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Post by hornucopia on Sept 11, 2020 11:32:36 GMT
Anyone done a comparison between these 2 low powered amps? I'm tempted by the 86; currently using F3 -obviously! - running into sensitive speakers - +90db each (Ocellia or Opera M15 horns.) Kevin knows I'm tempted by the Neurochrome....
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Post by firebottle on Sept 11, 2020 11:54:34 GMT
I have listened to SS Class A and the Neurochrome family (86, 286, 686).
To my ears SS Class A is clean but a 'little' sterile, I'm talking gnats doo dahs really.
Neurochrome all the way for me, plus you will have a bit more than twice the power.
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Post by sq225917 on Sept 11, 2020 12:25:51 GMT
You'll have less noise and quite a bit more gain, worth setting the neurochromes to 20 db gain, 26 is standard.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Sept 11, 2020 15:56:48 GMT
Anyone done a comparison between these 2 low powered amps? I'm tempted by the 86; currently using F3 -obviously! - running into sensitive speakers - +90db each (Ocellia or Opera M15 horns.) Kevin knows I'm tempted by the Neurochrome....
Can you have both and audition them? |
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Post by hornucopia on Sept 11, 2020 16:44:06 GMT
Anyone done a comparison between these 2 low powered amps? I'm tempted by the 86; currently using F3 -obviously! - running into sensitive speakers - +90db each (Ocellia or Opera M15 horns.) Kevin knows I'm tempted by the Neurochrome....
Can you have both and audition them? Yes- will let you know. Attachments:
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Sept 11, 2020 16:49:59 GMT
Can you have both and audition them? Yes- will let you know. Ha! Excellent. |
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Post by hornucopia on Sept 12, 2020 12:05:46 GMT
I need a Pre-amp ideally. Currently using an upgraded Hafler DH101, but have three power amps, only one Pre.
Foolishly sold a nice Stereo Coffee not long ago.Richard in Plymouth made-Battery/remote/nice red perspex front...
Will A DCB1 work well with the Neuro?(And has anyone got one to sell?)
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Sept 12, 2020 12:30:42 GMT
I need a Pre-amp ideally. Currently using an upgraded Hafler DH101, but have three power amps, only one Pre. Foolishly sold a nice Stereo Coffee not long ago.Richard in Plymouth made-Battery/remote/nice red perspex front... Will A DCB1 work well with the Neuro?(And has anyone got one to sell?) Nah, what you need is a biscuit tin like mine..... I have two lol   On a serious note, that buffer board is the most transparent thing I've heard. The stepped Attenuator is custom built too. It may be in a biscuit tin, but it's no compromise in terms of performance. The AWM buffer board is the work of myself, Phonomac (Angus) and Craig of Craigtone. Options for gain are available too.  |
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Post by hornucopia on Sept 12, 2020 15:27:23 GMT
You're talking to a man who made Zigmahornets from 1+1/2inch polystyrene! Biscuit tins*** hold no fear-I'll start thinking of variants. Cigar boxes spring to mind! I had a nice DCB made in Germany,I recall.And my PS1 was upgraded there-now lost a channel.  My vinyl days are several years gone now, so gain generally unnecessary. But my soldering feats are very rusty-so I'd not start a self build. But if you- or anyone - has a Biscuit (or  ) buffer going...let me know. Nicer than commercial things-a lot of my hi-fi has been tweaked/home-built/or in the case of the Ocellias-they make their own Ply! ***I hope the tin is earthed! |
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Post by firebottle on Sept 12, 2020 17:42:00 GMT
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Post by hornucopia on Sept 12, 2020 18:26:02 GMT
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Post by brucew268 on Dec 12, 2020 17:53:02 GMT
I have listened to SS Class A and the Neurochrome family (86, 286, 686). To my ears SS Class A is clean but a 'little' sterile, I'm talking gnats doo dahs really. Neurochrome all the way for me, plus you will have a bit more than twice the power. Could you say a little more about this? Most descriptions I've heard put Class A at the opposite end of the spectrum from sterile, so am a bit confused what you were meaning... unless you meant Class D, no this is a Pass vs Neurochrome thread. Hm. ...Yeah, I'm late to the conversation.
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Post by macca on Dec 13, 2020 10:25:18 GMT
Class A doesn't have a 'character' as such. I've got a few class A amps and they're all different. The Krell KSA100 is a long way from being 'sterile'.
My class D experience is limited by comparison but I doubt there's a definable 'class D' character either.
All depends on the implementation.
The two best amps I have ever heard were both class A. But I've not heard everything, not by a long chalk, so could just be a coincidence.
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Post by hifinutt on Aug 30, 2021 21:45:25 GMT
Had loads of class d used with many speakers. Currently fantastic with tannoys. With impulse taus class d is impressive but can be a bit clean and fatiguing. Pass f5 monoblocks ( clone) are quite superb with the taus , huge sound , velvet top end , plenty of bass and so forgiving of bad recordings. Never tried the f3 or neurochrome yet
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Aug 30, 2021 21:48:36 GMT
Had loads of class d used with many speakers. Currently fantastic with tannoys. With impulse taus class d is impressive but can be a bit clean and fatiguing. Pass f5 monoblocks ( clone) are quite superb with the taus , huge sound , velvet top end , plenty of bass and so forgiving of bad recordings. Never tried the f3 or neurochrome yet Hi Phil, Welcome to AA! Really nice to see you here, especially being quite local to me. Always keen to expand the local networking opportunities 😉 When you feel the urge to put your swanky new amps in the ring with the 686, give me a shout. That's a comparison I'd love to hear, especially as the F5 is a pretty simple to build amp. I presume you bought that pair off the wam? We're always looking for great kit to recommend. Oliver. |
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Post by antonio on Aug 31, 2021 2:30:17 GMT
Welcome Phil, you been buying swanky new amps? I did like the look of that Apollon that was for sale on the Wam. To be honest when I saw HiFiNut, I thought you must have joined to remind Bigman to get his arse over to the Wam and inform the mods that his NovaFidelity has been sold  You'll have a long way to go to get anything more swanky than your MSB's Phil, or maybe not when you look at their successors. |
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Post by jandl100 on Aug 31, 2021 4:44:08 GMT
Count me as not a Pass Labs fan. Although I've only heard power amps.
