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Post by Sovereign on Jul 23, 2016 22:25:34 GMT
Nice pictures there, this stuff is becoming more and more rare. There was a XIV PRE AND IX PSU on eBay for an awful lot of cash and it sold super quick, that's why I kind of wish I had kept my EXPO gear. I sold it all for A40&A80 NVA monoblock amps, which I loved, I wasn't in a position to keep all of it.
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Post by Sovereign on Jul 23, 2016 22:28:16 GMT
pj, you have some good kit there make sure you hear in your own system before you buy. I would be reluctant to move too quickly from what you have especially to the newer ranges.
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Post by MartinT on Jul 23, 2016 22:28:55 GMT
Good transformers, Holden & Fisher, and Exposure branded reservoir caps, too! Are the power transistor Exposure specials, too? "EXPP 8939"? If they're all the same then the topology is quasi-complimentary.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 23, 2016 23:15:39 GMT
pj, you have some good kit there make sure you hear in your own system before you buy. I would be reluctant to move too quickly from what you have especially to the newer ranges. Oh don't worry I would certainly do so. The designer of the new stuff is quite renound, apparently he was the chief designer at Onix so I'd expect them to be pretty good... I'd also be keen to hear a IVDR (Newest model with the XLR's) but they're as rare as rocking horse pooh and quite expensive considering they're 20+ years old now! |
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Post by markymark on Jul 24, 2016 13:40:09 GMT
Interesting, I was recommended to try it the other way around, i.e. move to the 3020s2 mono power amps first and keep them with the 17 pre until funds permit to buy the the 3020s2 pre. I believe amps are going to be my next upgrade for sure, I think the 17/18 Exposure's are a capable amp combo and worked amazingly well with my Epos speakers, but I think (just a guess really) they struggle to get the best out of the Focal's. Although they more than held their own with an Integrated amp I recently trailed, surisingly so (to me) and which was quite a bit more expensive than the Exposure 3020s2 pre/mono combo which is a reason I'd like to hear them  Those Exposure mono blocks get great reviews. They were a little out of my price range, and while talking with someone about them the 4DR came up in conversation. Luckily, I found one in great shape for an even greater price. I figured better to save the money for a speaker upgrade. They power Epos Elan 15s currently. |
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Post by markymark on Jul 24, 2016 13:46:43 GMT
Good transformers, Holden & Fisher, and Exposure branded reservoir caps, too! Are the power transistor Exposure specials, too? "EXPP 8939"? You guys know your Exposures!  |
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Post by markymark on Jul 24, 2016 13:50:26 GMT
Nice pictures there, this stuff is becoming more and more rare. There was a XIV PRE AND IX PSU on eBay for an awful lot of cash and it sold super quick, that's why I kind of wish I had kept my EXPO gear. I sold it all for A40&A80 NVA monoblock amps, which I loved, I wasn't in a position to keep all of it. There's a nice pair on US Ebay currently - |
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Post by Sovereign on Jul 24, 2016 18:29:19 GMT
And only one day left to bid. The XVII pre is excellent, I had one. But I found the older ones with the external PSU to present a far bigger and 'fleshier' sound. I hear that it was the VII that was the best pre of them all, especially if the whopping IX PSU with it.
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Post by markymark on Jul 25, 2016 19:42:46 GMT
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Post by Sovereign on Jul 25, 2016 21:55:48 GMT
Great find, if it was just the VII pre amp I would be tempted.
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Post by markymark on Jul 26, 2016 18:39:43 GMT
It's fun looking for the Farlowe gear. I wanted to add something to the conversation, and it's the same thing I mentioned to the gentleman that sold me the 4DR. His 4DR and a 3010s2 preamp replaced a relatively new Exposure 2010s2 integrated. At $1500 USD, the 2010s2 is one hell of an amp when compared to the nearly $6000 USD, comparatively, for the 4DR (when new) and the new Exposure preamp. I find myself listening to the 2010s2 more than the main system because it's set-up with my desktop computer, which I spend entirely too much time in front of. Anyway, I can't say enough good things about the hifi bargain the 2010s2 is. A truly great integrated. I'm comparing that -- personal experience -- to the Creek and Rega I owned before it. The 2010s2 is the hands-down winner for me. Which, thankfully, makes it all the more special when I sit down for a session with the 4DR. The welly, weight and character of that amp is truly special.
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Post by yomanze on Jul 28, 2016 12:15:31 GMT
My IV must be very old, it doesn't have any input RCAs, just an umbilical connector from the "III" preamp & speaker outputs. The "III" is a very interesting preamp though, uses cards like the Naim / DNM stuff. It's a very quiet setup, quieter than I was expecting.
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Post by markymark on Aug 1, 2016 18:22:39 GMT
What I'm constantly searching for is an Exposure phono stage, preferably external. I nearly bought a 3010 phono card from a UK dealer ... well, I paid them but they didn't have the card in stock. The website indicated the card was "available" rather than 'In-stock', which in hindsight was somewhat my fault because I didn't ask them and nail that down. I'd happily buy a 3010 card, though. But I'd prefer a Farlowe stand alone phono stage.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2016 7:32:37 GMT
Good transformers, Holden & Fisher, and Exposure branded reservoir caps, too! Are the power transistor Exposure specials, too? "EXPP 8939"? If they're all the same then the topology is quasi-complimentary. I always liked Avel Limburg and Braun & Kerr, I went to visit the transformer company Naim used in Prague, and was extremely impressed with there work and attention to detail like no welded steel strips and well insulated steel band and way over the top for safety spec. Naim chose wisely there. I even design and delivered by hand a bit of test kit that listened to the transformer for lam and wire vibration, a long drive from Somerset. |
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Post by MartinT on Aug 7, 2016 20:33:48 GMT
I even design and delivered by hand a bit of test kit that listened to the transformer for lam and wire vibration, a long drive from Somerset. Now that's dedication! |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2016 5:11:10 GMT
Martin it was worth it I enjoyed my far to brief work with Naim, good lads.
Great work environment bloody good team of lads, wish I joined them year ago, OK the musical sound is not mine but the engineering standards is second to none.
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Post by MartinT on Aug 8, 2016 18:36:21 GMT
That's good to know and I agree, the sound is not for me.
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Post by yomanze on Aug 10, 2016 17:40:35 GMT
Thanks to some nice history & advice from someone have discovered that the Exposure IV's transformer is original, before the switch to the toroidal transformers. Interesting. |
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Post by jazzbones on Aug 10, 2016 18:22:28 GMT
That's good to know and I agree, the sound is not for me.
As a long term user of Naim (classics a little bit of modification) I've heard other kit but always return to what I have. Am I missing something here? |
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Post by MartinT on Aug 11, 2016 6:27:49 GMT
I don't want to get into a war over this, but I think there is a well-known Naim sound and it doesn't suit my preferred presentation.
So, my opinion only: hard edges with great attack but not a lot of harmonic richness. Lack of subtle detail, especially in soundstaging and tiny cues. Lack of 3D depth. Can sound good on rock if punchy is your thing, does not sound good to my ears for classical especially massed voices like choral. Overall cool and somewhat hard balance.
The best lesson for me was listening to Mike's £18k NAP500 versus my (then) £8k Chord SPM-1200E over his Linn Isobariks. It wasn't a subtle difference, the Chord was worlds ahead. I've heard the same thing in every show demo I've ever attended.
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