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Post by jandl100 on Dec 18, 2019 7:52:16 GMT
Here's a fairly recent system pic, the room looks moderately tidy so I guess I must have been expecting visitors.   Those MBL 116f speakers have been the mainstay of my system for nearly 10 years now. I used to swap speakers every few months, typically, but those MBLs are genuine keepers. Everything else changes, though.  |
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Post by jandl100 on Dec 18, 2019 8:10:24 GMT
Amplifiers have been a recent focus for me, 3 are currently in rotation and another is on its way Jerrywards. A Marantz HD-AMP1 took me by surprise and bowled me over with its very lucid, hi-rez and fast sound.  Stock photo as I seem to find it impossible to take a decent pic of black kit. Marantz's 1st ever class D amp, apparently, which is what intrigued me. I have really enjoyed class D amps in the past [especially the small t-amp type] so I was curious what Marantz would do with the technology. I have generally found that high powered class D amps are a bit smoothed over for me, while the lower powered t-amp 8 watters have better rez and are more to my liking. Marantz have managed to pull off the handy trick of decent power [35wpc, 70wpc into 4 ohms] but still achieve hi-rez sound. Very impressive, if erring just a tad on the bright/forward side. I have to confess to being rather deeply in love with this little amp. |
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Post by jandl100 on Dec 18, 2019 8:18:07 GMT
... and an upgraded version of Pass DIY aleph-M, sold by Taiwan-based Vintage Audio Lab. 20wpc pure class A, and the chassis gets too hot to keep your hand on. Had it a few weeks now and really enjoying it. Fast, subtle, transparent, dynamic. And a surprisingly taut and powerful bass. The sound seems to bear very little resemblance to the two other Pass power amps I have tried, an X-150 and an Aleph 3, neither of which impressed me much with their rather laidback sq.  |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2019 8:21:01 GMT
What do you play your records on ?
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Post by jandl100 on Dec 18, 2019 8:28:44 GMT
... and 3rd amp in the current line-up, a tiny TPA3116 as recommended by Geoff walpurgis. I use it with a Chinese linear PSU and it sounds pretty damn amazing. I could happily live with it long term as my only amp if I had to, which I find quite astonishing.  It claims to be about 50wpc, which seems plausible on listening to it. They cost about £20 delivered, which is totally crazy. Add a £45 lpsu and imo you have a world class amp.  |
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Post by jandl100 on Dec 18, 2019 8:30:26 GMT
What do you play your records on ? I gave away my black frisbees to charity shops years ago. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2019 8:35:08 GMT
Lightweight. 🙄
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Post by jandl100 on Dec 18, 2019 8:43:11 GMT
Music source is internet streaming [currently TIDAL as they were giving away a Black Friday deal 3 month sub for £1.99] into an Audiobyte Black Dragon DAC.  Remote controlled volume, so with a nice valve buffer it acts as a full preamp. A nice valve buffer ...  Upgraded with the Hotrox Rock Grotto mods and PSU. Really nice. |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Dec 18, 2019 9:16:39 GMT
What do you play your records on ? Lmao |
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Post by jandl100 on Dec 18, 2019 9:20:13 GMT
here's the best use of the darn things  |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2019 9:29:47 GMT
Yer banned ! 👉
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2019 9:38:30 GMT
Bit quick off the mark there mate. Another ten minutes would heve been more polite. |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Dec 18, 2019 9:40:46 GMT
... and an upgraded version of Pass DIY aleph-M, sold by Taiwan-based Vintage Audio Lab. 20wpc pure class A, and the chassis gets too hot to keep your hand on. Had it a few weeks now and really enjoying it. Fast, subtle, transparent, dynamic. And a surprisingly taut and powerful bass. The sound seems to bear very little resemblance to the two other Pass power amps I have tried, an X-150 and an Aleph 3, neither of which impressed me much with their rather laidback sq. Have you got a link to the amp Jerry. It's cute beyond reason!! |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Dec 18, 2019 9:41:26 GMT
here's the best use of the darn things Hahaha, class. |
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Post by firebottle on Dec 18, 2019 9:51:21 GMT
... and an upgraded version of Pass DIY aleph-M, sold by Taiwan-based Vintage Audio Lab. 20wpc pure class A, and the chassis gets too hot to keep your hand on. Had it a few weeks now and really enjoying it. Fast, subtle, transparent, dynamic. And a surprisingly taut and powerful bass. The sound seems to bear very little resemblance to the two other Pass power amps I have tried, an X-150 and an Aleph 3, neither of which impressed me much with their rather laidback sq. Have you got a link to the amp Jerry. It's cute beyond reason!! I have worked on one of these, it is quite simple to bring the dissipation down to sensible limits. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2019 9:53:45 GMT
I told you ....I've banned him.