To my ears there's been a trend or evolution in their presentation.
In earlier days they were very boring indeed. Aleph 3. Watching paint dry had a vastly higher level of interest.
Their middle period was slightly boring. X150. It took me a few days to start dozing off, but it became really irritating.
The recent 600 series is said to be not boring at all. But I'll believe that once I've heard it. In my own system. Which I haven't, and probably never will.
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Post by hifinutt on Sept 1, 2021 10:24:51 GMT
thanks oliver thats a lovely welcome . actually my F5 are just on loan but yes they came from the wam originally , impressive build by joe henry . if i can i will buy them as they suit the taus . be great to try the neurochrome but i supsect the 686 might be a bit too powerful ?? interesting to see joe henry now selling ones he has made but still over 2 k and fairly heavy I am slightly averse to heavy amps , just having 70kg rads fitted here and thats hard enough without trying to fit a whacking great amp in. my days of big hot msb amps are past i think these are the F5  P1070668 by , on Flickr  P1070663 by , on Flickr  f5 clone jh 2 by , on Flickr |
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Post by hifinutt on Sept 1, 2021 10:28:38 GMT
Welcome Phil, you been buying swanky new amps? I did like the look of that Apollon that was for sale on the Wam. To be honest when I saw HiFiNut, I thought you must have joined to remind Bigman to get his arse over to the Wam and inform the mods that his NovaFidelity has been sold You'll have a long way to go to get anything more swanky than your MSB's Phil, or maybe not when you look at their successors. thanks so much antonio !! yes that appollon was super but its not well enough known yet to risk buying , even nord amps struggle to sell sometimes and yes i miss this msb but crazily enough the little asx 50 monoblocks i got from ian lenco on aos are such characters , the music just boogies along with great imaging and the tannoy eatons just love em , with the upgraded bel canto pre 3 [ got a custom cable dc3 psu on there ] they really sing . that an a very good modwright modded jolida valve dac |
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Post by macca on Sept 1, 2021 11:56:02 GMT
thanks oliver thats a lovely welcome . actually my F5 are just on loan but yes they came from the wam originally , impressive build by joe henry . if i can i will buy them as they suit the taus . be great to try the neurochrome but i supsect the 686 might be a bit too powerful ?? interesting to see joe henry now selling ones he has made but still over 2 k and fairly heavy I am slightly averse to heavy amps , just having 70kg rads fitted here and thats hard enough without trying to fit a whacking great amp in. my days of big hot msb amps are past i think these are the F5 P1070668 by , on Flickr P1070663 by , on Flickr f5 clone jh 2 by , on Flickr At the risk of sounding like Jeremy Clarkson, there's no such thing as 'too powerful'. Whereas not enough power, that can cause all sorts of problems. |
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Post by hifinutt on Sept 1, 2021 18:00:01 GMT
I guess not , i stand corrected !!
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Sept 1, 2021 18:07:42 GMT
I guess not , i stand corrected !! Hahaha, Jezza!!! Anyway, I think there is a bit of a misconception about the 686, in as much as it's a huge monster amplifier. It isn't. It's a very sensible sized amp, both in terms of power and dimensions. I do agree with Macca though, that you just can't have enough power. |
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Post by hifinutt on Sept 1, 2021 18:12:49 GMT
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Sept 1, 2021 18:44:52 GMT
Oh wow, I didn't know he'd taken to building those too? Must say, that's a tidy build. Oh, no speaker protection? Hmmm Saying that, I've got none either, but I know I haven't. Someone may not pick that up. |
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Post by gninnam on Sept 1, 2021 19:20:58 GMT
WOW - that is a beast...... must not be tempted, must not be tempted.......... |
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Post by sq225917 on Sept 1, 2021 19:25:13 GMT
That's a really fair price as well.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Sept 1, 2021 20:20:26 GMT
WOW - that is a beast...... must not be tempted, must not be tempted.......... BUY IT. But get those XLRs changed before he posts it. Although he's used the same ones I do! |
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Post by antonio on Sept 1, 2021 20:22:12 GMT
That's what I thought Simon before reading your post.
I don't believe I've heard of Joe Henry, but he has a good selection of hand made amps on ebay.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Sept 1, 2021 20:36:10 GMT
That's what I thought Simon before reading your post. I don't believe I've heard of Joe Henry, but he has a good selection of hand made amps on ebay. He basically assembles the most popular DIY gear for those who can't, or don't want to do it themselves. He does very good work too. |
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Post by gninnam on Sept 1, 2021 21:16:46 GMT
WOW - that is a beast...... must not be tempted, must not be tempted.......... BUY IT. But get those XLRs changed before he posts it. Although he's used the same ones I do! Wife would kill me if I did too be honest  |
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) buffer going...let me know.
