[kyrill]

VTL are pure tubes as I remember.
I still have the VTL preamp (ugly big beast)  but sold the VTL 200 poweramps
.
I do have depth with my AKSA 55. Remember again, you cannot hear a single poweramp. Never. You can hear its synergy in a given system. You can grant some sound characteristics to an amp  if you hear the same amp in a relevant number of many different systems.

A side effect of public reviews will be that some of them will actually compare  the amp with the finest and (most) expensive amps who have won their place and heart in the reviewr's system. It will be hard to convince the listener unless the differences are too big to slip away

Taste is rather subjective and we should respect every outcome. See the (very) different opinions about the AKSA's depth and imaging on Steven's system between Deadfish (Sound goes outside the speakers, and *to my ears*, the speakers disappeared. This is what was going on with the AKSA ) and  Surgus (As far as soundstage goes it did not leave the outer boundaries of the speakers .)

Also there will be room for betterment for every amp and especially contrast reviews will bring this out.

[audiojerry]

...On a scale of 1 to 10  I give it an seven...
..I give it an eight in overall bass performance.... I have to give a six in this area...

Hi Sturgus,
no disrespect, but in your opinion what ranks higher (9-10 )in your books? you seem to be the toughest grader of the AKSA I've ever seen  
Many people put the AKSA amps up there with the very best there is in the SS world! From your post I'm guessing VTL's are your preferred type of design, which is great, but what do they cost in comparison to the AKSA? a whole order of magnitude difference right?  

EchiDna, I checked to see what Sturgis owns, Aronov mono's, and knowing both the Aronov and VTL, I think Sturgis was very kind to compliment the VTL. The VTL sounds very nice, but the Aronov's virtues go way beyond the VTL. For those of us who have become die-hard tubeophiles, it is very difficult to warm up to SS sound.

As an ARC tube owner myself, my upcoming evaluation of the AKSA will be very biased (like tubes ), but I"ve heard so much praise for the AKSA, and I've developed so much respect for Hugh and his integrity that I am very excited at the opportunity to try the AKSA. I'd love to find a SS amp that provides the musical qualities that move me, because it would be so much more efficient and economical to operate than my ARC - especially at the AKSA's price. We shall see.

[steve k]

Hugh,
That was my mistake by not using the TARA cables. I have them still (forgot to send them on to Audiojerry, oops!)  I've been inundated with cables and interconnects this week and the Taras got lost in the shuffle along with all the hubbub, socializing and cooking the chili. Anyway, we were using the Bolder Nitro speaker cables for all the auditioning except for the straight up VTL's when I started with the Bolders and moved on to the Zero Autoformers. Even the biamping was done with Bolders.

Again, my apologies. We'll need to simplify, and get better organized for the next event. It is very difficult to do critical listening with as many people as we had over and with all the equipment we had. Someone suggested earlier that critical listening sessions should be limited to 2-3  people and this is an excellent idea. I would strongly recommend it for future listening sessions for the best critiques. We were a little disorganized here and I offer our sincerest apologies.

Audiojerry, I'll get the TARAs off to you tomorrow.
steve k

[AKSA]

Hi Steve,

No problem at all, no need to apologise!  I am particularly grateful for your valued input, and for testing the AKSA in such great company!

Cheers,

Hugh

[AKSA]

Folks,

Is the AKSA at its new destination?   Can we confirm?

Cheers,

Hugh

[audiojerry]

It's in Chicago as of Tuesday afternoon, so it should be delivered tomorrow.

[audiojerry]

The AKSA arrived at the office today, but I won't be able to pick it up until tomorrow. I'll keep you guys posted.

[AKSA]

Thanks Audiojerry,

We await your deliberations with rapt anticipation!..........

I guess the cables are still on their way, Steve?

Cheers,

Hugh

[steve k]

They should be there too.
stevek

[audiojerry]

Both packages arrived. The AKSA was packaged excellently - thanks Steve, and I've got hooked up and warming up. Both channels are playing and everything seems a-o-k. I have one question. The preamp I'm using has way too much gain with the AKSA. I can barely turn the volume up a notch and it's almost at full volume. Is there any way to set the gain on the amp?

[nature boy]

Hugh,

Per my PM please add me to the US tour list if not too late.  All this rant about AKSA amps "downunda" has got my interest and curiosity peaked.

NB

[AKSA]

Steve,

Many thanks for such good packaging;  obviously worked very well!

Audiojerry,

The gain on the AKSA is invariant.  Try adding simple voltage divider between the CD player and the preamp;  I'd suggest source hot to 10K, series connect to 4K7 thence to earth.  Use quality metal film resistors, eighth watt is fine.  The input to the preamp is taken off the junction of the 10K and the 4K7 resistor.  Ground to ground to ground right way through...

This gain issue happens because the AKSA is designed to accommodate direct connection with the CD/DVD player, and even to include a passive attenuator.  So gain is high at 32dB, where most amps are around 26dB.

Hope this is helpful.

Nature Boy,

Thanks for your interest in the AKSA.  Welcome to the list!


Cheers,

Hugh

[Occam]

Jerry,

I've been remiss and should provide and 'instructions, packing list' for the touring amp. [Hugh, please edit and put this in the most appropriate place]

The AKSA 100W N+ amp should arrire in a large cardboard box.  Inside this box you will find packing material/foam and another cardboard box. Also, you will find a 3 meter Volex 17605 IEC powercord and a 15ft pair of Tara Phase II Return speaker cables. Please keep the packing material and take note that its purpose is to povide shock and damage insulation for the amplifirer and it aim is to provide at least 2" of damage barrier on all sides.

