Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I've used a variety of set-ups, most of which I thought were good. On a whim I purchased the DIA-100 for my second system basically to cut down on the space occupied by 2 NAD amps and an ADCOM pre-amp. The difference was more remarkable than I would have expected. I'm using a part of M&K SB1 Satellites and they now sound better than my primary system (it sounds sluggish by comparison).

The sounds is a bit bright but the M&K's actually allow you to tweak the sound, and with some trial and error I finally found the sweetspot. The biggest drawback to the integrated amp is that there is no separate subwooder out.

Price Paid:  $500.00 from used

Summary:
This is for the mkII, wich I have owned for about one years and have used with a variety of components such as Arcam CD72T, Marantz CD 6000 OSE, a few Sony ES cd players and speakers by Monitor Audio, Kef, TDL and Mission (Van den Hul cables)

Many reviews here note the fact that the DIA-100, being a direct input amp, really reveals the weekest link in your system, why matching is everything. It reproduces the sound of your cd player with great accuracy. In fact, the true strength of the DIA-100 is its ability to reproduce music totally "uncolored" with great imaging and a truly impressive soundstage! But beware if your cd player is on the lower end, then you surely will have to upgrade.

After having owned about 30 amps in about the same price range I have now settled for the DIA-100 mkII. I stongly recommend it to anyone who want to spend around 500 bucks on a used amp. You will not get anything better!

Strengths:
SOUNDSTAGE, imaging, excellent bass control, build quality and foremost PRICE (1000 $ retail was a bargain - 500 used is great)

Weaknesses:
Reveals even a minor flaw in the rest of yor setup. Get yourself a good cd player.

Similar Products Used:
Amps: Linn, Sony ES, Arcam, Rega, Copland, NAD, Marantz, Sansui, Pioneer Elite, Dared (tube) etc

Price Paid:  $200.00 from Craigslist.org

Summary:
I have this amp powering a set of vintage Acoustat Model II electrostatic speakers. They require 100W a piece, so the amp is putting out just enough power. I'm very happy with it so far. The sound is very, very clean. And the detail is great. If you can find them cheap, especially the Mk. II's, definetely go for it.

Strengths:
Great, clean sound. SOLID build. Looks great.

Weaknesses:
Limited functionality.

Price Paid:  $1000.00 from Park Avenue Audio

Summary:
This is a great piece of audio equipment - it is solid and basically indestructible...it worked beautifully with Linn Keilidhs, Harmonic Technology interconnects and Marantz CD63 SE. I spent over 3 years with this set up - it's beeen great.

Strengths:
Crisp, clear and articulate - a great value, I've seen them sold on eBay for less than $400.

Weaknesses:
Nothing fancy here - old fashioned, solid state, stripped down to the bear essentials type gear. For a no-nonsense direct input amp this is the way to go. It is 100% unadulterated amplification – nothing more or less.

Price Paid:  $995.00 from L.A.

Summary:
This is a tweak report on Acurus Dia-100

Dia-100 was my first hi-fi amp. I now have several other amps (TR and tube) that cost several times more, but I still keep it. It is my first love, and does not gobble up electricity nor tube life.

My ealier tweak is posted earlier (auricap and capacitor adds).
After I acquired the DIA-100 schematic from the Yahoo acurus user group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/acurusowners/), I modified the following.

1. R2 (1K) signal-in resistor is changed to Kiwame 1K 2. R19 (68K) is replaced with Audio Note Tantal 68K. R19 is on the feedback path. 3. Feedback sound shaping (Feedback Onset) C6 (0.47 uF) and C7 (220 uF Non Polar) is replaced with 2 uF Solen and 470 uF Blackgate Non polar.
4. C1 and C2 input coupling caps are gone. It is now linked with good hookup wire (LAT). Actually, I took them out several years ago when I noticed my DAC is output capacitor coupled. 5. Power supply caps for each rail (+60V, -60V) is augmented with 6800uF, and 4700 uF, and most importantly with 220 uF Blackgate for each power supply lines to each channgel. So, I used 4 Blackgates. I actually cut the +V, and -V power lines to each channel in the middle and inserted the blackgates. In this way the Black gates are closest to the load (PCB)

I know the sound of Kiwame, Tantal resistors and blackgates. Kiwame is warm, lush, no noise but lacks sparkling. Tantals make pretty sound that is best from voice to high frequency but attenutes the bass. Blackgates simply makes no noise. So the overall noise floor drops making one to hear minute details without "sh" sound.

Dia-100 has huge unused space inside. So all these extra components can go in.

DIA-100 is now up there with my other amps. The sh and "ch" sound is nowhere to be found but only pure prinstine highs exist. Somewhat sterile (not lively) voice/mid frequency that especially annoys at low level listening during the night became much more lively. Surprising even bass got more articulate. before it was undiscernible bass, now I hear melodies in bass. I am astonished in the way the new DIA-100 converys background sounds, reverberations and decay like good tube amps. You will hear effortlessly all the new sounds on the bass, and mid frequencies without any trace of grain.

Simply it is no contest before and after the tuning. Dia-100 can now even be said sound like modern, high resolution, high power tube amp.

Don't give up on the DIA-100. With a little tweak, it will ahame many amps that cost several times more.

Similar Products Used:
Krell, Musical Fidelity, PASS, DIY tube amps.