This be a vinyl forum .
I'll have no digital skullduggery here.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Dec 18, 2019 9:58:15 GMT
Have you got a link to the amp Jerry. It's cute beyond reason!! I have worked on one of these, it is quite simple to bring the dissipation down to sensible limits. How did it sound Al, did you try it? |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Dec 18, 2019 9:58:44 GMT
I told you ....I've banned him. This be a vinyl forum . I'll have no digital skullduggery here. 😆 |
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Post by firebottle on Dec 18, 2019 10:00:09 GMT
It sounded very clean.
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Post by jandl100 on Dec 18, 2019 11:34:38 GMT
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Post by jandl100 on Dec 18, 2019 11:36:42 GMT
 Yes, very clean, not for the pipe and slipper brigade .... but imo it's a lot better than just 'very clean'. 
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Post by jandl100 on Dec 18, 2019 12:07:12 GMT
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Post by dsjr on Dec 18, 2019 12:59:24 GMT
Hi Jerry,
Interesting use of the X-10D. I have a first cylindrical one here which sounded worse in situ (over-warm abd dirty with it). I did thwe Rock grotto mods (further tweaks since mine though), replaced the valves and it sounded so much better after. Thing is, it then made little to no difference to the CD player feed, so I wonder if why 'we' liked it at the time was the warming tones it added? Apologies, I don't know the mods you've done to yours and what's entailed.
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Post by jandl100 on Dec 18, 2019 13:27:36 GMT
No added warmth that I can hear, but seemingly better solidity to the imaging, detail seems to improve as well. An allround step up.
But I guess the nature of the beast is that its 'sound' will depend on the gear it's providing the interface between.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Dec 18, 2019 13:28:12 GMT
I'll have a look into that. It's really pleasing on the eye. |
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Post by jandl100 on Dec 18, 2019 13:52:03 GMT
My mistake, it's the Rock Grotto mods and PSU on the MF X10v3 buffer.  |
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Post by jandl100 on Dec 18, 2019 14:13:06 GMT
Arrived this morning ...  An Apart Champ 2 power amp - solid state, 'class G'. 120WPC. A Belgian pro audio company - but this is from their 'audiophile' range. Sounding very clean, clear, controlled and powerful. I've previously owned the 300wpc Champ 1, which I liked. From memory, the Champ 2 sounds better; higher rez and faster. |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Dec 18, 2019 14:33:46 GMT
Arrived this morning ... An Apart Champ 2 power amp - solid state, 'class G'. 120WPC. A Belgian pro audio company - but this is from their 'audiophile' range. Sounding very clean, clear, controlled and powerful. I've previously owned the 300wpc Champ 1, which I liked. From memory, the Champ 2 sounds better; higher rez and faster. You have a lot of interesting bits through your door, Jerry. If you had to pick one piece that was a "mistake" to let go, what would it be? |
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Post by jandl100 on Dec 18, 2019 15:06:56 GMT
Mistake? I don't make mistakes.  I can't think of anything I've subsequently regretted selling. Most gear doesn't stay long. Except my speakers, they're keepers. I just enjoy trying different things. Some gear does stay for a year, 18 months, but that's unusual. In the end I'm always happy to replace it for something different. |
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Post by antonio on Dec 18, 2019 17:59:19 GMT
Thanks for the update on your latest kit. Excuse my ignorance, but what does the buffer actually do.
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