The provided amp is straightforward dual mono power amplifier that only shares the powercord/inlet and frontmounted  'on' switch.  Also on the front panel are 2 LEDs that indicate operation of the individual mono power supplies/transformers.  Single ended RCA input and dual 5way binding posts for each channel are on the back panel.  As is the IEC/Fuse inlet

Please turn the poweramp 'on' last in that sequence of powering your components.  And 'off' first when shutting down. When (dis)connecting any cable to the amp, the amp must be 'off'.  All cabling connections, power, interconnect, and speaker must be made prior to turning the amplifier 'on'.

If the amp, for any reason fails to operate as expected, contact Hugh or Occam immediately via PM.  The amp may not be opened.  The only 'fix' available to tour participants is changing the inlet's power fuse.

The provided cables, speaker and power [both are directional, the speaker cables are color and direction coded] , were chosen for both their low cost, as well as their gestalt/compatibility with the touring amp.  We encourage all to experiment with their own cables of choice, but insist that the amp also be evaluated with the provided cables, as it - Provides a 'semi agreed upon' baseline level of performance, as a goodly number of AKSA owners use these specific cables and have found them to preform significantly above their 'price' ($10 powercord and $100/10'pair terminated speaker cables) and provides a somewhat common listening experience for tour participants. It provides a common experience and therefore a common 'language' of communication.

If the amp has been subject to the very recent Karma of UPS or FedEx. it will take a few hours of warmup/playing to come 'on song'.  As the amp runs very cool, consuming little power, leaving it on saves that typical 10-20 minutes of foreplay.

When repacking the amp for the next recipient, please remember the purpose of the enclosed foam/packing is to provide padding of at lease 2" on all sides.  Sadly, after 3-4 trips the shipping personel tire of using the package as a soccer ball, requiring that the outer cardboard box be replaced.  The amp must be double boxed for any shipping.  Please include the supplied powercord and speakercables in the shipment.

[kyrill]

There are  arrows on the sleeve of the Tara Labs speaker cable as I understand it must point to the speakers?
Only the black terminated cable has this return (3rd) wire. One end is connected to a spade, the ohter end is not..
I disassembled my cables and found out that strange enough the 3rd cable (blue) was connected at the end where the arrows pointed at.. ( the speaker end)
but I got this message from Cable Company:

"The arrows on the cable point FROM the source (amp) TO the destination(speaker).
The Tara TFA speaker cable was designed to have one red cable (+) and one black cable (-)go to each speaker.   The Black cable (-) is known as the "return".   In the case of this cable set, the TFA  Return
( black cable ) has an extra conductor  that
acts as a drain wire and is connected electrically at the amplifier end only.

[lonewolfny42]

audiojerry wrote:

the AKSA sounds marvelous! It is warm, engaging, and highly musical. Hey, I didn't know the AKSA was a tube amp!  I'm beginning to understand why ASPEN has developed such a loyal following. I'm looking forward to spending some extended time with it.

Have fun with your audition Jerry...your words were right on target !!! [/list:u]

[AKSA]

Folks,

Apropos of Paul's last post, I've amended the rules on page 1.

There are now 12, an increase of 10.  I'm sheepish about this, but a little more explanation on operation was necessary in light of Audiojerry's comments about instructions (thanks Jerry!   ).

Thanks Paul, all should be pretty clear now.

Cheers,

Hugh

[jonwb]

I'll print out the instructions (and laminate the sheet) to include with the box when I send it out.

Jerry, I sent you a PM...

[jonwb]

Hello all,

I officially have the traveling amp...  I picked it up from audiojerry over the weekend.  Timing worked out pretty well as I just finished up my GR-Research Alpha LS line array speakers (see my avatar).

I must say I was shocked when I picked this beast up.  Woof!  It feels like a box full of lead.... what a tank!  

Short of my speakers I'm running pretty much a mid-fi system.  The weekest link is certainly the use of my Yamaha A/V receiver as my pre-amp.  I think I heard Jerry offer to let me borrow his Eastern Electric Minimax for a short spell (Jerry, please... ).  

However, even w/ my poor pre, and my speakers not fully up to speed quite yet, I have to say the amps sounds terrific.  Very full and natural sound.  That's all I want to say for now, I'll report further once I have the right parts in place.  

At this point I plan on having the amp through this coming weekend and sending it out on the following Monday.  Thanks Hugh & Occam for the opportunity to hear this amp.

Jon

[AKSA]

Jon,

Thank you for the heads up - appreciated.

Yes, it's HEAVY, those two independent power supplies - two big toroids.  And the case was designed to support truck gearboxes!  

Jon, can you say where it's going next up?  I'm anxious that JR of Boise, Idaho gets it around early December if possible, but we gotta keep shipping expenses at bay so short hops are best.....


Cheers,

Hugh

[jonwb]

Jon, can you say where it's going next up?  I'm anxious that JR of Boise, Idaho gets it around early December if possible, but we gotta keep shipping expenses at bay so short hops are best.....

I was just wondering that same thing... how do I find out who is next?  Is the fellow in Boise next?