Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Sept 1, 2020 15:56:22 GMT
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Post by jandl100 on Sept 1, 2020 16:05:58 GMT
Tee hee - I thought the Neuro had lost out to the naughtily seductive ways of the PrimaLuna!
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Bigman80
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Posts: 15,975
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Post by Bigman80 on Sept 1, 2020 16:12:17 GMT
Tee hee - I thought the Neuro had lost out to the naughtily seductive ways of the PrimaLuna! Ha! i knew it would catch a couple of people I am naughty
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Post by rexton on Sept 1, 2020 21:06:31 GMT
I've fancied one for ages but I'm now going down the rabbit hole of valve upgradeitis, it occurs from time to time!
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Sept 1, 2020 21:10:44 GMT
I've fancied one for ages but I'm now going down the rabbit hole of valve upgradeitis, it occurs from time to time! The right thing at the wrong time, always the way
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Post by rexton on Sept 1, 2020 21:24:02 GMT
yep!!
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Post by jimbo on Sept 2, 2020 5:43:44 GMT
certainly got me looking, have a feeling it is not the same build as yours Oli?
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Post by macca on Sept 2, 2020 6:49:38 GMT
It's in America though. Aside from cost of shipping and import the power supply will be all wrong.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Sept 2, 2020 7:05:34 GMT
It's in America though. Aside from cost of shipping and import the power supply will be all wrong. The SMPS will take between 100-250v volts input, so you can plug it in here, no problem. Also, if you had a trade account with FedEx or employee discount, makes it very attractive 😉
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Sept 2, 2020 7:08:47 GMT
certainly got me looking, have a feeling it is not the same build as yours Oli? Well, not now it isn't. We changed my power supply, but seeing as it's built, working and very cheap (£1300ish) it's still worth buying and dropping a Torroid in at a later date. The pcbs are $1000 on their own
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Post by macca on Sept 2, 2020 7:47:06 GMT
It's in America though. Aside from cost of shipping and import the power supply will be all wrong. The SMPS will take between 100-250v volts input, so you can plug it in here, no problem. Also, if you had a trade account with FedEx or employee discount, makes it very attractive 😉 Okay, didn't realise that. I do get a shipping discount but once you add on the VAT and duty it works out about the same as buying a used Benchmark AHB1 from this country.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Sept 2, 2020 8:01:00 GMT
The SMPS will take between 100-250v volts input, so you can plug it in here, no problem. Also, if you had a trade account with FedEx or employee discount, makes it very attractive 😉 Okay, didn't realise that. I do get a shipping discount but once you add on the VAT and duty it works out about the same as buying a used Benchmark AHB1 from this country. By my reckoning, you wouldn't get a Benchmark for that money.... especially as I can't find one for sale in the UK, also, you can't stick a Torroid in a Benchmark either. But ye, looking about an extra £250 for Vat, bit of handling etc... There still isn't a better amplifier imo for that money
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Post by dsjr on Sept 2, 2020 8:30:49 GMT
Why would you remove a perfectly designed (for the amp) smps, which are properly isolated these days both ends, and put in a toroid, with the extra hum fields these have?
Have I missed something? Obviously I have here (mumble mumble)
UK peeps better look at Apollon or Nord methinks..
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Sept 2, 2020 10:06:32 GMT
Why would you remove a perfectly designed (for the amp) smps, which are properly isolated these days both ends, and put in a toroid, with the extra hum fields these have? Have I missed something? Obviously I have here (mumble mumble) UK peeps better look at Apollon or Nord methinks.. Hypex amps ......? No thanks
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Post by macca on Sept 2, 2020 10:11:23 GMT
Okay, didn't realise that. I do get a shipping discount but once you add on the VAT and duty it works out about the same as buying a used Benchmark AHB1 from this country. By my reckoning, you wouldn't get a Benchmark for that money.... especially as I can't find one for sale in the UK, also, you can't stick a Torroid in a Benchmark either. But ye, looking about an extra £250 for Vat, bit of handling etc... There still isn't a better amplifier imo for that money I nearly bought one a couple of weeks back, s/h from a UK dealer, £1700.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Sept 2, 2020 10:15:50 GMT
By my reckoning, you wouldn't get a Benchmark for that money.... especially as I can't find one for sale in the UK, also, you can't stick a Torroid in a Benchmark either. But ye, looking about an extra £250 for Vat, bit of handling etc... There still isn't a better amplifier imo for that money I nearly bought one a couple of weeks back, s/h from a UK dealer, £1700. £1700? .......... And you didn't?? Bonkers. I have never seen one that cheap. I presume it went quickly?
