[MattCassidy]

Ok it's still on for Tuesday night, anytime from 5pm or so.
Uo for the listening test are
•From Matt -  Aksa 100W nirvana (with volume pot), Arcam 73T Cd player, Quad 11l speakers,
• From Obiwan - Bel Canto Evo II amp with Dynaudio special 25 speakers
• Ian's Aksonics hooked up to amps above, TLP Nirvana hopefully Aska 55 and some fqancy cables from Lone Wolf
•From Nick Some beautiful custom made speakers by mike lanham from the gold coast Alpha 10 Cd player

We will try to give a coherant report on wednesday, but depending on the scotch intake it may or may not make any sense, so no promises.

Looking forward to it

Matt

[AKSA]

Matt, Ian, Michael, Obiwan, Nick,

We look forward to this northern extravaganza, and await your coherent ramblings with great interest!      

Cheers,

Hugh

[obiwan]

Good, was just checking to see that its confirmed. If I knew this much scotch was going to involved, I would have volunteered less equipment and caught a cab.

But nonetheless, I'll drive (and drink little). And by the way, you do realise that whatever equipment is heard last will have the advantage of sounding better due to the pleasing effect of alcohol consumed. If I have room I might bring my CD player as it has 2 sets of analogue outputs which  will make comparing interconnects easier. But maybe your Arcam Matt has 2 outputs as well, as mine is an Arcam and it does.

I won't finish work till probably 5.30 (if I'm lucky), by the time I get home, get changed, put everything in the car etc etc, I think it will be more like 6.30or 7.00 before I'm there.

Now I've just gotta find your address again in that other post Matt.

All this Arcam, Quad stuff makes it look like we've all shopped at Caxton Audio.

[MattCassidy]

Caxton Audio, yes indeed, David has served us well. look forward to meeting you tonight Trevor. Address is 15 tweed st ashgrove.

[Iced Halo]

Speaking of Caxton audio, have any of you heard the Perigee ribbon speakers there? Am very curious as to how they sound. Let us know how the meet went!

[MattCassidy]

Unfortunately the Aksa spectacular is postponed for now. Ian can't make it tonight and he is the man with the Aksonics and the TLP....But fear not it will be on again soon.

Matt

[obiwan]

Oh well, off to get some Indian takeaway and a DVD to watch on the projector instead.

But hopefully all will be well for tomorrow instead.

[bluesky]

I would like to thank Matt for making his home available for our listening pleasure.  His home by the way is a wonderfully restored Queenslander that he put a lot of effort (and good taste into).  I even went so far as to take pictures of his bathroom as inspiration to do my own renovations!

I left my Aksonics with Matt to enable him listen more, which I regret now because Keith-Louis Eichmann came to visit today and I would have loved to have his sage like advice on set up of these speakers!  I won't worry though as Keith-Louis and I will meet up again soon at the next audio club meeting in a couple of weeks time

We listened to a few CD's and it seemed that Matt liked the Aksonics.  Matt's 100 watt Aksa amp was VERY well made and a credit to him.  I managed to get him to show me his progress on the GK-1 and I have got to say his workmanship is excellent.  All the soldering showed good volcanoes and the amp had some extra bass punch that I noticed.

Unfortunately I had to leave after two hours but we agreed that we will get together again on Saturday or Sunday afternoon so we can spend more time listening and evaluating.

Cheers

Ian

[AKSA]

Hi Matt,

Any comments on the evening?  We are all holding our breath down south - and beginning to cyanose, please help us.......  

Cheers,

Hugh

[obiwan]

OK Hugh, lets get some oxygen back into your cardiovascular system.

Thanks here to Matt as well putting up with us for the afternoon. Nice to meet Ian and Nick as well.

I'm the naughty one who bought the Bel Canto eVo 2i integrated instead of the AKSA amps. We got to compare Matt's 100W AKSA Nirvana with the Bel Canto using my Dynaudio speakers. I'd have to say I probably prefered the AKSA marginally over the Bel Canto in terms of tonal balance (AKSA being warmer), and maybe the Bel Canto was a little more dynamic. When we swapped between amps, I think I preferred which ever amp was slightly louder, it was impossible really to match the sound levels.

Matts room was a much more pleasing room to listen in than my bright room at my place. I was impressed how good my speakers sounded in Matt's room. I guess I have to refurnish my lounge or move (that will be an expensive upgrade). At Matt's place I could live with either amp. I think at my place the AKSA would be the better choice.

