigman80 on May 29, 2018 19:01:11 GMT
My main stereo has been pretty static for ten years now, but did make a slight step forward in when I changed the speaker cables. I took the three power amps out a year or so ago and was horrified at the state they were in, needing substantial cleaning (they live in a cupboard style unit with an open back). Compared to twenty odd years ago when I last had the big ATC's, I've lost loads of scale and 'palpability' but I can listen now at very low volumes without the sound shrinking into the boxes as these old ATC's used to do. From 1996 to 2008, I was very unsettled and unhappy with the main stereo.. How did yeh whole NVA discovery affect you, Dave. Apologies fit my absence but I am without internet until Thursday lunchtime. Please carry on without me  |
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Post by dsjr on May 29, 2018 21:48:41 GMT
The 'NVA discovery' showed me you can get a good slice of the 'Top End' for relatively low cost as long as you don't have 2 ohm load inefficient panel speakers needing a zillion Watts to drive them.
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Post by antonio on May 30, 2018 4:41:49 GMT
5 years ago I was living in SE Asia, using a Sony cdp, Kenwood amp and Shahinian Obelisks  . Returning to the uk  I sold my LP12 and purchased a whole new system. |
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,142
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Post by Bigman80 on May 30, 2018 8:56:02 GMT
The 'NVA discovery' showed me you can get a good slice of the 'Top End' for relatively low cost as long as you don't have 2 ohm load inefficient panel speakers needing a zillion Watts to drive them. That's a pretty neat summary and I'd agree. If you have efficient speak are an AP10 can be as good as boutique valve amp ten times the price |
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Post by dsjr on May 30, 2018 11:04:53 GMT
The small NVA amps do tend to well-egg the pudding though, making 'everything' sound always nice, spacious and involvingly musical - maybe they compress just a little and they NEVER hard clip so you're never quite sure where the limits are?
The bigger ones I've had more limited experience with, tend to be a bit more discriminating with the recordings played, if you know what I mean, and will more readily reproduce oddities in the mix and production - they seem to appear to sound slightly 'dryer' too compared to the babies in the range and I put this down to a genuinely greater dynamic range from louder up-front to quiet in the background and the acoustic in a good recording is more accurately reproduced I think.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2018 15:07:44 GMT
Starting to miss having an AP10. Even through headphones, the AP10 doesn't sound nasty at high volume.
S.
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,142
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Post by Bigman80 on May 30, 2018 18:34:28 GMT
The small NVA amps do tend to well-egg the pudding though, making 'everything' sound always nice, spacious and involvingly musical - maybe they compress just a little and they NEVER hard clip so you're never quite sure where the limits are? The bigger ones I've had more limited experience with, tend to be a bit more discriminating with the recordings played, if you know what I mean, and will more readily reproduce oddities in the mix and production - they seem to appear to sound slightly 'dryer' too compared to the babies in the range and I put this down to a genuinely greater dynamic range from louder up-front to quiet in the background and the acoustic in a good recording is more accurately reproduced I think. That's interesting to hear. Not something I'd expected but that's the benefit of hearing from someone with real experience of them. |
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Post by dsjr on May 30, 2018 22:02:11 GMT
The most charming baby amps (Rogers Cadet and Naim Nait of yore) kind-of did this, sounding delightful 'all' the time. This doesn't imply the A20 or AP10 into speakers sounds in the slightest bit bland, merely that the bigger ones have greater true dynamic range so have the chance of opening up a recording more. I'm not good at describing things like this and it's not really like putting a magnifying glass on the sound-stage, but more of the sound-field becoming larger and allowing the individual musical strands better 'focus.'
I'd better quit while I'm behind...
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,142
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Post by Bigman80 on May 31, 2018 7:28:22 GMT
5 years ago I was living in SE Asia, using a Sony cdp, Kenwood amp and Shahinian Obelisks . Returning to the uk I sold my LP12 and purchased a whole new system. If I was able to afford them, Obelisks would be right near the top of my shopping list. I love the look of them. |
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,142
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Post by Bigman80 on May 31, 2018 7:35:10 GMT
Starting to miss having an AP10. Even through headphones, the AP10 doesn't sound nasty at high volume. S. AP10PX was my fave. Should still be made IMO |
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Post by dsjr on May 31, 2018 12:00:41 GMT
You can have any of the integrated amps fitted with buffer resistors and headphone socket for around £30 I think it used to be and if headphones aren't to be used, just plug in the speakers and use as before - only thing is the speakers need to be unplugged when headphones are in use as there's deliberately no speaker switch. The Jammy Special AP10 can still be made up to order, with humungous supplies and loads of extra smoothing.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2018 14:15:19 GMT
I actually prefer the standard AP10 over the Jammy special.
S.
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,142
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Post by Bigman80 on May 31, 2018 18:52:41 GMT
I actually prefer the standard AP10 over the Jammy special. S. And you're one of the very few who can say they know for sure. |
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,142
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Post by Bigman80 on May 31, 2018 18:53:43 GMT
You can have any of the integrated amps fitted with buffer resistors and headphone socket for around £30 I think it used to be and if headphones aren't to be used, just plug in the speakers and use as before - only thing is the speakers need to be unplugged when headphones are in use as there's deliberately no speaker switch. The Jammy Special AP10 can still be made up to order, with humungous supplies and loads of extra smoothing. That's a bargain and fair play to the man for offering that. |
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Post by dsjr on May 31, 2018 20:31:08 GMT
Rather he drill the extra hole in the front panel than I.... Perspex has to be treated right if it isn't to crack or craze - or whatever - and it was a friend of mine who used to make 'project boxes' up in the communications industry who told me  |
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,142
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Post by Bigman80 on May 31, 2018 21:43:01 GMT
Rather he drill the extra hole in the front panel than I.... Perspex has to be treated right if it isn't to crack or craze - or whatever - and it was a friend of mine who used to make 'project boxes' up in the communications industry who told me Thin Perspex is risky to drill. Thicker is fine but it can melt rather than cut if you go too fast. |
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. Returning to the uk 
I sold my LP12 and purchased a whole new system.