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Post by macca on Sept 2, 2020 11:18:08 GMT
It's sold now. Was from 'Audio Emotion.' I decided it would be bonkers to buy it with no possibility of return. Not for that kind of money. I could get a taxi to Alan's with the Krell, pay him to fix it, then get another taxi back there to collect it, and then I have an amplifier which I already know sounds fantastic and I'll still have plenty of change from £1700. I'd have done that already but my mate is buying a new van so I'm waiting on that, he's cheaper than a taxi
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Post by macca on Sept 2, 2020 11:21:07 GMT
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Sept 2, 2020 13:00:27 GMT
It's sold now. Was from 'Audio Emotion.' I decided it would be bonkers to buy it with no possibility of return. Not for that kind of money. I could get a taxi to Alan's with the Krell, pay him to fix it, then get another taxi back there to collect it, and then I have an amplifier which I already know sounds fantastic and I'll still have plenty of change from £1700. I'd have done that already but my mate is buying a new van so I'm waiting on that, he's cheaper than a taxi No, that's a fair point. You are far more measured than I! The Krell Vs 686 bakeoff would be a really good one and hopefully when things return a bit more towards normal, we can get a venue and have a little cross forum get together and make a day of it
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Post by dsjr on Sept 2, 2020 13:13:02 GMT
Why would you remove a perfectly designed (for the amp) smps, which are properly isolated these days both ends, and put in a toroid, with the extra hum fields these have? Have I missed something? Obviously I have here (mumble mumble) UK peeps better look at Apollon or Nord methinks.. Hypex amps ......? No thanks Why, have you used or heard any? I must admit I haven't and a Benchmark is too expensive, especially as in an ideal world, I'd want to bridge it and double up..
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Sept 2, 2020 13:49:22 GMT
Hypex amps ......? No thanks Why, have you used or heard any? I must admit I haven't and a Benchmark is too expensive, especially as in an ideal world, I'd want to bridge it and double up..
Yes, heard the Hypex 400... Very very clean and linear... To quote someone else, who covered it best: "It's all a little artificial"
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Post by macca on Sept 2, 2020 13:50:30 GMT
It's sold now. Was from 'Audio Emotion.' I decided it would be bonkers to buy it with no possibility of return. Not for that kind of money. I could get a taxi to Alan's with the Krell, pay him to fix it, then get another taxi back there to collect it, and then I have an amplifier which I already know sounds fantastic and I'll still have plenty of change from £1700. I'd have done that already but my mate is buying a new van so I'm waiting on that, he's cheaper than a taxi No, that's a fair point. You are far more measured than I! The Krell Vs 686 bakeoff would be a really good one and hopefully when things return a bit more towards normal, we can get a venue and have a little cross forum get together and make a day of it No I'm not but I already have seven power amps so its starting to get silly.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Sept 2, 2020 13:51:02 GMT
No, that's a fair point. You are far more measured than I! The Krell Vs 686 bakeoff would be a really good one and hopefully when things return a bit more towards normal, we can get a venue and have a little cross forum get together and make a day of it No I'm not but I already have seven power amps so its starting to get silly. Hahaha, sell some off!
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Post by dsjr on Sept 2, 2020 17:31:09 GMT
Why, have you used or heard any? I must admit I haven't and a Benchmark is too expensive, especially as in an ideal world, I'd want to bridge it and double up..
Yes, heard the Hypex 400... Very very clean and linear... To quote someone else, who covered it best: "It's all a little artificial"
I'd love it then - 'cos after extended HiFi listening, real brass and percussive instruments sound a bit artificial/mechanical as they lack that warm 'musical' halo that a lot of domestic gear adds. As always, ymmv!
