2. amps-preamps
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Subtlety ? do any American amps do it?

Not heard that many but it strikes me that everything from the colonies sounds a bit stark and bleached. Spent a year trying to come to terms with a Pass Labs which is vastly overated ( and I mean vastly), listened a lot
to Mark Levinson and thought Thank God I did not spend a fortune on that - clean, clear, hifi and so bereft of soul that it was like a visit to the Dentist !
I'm not that biased, it's taken Naim years to make something resembling music - PRAT ? until recently bunch of narrow minded PRATS.I know lots of Naim fans and their mindset belongs to the third reich !
UK companies like Meridian and Musical Fidelity have managed to do the bizz for at least 30 years that I've known/used and they still manage to make a noise that at least resembles real music. MF get tarred with a do it cheap brush but anyone who has heard their gear and says it's crap is probably a dealer who wants to sell you something at 3/4x the price.
The Brazilians do it a treat - Heard Audiopax 88s at the last Edinburgh show and if anyone there had ears, they should have packed up and went home - different league does not describe it.
Realise this is antagonistic but want some input.
Even the UK press seems blinkered to the crap - Pass, Krell
- whoah, nice hifi, shame there's nothing remotely musical involved, apart from the laughter as they take our hard earned money !

I have a Quicksilver phonostage - lovely and a great customer focused company, had a Lancelot Camelot, super and amazingly friendly & helpful people but go to the Big boys and it's just a money grabbing frenzy ?
I dreamed of a Pass Labs for years and ? my next amp will be coming from somewhere in Europe !

Si
simon74
simon74 OP
216 posts
 
Hi Bio,
Change a few valves in the Syrah. The rectifier valve in the psu was changed to a Mullard to great effect and a couple of valves in the phono stage were changed.
Also new to variable loading option for cartridges so that took a while.
Happy to report the phono now comapres with the linestage.
I'm spending 6 hours at a time just enjoying music.
All I can say the Syrah imo is all it is cracked up to be and more.
Changing to 240V was painless and took about 10 minutes once I plucked up the courage to go ahead and do it.
Cut two wires/solder together, heat shrink and tie out of the way - Bingo !
The only problem now is a hankering for the Cortese !!!!!!!
New cyberlink cables arriving tomorrow along with a stillpoints amp stand - like X-mas early.

Simon
raytheprinter's avatar
raytheprinter
1,234 posts
 
Heres a crazy idea,if we could get 2500 audiogoners to pitch in 2.00 a week ,we could randomly pick a name every week and get a Cortese for someone every week.,,,just a thought
judy426
228 posts
 
>>ARC has been showing American manufacturers (and lots of happy users) how good it can be for 30 years.<<

LOL
r_f_sayles's avatar
r_f_sayles
872 posts
 
I know I'm late to this thread... but Yes, to answer your Question Ralph, it must be a trick question. I love my Atma-Sphere OTL's. Simon74 guess the colonies have got something (musically) right. Cheers!
lush
262 posts
 
I think many differences will arise because of sheer size alone. The typical listening space in an "english" system will be much smaller then a typical NA system. Quite honestly this is an approach dealt with by designers imho. I do however think much of the UK stuff is overpriced, underbuilt and overrated. Linn sources have been quite nice, the MF stuff fohgetabouit. Regardless if Krell and Pass is harsh and unmusical there is so much stuff out in the states that isn't. I live in Canda and I'm amazed really about how many companies there are across the border. Which is brillant.
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