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Post by macca on Feb 24, 2021 17:32:49 GMT
still enjoying what this NAD is doing, best sound I've had in ages.
Was listening to Aja last night and it was superb, almost faultless. Just a beautiful sound. It has that almost unrealistic sweetness to the sound that I used to get from my old Sony-DCB1-50S system.
Gets very slightly rough if I play something heavy with the volume up a bit but I suppose that's only to be expected from a budget amp when you have got used to Krells.
Am going hunting for another NAD.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Feb 24, 2021 17:36:50 GMT
still enjoying what this NAD is doing, best sound I've had in ages. Was listening to Aja last night and it was superb, almost faultless. Just a beautiful sound. It has that almost unrealistic sweetness to the sound that I used to get from my old Sony-DCB1-50S system. Gets very slightly rough if I play something heavy with the volume up a bit but I suppose that's only to be expected from a budget amp when you have got used to Krells. Am going hunting for another NAD. Worth trying one of their other amps Macca? Maybe a Power amp? |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Feb 24, 2021 17:40:49 GMT
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Post by macca on Feb 24, 2021 17:56:32 GMT
Yeah, the Jerries look after their kit, but they always ask over the odds.
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Post by antonio on Feb 25, 2021 1:56:06 GMT
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Post by macca on Feb 25, 2021 8:05:52 GMT
The exciting world of Chinese clones? Not so sure about that. Could be amazing value, could be a pig in a poke. Re-sale value will be low, they'll depreciate like a Fiat Croma.
Still thinking of getting another 320BEE and then doing some mods. If the sound was just slightly tidier and more precise it would be a top-tier amplifier, it gets all the basics right. I'm waiting for another one to come up cheap. People seem to think they are worth £250 on BIN when a glance at sold listings indicates they aren't going for anything like that much.
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Post by firebottle on Feb 25, 2021 8:21:08 GMT
'Refer to the BRZHIFI (Bosheng) A150 field tube warm sound HIFI power amplifier of Golden Throat E-360 power amplifier circuit'
Exciting indeed!
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Feb 25, 2021 8:22:09 GMT
'Refer to the BRZHIFI (Bosheng) A150 field tube warm sound HIFI power amplifier of Golden Throat E-360 power amplifier circuit' Exciting indeed! I'm quite tempted to try a clone. It may have the potential to be superb value for money! |
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Post by macca on Feb 25, 2021 8:53:23 GMT
Go for it. And you have to write the review in Chinglish.  |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Feb 25, 2021 9:23:25 GMT
Go for it. And you have to write the review in Chinglish. Hahaha, well I am watching an amplifier at the minute. I fancy a little upgrade mission myself and this one has pedigree and age, so I would like to bring it up to speed and see what it can do. It's won't beat the 686, but it will be awesome for the garage system, where I spend most of my time these days 🤣 If that doesn't pan out, or gets too expensive....I may just buy a clone instead. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2021 9:41:02 GMT
I have an Arcam Alpha 10P for the garage. I just need some speakers suitable for a large space, but don't want anything expensive.
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Post by antonio on Feb 25, 2021 16:44:17 GMT
'Refer to the BRZHIFI (Bosheng) A150 field tube warm sound HIFI power amplifier of Golden Throat E-360 power amplifier circuit' Exciting indeed! I'm quite tempted to try a clone. It may have the potential to be superb value for money! I did read a glowing report on the DartZeel I linked to on one of the forums, the guy had purchased a larger 'DartZeel' from them and got the smaller one while his was having some mods done. I believe he was changing the cheaper capacitors ect, which he said you should take into account when purchasing. I linked to the BRZHIFI simply because I liked the look of it. Don't start looking on AliExpress then Oli, it's a minefield of temptation. |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Feb 25, 2021 16:45:18 GMT
I'm quite tempted to try a clone. It may have the potential to be superb value for money! I did read a glowing report on the DartZeel I linked to on one of the forums, the guy had purchased a larger 'DartZeel' from them and got the smaller one while his was having some mods done. I believe he was changing the cheaper capacitors ect, which he said you should take into account when purchasing. I linked to the BRZHIFI simply because I liked the look of it. where is this feedback, Dave. I would like a read |
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Post by antonio on Feb 25, 2021 16:51:18 GMT
I'm sorry, I cant remember, it's more than two weeks ago, and if you realised how much un-necessary reading I do you would understand. You could try googling Chinese Clone amps, I know you can see those dual mono 'Goldmund' amps I have linked to before on YT. If I come across it again I'll give you the link.
I also saw a good report on one of those 'Naim' amps as well.
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Post by macca on Feb 25, 2021 18:15:06 GMT
If you look hard enough you could find a good report on pretty much anything.
