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T amps
Feb 5, 2015 16:28:10 GMT
Post by John on Feb 5, 2015 16:28:10 GMT
Glad you better Been also off with Manflu
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T amps
Feb 5, 2015 16:46:09 GMT
Post by istari_knight on Feb 5, 2015 16:46:09 GMT
As am I, horrible 'innit ?! ... I've been advised by Dr. Brian that I need to self medicate with whisky which I shall follow to the letter  |
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T amps
Feb 5, 2015 16:53:35 GMT
Post by brian2957 on Feb 5, 2015 16:53:35 GMT
Been off with manflu for a few days  Glad to hear the PSU didn't embarrass itself ! On the contrary James the PSU proved to be very good indeed and seems to work really well with the Mini-1 . It's also adjustable via a potentiometer inside the casing and I was using it set at 13.5V with the Mini-1 . Gaz was over today as Stan had delivered his Capella headphone amp to me ( thanks for the great service once again Stan ) which was to be used with the Mini-1 as an active preamp . We listened to the Mini-1 with the PSU first www.ebay.co.uk/itm/30W-DC12V-HiFi-Linear-power-supply-Regulated-PSU-for-DAC-headphone-amp-CL-215-/111544612626?pt=UK_Sound_Vision_Amplifier_Parts&hash=item19f893b712 and my system sounded very good indeed . I could easily have lived with this . We then plugged the Capella into the system and were both taken aback at the SQ . The Capella had taken the Mini-1 into another league altogether . Bass was deep , tighter and more tuneful . Treble was sweet and very natural and the mids were open and natural. IMO this is an excellent combination of components which seem to work very well with each other. Lastly , we removed the internal jumpers in the Mini-1 and turned it into a power amp . We were then rewarded with a small but very audible improvement in SQ . All in all a very interesting morning with some pleasant surprises. |
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T amps
Feb 6, 2015 10:25:28 GMT
Post by tony on Feb 6, 2015 10:25:28 GMT
Im happy that worked out brian. Was wondering if it was just synergy with my set up. Wonder if battery power for the mini and capella would change things?
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T amps
Feb 6, 2015 10:44:28 GMT
Post by brian2957 on Feb 6, 2015 10:44:28 GMT
Worth trying again mate . However , I already tried the Amptastic with a 12v car battery and IMHO the PSU is much better . Got a nice little boost in SQ when we turned the Amptastic into a power amp by removing the internal links BTW  |
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T amps
Feb 6, 2015 12:02:37 GMT
Post by istari_knight on Feb 6, 2015 12:02:37 GMT
What mini-t have you got Brian ? Mk.I or II ? Used to have the MK.I myself... Just looking at the II on google image search & they appear to have used air-core output inductors which goes against collective wisdom, I can't see why they would do that other than to try & give it more of a "signature sound".
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T amps
Feb 6, 2015 13:12:40 GMT
Post by brian2957 on Feb 6, 2015 13:12:40 GMT
I have the MK2 James , otherwise known as the Mini-1 . I've had an SMSL SA3 T-amp , the original Amptastic amp , which was bettered by a Bantam Gold , and I've had the Bantam monoblocks in my system . The Mini-1 has stayed because IMO ( and in my system ) it bettered all of these . The Chinese PSU further improves on what is already a very good little amp . When the Capella is added as a preamp it's so good that it isn't even in the same ' ball park ' . All in my ( and Garys ) opinion BTW . We also came to the same conclusion when this combination was used in his system and then mine . I think Tony may well agree with me here .
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T amps
Feb 6, 2015 13:32:32 GMT
Post by istari_knight on Feb 6, 2015 13:32:32 GMT
I trust your ears Brian - I may have to get my hands on one of the little blighters. As I say, everyone, everywhere, ever has said air-core's are a no no in the TA-2020 circuit as they behave as antennas and are poor for DCR & damping unless they use heavy gauge wire & are shielded which they never are in T-amps... As such I've not bothered to try any that use air-core's but will do so now.
Anyone know whats going on with the Amptastic website ? No listings in their eBay shop either.