And all this is without the AKSA preamp yet, so I think once that is done, Matt will have something very special indeed. I'd love to compare the 2 amps again then.

I think Matt said his AKSA100N has cost him about say $1100 to build. Comparing that to the $4 to $5000 AUD for the Bel Canto, makes the AKSA very good value for those with soldering skills.

Looking forward to another afternoon one day. You're welcome to use my place next time if you like, but acoustically though, my room is disappointing.

Well its almost 9.00pm, I've just got home from work, so now its time for some FOOOOOOOOOD.

Thanks to all again.

[AKSA]

Hi Obiwan (is that Kanobe?)

Thanks for your summary - very interesting comments.  I will ruefully admit I've been chasing that Bel Canto for some time since I first heard one about three years back, I do concur about the warmth.  The other issue was intermodulation;  listen carefully on complex music on the BC and try to filter out each layer in your mind.  This is, I believe, a slight criticism I have of this amp, which is otherwise outstanding and has marvellous bass presentation.

The GK1 adds considerable 'organic' qualities to the presentation, giving a human touch to the proceedings.  It enhances imaging, particularly depth and height, but it's the humanity which is the final touch.

Thanks again, enjoy your meal!

Cheers,

Hugh

[MattCassidy]

Hi all,

Sorry for may late reply, Thanks to Ian, Obiwan and Nick for coming around, and apologies to Rookster but there will be a next time for sure.

I will agree with obiwan with his comments regarding the two amps, I also would have to say the Aksa was a little easier on the ears, although I don't think anyone would be two upset listening to the BC either.. The intermodulation was an interesting comment, Nick made the point that in a particularly "busy" jazz piece that Obiwan brought over the Aksa retained the individuality of the piano which was in the middle of the mix and that is easy

As for the Aksonics, they were very impressive as well, and I probably personally preferred them to my Quad 11L's and I know that Ian did too. the mids and high's were really good cymbals sounded just like symbols, and when I swapped back to the Quads they maybe werea tad muffled. Nick and I both thought the bass was maybe a little lacking in the Aksonics althought this may have been due to tuning for the room (ie there was none). Overall they are a lovely speaker and as for value for money they would be hard to beat anywhere by anyone.

I am really looking forward to another get together sometime soonish, say aobut a month?? Then we can see some of Rooksters projects and maybe give the GK-1 a spin as well..

Oh and Hugh I will send you a PM, my 100WN has stopped making noise in the left chanel and i need to pick your brain.

Matt

[bluesky]

Hi Matt

Feel free to try some changes on the Aksonics while you have them!  The only change I made was to raise the rear panel by about four or five centimetres and it made a huge difference to the bass.    

All you need is two allen keys, loosen off the gold plated nuts and then shift the panels around, up and own and/or in and out.  Listen, then change again, switch the "air" toggle switch up or down, listen again.

The acoustic stuffing can be rearranged as well.  I have been so busy building a variety of PCB's that I haven't done proper experimentation with the Aksonics and Hugh might provide some insights into what you might try for bass enhancement.  Keep in mind that my study where my system is located is a very small room and crowded with books, CD's records, dogs, kids, cats and my computer, desk and work bench for soldering stuff and building my various bits and pieces.

I thought I could offer my place next time and the study will be cleared out and the doors closed for listening, meantime the adjoining lounge/dining area would be the chatting/eating/drinking area.  That way the listening room would be used critically for better evaluation and the talking area would be separate so as not to impinge on the listening.  Just my two cents worth.  It can be at anyones home but thats how I think it could be improved upon for next time.  

Cheers

Ian

[obiwan]

Hi Ian (Bluesky),

Don't suppose you could email me your contact details again for future reference. You wrote them out for me and I left them at Matt's place.

I loved the sound of my speakers at Matt's place, and that was with your homemade cables, but I suspect that it was Matt's room that was the major reason for the improvement in sound compared to at my place. Don't suppose you've dabbled in room treatments have you? Was looking at the following site last night and thought should I buy some rigid fibreglass and stick it up on the walls at strategic locations.

http://www.ethanwiner.com/acoustics.html

My email address is [email protected]

Trevor

[Malcolm Fear]

Hi Ian
Did you get to audition any of the Lonewolf cables at your shindig?
Any comments?

[bluesky]

Hi Malcolm

I will PM you tonight when I have more time about my impressions, gotta go to school now!

Ian