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T amps
Jan 23, 2015 23:21:04 GMT
Post by tony on Jan 23, 2015 23:21:04 GMT
Had a wee session today at my place. The line up consisted of Temple mono blocks/temple bantum/mini t x 2/mini t -the new one. We had a selection of PSUs/battery power.
They were all fed from a Capella HPA acting as an active pre with a Caiman 2. Speakers were Electric beach Frugel3s.
Brian and Gary provided the critical listening-they call a spade a shovel....very interesting afternoon- as always you think you have a handle on this game and youre thrown a curve ball.
I would be lying if I said any of the set ups were less than good BUT a few WTF moments caught me out.
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T amps
Jan 25, 2015 9:46:41 GMT
Post by Sovereign on Jan 25, 2015 9:46:41 GMT
When I put a T amp in my system I couldn't believe the speed and detail, my open baffles are very efficient at about 97db. I had it as a loan amp while my big NVA fixed. I would like to try one again
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T amps
Jan 25, 2015 10:22:34 GMT
Post by brian2957 on Jan 25, 2015 10:22:34 GMT
IMO the Beresford Capella used as an active preamp takes these into another league .
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T amps
Jan 25, 2015 10:29:26 GMT
Post by tony on Jan 25, 2015 10:29:26 GMT
I cant help but think the sonic isolators made all the difference.....
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T amps
Jan 25, 2015 11:13:21 GMT
via mobile
Post by Sovereign on Jan 25, 2015 11:13:21 GMT
I cant help but think the sonic isolators made all the difference..... What's a sonic isolator? |
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T amps
Jan 25, 2015 11:29:13 GMT
Post by tony on Jan 25, 2015 11:29:13 GMT
I think Gary has pictures....still at the development stage but could transform the Hi fi landscape!!!
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T amps
Jan 26, 2015 13:34:37 GMT
Post by tony on Jan 26, 2015 13:34:37 GMT
Aye OK...my speaker cables were too short we had to suspend the amps on a coffee mug, then a box of porridge pots-thought the porridge sounded more organic!!!
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Post by ChrisB on Jan 26, 2015 17:23:00 GMT
You should try a Rice Krispie box with vinyl, there will be a noise cancelling effect because the snap, crackle and pop is out of phase with the record's surface noise. Win win!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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T amps
Jan 26, 2015 19:32:47 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2015 19:32:47 GMT
My only experience is buying a Muse TA-2021. Firstly it had less ability to drive speakers than I've ever encountered in an amp: Even 6 watters. Secondly it had an innate ability to rub me up the wrong way. It seemed to mis-time every piece of music it was given, making the least of even the most enjoyable tracks. I didn't find a single bar of any music remotely enjoyable. I think it was only £35 or so and I honestly felt it was overpriced.
I have no idea if the Muse is typical of T amps. Very sensitive speakers may help address the low power but I can't see there being a change to the feeling I had that it was just plain "wrong" in the way it presented music, especially timing.
Hopefully one day I will hear a T-Amp that confounds my current experience. I'd never rule it out because hifi has a delightful habit of confounding expectations and producing delightful surprises.
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T amps
Jan 26, 2015 20:11:47 GMT
Post by John on Jan 26, 2015 20:11:47 GMT
Power is a issue for T amps. I not heard the Muse TA 2021 but I am pretty sure a few others have commented on it lack of performance. The Bantam Gold or Monos and Mini 1 can sound pretty good with the right speakers (The monos will allow a wider range of speakers). Addressing issues like power supply and putting in a decent pre helps them both. They have lots of speed and detail and when done right can almost have a valve like quality. They not for everyone but are a very cost effective way to get decent sounds if you have sensitive speakers.
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Deleted
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T amps
Jan 26, 2015 23:31:40 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2015 23:31:40 GMT
I miss the big hifi shows of old. They were an ideal,place to hear a lot of kit. it was often the completely implausible system match ups that fascinated me. Ive seen Internet videos of T amps with Klipsch La Scalas that have sounded wonderful.
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T amps
Jan 27, 2015 1:52:37 GMT
Post by tony on Jan 27, 2015 1:52:37 GMT
We trialled the different amps with an active pre (Beresford Capella) and speakers( Frugel3s). All of them made a lovely sound in my set up-room/cables/music. The original bantum has a lovely valve like quality-the warm side of neutral.
The monos are more solid state like with plenty of drive and a very accurate revealing nature that is perhaps less forgiving.
