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Post by hifinutt on Mar 17, 2022 12:47:49 GMT
The Italians seem to have an amazing knack of making superb amps . having enjoyed unison research unico at a friends house . Then had 2 grandinote amps here [ shinai integrated and proemio pre . the latter was EXCEPTIONAL . however they are very heavy indeed and use 2 power cables . shame no distributor in uk  Grandinote_Shinai_IMG_5892_550pix by , on Flickr another brand i rather like is the norma brand . managed to get one here this week and its also exceptional . at 3.5k for the 70b its easy to accommodate . built like a merc and sounds very very smooth and very muscular . gets a very high score from me. even has a decent remote . just got a new distributor in UK as you will notice loads flying around as ex demo models off loaded as anthony mills stopped distributing them . they deserve to do well as one or two ex valve owners have gone over to norma  P1070866 by , on Flickr  P1070865 by , on Flickr whats your fav ? |
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Post by lurch on Mar 17, 2022 20:26:37 GMT
My favourite brand is MasterSound, first got seduced my a Mk1 845 Reference Intergrated I heard at the final Scalford and heard it again a couple of years later when I went to a BO at Joolz (RIP) place in Kent. To me it was just stunning detailed yet so smooth. I ended up buying a MasterSound PHL5 Pre which again was superb and had a damn good mm phonostage which I ran with and MFA SUT, I had it for 3.5 yrs and held its own against a 36.5 & ARC SP26, it only got moved on when I got my MFA Baby Reference.
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Post by jandl100 on Mar 18, 2022 12:08:20 GMT
Italian amps.
Hmm, not something I have indulged in much at all.
A Pathos valve/ss hybrid integrated is about it, I think. That was "characterful" with a rather rosy-coloured midrange. I can't say that it encouraged me to stay loyal to the nationality.
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Post by macca on Mar 18, 2022 12:40:17 GMT
don't think I have ever owned an Italian amp. Or French, or German.
Swedish and British that's all I've had from Europe. Got a Philips amp but I think it's a Japanese design, not sure where it was actually made. So you could maybe chuck in Dutch as well.
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Post by alit on Mar 18, 2022 13:11:00 GMT
Have a Unison Research S6 which is an excellent amp.
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Post by jandl100 on Mar 18, 2022 13:31:49 GMT
Ah, yes, Unison Research. I had an integrated amp from them.
The only amp I have ever had that popped a fuse on a musical peak!
Nah, not encouraging to go Italian!
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Post by antonio on Mar 18, 2022 15:21:28 GMT
I've never owned Italian either, but would like to hear one of the Unison Research hybrid intergrated's
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Post by jandl100 on Mar 18, 2022 16:49:57 GMT
I've never owned Italian either, but would like to hear one of the Unison Research hybrid intergrated's Just make sure you have spare fuses ready.  |
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Post by hifinutt on Mar 18, 2022 16:57:20 GMT
I've never owned Italian either, but would like to hear one of the Unison Research hybrid intergrated's I think the unico 90 is a hybrid and it was very sweet with harbs. The sadly missed alanb had one which he loved and hear it several times at new owners. The volume control on the remote was reasonable but steps were quite wide . That said I would have one anyday . |
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Post by antonio on Mar 18, 2022 17:24:23 GMT
I've never owned Italian either, but would like to hear one of the Unison Research hybrid intergrated's Just make sure you have spare fuses ready.  It was just what I'd read about them, thought they'd be an easy listen, you've obviously been messing with that volume knob when the better half has gone shopping |
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Post by jandl100 on Mar 18, 2022 20:47:20 GMT
Must confess the fuse blew on a track affectionately known as the System Killer even before it blew a fuse.  I think it was a Unison Research Secondo amp. I demmed it at the Scalford show with Robin's Tannoy Lancasters. |
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Post by jimbo on Mar 19, 2022 7:21:22 GMT
I have heard a lot of Gold Note gear. Very nice indeed, exquisitely built and superb sounding but very expensive.
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Post by hifinutt on Mar 19, 2022 13:22:52 GMT
ah i never knew they were Italian . you hear quite a bit about this brand
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Post by jimbo on Mar 19, 2022 15:50:01 GMT
ah i never knew they were Italian . you hear quite a bit about this brand Mate of mine in Italy has been selling their gear for years. Their turntables and especially their cartridges are very highly regarded. |
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Post by hifinutt on Mar 22, 2022 19:48:51 GMT
I was speaking to an Italian restaurant owner and he had heard of grandinote amazingly
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Post by hifinutt on Mar 26, 2022 17:10:30 GMT
taking the norma back next week. got to give this amp 9/10 for performance . its VERY good indeed . very smooth and dynamic . beautifully built . highly recommended
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Post by mrian on Apr 9, 2022 19:24:43 GMT
Gruppo Ricerche Audio Alta Fedeltà 13.5bii with a pair of GM20 OTL monoblocks
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Post by jazzcat on Apr 11, 2022 10:07:49 GMT
I have a thing for Mastersound. On my second model as we speak.  |
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Post by jandl100 on Apr 11, 2022 11:10:10 GMT
Hey, I've just remembered that my LA Audio el84 amp was Eye-tal-ean. That was super and one of the best valve amps I've owned. I nominate it as my favourite.  |
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Post by antonio on Apr 11, 2022 17:06:09 GMT
I have a thing for Mastersound. On my second model as we speak. Beautiful  , is that the model you've got Jazz? |
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Post by jazzcat on Apr 12, 2022 7:54:43 GMT
is that the model you've got Jazz? Yes, MastersounD Compact 845. Upgraded to the current model few months ago. Extremely happy  |
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, is that the model you've got Jazz? 