Scottmoose said:
The Gaincard price reflected R&D, and I have yet to see someone who has actually heard it, claim it was a marketing ploy, and not quite simply a terrific amp worth the price. Before the Clones and Clowns.
This new thing from Sakura appears to have none of the originality the Gaincard could boast, but still remains to be heard.
Who started to discuss "how cheap the parts are - and what a ripoff this amp is"?
I certainly did not. It is the same as always: I f you listen to it and you like it, and the price is out to that, why not buy it and be happy. But all that should not be the discussion here.
(Although this amp looks like a hand made product not so much unlike the gaincard itself, it uses off the shelf cases, which give much more a DIY effort, very unlike - say - Peter's products...)
I am interested (without having the chance to listen to that particular amplifier) how other peoples chips-amps work.
Can it work with that small psu caps? I have never used less then 1000µF, but some of you have tested that with at lest some success, havn't you?
But how can it claim almost 2 x 40W / 8 Ohms?
I certainly did not. It is the same as always: I f you listen to it and you like it, and the price is out to that, why not buy it and be happy. But all that should not be the discussion here.
(Although this amp looks like a hand made product not so much unlike the gaincard itself, it uses off the shelf cases, which give much more a DIY effort, very unlike - say - Peter's products...)
I am interested (without having the chance to listen to that particular amplifier) how other peoples chips-amps work.
Can it work with that small psu caps? I have never used less then 1000µF, but some of you have tested that with at lest some success, havn't you?
But how can it claim almost 2 x 40W / 8 Ohms?
Here's a reveiw of the Ray Samuels Emmeline CA-2 preamp:
http://tinyurl.com/oftu8
The circuitry looks to use the level of parts and technology as the KORE-EDA. Maybe the KORE-EDA is voiced differently, though?
It's worth noting that the CA-2 retails at $695.
It's also worth noting Dick Olsher's comment that "...the CA-2 puts to shame $5,000 solid-state line stages..."
If the KORE-EDA preamp performs on par with or better than the CA-2 and also puts to shame $5,000 solid-state line stages, would the $1,650 retail price then still be too much in your mind?
Best,
KT
http://tinyurl.com/oftu8
The circuitry looks to use the level of parts and technology as the KORE-EDA. Maybe the KORE-EDA is voiced differently, though?
It's worth noting that the CA-2 retails at $695.
It's also worth noting Dick Olsher's comment that "...the CA-2 puts to shame $5,000 solid-state line stages..."
If the KORE-EDA preamp performs on par with or better than the CA-2 and also puts to shame $5,000 solid-state line stages, would the $1,650 retail price then still be too much in your mind?
Best,
KT
I'm sure that most of us here don't have to pay thousands of dollars in order to experience the so called "if you listen to it you'll like it" effect 
We use to have at least a dozen chip-amps of various models in our part boxes and we play with them when we are really bored... See...
We use to have at least a dozen chip-amps of various models in our part boxes and we play with them when we are really bored... See...
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
Hi,
I came across this thread while searching.
Wow that's ugly! http://www.sakurasystems.com/products/koreeda.html
What is the RS or farnell code for that case ?
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue2/shigaraki.htm
" The adhesive holding the power supply chassis inside the ceramic housing had disintegrated before I received the unit, allowing the guts of the unit to fall out."
"I freely admit that in those few weeks I unplugged and re-plugged the cables more than any normal user would do in a lifetime, but finally, upon unplugging one of the analog cables, the exterior ground shell of the DAC’s RCA jack came off with the cable, leaving a black plastic stub sticking out of the DAC and a metal ring wedged firmly inside my cable’s RCA connector. "
Strange review....
I came across this thread while searching.
Wow that's ugly! http://www.sakurasystems.com/products/koreeda.html
What is the RS or farnell code for that case ?
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue2/shigaraki.htm
" The adhesive holding the power supply chassis inside the ceramic housing had disintegrated before I received the unit, allowing the guts of the unit to fall out."
"I freely admit that in those few weeks I unplugged and re-plugged the cables more than any normal user would do in a lifetime, but finally, upon unplugging one of the analog cables, the exterior ground shell of the DAC’s RCA jack came off with the cable, leaving a black plastic stub sticking out of the DAC and a metal ring wedged firmly inside my cable’s RCA connector. "
Strange review....
Can I vote for mine?
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
Nuuk said:Can I vote for mine?
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
Oh yes indeed! I like that very much. Nice chrome too -I hadn't seen that before.
Sorry guys. But the commercial versions (the Gaincard and this new one for example) are as far as I'm concerned simply a way to relieve mugs of their money. They usually sound quite nice, so long as they aren't pushed too hard, but they are emphatically not worth the ludicrous and morally unjustifiable prices charged. Especially given the rotten build quality, for which they have the brass face to charge a fortune, and would shame an entry level NAD3020 from the late 1970s. Most of the DIY versions are much better built, and better designed as well, like our mutual friend's above. And how much does it cost for R&D on these things? A couple of weeks worth of playing with different circuit ideas with power op-amps on the kitchen table. Not exactly NASA budget, is it?
Thanks Scotty. It's actually polished aluminium rather than chrome.
But IMHO, they put some of those expensive commercial offerings to shame! At least if you are going to ask big bucks for an amp, make it look like it is worth it (if only to placate the wife when she sees the credit card bill)!
But IMHO, they put some of those expensive commercial offerings to shame! At least if you are going to ask big bucks for an amp, make it look like it is worth it (if only to placate the wife when she sees the credit card bill)!
sinski said:
Sinski,
I think everyone is commenting on the look of the amp, the general vibe, and the amp price/materials price ratio. I don't think anyone here has heard the amp so far.
I, for one, am very interested in how it sounds. Still, little quirky amps like this (and the Gaincard) seem to have a highly motivating effect in the DIY community.
Though not everything is to my taste, I love the interesting and sometimes inspiring DIY chassis solutions these amps have engendered amongst home builders.
Best,
KT
I think it's a free market and they derserve what ever the market allows. I would think that those that would "Audition" the Koreeda would not care about the price.
I'm also pretty sure that Sakaru Systems can handle a little of our fun at their expense.
How often does a poor guy built himself a Rolls?
I'm also pretty sure that Sakaru Systems can handle a little of our fun at their expense.
How often does a poor guy built himself a Rolls?