The new mini t was run with a big maplins psu and combined the attributes with a lovely natural presentation, I prefered it on battery power but Brian and Gary swayed towards the Psu.
I bi-amped two original mini ts that sounded marvellous on their 5amp psus.
We all agreed the extra grunt made a noticeable difference.
t amps are bang for buck majik-I have run conventional speakers and statics with them with a passive pre without a problem.
Horses for courses!!
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T amps
Jan 27, 2015 23:18:12 GMT
Post by istari_knight on Jan 27, 2015 23:18:12 GMT
IIRC both TA-2020 & TA-2021 IC's are internally identical, the only difference is the package [chip shape]. Differences in perceived sound will most likely be caused by external components in the amp, for example some of the "Muse" models use air-core output inductors which the circuit is not designed for thus colouring the sound... Quality of input caps & potentiometer also have a huge effect on the sound - All areas the Chinese models skimp on but the likes of Bantham & Amptastic don't. All IME anyway  |
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T amps
Jan 28, 2015 8:03:47 GMT
Post by gazjam on Jan 28, 2015 8:03:47 GMT
Tony, Had your Behringer A500 plumbed in, had family stuff to deal with this last week while so not had the opportunity really to do anything other than have a quick listen and comparison between that and the new Mini 1 T-Amp. More time yesterday so listened to an hour or so of the Behringer tinkling away, the I swapped over to the T-Amp. Whilst not having the same grunt as the Begrunger (but it too bad honestly, I could live with it) the mid and top end had a more realistic, less mechanical quality to it. Reminded me of my valve amp actually, just without that organic quality you get with valves. Prefer the Mini T by quite a bit now Ive had a chance to properly listen, Brian has a quality PSU on the way which I can try with it, which should improve things further. At the moment I'm powering it from a Maplins linear CB radio supply set to 14v. Pics to come of Tony's unique isolation system and some "interesting" cable hookups in his bi amp setup. (sorry Tony) |
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T amps
Jan 28, 2015 12:38:06 GMT
Post by tony on Jan 28, 2015 12:38:06 GMT
Nae bother....the big bearginger is a bit of a growler but no great shakes when it comes to finesse. It will be interesting to find out what difference a top notch pre makes in front of the mini t....you going to remove the bars and run it as a power amp?
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T amps
Jan 28, 2015 14:44:47 GMT
Post by gazjam on Jan 28, 2015 14:44:47 GMT
Have the Mini 1 T-Amp on long term loan from Brian until my 300B power amp is ready. I'll be running it just as an integrated, though if its easy to convert it to a power amp it might be interesting to hear it hooked up to a Beresford Capella running as a pre? Brian has a super dooper power supply on the way for it, I'll be plumbing it into my setup at home. Was quite surprised how good Stans Capella sounded hooked up to the two Mini-T's? As a stand in pre-amp with my 300B power, until I can arrange summit more substantial (valve based  )... it sounds like it'll be perfect. Subject for the next board meeting at mine maybe? |
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T amps
Jan 28, 2015 16:20:26 GMT
Post by brian2957 on Jan 28, 2015 16:20:26 GMT
James ( isitari knight ) has now sent the PSU , which he has kindly optimized , back to me and the only thing left is to hook it up to the Amptastic Mini-1. Hopefully catch you this weekend buddy . |
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T amps
Jan 28, 2015 18:00:56 GMT
Post by gazjam on Jan 28, 2015 18:00:56 GMT
Good stuff Brian, thanks.
Free this weekend your shifts permitting.
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T amps
Jan 28, 2015 18:03:32 GMT
Post by John on Jan 28, 2015 18:03:32 GMT
James is really good and knows his stuff I am sure what he has done will improve things
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T amps
Jan 28, 2015 18:20:54 GMT
Post by istari_knight on Jan 28, 2015 18:20:54 GMT
James is really good and knows his stuff I am sure what he has done will improve things Thanks John Its a nice little PSU & should be a marked improvement over the standard SMPS... That said, I'm operating a "continuous Improvement Program" [  ] so will continue playing with different ideas as I'm certain there is more performance to be squeezed out. Got an interesting PCB incoming which I'll be pairing with what can only be described as overkill components. The initial goal is to approach Hynes level quality at significantly reduced outlay. |
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)... it sounds like it'll be perfect.
] so will continue playing with different ideas as I'm certain there is more performance to be squeezed out. Got an interesting PCB incoming which I'll be pairing with what can only be described as overkill components. The initial goal is to approach Hynes level quality at significantly reduced outlay.