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Post by MartinT on Mar 11, 2015 8:17:08 GMT
I found something similar in that the Technics had a 'big blowsy' sound, very infectious but certainly not the last word in detail retrieval or transients. The Ayre, on the other hand, could take your head clean off with its slam.
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Post by jandl100 on Mar 24, 2015 7:26:29 GMT
Yet another fine amp arrives at Jerry Towers.
Is there no end to the things?
I've always wanted to try a Harman Kardon Citation series amp as they have a rep for being rather special. Yep, this one certainly is. Hooked up to my trusty Restek pre-amp, this Harman Kardon power amp has superb rez and the imaging seems to morph from merely good to a 3D Holographic Wonderland after about 30 minutes or so from switch-on. Or maybe it's just been unused for a while and needs to get back into its groove - I have found that sort of thing before. It has a quite distinctive sound - difficult to put into words, but it's very transparent and clean sounding and has a feeling of gutsiness and control even on quiet passages.
See here for spec - www.thevintageknob.org/harman_kardon-Citation_Twelve.html
So I'm now the proud owner of 3 amps I could happily live with for the longer term ... the NAD S300, Rotel RA-1412 and this foot square+ HK Citation 12 beastlet. It's a bit silly, really - but fun! I shall keep them all, at least for now, and ring the amplification changes every now and then.
More amps on the way? -- hmm, the wife is starting to notice the amplification build-up. So I think sanity may need to be re-instated for a while, although an ongoing selloff may help ease the way for future purchases. On the way out - Crown XLS1500, AI Alto, HK PM655Vxi.
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Post by ChrisB on Mar 24, 2015 8:17:04 GMT
That's a nice move Jerry! I just read in the V. Knob that there was a kit version too. I really didn't know that h/k made kits. Can you tell whether yours is factory built or not?
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Post by MartinT on Mar 24, 2015 10:38:33 GMT
Ooh yes, Citations certainly had a good rep. Is there a serial number on it, may indicate that it was factory built?
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Post by MartinT on Mar 24, 2015 10:50:39 GMT
Hah! Now then, quasi-complementary circuits came into being when NPN silicon power transistors were much more commonplace and cheaper than PNP ones. So quasi-complementary means using NPN transistors in both the push and pull halves of the circuit, with some compensation to get the thing to work in a symmetrical fashion. The well-known Linsley-Hood 75W circuit was like this, using BDY56 transistors and close to the HK for output power, and sounded very good indeed. Marketing it as 'insuring absolute balance and symmetry' is pushing things a bit, though!
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Post by julesd68 on Mar 24, 2015 12:44:52 GMT
That HK looks the business I must say - never seen one before let alone heard one!
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Post by MikeMusic on Mar 24, 2015 13:06:13 GMT
I bought this monster a few months ago - Rotel RA1412 - 'untested' on eBay, so of course it didn't work. That could have been mine !
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Post by jandl100 on Mar 24, 2015 15:09:20 GMT
Ooh yes, Citations certainly had a good rep. Is there a serial number on it, may indicate that it was factory built? Yes, there is an official looking serial number.
Very pleased with it and still using it - I'll get it checked out by my hifi doc sometime.
__
Mike: re: the big Rotel - I got it on eBay as 'untested' allegedly from an office clearance, I seem to recall.
I'm really surprised at how good it sounds now that I've had it fixed! - a trifle laid back and not as incisive as some of my fave amps - but a really fine alternative every now & then. It's hard to criticise, really, a very musical performer. I'll be taking it along as one of my amp dem offerings at Scalford this coming Sunday - the other amp will be my NAD S300.
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Post by MikeMusic on Mar 24, 2015 15:24:24 GMT
The Rotel was what I had before Naim 32, HiCap and 250. Considering the difference in price it was very good indeed. Helped buying the Rotel through Rank Audio Visual at staff price of course
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Post by jandl100 on Mar 30, 2015 12:01:16 GMT
Latest addition to my vintage collection, with many many thanks to a generous and kind Wammer JVC JRS200mk2 receiver. Simply perfect visual design, imo. Love it And all together now ....
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Post by MartinT on Mar 30, 2015 14:42:29 GMT
Those Marantz components look gorgeous.
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Post by ChrisB on Mar 30, 2015 17:27:50 GMT
Slider alert! Ha! I beg to differ (yuk!) I've never heard one of those, but I reckon it probably sounds a lot better than (I think) it looks.
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Post by jandl100 on Mar 31, 2015 5:59:39 GMT
Coo - some people have no taste at all!
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Post by jandl100 on Mar 31, 2015 6:04:34 GMT
I played the Rotel with my Techie SL-P1200 cdp at the Scalford show last Sunday as my 'vintage option' front end. It sounded rather good, although lacking some of the rez, grip and control of my big NAD and W4S DAC1. Very nice in its way, though. Great on The Carpenters' Goodbye to Love. Great fun, a lot of double-takes on the vintage gear as people walked into the dem room.
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Post by ChrisB on Mar 31, 2015 6:34:10 GMT
Which speakers were you using Jerry?
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Post by jandl100 on Mar 31, 2015 7:00:57 GMT
They are a DIY design by Matt (fatmarley on the forums).
He PMed me 'out of the blue' a few months back - "hi jerry, you don't know me but I've designed and made a pair of speakers I think are good, I'd like your honest opinion of them, can I bring them round?". DIY speakers ... ... OK, bring them round, if you really want an honest opinion ...
I was blown away - seriously good in a hi-energy kind of way. We agreed to dem at Scalford with my electronics - and it went really well - lots of positive comments at the show and on the Wigwam post-show. Matt's got a touch of genius imho - but he's a really humble guy who didn't want to front the dem.
See 2nd post on this AOS thread - the 2-ways in red. theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?37682-First-visit-to-Scalford
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Post by jandl100 on Mar 31, 2015 7:07:31 GMT
... I would, of course, really like to take my MBLs to Scalford - but I don't have the original boxes (disintegrated in my slightly damp garage after 3 years ) and I'm just not prepared to risk it, what with the delicate radialstrahler driver gubbins on the top.
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Post by ChrisB on Mar 31, 2015 13:22:48 GMT
They sound as though they might be special.
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Post by MartinT on Apr 1, 2015 13:54:17 GMT
I'm still looking for an opening to come up and hear them, Jerry.
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Post by jandl100 on Apr 3, 2015 7:08:05 GMT
I'm still looking for an opening to come up and hear them, Jerry. You would be very welcome, Martin.
Must be getting on for 3 years now since my visit to you?
--- you could bring along your 6D mains cables!
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