A Brief Note on the Aksonics

bluesky · « **on:** 2 Nov 2004, 08:18 am »

Hi Everyone

I just wish to make the observation that each time I upgrade my front end the Aksonics speakers I have built more than keep pace with whatever improvements I have done.

My latest upgrade upgrade was to install a Tent clock, some FRED diodes in the power supply and a couple of Black Gates in my CD player. Suddenly, I had what seemed like an extra octave in both the bass and the top end. Resolution increased markedly. The speakers now just disappear and the only thing left is............music.

And that is just how it is supposed to be.

Ian

cmscott6 · « **Reply #1 on:** 2 Nov 2004, 02:41 pm »

Hi Ian,

May I just second your experience? I did similar upgrades to my cd, new tubes for my phono pre, and a new C2 on the Aksa 55. I had exactly the same result. Jazz combo recordings I thought I knew well suddenly had new low bass notes I had never heard before. Especially on tunes where the bass was mic'ed (instead of using a pickup), I can hear the great woody resonance and overtones of the bass. I didn't know the Aksonics could go so low with still great detail!

Wow!

Chris

bluesky · « **Reply #2 on:** 2 Nov 2004, 05:07 pm »

Hi Chris

Yes indeed! When I first got the kit from Hugh and the the two drivers from a local company I thought someone had made a mistake with the woofer size as they seemed so small to me. However Hugh assured that they were in fact the right size. I still find it remarkable how deep they can go and no doubt I will continue to be surprised as my system evolves further.

My next step is to build a proper stand, after over a year the gear is still sitting on the floor! Does anyone else do this? I keep working on adding new components and tweaking things instead of building the stand and proper cases for the amps, everything is ready I just need to assemble it but keep doing some other small thing that I have read about to improve the sound. Perhaps a bad case of audiophilia nervosa

Cheers

Ian

cmscott6 · « **Reply #3 on:** 3 Nov 2004, 03:10 pm »

Hey, Ian, you might try a Flexirack for a stand. Pretty simple design gives you a wide array of material choices depending on your decor. I made a pretty rough and ready version out of threaded rod and maple veneered plywood...

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?action=gallery;area=browse;album=326 http://

Good Luck!

Chris

CButterworth · « **Reply #4 on:** 4 Nov 2004, 07:16 pm »

I'll second Chris on the Flexirack. I haven't yet veneered the shelf tops - it'll soon have either maple or birch finish. But they really seem to work, even better when the undersides of the shelves have been coated with a dampening paint (I bought Plasti-dip spray from Home Depot).

The rack is also easy to make.

Charlie

kyrill · « **Reply #5 on:** 4 Nov 2004, 08:34 pm »

Quote from: bluesky

Hi Everyone

I just wish to make the observation that each time I upgrade my front end the Aksonics speakers I have built more than keep pace with whatever improvements I have done.

My latest upgrade upgrade was to install a Tent clock, some FRED diodes in the power supply and a couple of Black Gates in my CD player. Suddenly, I had what seemed like an extra octave in both the bass and the top end. Resolution increased markedly. The speakers now just disappear and the only thing left is............music.

And that is just how it is supposed to be.

Ian

Hi Ian

You touch upon my "secret"
no GK-1/AKSA/Aksonic output can shine more thruthfully than its input.
No gesture made can be purer than its intention

Clean your power source and your input and you realize how musical the philosphy of Aspen AU is.

bluesky · « **Reply #6 on:** 5 Nov 2004, 12:30 am »

Hi guys

Thanks for the response. I tried assembling my stand and found it was unstable with the configuration I had, therefore I will try and source some of the threaded steel rods to complete the stand.

Chris, I noticed you have the Hagtech Cornet, by coincidence I have just received this same kit but not built it yet, how do you find it?

Kyrill, I have just built and installed a LC Audio mains filter and will install some Nichicon KG caps in the power supply of my Aksa 55watt Nirvana. Unfortunately I can't afford the Nirvana Plus and GK-1 kits at the moment but hope to do so sometime in the future and at that stage I will try and stop the upgrading (note I said try).

Cheers

Ian

CButterworth · « **Reply #7 on:** 5 Nov 2004, 04:49 pm »

You can get the threaded steel rod at home improvement stores such as Lowes or Home Depot.

My flexi-rack is short - 2ft tall and sits on top of a beefy, low standing table. The shelves are 24.5 x 17 inches, 3/4 inch MDF, which I bought at Lowes and had cut by them into four shelves - I even have a huch amount of MDF left. So far, I have only used three shelves.

I used 1/2 inch steel rod and drilled 5/8 inch holes in the shelves to provide a little separation between shelf and steel rod for better isolation.

Anyway, full details are on TNT-audio.com

Regards,
Charlie

cmscott6 · « **Reply #8 on:** 6 Nov 2004, 01:49 am »

Hey, Ian.

You'll love the Nichicon KG's in your AKSA PS!

I am using the Hagerman Cornet phono pre. (Sorry, Hugh, got back into vinyl after I had bought the GK-1

) It's the only pre I've used since I bought my new TT this year, so I can't compare it to any other. I really enjoy it though - it's a great match to Aksa 55/GK-1/Aksonics. One thing about the Cornet - you can really change the sound depending on the tubes. I started with GE 5751's, but I had almost no bass. Tried Sovtek 12ax7lps's - plenty of bass, now. Changing the au7 changed things as well, to the point that I'm contemplating the mod to replace it with a 6sn7. Oh, well, plenty of tinkering there.

For the flexirack, I just used off-the-shelf 3/4" maple/birch ply from Home Depot and finished it with Danish wood oil. I'm still trying to decide what to use as feet on the rod. I just have cheap rubber bump-ons now. Anyone have any suggestions? I also used some self-adhesive damping sheets on the underside of the shelves supporting the GK-1 and cd player. I'm not sure if I could tell any difference, but I left them on anyway.

Let me know how you like your Cornet/mods.

Chris

bluesky · « **Reply #9 on:** 6 Nov 2004, 02:01 am »

Hi Chris

I will certainly put some effort into changing the power supply caps and getting some threaded steel rods to build my own flexi rack. I also have to build the Cornet.

The trouble is I have to concentrate on finishing two guitar amps and preamps for my son and his mate for their garage band as well as build some speakers for them. I also have to finish a bench power supply and an oscilloscope kit in order to test everything properly.

Oh well, at least I am gaining an awful lot of experience and learning a lot along the way, I will be in contact as soon as I have finished all these projects!

Oh, and thanks for the advice on the tubes, I will try and source some here in Australia as well as a suitable transformer. I would imagine the shipping costs of a heavy transformer would be quite high from the States.

Getting back on thread, what do you use for the speakers cables? To date I have just been using Hugh's suggestion of 15 amp auto wire, certainly can't complain about it though, well I could, but who'd listen.

Ian

cmscott6 · « **Reply #10 on:** 6 Nov 2004, 02:57 pm »

Hey, Ian.

I just use that teflon cat5e - 8 loosely braided strands per +'ve and -'ve. I can't complain with the sound, and I got the wire for free.

Chris