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T amps
Feb 6, 2015 13:32:58 GMT
Post by John on Feb 6, 2015 13:32:58 GMT
I had all 3 amps in my system I also have a preference for the Mini 1 over the other combinations
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T amps
Feb 6, 2015 13:45:23 GMT
Post by Greg on Feb 6, 2015 13:45:23 GMT
Anyone know whats going on with the Amptastic website ? No listings in their eBay shop either. Apparently the website is in the process of being upgraded but is behind schedule. Click on 'contact us' and send an email to Chris who should respond promptly. They have no stock at present but will have several hundred to sell by the middle of February. They are taking pre-orders at the moment. |
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T amps
Feb 6, 2015 13:48:46 GMT
Post by istari_knight on Feb 6, 2015 13:48:46 GMT
I had all 3 amps in my system I also have a preference for the Mini 1 over the other combinations Well I'm going to have to try one, my curiosity is sufficiently piqued |
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T amps
Feb 6, 2015 13:49:36 GMT
Post by istari_knight on Feb 6, 2015 13:49:36 GMT
Anyone know whats going on with the Amptastic website ? No listings in their eBay shop either. Apparently the website is in the process of being upgraded but is behind schedule. Click on 'contact us' and send an email to Chris who should respond promptly. They have no stock at present but will have several hundred to sell by the middle of February. They are taking pre-orders at the moment. Superb, just what I needed to know thanks. |
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T amps
Feb 6, 2015 14:16:54 GMT
Post by brian2957 on Feb 6, 2015 14:16:54 GMT
Unfortunately Gary has mine at the moment or I would send it down .
This is a very good amp in its own right guys . However , big improvements can be had by using the Chinese PSU . Put the Capella in front of it and it's a totally different beast .
You have PM James .
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T amps
Feb 6, 2015 17:50:06 GMT
Post by Greg on Feb 6, 2015 17:50:06 GMT
Unfortunately Gary has mine at the moment or I would send it down . This is a very good amp in its own right guys . However , big improvements can be had by using the Chinese PSU . Put the Capella in front of it and it's a totally different beast . You have PM James . Regarding the PSU, this is an extract from an Amptastic email I received. Chris @ Amptastic.com SALES P.s. All new orders will come complete with our new 13.5v Amptastic Audio Low Noise SMPSU which aims to better the older 12v unit  |
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T amps
Feb 6, 2015 17:56:27 GMT
Post by istari_knight on Feb 6, 2015 17:56:27 GMT
Well I'll stick an order in for one & see how it goes... I've ordered the tranny for power supply experiments, should be interesting to compare regulated linear vs. unregulated CRC linear vs. SMPS.
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T amps
Feb 6, 2015 18:36:05 GMT
Post by brian2957 on Feb 6, 2015 18:36:05 GMT
That looks interesting Greg . I bought mine 2nd hand without a PSU and used it with a 12V car battery and a Maplins PSU . Please keep us posted when you get it if you don't mind .
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T amps
Feb 6, 2015 18:59:40 GMT
Post by John on Feb 6, 2015 18:59:40 GMT
The old PSU was okay but using battery beat it. Be interesting how the new PSU performs
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T amps
Feb 6, 2015 23:57:21 GMT
Post by Greg on Feb 6, 2015 23:57:21 GMT
Yep, I'll supply an update when I have them and had some time for burn in and have a good listen. I have to say that I will be surprised if the new SMPS, albeit a super audio version, will be able to compete with a good quality regulated linear PSU. I have a plan starting to form in my head. Assuming after I have trialed the Mini - 1's, I decide they are keepers, it seems to me the wiring for bi-amping, incorporating a separate selector switch for at least two inputs etc is all going to be a bit Heath Robinson not to mention the use of the single input Capella as the preamp. There is a lot to think through but I'm considering if I bought a Modushops chassis www.modushop.biz/ecommerce/index_l2.php , I could use it to incorporate the internals of the Capella, the two Amptasic boards, an input selector switch with RCA sockets and a linear power supply. As said, it's early days as the idea has just come to me, but I do think it would be doable with a bit of R&D. Maybe I could even find a way of squeezing in the Caiman MkII DAC as well  as said, all needs to be thought through thoroughly, not in the least being the wisdom or not of putting all these items in one chassis. |
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T amps
Feb 7, 2015 2:01:35 GMT
Post by tony on Feb 7, 2015 2:01:35 GMT
I thought the mini 1/Capella sounded better on battery than it did on maplins psu at my place BUT both Gary and Brian preferred the psu.We didnt have Brians new psu to try. My set up has been off the grid for ages so switching back to mains came as a surprise to me-what I would describe as hash or softening of the sound the lads interpreted as weight and warmth/emotion.
I lean towards a colder more clinical presentation-as such my devotion to the temple monos.
I have plumbed a tisbury pre in front of the Capella to let me switch from valves-t amps (run the Capella wide open using the tissie pot) sounds pretty good to my ears.
bought a pair of DC splitters-Im going to wire up two temple monos per speaker.....hopefully no majik smoke will appear!!!! Ive quad amped them in the past with speakers that could take two sets of cable for bi amping but will try doubling up in the same way I was doing with the mini ts.
No substitute for cubes!!!
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T amps
Feb 7, 2015 7:46:09 GMT
Post by John on Feb 7, 2015 7:46:09 GMT
On the Mini 1 the boards are connected via a pin arrangement to the sockets this will make it difficult to run the connections
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as said, all needs to be thought through thoroughly, not in the least being the wisdom or not of putting all these items in one chassis.