[Tone Depth]

I've still got the solo accoustic guitar with Jennifer Warnes, and the drum rhythms from La Habanera running through my mind.  Great vinyl!

[WGH]

I've still got the solo accoustic guitar with Jennifer Warnes, and the drum rhythms from La Habanera running through my mind.  Great vinyl!

The Yello album has some great tracks with very fast, deep drum rhythms that can really challenge a speakers low range. The entire album has been known to literally make my windows rattle. Side 2's first track has soaring vocals by Shirley Bassey (the vocalist on Goldfinger) and the ever so popular "Oh Yeah".

[Tone Depth]

Hi Frank,

Can you give me any idea how much power the Insight Double 440H produces as the nominal resistance drops from 8 to 4 to 2 to 1 ohms?

Does it's power supply limit it at some point?

Has anyone else ordered one yet?

Thanks!

[turkey]

I just ran across a picture of what these Exicon devices look like inside in case anyone's interested.

It's about halfway down the page in the section titled "Not Everything Is A Fake !" on this page:

http://sound.westhost.com/counterfeit.htm

I was reading the page after counterfeit ICs were mentioned in another thread here.

[turkey]

Frank, I've been wondering whether a Double 440 (non-H) would be worthwhile?

It obviously wouldn't be the beast that a Double 440H or Double Ultra 550 is, but how would it compare in performance and price with a plain 440 or 440H?

[avahifi]

Probably a "double any amp we make" would be worthwhile, although we have not tried any except for the Double 550 and Double 440H. Oh yes we have built a few Insight Double 500 amps too in the Hafler DH-500 chassis (pretty increadable performance there).

In each case the output current capability and power handling capability would be doubled, up to the limits of the heat sink.  Power would go up a bit, and I suspect musicality would improve as well.

Lets see, in units using 8 devices (Insight 440 and 260 series), the cost would be $335, in units using 4 devices (Insight 240, 170) the cost would be $167. The Insight Control Amp is a harder job to get at the output devices, the cost for it would be $200.

The double die devices certainly would not hurt anything. 

Anyone got an Insight "Guinea pig" they want us to try it on?  If so we will knock off $75 for the first one.  Plus $40 return shipping in all cases.

Apply now. 

Best regards,

Frank Van Alstine

P.S.  Regarding sustained power into four ohms or less, I have not tried that.  I do not have a heavy duty 4 ohm load available to test with.

P.P.S.  In looking at the photos of the insides of the Exicon double die device mentioned above, it is interesting to see that the internal connection wires are about the size of hairs and do not seem to be of multi-strand woven audiophlake grade materials. I wonder how this mates with fire hose size speaker wires?  I am surprised that modifiers are not just opening up the devices and replacing the internal wiring with better sounding wires right where they are most needed. 

[Art_Chicago]

P.P.S.  In looking at the photos of the insides of the Exicon double die device mentioned above, it is interesting to see that the internal connection wires are about the size of hairs and do not seem to be of multi-strand woven audiophlake grade materials. I wonder how this mates with fire hose size speaker wires?  I am surprised that modifiers are not just opening up the devices and replacing the internal wiring with better sounding wires right where they are most needed. 

 

Frank,
Just checking if Omegastar 260ex can be upgraded  with Exicon as Insight 260? Or we need to upgrade it to insight  first?
Thanks,
Art

[Tone Depth]

Perhaps if the "Double" upgrade results are well received, the Exicon MOSFET output devices could become the future standard devices.  I sure like my Double 440H!   

Not trying, however, to stray from Frank's most cost effective approach to equipment.

[turkey]

P.P.S.  In looking at the photos of the insides of the Exicon double die device mentioned above, it is interesting to see that the internal connection wires are about the size of hairs and do not seem to be of multi-strand woven audiophlake grade materials. I wonder how this mates with fire hose size speaker wires?  I am surprised that modifiers are not just opening up the devices and replacing the internal wiring with better sounding wires right where they are most needed. 

But that's exactly why that one was sawn open! The next step is to put in larger wires.

Maybe they could use some nice blue wire too?

[avahifi]

The upgrade savings offer is for an AVA amplifier that already is an Insight.  The object is to test just one variable, the double die devices in a standard series Insight amplifier that uses fewer devices in the first place.

Regards,

Frank

[turkey]

Cool! I'm glad to have suggested something that might make people's systems sound better.

[Tone Depth]

Probably a "double any amp we make" would be worthwhile, although we have not tried any except for the Double 550 and Double 440H. Oh yes we have built a few Insight Double 500 amps too in the Hafler DH-500 chassis (pretty increadable performance there).

In each case the output current capability and power handling capability would be doubled, up to the limits of the heat sink.  Power would go up a bit, and I suspect musicality would improve as well.

Hi Frank,

Would it be a reasonable assumption, that a "Double" upgrade to a standard Insight amplifier configuration would provide better performance than the "H" version of that same Insight amplifier? 

For example, would you expect that a Double 440 would have better performance than a 440H, since a Double 440 has 8 MOS-FETs per channel and a 440H has 6 MOS-FETs per channel? 

If so, it would seem that the Double upgrade would be quite cost effective for existing owners seeking additional dynamic headroom.

I realize that once you complete more Double upgrades, you will be able to give a more definitive answer.

[Tone Depth]

Several events happened in the right sequence and with near-perfect timing, culminating at the end of March in my sending my EC preamp to Frank for the Insight+ upgrade, and ordering an Insight+ DAC.  The packages arrived two days ago, and I reconfigured my system today. 

I've just had the most wonderful evening of listening to CDs with my Insight+/Double system.  The improvements in the signal path upstream of the Insight Double 440H amplifier, resulted in an even clearer signal for it to amplify. 

My Tangent RS2 speakers responded better than I could have ever hoped.  The midrange was to die for, the upper end with no harshness detectable to my ears on any transients, and the lower end firm, melodious and fast down to the lowest notes within the capabilities of my speakers.  Although someday I hope to upgrade them, in the meantime "I will love every second of it" while just listening to music (JLTM).

Frank, you've certainly made a winner out of your solid state Insight line!  JLTM my smile muscles are getting quite a workout. 

Since this thread is about the Double 440H, I feel the need to reiterate the musicality, tonal purity, and transient response improvements I've heard that I attribute to the double die MOS-FETs in the Insight power amplifier.  I encourage anyone interested, to hear Frank's equipment at the Audio Karma Festival (AKFEST), the Rocky Mountain Audio Festival (RMAF), visit his listening room in Minnesota, and/or place an order with his 30-day return policy as insurance if you're not as impressed as I am.

[WGH]

The packages arrived two days ago, and I reconfigured my system today. 

I've just had the most wonderful evening of listening to CDs with my Insight+/Double system.  The improvements in the signal path upstream of the Insight Double 440H amplifier, resulted in an even clearer signal for it to amplify. 

My Tangent RS2 speakers responded better than I could have ever hoped.  The midrange was to die for, the upper end with no harshness detectable to my ears on any transients, and the lower end firm, melodious and fast down to the lowest notes within the capabilities of my speakers.

 

That was quick. I'm sure you are having too much fun.

Wayne