Secondsight

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $350.00 from Auckland - price in

Summary:
WOW - bought this amp as a gamble - hadn't listened to it - just read the reviews and liked the look of it. I took it home and hooked it up to my sub-standard DVD player with cheap (the cheapest) interconnects. The differance was instant - it made even the crap I had sound good. I am running a pair of Monitor Audio Bronze 3 floor standing speakers which provide plenty of bass - a little too much on some recordings, but maintain a crystal clear top end. Great sound for the money and cannot fault the amp - now off to buy a CD player and some decent interconnects - can't wait to hear it all together.

Strengths:
Looks Sound Clarity Plent of low end with the right speakers

Weaknesses:
None found as yet

Price Paid:  $300.00 from Richer Sounds

Summary:
I can't justify replacing it - it's probably the best piece of hi-fi I ever bought. I think it's totally wrong to suggest there might be something wrong with this amp because it doesn't pair well with certain sources. No amp will pair well with all sources. I have a Marantz CD63 and it did sound a little harsh. However, changing interconnects to a slightly warmer set (Cambridge Audio Studio Ref) cured it perfectly. Since then, I've also added a Cambridge Audio DACmagic 2i and Muscial Fidelity x-10D. Although this amp is a little bass light, in this set-up, I get all the bass I want through my TDL RTL 2s. A lovely, neutral amp with incredible soundstaging. I've tried many current amps as I have the upgrading bug -- but nothing has convinced me to change the amp.

Strengths:
* Looks * Sound * Value * Soundstaging * Neutral character

Weaknesses:
* Chrome finish needs constant cleaning THAT'S IT

Similar Products Used:
Marant PM7200 Cambridge Audio Azur 640A NAD amps ARCAM amps

Price Paid:  $400.00 from audiovision singer

Summary:
This is the best amp i ever heard (apart from big krells o mark lenvinsons,this amp drives very well my celestions A1 speakers (4ohms) givin 55 watts in this load.It work together with a california audio labs DX-1 and they all gives an articulate and deep soundstage,apart of the natural sound.Even it drove sometime a pair of magnepans MG-2.6(my anterior speakers)with good resoults.

Strengths:
open and pure sound

Weaknesses:
low power

Similar Products Used:
carver tfm75,sony ta222ES

Price Paid:  $199.00 from Richer Sounds (Dublin)

Summary:
Bought this in a clearance sale - paired with a TEAC Reference 500 CD player, and Tannoy M2 speakers - also bought at the same sale.

When listening to music, you can just close your eyes and /be there/. Vocals, instrumentals, strings all come to life - e.g. Bjork, The Cardigans, classical.

Unsuitd to techno, hard rock and music of that ilk - not for the bass freaks out there.

Plays to its 35W limit with no noticeable distortion. Bass, mid-range and treble are all great - though I reckon that a more demanding pair of speakers might just reveal new depth to this baby.

There are newer, louder, more whiz-bang amps out there, but you ave to pay serious bucks for such a natural sound. I love it.

Strengths:
Imaging/staging, clarity, shows up quality recordings, unforgiving for poorly engineered stuff. Did I mention the seriously sexy shape?

Weaknesses:
If you accept it's a 35W unit with no frills (tone control, headphone socket, etc.) then there's very little to fault it on. Actually - nothing.

Price Paid:  $500.00 from Denmark

Summary:
I agree with the previous review, this amp does not pair well with budget CD players like the Marantz CD 63SE. I have a CD63 SE and had always found the sound bright, forward, and harsh. Then I bought an MSB DAC Link, and the Altos came into its own. Vocals are warm and clear, and music just flows out of this amp in a relaxed and wonderfully musical way. Bass goes low, but not real low, though the amp has no problem controlling my B&W DM 603 S2 speakers. There is no background noise, and the amp will play loud without distortion. The CD63 SE has volume control and the output stage had lots of jitter and noise on the Altos. But the MSB cured that and now there is wonderful separation. Trebble is clear, mid-range lifelike, and bass is taught and powerful. This is a really wonderful piece of hifi. I bought mine in Denmark, and I understand it is only available in the UK from Richer Sounds. Well worth the hunt.

Strengths:
Relaxed, open, and transparent sound. Excellent vocal and accoustic reproduction. Outstanding imaging.

Weaknesses:
Lack of very deep bass, lacks some slam and attack on classical and rock.

Similar Products Used:
Rotel, Arcam, Audiolab, Holfi