Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,073
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Post by Bigman80 on Jul 25, 2018 10:17:18 GMT
This guy has designed a number of legendary amps, as well as creating and sharing many designs with the DiY community. He appears to have all the hallmarks of a legend. Somehow I have never managed to try, one or even hear one of his amps. Anyone else had more experience?
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Post by dsjr on Jul 25, 2018 11:27:35 GMT
I'd like to, as I respect his methods - a high profit, high quality, very Top End brand crossing over from top domestic to pro circles - i.e. solid and bombproof? and perfectly workable and fun amp-ideas for DIYers to make up for themselves and have some fun doing it.
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Post by macca on Jul 25, 2018 11:32:44 GMT
He's just a bloke who designs amplifiers.
All this business about audio designers being 'legends' and 'geniuses' baffles me. If he'd designed a spaceship that could take men to Mars fair play but knock up a few audio amplifiers and he's some sort of hero? Not for me.
The over-emotional, unthinking worship of some brands and designers - and even worse some reviewers - is the worst thing about this hobby for me,
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2018 12:11:29 GMT
He's just a bloke who designs amplifiers. All this business about audio designers being 'legends' and 'geniuses' baffles me. If he'd designed a spaceship that could take men to Mars fair play but knock up a few audio amplifiers and he's some sort of hero? Not for me. The over-emotional, unthinking worship of some brands and designers - and even worse some reviewers - is the worst thing about this hobby for me, Yeah, exactly! These designers Sh#t 'n' piss and breath air just like we do. S. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2018 13:12:06 GMT
He's just a bloke who designs amplifiers. All this business about audio designers being 'legends' and 'geniuses' baffles me. If he'd designed a spaceship that could take men to Mars fair play but knock up a few audio amplifiers and he's some sort of hero? Not for me. The over-emotional, unthinking worship of some brands and designers - and even worse some reviewers - is the worst thing about this hobby for me, What (somewhat unreasonably) annoys me is when reviewers write in hushed tones about a Japanese audio designer, and stick '- San' on the end of his name. Roy Gregory was perhaps the worst offender in this respect. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2018 13:17:14 GMT
Aye it's just a ferkin job, like anything else.
If yer clever at it you can get cheap labour peeps to build stuff for you whilst you big it up big style.
If your bad at it you have to sit at the soldering bench breathing toxic fumes 25hrs a day for monkey nuts to make ends meet.
😁😁😁😁
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Post by macca on Jul 25, 2018 13:37:12 GMT
He's just a bloke who designs amplifiers. All this business about audio designers being 'legends' and 'geniuses' baffles me. If he'd designed a spaceship that could take men to Mars fair play but knock up a few audio amplifiers and he's some sort of hero? Not for me. The over-emotional, unthinking worship of some brands and designers - and even worse some reviewers - is the worst thing about this hobby for me, What (somewhat unreasonably) annoys me is when reviewers write in hushed tones about a Japanese audio designer, and stick '- San' on the end of his name. Roy Gregory was perhaps the worst offender in this respect. In fairness Roy Gregory was the worst offender in many respects.
There's a great video from the RMAF where he talks shite for about 45 minutes. Anytime someone questions what he says he just replies that they don't have time to go into it.
More of a salesman than a reviewer.
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,073
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Post by Bigman80 on Jul 25, 2018 13:50:14 GMT
I seem to have missed Mr Gregory’s input  I stopped reading mags a long time ago and I do remember him being present, but nothing he said made me take an interest. I tend to respect designers much more if they give back, as I understand Nelson does via the DIY community, I also have far more respect for designers who don’t blow their own trumpet. John Farlowe and Haider From Sonneteer spring to mind. The ones who shout the loudest tend to be the Ines with the least to shout about, and vice versa. I have no problem with using the term “legend” for anyone who excels in their field, especially when it’s something that creates passion, emotion and pleasure for people. Genius is a bit of a stretch for an amp designer and I wouldn’t be in any position to judge, given my electronics knowledge. Brand worship is less my thing, because what happens when a brand starts producing stuff you don’t like? |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2018 14:36:40 GMT
Great sounding amps among'st my favorite solid state amps.
