The second arrival was this:




Very nicely put together and gorgeous to use. So far all I have discovered is that it and the Neat Petites aren't exactly bosom buddies. Neats aren't my main speakers though and I am willing to try other speakers to get the best out of it. Anyone have any experience? I know some have used it with Harbeth P3s but they aren't something I could live with: A Bit too "Werthers Original" for me.

With the Neats, it kinda reminds me of a Muse TA2021 T Amp I had a while back, so I'm sensing a mismatch. petite 1s are either singing or they aren't so it's often a coin-toss with any given amp IME.

Yep, I'm over "Exposed". I actually bought my second IV ( the one with the Mozzie buzz) to bi-amp with. On receiving it, I found out it's an odd-ball that doesn't use phono sockets so I ended up buying a third just to try bi-amping. Not sure how I ended up with two Exposure X though. I just love playing around with all their stuff.

The early 3/4 combo definitely betters the later ones though. The 3 is s far better preamp than the 7 in my experience, but this very early power amp (with frame transformer) just seems more powerful and more agile than my Dual 4. Then there's the cool "aubergine" coloured casework. Definitely a keeper.

There appear to be a few Exposure loving contributors to the various forums. They aren't the only amps I love but I seem to keep returning to them. Not the clearest or most 3D holographic amps around, but for conjuring up palpable living, breathing, flesh and blood musicians, I can't fault them.

Yeah I've traded with Cliffyboy before on a couple of occasions and also exchanged a few messages. Really nice bloke and makes me seem like a lightweight. I hope he's still around because he is both helpful and a great source of knowledge.

I'm genuinely amazed that the Farlowe stuff hasn't become as cache as the Nait 1 and 2 or LS3/5As. It 's iconically styled, incredibly built and truly musically rewarding. it's also pretty rare and John Farlowe has become a bit of a legend. I feel that the day is coming when his products get the recognition they deserve. Anything I can do to encourage music lovers to at least hear his creations is my pleasure.

I think that's the usual arrangement.  The tape output is usually straight through - you will probably be able to use it for taping even if the pre is switched off.  I realise that's not what you want it for, but it illustrates the point.  
I have been bi-amping for a very long time and I use a little box that I made up to split the pre out signal.  It has one pair of inputs and four pairs of outputs, so is essentially the same as a doubled up version of your 2:4 splitter cable.  It was originally designed for tri-amping and the spare pair of outputs fed into a headphone amp.  Nowadays, it feeds two stereo Levinson amps for bi-wiring, but is useful for when I fancy a quick swap-over to the Radford STA-15 playing into an alternative set of speakers.

How are you getting on with the Campion, Andrew?

S.

I have had an interesting few days getting to know the Campion. Firstly, I discoved that the CD and Direct inputs are passive and they account for much of my initial dissatisfaction with the amp. Comparing them to the amps active inputs, a limp 7-day-old lettuce and  a fresh, crisp iceberg heart spring to mind. The differnce is large in my system: Far beyond anything I could imagine personal preference overturning, but you never know.

And so to comparing it with other bits I have lying around. I still have the Sugden A21a on loan and it continues to grow on me as it keeps on showing capability and definition that belies a small integrated IME. The Campion is somewhat similar in delivery but not the same and not a match either. The differences are where I feel it falls short of the Sugden. Firstly it has a saccharine quality and it truly is artificially sweet in comparison. It's not massive but it taints the music in the same way stirring a cup of unsweetened tea with a spoon from one full of artificial sweetener does.

Next it's soundstage is more diffuse and imprecise. It's definition less finely etched. It's nice but not precise. Finally it's delivery is softer and carries less impact. If you listen predominantly to soft jazz, I imagine you will like the amp, but try to stir it up and get the blood pumping and you may struggle to raise your heart rate sufficiently.

The up-side is that it's still a capable amp and it's a joy to use, it's beautifully built and it will appeal to those with more "moderate" tastes. If it was a person, it would be Tony Blair. You know you're not getting told the truth, but he's so superficially nice about it, you sometimes get sucked into wanting to believe him. The Sugden in compariison is more like Tony Benn. You may not like what he's telling you, but you don't doubt the capability or sincerity.

And the Exposure? Well it's akin to Arthur Scargill or even John Prescott I guess. Pulls no punches and doesn't pretend to be anything other than a bruiser. It may lack the glossy sheen of the Sonneteer and the detailed focus of the Sugden but it's all heart it's got something you can't educate or rationalise. It's born to play music from its soul.

All three amps are good and I could live with any at a push. My "keeper" amp I feel is yet to come. My former Krell KSA50 probably came closest to my ideal, but I'm sure I can go further. For now, I will continue to enjoy the Exposures and also make the most of the Sugden to memorise the things it excels at in readiness for upgrades after I move house.

Interesting write up. I'm liking the analogy thing happening there!

S.

Describing sound is always hard, but I find it fun to compare hifi to food, people, movies, whatever pops into my head


I think getting new kit is often like getting to know a person. Sometimes the one you looked up to, desired, sought the company of turns out to be a let-down and you're very glad to move on once you've seen them for what they are. Other times, the un-assuming, chance encounters that you held no expectations of turn out to be special. Oops, that's another analogy! Maybe I'm turning into Swiss Toni 

And wrap up well!