Brand New Super AKSA - the SAKSA 85!

[jyg]

Hi Hugh,

Is it possible to power the amplifier with a voltage lower than 2x30Vac, for instance 2x22Vac? What is the large cap height on the pcb component side?

[AKSA]

Yes, JYG, it can be done, but it will give you only 30V rails and the power will be reduced to 45Wrms each channel. There may be some dimension changes at the modules, which will attract some revision fee, and I cannot guarantee the subjectives when this is done.

I really suggest you use the recommend transformer, a 300VA conventional toroid with two independent 30Vac secondaries.

Hugh

[Jinca]

Hi Hugh - Oh my gosh this amp is phenomenal.
It is big improvement on the Naska.
I use it all the time as my tv sound system and music player.
My system has the GK1 with some speakers I made back in the earlier 2000s (Dave Ellis 1801b).
The Saksa85 amp brought new life in the speakers in both bass range and imaging.
I haven't had time to do any of the capacitor upgrades on the GK1 or the 1801b but now I will delay this effort again because it sounds too good
Truly marvelous.

Currently enjoy The Union - Elton John/Leon Russell
The piano sounds truly superb.

Thanks so much.
John

[AKSA]

Wow, John,
Thank you for posting your terrific comments - this is wonderful for me, as the development of the SAKSA took years - as you understand, making something simple with low count parts takes forever, refinement is really difficult.
You know I developed a second version of the GK1 about ten years later after I'd learned a few more tricks. I could not improve on the tube, however, and never did market it; only the SS front end was changed!
Thank you again, actually, I love Elton John, and often play his music - as a child I learned piano and later the pipe organ, this was were I learned some of the psychoacoustic lessons about recorded music. He is a terrific piano player too......

Hugh

[zman01]

Jinca,

Those are nice speakers you got - the SEAS and the Hiquphon are highly regarded.
Looks like Hugh's SAKSA-85 is an ideal match.

My "daily driver" also has the same Hiquphon OW1 tweeter, but paired with the ScanSpeak 5.25" Revelator mid-bass.

[tuyen]

Received a SAKSA 85 amp recently. Using it power the 2-way horn channel of my 3-way speaker system. No noise from the horns on idle with the amp (big tick). Replaced a Bakoon AMP-12R. The saksa has a more full bodied and 'solid' presentation. Very good detail retrieval, but still sounding natural.

My first aksa amp. Im super impressed!

Well done Hugh!

[AKSA]

Thanks Tuyen!! High praise indeed........
The SAKSA was an inspired design; the front end is very unusual, an asymmetric current mirror loading a supermatched long tailed pair. It gives wonderful harmonic profile, with a dominant second harmonic, conferring the tube moniker many customers use.
Thank you for the leap of faith!

Hugh