Have been fortunate to hear a number of his designs done DIY all sounded great and are very easy affordable builds.
Have heard some of his commercial amps as well expensive well made great sounding kit.
Class A low power amps with amazing dare I say it Ba()s
His Philosophy
"Who cares what an amp sounds like at 300 watts when it sounds like Sh!) at 1 watt"
I like that.
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Post by antonio on Jul 25, 2018 14:49:06 GMT
I always thought legend was mythical, although it does appear to have changed over the years. Nowadays we seem to want to heap praise/awards on people who have done little to deserve it, amplifier/speaker designers aren't changing the world.
A Pass amp was on my brothers shortlist but for one reason or another (I think travelling to demo) and hearing the Audionet we never got round to hearing one. I guess putting some of his designs out there for DIYer's is good of Nelson Pass.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2018 15:06:55 GMT
No doubt him letting his circuitry and designs be used by the likes of me, for very little money, helps create a "fanbase" or Customer bass. Trouble is, the stuff he releases for free HAS to be good or it doesn't lend itself to repeat custom.
One would expect his high priced gear to outperform the "free" designs which will lead to custom.
As a DCB1 user, I can confirm its pretty awesome. It's such a clean sounding pre that it's unlike anything else I've tried. Based on my experience of the Pre amp, I'd be very willing to try his gear further up the ladder.
(The preamp will vary between each user/build due to the parts used)
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Post by macca on Jul 25, 2018 15:10:44 GMT
I would like a go on your DCB1.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2018 15:24:41 GMT
What (somewhat unreasonably) annoys me is when reviewers write in hushed tones about a Japanese audio designer, and stick '- San' on the end of his name. Roy Gregory was perhaps the worst offender in this respect. In fairness Roy Gregory was the worst offender in many respects.
There's a great video from the RMAF where he talks shite for about 45 minutes. Anytime someone questions what he says he just replies that they don't have time to go into it.
More of a salesman than a reviewer.
His 'greatest' moment was when, reviewing some speakers at £250k a pair, he wrote that 'only now' was he able to truly enjoy string quartets. He also had a habit, when reviewing some expensive piece of equipment, of asserting that it was 'something of a bargain'. |
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Post by dsjr on Jul 25, 2018 15:28:41 GMT
Sorry chaps, I don't think you get the point at all!!!!! Do you seriously think I'd give my respect lightly? Shame on you people - I'm seriously upset!
Look, I agree that a talented 'technician' with some business acumen can make their version of a given circuit up, chuck the 'rule book' out of the window and make a good working product with a story to tell. Others adapt an existing complete design and customise it their needs and I agree the Class AB complimentary (or ancient quasi complementary circuit) rulebook may well have been written decades ago, but modern devices can make an existing idea work better.
On the other hand, I feel the humble audio industry is lucky to have people like Nelson Pass, as like EAR's Tim de P and maybe Peter Walker (he had help though) and the chap who originated the Crown 'Class AB+B' designs fifty years ago, he seems to be able to draw a basic quite novel amp circuit on a serviette (not sure if he smokes as Tim did and the latter often drew things out on a fag packet I remember). Most seriously talented electronics people would be working their guts out for aerospace and other governmental departments as AVI's Martin Grindrod did until it nearly killed him I gather and he had to do something else in his thirties (Kelvin Labs and then AVI, with Ashley James' marketing and possible financial help).
So please chaps, don't demean this industry any more than it is already. Every so often, a good guy comes along with genuine ideas, the ability to build them and the clout to demonstrate and make these things happen.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2018 15:35:41 GMT
Soz. But we can still slag off reviewers, yeah?
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,073
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Post by Bigman80 on Jul 25, 2018 15:42:09 GMT
Soz. But we can still slag off reviewers, yeah? All except the legends......  |
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Post by macca on Jul 25, 2018 15:45:12 GMT
It wasn't the industry I was demeaning it was tragic fanboys.