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Sept 2, 2020 17:49:15 GMT
Yes, heard the Hypex 400... Very very clean and linear... To quote someone else, who covered it best: "It's all a little artificial" I'd love it then - 'cos after extended HiFi listening, real brass and percussive instruments sound a bit artificial/mechanical as they lack that warm 'musical' halo that a lot of domestic gear adds. As always, ymmv! Not in real life they don't? I am not talking about the mechanical/metallic sound they produce, I am saying the Hypex lack the rest of the spectrum. I am not interested in euphoria or "halo" effect. That doesn't work for me either but it's like listening to computer generated music, Like it was made in Pro-Tools with synthetic instruments, rather than a recording of a real instrument. It's very hard to quantify in words but they are cheap enough to experiment with, so I recommend a listen. You should have a look at the Orchard Audio BOSC, Dave. They are where my money would have gone had I not already stumped up for Neurochrome, and they were on the "buy them if this doesn't work out" list. They aren't cheap, but they piss on the Hypex....you'd definitely like those.
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Post by gninnam on Sept 2, 2020 19:21:39 GMT
I'd love it then - 'cos after extended HiFi listening, real brass and percussive instruments sound a bit artificial/mechanical as they lack that warm 'musical' halo that a lot of domestic gear adds. As always, ymmv! Not in real life they don't? I am not talking about the mechanical/metallic sound they produce, I am saying the Hypex lack the rest of the spectrum. I am not interested in euphoria or "halo" effect. That doesn't work for me either but it's like listening to computer generated music, Like it was made in Pro-Tools with synthetic instruments, rather than a recording of a real instrument. It's very hard to quantify in words but they are cheap enough to experiment with, so I recommend a listen. You should have a look at the Orchard Audio BOSC, Dave. They are where my money would have gone had I not already stumped up for Neurochrome, and they were on the "buy them if this doesn't work out" list. They aren't cheap, but they piss on the Hypex....you'd definitely like those. Thumbs up from me for the BOSC amps - I had a pair for a week and thought they were very good!
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Post by dsjr on Sept 2, 2020 20:03:12 GMT
I'd love to and I'm sure I'd like them a lot. All tyre kicking for me I'm afraid as price is too high for me, even if I needed another amp. Pre Krell vintage balls is more my thing right now, but I doubt any of it would interest you guys. Very sad that Macca still hasn't got that Krell fixed as it deserves to be sorted and running.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Sept 2, 2020 20:54:48 GMT
Thumbs up from me for the BOSC amps - I had a pair for a week and thought they were very good! Yes, they are a class act
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Post by macca on Sept 2, 2020 21:58:06 GMT
I'd love to and I'm sure I'd like them a lot. All tyre kicking for me I'm afraid as price is too high for me, even if I needed another amp. Pre Krell vintage balls is more my thing right now, but I doubt any of it would interest you guys. Very sad that Macca still hasn't got that Krell fixed as it deserves to be sorted and running. It's not like I haven't tried! Events have conspired against me. Who'd have thought someone would nick my mates knackered, 16 year old, ex Network Rail crew-cab transit? Who'd have thought there'd be a zombie apocalypse shutting down the whole country for three months? It will get fixed. I'll get it fixed or choke the rivers with my dead.
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Post by dsjr on Sept 3, 2020 9:31:38 GMT
I didn't mean you couldn't care less about it and remember, I still have a tenuous 'vibe' regarding that amp, how I came by it and how I couldn't use it due to heat (I do seem to play at spirited levels, which surprised me). Looking inside, it scared the bejesus out of me should I have kept it and needed to take it apart for servicing. It may be the smallest of its series but there's a lot of nuts and bolts holding it all together (rather different from Loctite output-stage adhesive and Bison Kit ). Hell, I'm scared shitless by a Quad 303 I need to try to repair and update (it's now a fault finding and learning project rather than a necessity) There's a video showing one of the later larger Krell amps being built. Incredibly labour intensive I thought with lots of parts as you start at the base plate and work upwards. I'll try and find it and post. This isn't the vid I saw some months back, but shows the internal complexity of these things - this is a KSA250 which is huge, heavy and runs VERY HOT I remember. I think Simon fully rebuilt a couple in his time, right down to the last screw and nut..
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