Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2018 14:42:46 GMT
In response to a comment from another thread here...
Colin has an impressive resume with some big former employers. But, I want to tread carefully here, as Colin should be the one to speak about himself and his history. As he has elsewhere.
So I'll speak mainly from my experience of his work and of Colin himself.
I have 4 of Colin's amps.
A 1980s Inca Tech Claymore that powers my second system. Really dynamic and open to my ears. Neutral and musical. I like the integrated phono stage too. I should point out that Colin serviced and revamped the insides a bit shortly after I bought it and before I'd used it properly. Not sure what he did, but he claimed it was much improved. So what I have may not sound exactly like an original Claymore.
My first taste of Colin's proper ;-) amps was the Inca Designs ID25. I loved it immediately. The smooth sweetness of Colin's Class A designs absolutely beguiles me. I think I'm right in writing that Colin moved on to Inca Designs after Inca Tech, but as I say I'm not the best historian of his career.
There some images, information and contemporary reviews posted by Colin here.
I bought the ID25 from Paul Quick ("Quickie" on the forums) who is a real whiz at bringing Wonfor amps back to their best. (Colin once told me that Paul's work on old Wonfor amps is better than his own. ;-) ) A year or so later I learned that Paul had brought back to life an old TOCA SECA 20 (Touch Of Class A, Single Ended Class A, 20 watts), and I was fortunate enough to purchase the TOCA from Paul. This really is an absolute belter. A move on from the ID25. In the same direction, but several steps closer to reality. I really love the body to vocals that I hear when listening to the TOCA. Runs bloody hot.
There is of course this photo (1992?) of Colin smirking next to the biggest of the TOCA range. This ridiculous 300 watt fridge...
A couple of years ago Colin designed a new Class A board and made it available as a "One4" kit. I was keen, but didn't trust my ability to solder a circuit. Thankfully, Colin made a "ready assembled" board option available, so I purchased a couple of the amp boards and build the amp around them. An incredibly satisfying experience. Anyone wanting to feel better about themselves, feel free to read the tortuous thread of my build here. When up and running it was at least the equal of my TOCA. What put clear water between the One4 kit amp past the TOCA was addition of One4 dynamic PSU boards that Colin designed to go with the amp circuit (please don't ask me exactly what they do...track the level of the signal and...do something...). Sounds sound real, so well honed. It's quite unnerving.
It ended up looking like this (PSU boards at top):
Most recently Colin linked up with an old friend Alan Elsdon on a new project Elsdon Wonfor Audio. Website here. An exciting range of products. I've not heard any unfortunately.
Recently Colin publicly announced that he was retiring. Although predictably, he announced a couple of weeks later that he was undertaking bits and pieces. :-)
At this point I can't avoid doing what everyone who posts about Colin does, and acknowledge what a generous human being Colin is. I have met him a few times and he has always been kind with his time, expertise and company. This has rightly won Colin many friends and supporters. I am certainly proud to know him and to own several of his amps. But also, my understanding is that a few people have taken advantage of Colin's generous temperament, and that the results of these cruelties have caused Colin much personal and professional pain. I think that he is in safer and more caring hands now. :-)
Anyway, maybe Colin might pop in at some point and speak for himself (he's not usually short of a word to say or write ;-)
To finish, here's a family shot of my 3 Wonfor Class A amps (ID25 on the shelf, TOCA front left, One4 kit amp front right).
Colin has an impressive resume with some big former employers. But, I want to tread carefully here, as Colin should be the one to speak about himself and his history. As he has elsewhere.
So I'll speak mainly from my experience of his work and of Colin himself.
I have 4 of Colin's amps.
A 1980s Inca Tech Claymore that powers my second system. Really dynamic and open to my ears. Neutral and musical. I like the integrated phono stage too. I should point out that Colin serviced and revamped the insides a bit shortly after I bought it and before I'd used it properly. Not sure what he did, but he claimed it was much improved. So what I have may not sound exactly like an original Claymore.
My first taste of Colin's proper ;-) amps was the Inca Designs ID25. I loved it immediately. The smooth sweetness of Colin's Class A designs absolutely beguiles me. I think I'm right in writing that Colin moved on to Inca Designs after Inca Tech, but as I say I'm not the best historian of his career.
There some images, information and contemporary reviews posted by Colin here.
I bought the ID25 from Paul Quick ("Quickie" on the forums) who is a real whiz at bringing Wonfor amps back to their best. (Colin once told me that Paul's work on old Wonfor amps is better than his own. ;-) ) A year or so later I learned that Paul had brought back to life an old TOCA SECA 20 (Touch Of Class A, Single Ended Class A, 20 watts), and I was fortunate enough to purchase the TOCA from Paul. This really is an absolute belter. A move on from the ID25. In the same direction, but several steps closer to reality. I really love the body to vocals that I hear when listening to the TOCA. Runs bloody hot.
There is of course this photo (1992?) of Colin smirking next to the biggest of the TOCA range. This ridiculous 300 watt fridge...
A couple of years ago Colin designed a new Class A board and made it available as a "One4" kit. I was keen, but didn't trust my ability to solder a circuit. Thankfully, Colin made a "ready assembled" board option available, so I purchased a couple of the amp boards and build the amp around them. An incredibly satisfying experience. Anyone wanting to feel better about themselves, feel free to read the tortuous thread of my build here. When up and running it was at least the equal of my TOCA. What put clear water between the One4 kit amp past the TOCA was addition of One4 dynamic PSU boards that Colin designed to go with the amp circuit (please don't ask me exactly what they do...track the level of the signal and...do something...). Sounds sound real, so well honed. It's quite unnerving.
It ended up looking like this (PSU boards at top):
Most recently Colin linked up with an old friend Alan Elsdon on a new project Elsdon Wonfor Audio. Website here. An exciting range of products. I've not heard any unfortunately.
Recently Colin publicly announced that he was retiring. Although predictably, he announced a couple of weeks later that he was undertaking bits and pieces. :-)
At this point I can't avoid doing what everyone who posts about Colin does, and acknowledge what a generous human being Colin is. I have met him a few times and he has always been kind with his time, expertise and company. This has rightly won Colin many friends and supporters. I am certainly proud to know him and to own several of his amps. But also, my understanding is that a few people have taken advantage of Colin's generous temperament, and that the results of these cruelties have caused Colin much personal and professional pain. I think that he is in safer and more caring hands now. :-)
Anyway, maybe Colin might pop in at some point and speak for himself (he's not usually short of a word to say or write ;-)
To finish, here's a family shot of my 3 Wonfor Class A amps (ID25 on the shelf, TOCA front left, One4 kit amp front right).
