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Usher R1.5 should I buy?

Hello all, I thought this is one forum where I should ask and take the approval of all the experienced souls here before I pull the trigger today or next week satday. The Question is should I buy the Usher R1.5 , is it as good as the press says or the reviews here or around the web suggests.As for speakers I have a Mission MX5 for now with Denon PMA1500AE /DCD1500AE/TU1500AE as amp CD and tuner with Chord cables. This is the cheapest power amp I can afford at the moment , that too class A till some watts. If anyone has any encounter with this amp please advise me. I listen to only RocknRoll and very little Jazz ( read Norah Jones , Diana Krall) buy it's always Queen and Ledzep , Floyd GnR, CCR,GFR,Lamb of God Korn , Blue Man Group, etc etc. I'm a SACD enthusiast,s o no vinyl in the mix. Love warm rich lush and not forward sounding gear. Please advise if the Usher is good enough as a power amp.
vvvinashhh
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
I had the circuit, but it’s long gone now, but if you warm it up with the lid on for at least an hour, and if still not warm enough (use Pass palm test) Monitor the bias across the emitter resistors (yes they used them the same way as NP did, collectors drove the speakers) with a DMM and increase 10mV at a time till you get the right heatsink temp, both channels.

And yes more cap uF the better on the power supply, but many small ones are better than big ones, as they can release their storage quicker and give you far better transient response.

PS: Just found the circuit of the Usher 2.5 send a PM if you want it with your email address. 

Cheers George
vvvinashhh's avatar
vvvinashhh OP
24 posts
 
Thanks so much George ! My email id is vvvinashhh@yahoo.co.in .

One more thing is there a Usher Version 1 and Version 2 ? I gathered this while talking to US based Usher dealer. Will that make a difference? If there's a difference then what is it and how do I differentiate cosmetically or internally between the v1 and v2?
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
Sorry I have no idea about the V1 and V2.

I send the circuit diagram to you, Usher 2.5, same for 1.5 just less rail volts and output transistors.
Should anyone else want it on Audiogon can you contact vvvinashhh@yahoo.co.in and he will pass it on.

Cheers George
vvvinashhh's avatar
vvvinashhh OP
24 posts
 
Thanks George got you mail. Thanks very much indeed. Heard the amp extensively today and I can vouch that this amp will blow amps costing $6000 straight outta water. People looking for power amps should really check this Amp first before blowing money on Big Brands which are unnecessarily expensive for other reasons than the main reason ... The Sound.

I’m getting the R1.5 with a ss preamp later but a good preowned Shindo Auriges now .
desalvo55's avatar
desalvo55
257 posts
 
So glad I found this thread. I have 2 Usher 1.5's and run (ran) them in mono to a pair of Usher Tower XL's. 

One of my amps became noisy (right channel) and was shipped back to USHER for a replacement. Still waiting....

What I had learned was that Usher was setting the bias higher as it was discussed somewhere that the sounded even better at higher bias, and they already sound amazing. What a great amp and a beast. In mono it's stupid good.

But I don't know how to set bias :( So I guess I'll "probe" around, find a pot, and adjust till my hand starts burning?
Thanks!
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