Hey, better late than not at all. Im glad to hear they sound so good with the Fostexs. I think the HF clarity alone has hooked me on this amp.
I dont know about re-wiring headphones but I can say that this is the best sound Ive hear from my Stax headphones. What I love about them is they use a transformer to allow a direct hook-up to any amplifier.
amt
I dont know about re-wiring headphones but I can say that this is the best sound Ive hear from my Stax headphones. What I love about them is they use a transformer to allow a direct hook-up to any amplifier.
amt
Sonic Impact T amplifier
To all of you guys interested in buying his amplifier from X10 site...
This a scam...They are advertising this amplifier for $3.99! This is a
lie, if you click on the designation of the amplifier (blue letters), the
price becomes $19.49!
I asked the sales rep why the discrepancy, he told me It"s a Web error,
so figured it out!
Just a warning, I"ve seen many people interested.....
To all of you guys interested in buying his amplifier from X10 site...
This a scam...They are advertising this amplifier for $3.99! This is a
lie, if you click on the designation of the amplifier (blue letters), the
price becomes $19.49!
I asked the sales rep why the discrepancy, he told me It"s a Web error,
so figured it out!
Just a warning, I"ve seen many people interested.....
If you read through this thread, some people did get them for the low price. It clearly was an error on their part, but they did sell them at the promised price. I feel that the went out of their way to do the right thing.
I believe that they only half corrected the problem which is whay you had your experience. Maybe they will fix it now.
I paid $29 for my first one 🙁
But Bill sold me some of the ones he got cheap 🙂
I believe that they only half corrected the problem which is whay you had your experience. Maybe they will fix it now.
I paid $29 for my first one 🙁
But Bill sold me some of the ones he got cheap 🙂
amt, how quiet (S/N) do you find these with high sens speaks like the LS? I ask because I've got a couple of the SI amps from Bill and when I get home (a month or two) they'll be running into some highly modified KHorns in rotation with my tube amps and maybe some UCDs later.amt said:
Brett, I find them to be very quiet although theres a trace of hiss when the amp is unattenuated. But of course you wouldnt hear that since you'd have 112 dbs of music masking it. Ive been doing a great deal of listening through my Stax headphones as well and the low distortion and lack of colorations in the mids and highs make for very enjoyable listening.
They just dont have the edge or graininess on the horns that many SS amps have. What they lack in warmth they give back in clarity and sparkle.
I think you will be very surprised. A friend who owns Sonic Frontiers, Cary, Dynacos and Mac tube stuff still has his SIs in that group for rotation. He thought I was a loon when I first brought the amp over to audition. Then he bought two.
amt
They just dont have the edge or graininess on the horns that many SS amps have. What they lack in warmth they give back in clarity and sparkle.
I think you will be very surprised. A friend who owns Sonic Frontiers, Cary, Dynacos and Mac tube stuff still has his SIs in that group for rotation. He thought I was a loon when I first brought the amp over to audition. Then he bought two.
amt
Well, I did it last night:
I now have the sonic amp driving the FE208E Fostex and the Aurum Cantus 2si
I have the Brian GT Gainclone driving the 15" JBL bass driver
(this isn't a stock Basszilla choice)
The JBL is less efficient, but works great with the greater power and great bass of the Gainclone.
The Sonic works great on the mid and upper frequencies.
Only problem is that I need to adjust the pots on both amps to adjust the volume. Actually I don't find it much of a hassle- it is like having a variable bass emphasis control.
The output from the CD player is just split with Y cables into both amp inputs. The crossovers are the stock passive ones, so maybe not as great as an active system would allow the amps to sound.
But it is the best sound I've gotten out of my speakers yet.
I now have the sonic amp driving the FE208E Fostex and the Aurum Cantus 2si
I have the Brian GT Gainclone driving the 15" JBL bass driver
(this isn't a stock Basszilla choice)
The JBL is less efficient, but works great with the greater power and great bass of the Gainclone.
The Sonic works great on the mid and upper frequencies.
Only problem is that I need to adjust the pots on both amps to adjust the volume. Actually I don't find it much of a hassle- it is like having a variable bass emphasis control.
The output from the CD player is just split with Y cables into both amp inputs. The crossovers are the stock passive ones, so maybe not as great as an active system would allow the amps to sound.
But it is the best sound I've gotten out of my speakers yet.
Thanks, it should be interesting then. I bought them with the intention of using them to power the system in too-lazy-to-switch-over-to-tubes, background and occaisional watching TV modes to replace the horrid sounding sand amps I have and not eat up my tubes. The tube amps I built are hardly the cliched 'warm' that people usually expect with tubes so it sounds like they might be a good match.amt said:
Reports when they're in use. I also have a few SLA's that might be worth trying them with. I'll also order some of the UCD 180 and 400 modules and see how they sound too: I even have the correct power Tx's at home. If I don't like them, I'll put them in the bass guitar rig.
Class D amplifiers
Interesting to hear how the tube men turned to these class D amplifiers!
I am a tube man myself, I own two excelent tube amplifiers, one is a
modified Dynaco ST 70 the other a Houston Amp, heavy as hell and
a really nice look with humangous transformers. The sound is excellent.
However listening to the loud buzz these amplifiers class D, class T or
whatever made among the forum guys, here I am buying a Sonic Impact
class T amp. Curious to listen to it, see if it makes sense to spend a
little more money in a more elaborate Class T units in the future....
I looked at thse UCD but I donºt know, Iºm not going to spend money
in modules without a small indication as how they sound. May be in
future...In the meantime Iºll listen to these small jobs that for the
price are not bad to test..Weºll see...