First of all I'd Like to see an independent suite of measurements and, ideally, some safety testing/checking. If that all passes muster then I might move on to actually acquiring one and assessing subjective sound quality.
There's just too much available these days, there's not enough time to have a prod at everything even if money was no object. So you've got to narrow down the field somehow.
Not like back in the old days, no China, no internet, hardly any second hand market. You wanted an amp for £150 it was a choice of about five and you could probably demo at least three of them in the same shop.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Feb 25, 2021 18:26:11 GMT
If you look hard enough you could find a good report on pretty much anything. First of all I'd Like to see an independent suite of measurements and, ideally, some safety testing/checking. If that all passes muster then I might move on to actually acquiring one and assessing subjective sound quality. There's just too much available these days, there's not enough time to have a prod at everything even if money was no object. So you've got to narrow down the field somehow. Not like back in the old days, no China, no internet, hardly any second hand market. You wanted an amp for £150 it was a choice of about five and you could probably demo at least three of them in the same shop. There are a few issues with the Chinese gear, usually being that the Traffo's are rated for 220v, which we dont have here. 242v in my house today and thats not good for the amplifier with a 220v Traffo! Usually don't have an Earth and yes, i have seen bits with obviously fake caps etc BUT i have never had anything fail apart from one regulator PCB. Not the end of the world, but i did worry that they may fail after time so under advisement i now swap a few bits out to make sure they are reliable. Still, cheaper than buying a "made in the UK" regulator PCB All of that is very easy to remedy so i wouldn't be put off, but i would swap the caps out immediately. One of those big buggers failing could fry a speaker. |
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Post by antonio on Feb 26, 2021 0:49:38 GMT
"First of all I'd Like to see an independent suite of measurements and, ideally, some safety testing/checking. If that all passes muster then I might move on to actually acquiring one and assessing subjective sound quality" Did you do this before pressing the button on the NAD Macca?  |
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Post by macca on Feb 26, 2021 8:21:43 GMT
Yes I did.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Feb 26, 2021 8:22:28 GMT
I think that was tongue in cheek to be fair lol |
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Post by macca on Feb 26, 2021 8:28:50 GMT
I only just got up maybe that pass me by. But I don't tend to punt on stuff where I can't see measurements first. You got to separate the wheat from the chaff somehow and there's a lot of chaff out there, especially loudspeakers. |
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Post by macca on Mar 3, 2021 18:21:29 GMT
New DAC should be arriving tomorrow. Topping E30. Hopefully will now find out if it is me or the Soncoz SGD1 that is slightly soft.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Mar 3, 2021 19:20:12 GMT
New DAC should be arriving tomorrow. Topping E30. Hopefully will now find out if it is me or the Soncoz SGD1 that is slightly soft. This should be interesting. What's happens if it isn't the DAC?! |
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Post by macca on Mar 3, 2021 21:03:37 GMT
I've tried 4 sets of speakers, 4 transports and five amplifiers. And every combination thereof.
If it's not the DAC then there's nowhere left to go.
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Post by macca on Mar 3, 2021 21:07:36 GMT
I've seen 5 reviews now all say the Soncoz is just slightly soft. And that's the issue with the sound I'm getting. Just slightly soft. It's the tiniest thing but it's there.
Never seen anyone describe the Topping as soft.
Anyway tomorrow we will know.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Mar 3, 2021 22:59:53 GMT
I've seen 5 reviews now all say the Soncoz is just slightly soft. And that's the issue with the sound I'm getting. Just slightly soft. It's the tiniest thing but it's there. Never seen anyone describe the Topping as soft. Anyway tomorrow we will know. Hahaha, no, they certainly aren't soft. This may be a good move for you. |
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Post by macca on Mar 4, 2021 12:06:56 GMT
DAC has arrived. It's dinky. Not much bigger than a cassette Walkman.
Need to find a suitable power supply now.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Mar 4, 2021 12:20:27 GMT
DAC has arrived. It's dinky. Not much bigger than a cassette Walkman. Need to find a suitable power supply now. Waiting................  |
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Post by macca on Mar 4, 2021 13:34:27 GMT
lol won't be until later, totally snowed under with work.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Mar 4, 2021 14:05:05 GMT
lol won't be until later, totally snowed under with work. Waiting longer........  |
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Post by macca on Mar 4, 2021 19:12:47 GMT
had a couple of hours listen to this Topping now. I'm not sure if it's any different to the Soncoz or not. Which probably means it isn't. Or is maybe but only very slightly. But the top end still sounds a tiny bit soft, same as before.
There's only one conclusion I come to and that is the Krell KSA50s is just better than all the other amps. But I sort of knew that already.
I need to get another KSA50S or an amp that is very similar. Maybe I might find a Mark Levinson 334L in a skip. Or something.
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