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Post by peterthebutcher on Aug 9, 2023 8:42:02 GMT
I have at the moment a couple of 18month old PS Audio M700 power amps. As am just waiting for new Amphion 7LS speakers to be delivered, my thoughts are wondering what a decent replacement may be? M1200, Bel Canto,and the likes. Budget maybe around 6K
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Aug 9, 2023 8:47:36 GMT
I have at the moment a couple of 18month old PS Audio M700 power amps. As am just waiting for new Amphion 7LS speakers to be delivered, my thoughts are wondering what a decent replacement may be? M1200, Bel Canto,and the likes. Budget maybe around 6K I'd consider building/commissioning monoblock Neurochrome 686s and pocket the change. If you want to test one, I am happy to loan you mine for a day or two.
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Post by misterc on Aug 9, 2023 10:39:29 GMT
The PS audio amps are quite safe and resevred my suggestion would be to try audition some quality used daul mono stereo amplifiers. Oli's suggestion is as valid as everyone else's although I would see if you secure a loan of one before comitting to having anything built imho
The usual bugbear when wishing to move on custom units is the resale value and the appeal to the mass audiophile market.
I would also wait until the new speakers have fully settled in before making any more changes, itchy feet cost money and having to take a an unavoidable haircut due to impatience is best left for naimies
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Aug 9, 2023 10:45:35 GMT
The PS audio amps are quite safe and resevred my suggestion would be to try audition some quality used daul mono stereo amplifiers. Oli's suggestion is as valid as everyone else's although I would see if you secure a loan of one before comitting to having anything built imho The usual bugbear when wishing to move on custom units is the resale value and the appeal to the mass audiophile market. I would also wait until the new speakers have fully settled in before making any more changes, itchy feet cost money and having to take a an unavoidable haircut due to impatience is best left for naimies The resale of a 686 never seems to be much of an issue due to their stellar reputation
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Post by lurch on Aug 9, 2023 10:54:43 GMT
If memory serves me right, Amphion are usually demonstrated at shows with Hegel integrateds like the 590 and there is ofcourse the new H600. However as Mr_C has said, wait until your 7s arrive and are fully bedded in before doing anything. The old adage of act in haste, repent at leisure, definitely holds true here.
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Post by misterc on Aug 9, 2023 11:08:29 GMT
The PS audio amps are quite safe and resevred my suggestion would be to try audition some quality used daul mono stereo amplifiers. Oli's suggestion is as valid as everyone else's although I would see if you secure a loan of one before comitting to having anything built imho The usual bugbear when wishing to move on custom units is the resale value and the appeal to the mass audiophile market. I would also wait until the new speakers have fully settled in before making any more changes, itchy feet cost money and having to take a an unavoidable haircut due to impatience is best left for naimies The resale of a 686 never seems to be much of an issue due to their stellar reputation However not everone likes it presentation Oli even in the DIY community hence my suggestion of a trail.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Aug 9, 2023 11:11:30 GMT
The resale of a 686 never seems to be much of an issue due to their stellar reputation However not everone likes it presentation Oli even in the DIY community hence my suggestion of a trail. Oh, I agree a trial would be beneficial......which is why I offered one 😂
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Post by hifinutt on Aug 9, 2023 17:29:19 GMT
The ps audio m1200 might be a very good option . Be interesting what price the existing ps audio monoblocks fetch
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Post by hifinutt on Aug 9, 2023 17:43:09 GMT
It would be fascinating to compare the valve class d m1200 with the m700 class d
Huge fan of icepower so for that reason i would stick wuth ps audio
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Post by mikeyb on Aug 9, 2023 21:46:31 GMT
Primaluna might be worth a look 😂
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Post by peterthebutcher on Aug 20, 2023 10:05:02 GMT
Just to be clear, I am JUST thinking ahead, as one does. Have read so much good things with regards Hegel amps, the only thing that puts me off slightly is the lack of an i2S HDMI connection, as I just recently purchased a Matrix Audio SPDIF, and it made a massive improvement. It would mean trading in my Matrix audio box, SGCD and the 2 M700's. Maybe as HiFinutt has mentioned, stay with PS and audition the M1200's I will of course not be considering a change until the new speakers have had the chance to be run in and listened to. This post is just me wondering on a Boring Sunday morning
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Post by misterc on Aug 20, 2023 10:33:02 GMT
You have way to much time on your hands Peter lol
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Post by antonio on Aug 20, 2023 11:02:32 GMT
Is it just the i2S that has made the improvement, have you compared to the coax output?
