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Post by MartinT on Dec 11, 2019 11:59:25 GMT
That Nobsound is a very nice looking unit. I like attention to detail internally.
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Post by Eduardo Wobblechops on Dec 11, 2019 12:35:13 GMT
Yes, looks well made.
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Post by jandl100 on Dec 18, 2019 14:15:52 GMT
Arrived this morning ... An Apart Champ 2 power amp - solid state, 'class G'. 120wpc. A Belgian pro audio company - but this is from their 'audiophile' range. Sounding very clean, clear, controlled and powerful. I've previously owned the 300wpc Champ 1 which I liked. From memory, the Champ 2 sounds better; higher rez and faster.
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Post by julesd68 on Dec 18, 2019 14:50:38 GMT
Nice one Jerry ... never heard of that outfit before!
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Post by jandl100 on Dec 20, 2019 16:48:29 GMT
Ooooo, new DAC. Chord 2Qute with a Teddy Pardo PSU. ... which necessitated the re-introduction of my Chinese RVC passive preamp, as I had been using the volume control on the Audiobyte DAC. I tried the 2Qute with its standard wallwart PSU first, then onto the Teddy. It's obviously a significant upgrade, despite some of the tosh you can read on t'internet. A keeper, better than the excellent Audiobyte? Time will tell, it's certainly interestingly different.
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Post by MartinT on Dec 20, 2019 17:07:18 GMT
Interesting. The 2Qute/Qutest have their adherents, different I think from the Hugo and Dave. The latter, without the mScaler, can strip paint at 100m in my opinion.
...meant to say, a difficult comparison as you are using different volume strategies.
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Post by jandl100 on Dec 20, 2019 17:27:02 GMT
Interesting. The 2Qute/Qutest have their adherents, different I think from the Hugo and Dave. The latter, without the mScaler, can strip paint at 100m in my opinion. ...meant to say, a difficult comparison as you are using different volume strategies. Agreed, the two setups aren't really comparable. I don't want to get drawn into the active preamp game again. As Jules knows, that passive pre is very transparent, and with the MF buffer it's like having a proppa preamp anyway. The sound is very far from stripping paint, thankfully. I read somewhere that the 2Qute is the mains powered version of the Hugo mk1. And I've had a Hugo1 and enjoyed it, while the Hugo2 is the epitome of the classic Chord amusical sterile presentation, I hated it. Mmmm, playing some Rossini chamber music atm - indubitably yummy.
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Post by John on Dec 21, 2019 7:45:47 GMT
I heard the Quietest with a Temple audio supercharger and that sounds good IMO
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Post by jandl100 on Dec 21, 2019 7:56:21 GMT
There was a bit of an online debate, with some preferring the Qutest and others the cheaper 2Qute saying it was livelier. I've only heard the Qutest in someone else's system, so can't really compare. That system certainly good.
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Post by julesd68 on Dec 21, 2019 16:29:36 GMT
Do you prefer the Chinese pre with the buffer now Jerry?
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Post by jandl100 on Dec 21, 2019 16:40:11 GMT
Do you prefer the Chinese pre with the buffer now Jerry? I've not yet tried it without the buffer, Jules, I shall do so sometime soon. The cabling was already in place so I just left it.
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Post by julesd68 on Dec 21, 2019 17:00:10 GMT
Cool, I'm interested to see how you describe the difference in sound ...
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Post by jandl100 on Dec 21, 2019 19:13:11 GMT
Chord 2Qute + RVC stepped attenuator v Audiobyte Black Dragon.
I can tell you already that I really like both DACs.
The Chord has necessitated an interconnect change as it is a little feistier up top than the Audiobyte, so I have swapped out the hyper-explicit Epiphany Acoustics Atratus 3 for some rather smoother Merrow Audio MA4 cables. Massed vioins no longer have an unpleasant sting when playing loudly through the Chord.
Reading reviews of the Audiobyte, it is common to see it described as being a little on the smooth and easy going side, so the Chord may not be bright, but perhaps just neutral.
The Chord has a somewhat richer and fruitier midband, almost a golden glow, which is great on winds and brass, if perhaps not entirely accurate!
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Post by jandl100 on Dec 25, 2019 7:04:14 GMT
I've gone back to a minimum box count configuration for a while - Audiobyte DAC straight into my Apart power amp. There is something about a minimalist system that works really well. I've a new preamp on the way, hopefully the Xmas post won't slow down delivery too much. ======================================================================== Happy Christmas everyone!
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Post by brian2957 on Dec 25, 2019 7:57:08 GMT
Merry Christmas mate
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Post by MartinT on Dec 25, 2019 13:10:41 GMT
Happy Christmas, Jerry.
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Post by julesd68 on Dec 25, 2019 15:18:03 GMT
Seasons Greetings!
May 2020 be a box-swapping year of legend for you. 😎
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Post by BilliumB on Dec 26, 2019 15:31:43 GMT
Hi Jerry
Did I read somewhere that you were using a TPA3116 amp plus cheap linear power supply in one of your systems? If so, could you please provide a bit of info - supplier, model numbers etc for both amp and power supply.
I’m looking for something cheap and simple, but good quality to power a couple of ceiling speakers in the home cinema setup I’m putting together and something like this would seem a good idea. I’ve got suitable pre-outs on the AV receiver but am short on power amp channels.
Thanks very much.
Cheers. Bill
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Post by MartinT on Dec 26, 2019 15:39:57 GMT
There is something about a minimalist system that works really well. I agree, it's something I've been working on for the last year. Happy Christmas, Jerry.
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Post by jandl100 on Dec 26, 2019 20:21:43 GMT
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