AudioCircle
Audio/Video Gear and Systems => Owner's Circles => Channel Islands Audio Owners => Topic started by: OldiesButGoodies on 19 Apr 2017, 04:13 am
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I live in Pittsburgh - 70 miles from Morgantown. A few weeks back a VPI 16.5 record cleaner was posted for sale in Craigslist Morgantown. I already owned one, but this one looked to be newer and the price was excellent - so I agreed to buy it and so drove to Morgantown to get it. The owner invited to his listening room, where he had a pair of SP Technology Timepiece 3.0 monitors connected to a pair of CIaudio D-200 monoblocks, driven by a Pass Labs X1 pre. The quality of the sound was jaw dropping. This alone made it worthwhile to drive 2 hours to Morgantown WV.
I have owned many high end amps - tube and SS. I was not a fan of Class D topology. I am now. The improvement in soundstage and image definition is surprising.I bought a pair of D-200MkIIs and have been smiling since.
OBG
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Glad you're enjoying the D•200 MKII's :D
Can you tell us what amplifiers they replaced?
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They replaced a pair of restored (recapped) VTL Compact 80 monoblocks with fresh Genalec Gold Lion tubes. I had also tried Bob Carver 305 Black Beautys, and multiple vintage SS amps - Sunfire 300x2, etc. The D-200 MkIIs are able to extract a soundstage detail that I never achieved before (the VTLs got closest to pulling that off). Also very happy with the and the instant-on, no-wait benefit of SS.
I have purchased expensive amps before - the Black Beauty amps were about $10K for the pair - and I was happy with the result in a "that looks cool and does not sound bad" kind of way. With the D-200s I noticed a step-wise improvement in imaging and bass solidity that made me forget any preconceived notions I had about class D topology amps - and a level of quietness in the background that has to be heard (or not) to be appreciated. Could be a system synergy thing, but I don't think so. These amps are special IMO.
:)
Thanks,
OBG