Audio Experience A2E

Handymann
I have always been told that Krell and tube preamps are very hard to match because of the impedance differences.
The AudioSymphonies gear especially if you buy it from China is a high risk item. Consumers should note that buying any gear from China is risky because most of their products power supplies don't meet U.S. requirements. I owned one and I had to have the power supply rebuilt. It is warm sounding (very colored) but does not have the resolution of say a better made Hybrid preamp. For example the VanAlstine is a pretty good sounding preamp and blows everthing I have heard from China away below the $4,000 mark. I own a much older VanAlstine Super PAS 3si. But I'm using all tube gear and it is very resolving. I don't want to say all Chinese gear but, I'm speaking of items without a distributor in the U.S.

Check out the Absolute Sounds review of the Dussan 99 (I think is the model) integrated amp. They talk about the same issue. There is huge difference in sound quality if the power supply is not implemented correctly.
That's just my 2 cents worth.

Toma

I think, you are falsehood.
I have NOT any your bought record.

Dear Ponnie.
I think , you never have my product.
My product is design for working at USA.

Dear Handymann.

Please see following link , there have some BALANCED A2-SE owner:

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?aamps&1232995044&read&keyw&zzaudio+experience

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?vdone&1122320232&read&keyw&zzys%20audio

Thank you.
Chui Chi Wai.

I recently picked up a 'pre loved' Audio Experience A2 SE and think it is a remarkable product for very little cash. My previous tubed preamp was single ended only so for a small outlay I thought I'd insert the A2 SE in my system and make use of the balanced inputs/outputs on my Chord DAC64 & Gamut D200 for the first time since I'd owned them. My reasoning was that if it sounded worse I'd sell it on and maintain the status quo but if it performed similarly to my existing (and more expensive!) pre, then I'd keep it, sell the incumbent and pocket the difference thank you very much.
I don't know how much of the leap in performance is down to now running my other components from their XLRs rather than RCA connections and how much is attributable to synergy and the Audio Experience A2 SE itself but MY system has never sounded so good. The soundstage has broadened and deepened, detailing is all as it should be and I'm finding that it responds to some tube rolling should you wish to go down that route. Usefully for your monoblocks it also has two ouputs.
Build quality is good but you won't mistake it for a Krell etc. and though it may be the cheapest component in my system, it is certainly not outclassed sonically. I have owned preamps that cost 3 and 4 times what this sells for and none of them gave me this much pleasure.
In a nutshell then I'm really enjoying mine and think its an absolute steal even at the full retail price...I'm certainly keeping mine for the foreseeable.

I should qualify the above by saying that the guy I bought it off thought it sounded better when using the balanced connections, as this is all I have used I couldn't comment on the single ended operation.

Mghf
Thanks for getting back to me. I wanted to ask what kind of tubes you are running in your A2? How long do you let it warm up, guess you don't know how long it took to break-in, but have you noticed an improvement in performance since you've had it (how long have you had it?), or has it "leveled" out. Also, how long do your tubes last, or have you had it long enough to know? I would like to know anything else you can tell me. Guess you can see all the different opinions of the A2-SE. It's very interesting. I'm really leaning toward this purchase and glad to see a positive comment. "Nelson" Kwi Chang Kane or what ever his name is (the owner of YS Audio) says the SE's components are much better than the standard A2, but it is $500 more. Thanks

By the way, "Nelson" was very patient and informative. He e-mailed me direct and was very cordial. It's good to talk with someone who really believes in their product. I look forward to doing business with him if i make the plunge.