Interesting to hear how the tube men turned to these class D amplifiers!
I am a tube man myself, I own two excelent tube amplifiers, one is a
modified Dynaco ST 70 the other a Houston Amp, heavy as hell and
a really nice look with humangous transformers. The sound is excellent.
However listening to the loud buzz these amplifiers class D, class T or
whatever made among the forum guys, here I am buying a Sonic Impact
class T amp. Curious to listen to it, see if it makes sense to spend a
little more money in a more elaborate Class T units in the future....
I looked at thse UCD but I donºt know, Iºm not going to spend money
in modules without a small indication as how they sound. May be in
future...In the meantime Iºll listen to these small jobs that for the
price are not bad to test..Weºll see...
And we need tube guys to give us reports on how they like
these amps. Of course they aren't exactly like tubes but have some of their good points. Perhaps these amps are missing a touch of tube "sweetness" "Warmth" for modern tubes is too strong a word.
these amps. Of course they aren't exactly like tubes but have some of their good points. Perhaps these amps are missing a touch of tube "sweetness" "Warmth" for modern tubes is too strong a word.
Variac said:
You said it,
..furthermore, .. bass is good within the limits of the powerband (but obviously is not going to work with power hungry drivers), the midrange is nice and the highs are not grainy or offensive, .. maybe missing a bit of air on the top end but otherwise very capable for what it is.
Well, I'm back home for the holidays.
I had a chance to hear the Sonic Impact with SLA on my brother's system, which includes a pair of 94db efficient modded Klipsch Heresies.
It wasn't as mindblowing as I expected. I think the little SI has a tough time with the slightly complex crossover network of the Heresies. Even though they're 94db efficient and can play loudly, there's a lack of control and grip in the mid and lower bass, and also a light wooliness to the sound. Odd thing is that the system sound woolly and crisp at the same time. Also, the SI is pretty cool sounding in this system, a definite change from the warmth of the Dynaco ST-35 that it replaced.
In my own system, I've been running the SI into a pair of modded Optimus LX-4 pros, which have a cap on the tweeter and a single coil on the woofer. I use this in my small bedroom. The SI performs very well with this, giving a more controlled and involving presentation.
I guess the moral of story is that complex crossovers like more power, even if the speaker is pretty efficient. But you knew that. 😎
Based on this, I will be using the SI with simple crossovers or full-range drivers only.
Best,
KT
I had a chance to hear the Sonic Impact with SLA on my brother's system, which includes a pair of 94db efficient modded Klipsch Heresies.
It wasn't as mindblowing as I expected. I think the little SI has a tough time with the slightly complex crossover network of the Heresies. Even though they're 94db efficient and can play loudly, there's a lack of control and grip in the mid and lower bass, and also a light wooliness to the sound. Odd thing is that the system sound woolly and crisp at the same time. Also, the SI is pretty cool sounding in this system, a definite change from the warmth of the Dynaco ST-35 that it replaced.
In my own system, I've been running the SI into a pair of modded Optimus LX-4 pros, which have a cap on the tweeter and a single coil on the woofer. I use this in my small bedroom. The SI performs very well with this, giving a more controlled and involving presentation.
I guess the moral of story is that complex crossovers like more power, even if the speaker is pretty efficient. But you knew that. 😎
Based on this, I will be using the SI with simple crossovers or full-range drivers only.
Best,
KT
Absolutely Dave.
Ive got my Heresys torn down and am in the process of rebuilding/modding. Upgraded caps and inductors, front baffle mounted drivers, bracing and damping (to eliminate that mega resonating box).
And w/o the bottom octaves, Heresys always sound abit too hot and shrill. Subs are just about manditory.
amt
Ive got my Heresys torn down and am in the process of rebuilding/modding. Upgraded caps and inductors, front baffle mounted drivers, bracing and damping (to eliminate that mega resonating box).
And w/o the bottom octaves, Heresys always sound abit too hot and shrill. Subs are just about manditory.
amt
amt said:
The "passive radiator" they are using as the back of the box is the worst offender...
dave
Yep... Im using 3/4 MDF with Black Hole like material and gasketing (imagine that) and hopefully solve that problem.
amt
amt
Well, I now have 3 of these amps ( 2 cheap thanks to Bill) and am just running them on 13v 1.5A wall warts. Everyone should get a handful!!!
I have one in my office system, one handling the mids and highs in my main Basszilla system, and one for my son's Boston Acoustics speakers
plugged into his X-box.
A non-audiophile friend just had his 1970's Marantz receiver blow up
and I got him to buy an SI to tide him over. He loves it of course! He already is wondering idf he should have sent it for repair..
Soon will try the batteries!!
I have one in my office system, one handling the mids and highs in my main Basszilla system, and one for my son's Boston Acoustics speakers
plugged into his X-box.
A non-audiophile friend just had his 1970's Marantz receiver blow up
and I got him to buy an SI to tide him over. He loves it of course! He already is wondering idf he should have sent it for repair..
Soon will try the batteries!!
Variac said:
A working '70s Marantz receiver would be worth reparing just for the "retro" value. Plus they actually did sound pretty good, to my iron ears anyway.
Again, my iron ears couldn't hear a noticeable difference between a 1A wall wart and a 12V motorcyle battery. I did run the amp for 48 straight hours on the battery and when recharging the battery my charger indicated it was still fully charged!
If one used a deep cycle battery, say from a UPS, I would think the amp would run for weeks or months between chargings.
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