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Post by MartinT on Jan 12, 2015 21:40:05 GMT
If you remember some time ago I reviewed my son's pro amp just for the fun of it and found it to be surprisingly capable. It was a Carvin DCM200L, I have now recalled. I did write a review of it on AoS here (still undeleted, remarkably).
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2015 6:36:32 GMT
That amp just shows what rip off prices we have to endure on hi-fi equipment. Of course if it had a nice toroidal power supply the price would be bumped up a bit but still far cheaper than equivalent amps aimed at the hi-fi market. I see you remain as a guest on AOS - surprised Murco hasn't banned you in retaliation as he did with me after I clashed with him on this forum - long after I resigned !
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Post by MartinT on Jan 13, 2015 7:11:40 GMT
Being a guest on AoS means I am banned. Not that I cared to login even before Marco excommunicated me.
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Post by jandl100 on Jan 16, 2015 7:01:00 GMT
Interesting (?) update on the Crown XLS 150 amp (my most recent purchase).
To paraphrase my verdict previously - "close but no cigar", aka "pretty damn good, but not up with the very best I have heard" - well, I have now received a pair of very nice balanced silver interconnects courtesy of eBay, and using an all balanced chain - W4S DAC > Restek preamp > Crown XLS 150 - has rather raised the game of the whole thing. There seems to be more rez and immediacy (which it has to be said is not everyone's cup'o'char, but I likes it!).
My feeling is that the Crown is happier with a balanced input. Whether or not the Crown is a true balanced design I have no idea. Only a few hours on it so far, but it has most definitely earned further listening.
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Post by John on Jan 16, 2015 7:15:18 GMT
It makes sense as it is pro gear so would probably designed to work with balanced cables
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Post by MartinT on Jan 16, 2015 7:49:25 GMT
using an all balanced chain - DAC > Restek preamp > Crown XLS 150 - has rather raised the game of the whole thing. There seems to be more rez and immediacy (which it has to be said is not everyone's cup'o'char, but I likes it!). Agreed, I always advocate using balanced connection right through the system where components allow for it, especially if they are properly balanced designs internally. I far prefer balanced mode which, as you say, has greater resolution and impact.
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Post by jandl100 on Jan 16, 2015 7:59:13 GMT
Hmm - yes, I've not been a fan of balanced connection before. I must try my W4S DAC1 into my NAD S300 integrated amp with a good balanced cable, I haven't done so up till now.
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Post by jandl100 on Jan 19, 2015 8:04:02 GMT
You wanted updates, didn't you? Well, with my lovely and excellent NAD S300 semi-behemoth amp available at the easy switch of some cables, it's 3 days later and much music has been played and I am still using the Crown amp. And really enjoying it! It's actually quite difficult to get analytic and nerdy about it, and get off on a stream of comments about 3D imaging and transient palpability. It just plays music very enjoyably across a wide range of musical genres, I could happily live with the little blingy beast for the long term if I had to. Of course, I don't have to and I am sure my inner boxswapper will come out of hiding sometime soon!
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Post by MartinT on Jan 19, 2015 8:40:22 GMT
It does suggest though, as with the little Carvin that I tried out, that there are some potential rich pickings for someone who wants some serious welly and drive in their system while not losing out on SQ and not able to pay the several £k usually required.
By the way, should that model number be Crown XLS-1500 as I cannot find a 150 in their model range?
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Post by jandl100 on Jan 19, 2015 9:26:20 GMT
Oops - yes XLS 1500
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Post by jandl100 on Jan 27, 2015 6:33:12 GMT
Hmm. This is a bit of a puzzler. An eBay purchase from a few weeks ago. I first put the auction on my Watch list as I thought from the name that it was a MC cartridge. GAS - Great American Sound - a bit of an iconic blast from the past for me. Used to read about the brand in the old US hifi mags. Founded back in 1977 by (some would say the legendary) James Bongiorno. Well known for their amps, one of which was called Ampzilla, another Son of Ampzilla !! And also a moving coil cartridge called Sleeping Beauty - which the eBay item turned out not to be! Interesting site here - www.davidsaudio.com/html/gas_line.htmlInstead, what I won was this .... .... here set up and installed in my AT-1010 arm. It's a GAS 2-MF. Which Google searching the various forums turns out to be a re-badged Micro Seiki LF 7E mm cart! ... so back to the puzzler bit from above ... how on earth can this mm cart sound so bloody good?! I've owned dozens of cartridges in my time, up to a £K or so's worth of moving coil Dynavector. Having tried quite a few mm-type carts in the past (e.g. Goldring 1042, Nag MP30, Grado Statement, Shure V15iii etc etc ...) I'd unhesitatingly call myself a moving coil kind of guy! But this GAS / Micro Seiki mm cart has me revising my views in no small way. I could live with this - in fact, I am! Of course, box-swapper that I am , I now cannot leave the thought alone and it's made me wonder about whether other mm carts might also float my boat. So 2 more, well respected, are on their way Jerry-wards as I type.
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Post by MartinT on Jan 27, 2015 9:49:19 GMT
Nice find, Jerry. I've heard of the Ampzilla but never associated it with GAS. A rebadged Micro Seiki is always going to be of interest, sounds like you've found a cracker there! Do you know how many hours it has on it? Stylus still available?
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Post by jandl100 on Jan 28, 2015 7:47:44 GMT
No, no idea of hours, but it sounds good, looks good and tracks well so I guess there's a fair amount of life left in it yet. I've yet to properly research the new stylus options, if any, but an initial Google search doesn't find anything useful.
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Post by jandl100 on Feb 3, 2015 7:04:14 GMT
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Post by ChrisB on Feb 3, 2015 7:16:41 GMT
Never heard of it - looks interesting!
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Post by MartinT on Feb 3, 2015 9:37:42 GMT
I have a low-mileage Shure V15iii on its way - that's been an itch I've wanted to scratch for quite a while. Me too, will be interested in how you find it.
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Post by MikeMusic on Feb 3, 2015 15:30:20 GMT
Had a Shure a very long time ago. Think it might have been in an SME on my Fons
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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2015 8:58:24 GMT
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Post by julesd68 on Feb 4, 2015 16:23:55 GMT
You're getting through some very interesting gear there Jerry. I'd be interested to know what prompted your vinyl renaissance ...
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Post by jandl100 on Feb 4, 2015 16:31:28 GMT
You're getting through some very interesting gear there Jerry. I'd be interested to know what prompted your vinyl renaissance ... ... a treasure trove of charity shop mint classical vinyl.
Luckily it started to turn up before I managed to sell my LP rig!
Must be 50%+ LP listening at the moment.
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