And the reviewers - most of them anyway - deserve all they get. They get off lightly if you ask me.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2018 15:57:45 GMT
What hifi.......Reviews you can trust.
😬
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Post by dsjr on Jul 25, 2018 15:59:57 GMT
I just took it that my respect for Nelson Pass and a few select others was misplaced.
As for reviewers, some were good, others around the world developed humungous ego's (as superstar DJ's have, who can't play a note but who can maybe join tracks together quite well) and most others are just twonks on a keyboard like me...
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2018 16:06:49 GMT
I would like a go on your DCB1. We can make that happen, Macca. Preamp bakeoff!!!!!! |
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,073
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Post by Bigman80 on Jul 25, 2018 16:14:33 GMT
I would like a go on your DCB1. We can make that happen, Macca. Preamp bakeoff!!!!!! Yeah a whole- grain bake-off. Sorry couldn’t resist! |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2018 16:16:08 GMT
What pre have you got Macca ? and would it be possible to include an NVA pre in the bake off Biggy ? if I were closer I would take my Rothwell indus.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2018 16:16:17 GMT
I just took it that my respect for Nelson Pass and a few select others was misplaced. I always get Nelson Pass mixed up with Nelson Riddle. The only designer I've ever spoken to is Tom Evans. As someone once said of him 'He doesn't suffer fools gladly. Or at all'. Actually, I tell a lie, because I've also spoken to the Border Patrol guy (Gary Dews?) with a view to auditioning his amps. But he was about to shift operations from the UK to the USA, so it never happened. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2018 16:27:53 GMT
What pre have you got Macca ? and would it be possible to include an NVA pre in the bake off Biggy ? if I were closer I would take my Rothwell indus. Canna see the point jammy... (Admin paraphrase to remove reference to other forum persona) ......The result may not be universally accepted |
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Post by dsjr on Jul 25, 2018 16:29:52 GMT
I would like a go on your DCB1. We can make that happen, Macca. Preamp bakeoff!!!!!! If it's for the Krell, it's either balanced or bust. I've given chapter and verse on the preamp requirements ideally for *this particular* Krell, which I understand as a balanced circuit right from the input, rather than a single ended with an 'adaptor circuit' on the input as many are.... |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2018 16:34:42 GMT
We can make that happen, Macca. Preamp bakeoff!!!!!! Yeah a whole- grain bake-off. Sorry couldn’t resist! 😂. Cheeky 😉 |
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Post by dsjr on Jul 25, 2018 16:39:09 GMT
What pre have you got Macca ? and would it be possible to include an NVA pre in the bake off Biggy ? if I were closer I would take my Rothwell indus. Jammy, why spoil it? One mention of NVA and it all bloody kicks off again! What you'd be comparing is a sub £2 film pot with a high precision multi-step attenuator (not sure if it's a shunt or ladder type), but the NVA can have one of those fitted, so all you'd really be comparing is one case and knob against another...
Maccas Krell needs 1.3V for full output - that's a hellishly insensitive input. You can get away with a passive in terms of level from a CD player as I did, but using an old tuner or other source with say 500 to 750mV tops and it's a stretch to get high levels without cranking the pot right round. *In this case* I've begged Macca to try a properly balanced preamp (one good used one was the Levinson 28 at the time and sometimes they sell for under a grand - I think they may be better than krell's own KRC models, but haven't compared them).
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2018 16:39:23 GMT
What pre have you got Macca ? and would it be possible to include an NVA pre in the bake off Biggy ? if I were closer I would take my Rothwell indus. Canna see the point jammy... (Admin paraphrase to remove reference to other forum persona) ......The result may not be universally accepted... Well Vlad you may be correct.... I've got loads of NVA gear and it's good (All be it, it's all up for sale - see Loads of good Sh#t thread) I much prefer my Rothwell Indus pre to the NVA one, which was related to me bedroom. I've never been to a bake off but enjoy reading the ensuing turmoil. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2018 16:41:37 GMT
DSJR......David did slay Golliath.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2018 16:43:03 GMT
DSJR......David did slay Golliath. Though I admit, it may have been a lucky shot.😁 |
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