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Post by peterthebutcher on Aug 20, 2023 11:20:07 GMT
You have way to much time on your hands Peter lol yes, way to much thinking time now am retired, nowt else to do
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Post by peterthebutcher on Aug 20, 2023 11:27:03 GMT
Is it just the i2S that has made the improvement, have you compared to the coax output? I have all my music on a Pentium i5 SSD on my PC, and no other gear, (apart from the Sony PX BP800 just used as a SACD player and Netflix etc and a MD). The PC only has USB outs, no other digital connection The i2S made a huge difference (for my ears), was a night and day thing, especially my DSD rips that a good friend did for me
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Post by antonio on Aug 20, 2023 11:34:41 GMT
I'm sure putting the Matrix in line has improved things, but have you compared the i2S and coax outputs.
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Post by peterthebutcher on Aug 20, 2023 11:48:22 GMT
I'm sure putting the Matrix in line has improved things, but have you compared the i2S and coax outputs. in a word, no, just used a HDMI from the Matrix to the PS SGCD. will have a look to see what connections are on the Matrix, as have a suitable cable here I think, and can then A/B them
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Post by hifinutt on Aug 20, 2023 12:48:02 GMT
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Post by misterc on Aug 20, 2023 13:03:19 GMT
You have way to much time on your hands Peter lol yes, way to much thinking time now am retired, nowt else to do Hi Peter
I'm semi retired as I really couldn't play pipe & slippers/gardening club/walking group or twitching twice a week, I found that having a positive mental ability really helps keep the old grey matter active.
Dave's call on the i2s connection isn;t a bad one I find it really ups the dynamics and punch and given you have ps audio equipment I would suggest that's a positive suggestion.
The only area I feel the need to upgradem is my phase noise measurment section of the lab, so I do have a small forex portfolio I dabble in for an hour a day, so I don't touch any of my pension.
Audio can be a massive rabbit hole to disppear down with way to many tunnels to divert tyou from your goals.
By a partial old fart as I suggesting is keep the finger off the trigger untuil you have everything on a even keel before even comtemplating any more expenditure.
Been there done that, and wished I hadn't so Peter stopping getting audiophilia neuvosa. Take the whippet out for a thrash or get a bike licence, do something different, a trip aboard, see a mate or two who emigrated. Use your retirement fund more widely.
Say a man who just dropped significant coin on a new signal / phase noise analyser
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Post by misterc on Aug 20, 2023 13:05:01 GMT
Paul Mc G one of the smoothest crookes on the net got to give Qudos for this though hey look Uncle Paul's weekly round up of pipe and slipper advice
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Post by peterthebutcher on Aug 20, 2023 14:47:41 GMT
Am a great fan of PS gear, and got that mainly from all the marketing they do. obviously they make good gear, and even tho I quite fancy a change in brands, its a big step. Obviously when the time comes, I will seek advice from a few dealers, and home demo
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Post by antonio on Aug 20, 2023 14:57:04 GMT
misterc I only suggested trying the coax out since I have read not everyone has been over enthusiastic with i2s, but I have never used an i2s in any of our systems. Since the Matrix has both outputs I thought it well worth a try, therefore not limiting any upgrades or spending more than needed. Now what's all this about you being semi retired, I thought you a workaholic Tony, with only a slight respite posting forums.
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Post by misterc on Aug 20, 2023 15:11:59 GMT
misterc I only suggested trying the coax out since I have read not everyone has been over enthusiastic with i2s, but I have never used an i2s in any of our systems. Since the Matrix has both outputs I thought it well worth a try, therefore not limiting any upgrades or spending more than needed. Now what's all this about you being semi retired, I thought you a workaholic Tony, with only a slight respite posting forums. Well Dave
I have a fithly habbit to keep (no not ladyboys or Japanses school girls matron, but test equipment) not possibe on a usual pension unless a hedge fund manager or top city actury/tech company or porn/gamabling site owner. Plus I really like/love sticking it to the big boys. Plus it brings much fun watching six figure system owners sit there ashen faced after a few minutes realising that they have been steered down the wrong pathway. We all have our vices Dave
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Post by antonio on Aug 20, 2023 15:35:24 GMT
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Post by hifinutt on Sept 4, 2023 16:37:29 GMT
the great thing about the psaudio units is they are icepower class d . Bel canto changed from icepower sadly to hypex class D . As you may know i am a huge fan of bel canto but not that decision !!! comments like this are very common As I mentioned in another recent thread on class D amps, my experience with Hypex based class D amps is that, whilst they might be relatively inexpensive, they are not very reliable. I have used five Hypex based mono block amps over the last few years and all of them have suffered from power supply failures. They were all fixed by having the PSU boards replaced. I have since sold two of them and, out the remaining three, one suffered a repeat of the same PSU failure, another just stopped working and only the third is still working correctly. The two I sold, I believe, are still working.
pinkfishmedia.net/forum/threads/class-d-amplification-and-reliability.263339/
to my mind the m1200 is best upgrade
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Post by misterc on Sept 4, 2023 16:51:06 GMT
Not wishing to comment to much on this, PSU and module failure from Ncores is way higher than ICE powers imho
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