AKSA 100 w/ Nirvana in NC

Carlman · « **on:** 12 Mar 2003, 05:50 pm »

I have recently completed an AKSA amplifier kit. (with much help from Hugh Dean and the AKSA forum)...

When I originally bought this amp I had no chance of auditioning it so, I thought I'd provide a place to do just that. So, I decided to post here and start taking suggestions or getting an idea of interest.

I'm not willing to travel more than 50 miles from Durham, NC. I'm only willing to do this once, I'm not going on tour.

My 'sound room' is actually my living room and it may not be perfect but, I think it'll do. If someone else is willing to host, suggest it. My setup is fairly friendly to add a second amp for comparison. I have the B&K ST-140 the AKSA replaced and anyone is free to bring any amp (and/or speakers) they'd like. (I have 2 pre-outs on my preamp) I can totally rearrange my room for better listening. Which is a 12x30' room in a townhouse. I think the number of amps and speakers should be under 3 each.

I'd like to do this in April sometime. Reply here with suggestions and questions... or email me at 'cmcmillan3@yahoo.com'

I am currently using this equipment:
Revel F30 speakers
AI 2-d preamp
Arcam Alpha 8 CD player
Museatex bitstream DAC (soon to be modded by John Wright)
Sony 600 turntable w/ Adcom cartridge
Kimber PBJ/KC-1 interconnects
I have a few sets of speaker wire; Canare, Kimber 4TC, and Audio Magic.

Thanks and let me know if you're interested.

-Carl

Hantra · « **Reply #1 on:** 12 Mar 2003, 09:17 pm »

Carl:

Glad you finally got that done, and I can't wait to hear it!

I wouldn't mind hosting, but in April, I'll have 96db efficient speakers, and they don't fare well with big amps. Bigger amps are idling to drive these things to 100db.

Wherever we have it, I am looking forward to hanging with all the NC guys again. . .

B

Rocket · « **Reply #2 on:** 13 Mar 2003, 09:39 am »

hello carl,

i was just curious to find out your thoughts on the sound quality of your aksa 100 (nirvana) amp?

did i steer you in the right direction?

regards

rod

Carlman · « **Reply #3 on:** 13 Mar 2003, 01:50 pm »

I was going to wait a while to post full results. That way, the AKSA could get fully burned in, warmed up, etc.

When I first hooked it up, it was to a pair of old Energy ESM's in my garage. However, it's the best those speakers have ever sounded. The midrange was especially accurate.

After a while, I couldn't wait. I felt confident that it was wired correctly so, zip-tied everything together and listened to it in the main system.

I think my initial reaction was "holy f'ing wow." Not what I usually use to describe hifi. It's by far the best I've ever heard. The vocals are so real. Everything has a nice presence. My room is limiting me now. The imaging suffers because I just don't have the room. However, the imaging is more accurate than what I had. Everything is more accurate, musical, and revealing. Also, everything stays together with higher volume. Before, the sound got confused and sounded pretty bad... now it's like I have a V8 instead of a 4 cylinder. It just gives more of that great sound as the volume increases.

So, yes, Rod, you suggested the perfect solution.

I am EXTREMELY happy with the AKSA. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

This amp fixed everything I was noticing was wrong about my current amp. No grain, perfect bass, perfect midrange. The only flaws now are my DAC.... which I will be getting rebuilt very soon.

I've only had 1 serious listening session which was last night. I played Norah J, Coltrane, Radiohead, and Sting. My system rocks. It'll be cool to see what others have to say when they hear it. I'm going to do an A/B comparison between the AKSA and the B&K for my wife to show her what all the fuss was about.

I'm at the point now where I want to try a few different speaker cables and make sure I've got the best case scenario for my combo.

DTH · « **Reply #4 on:** 13 Mar 2003, 09:47 pm »

I've had one of those projects in the back of my mind and I would love to hear what it sounds like when you get around to doing this.

Rocket · « **Reply #5 on:** 14 Mar 2003, 12:57 pm »

hello carl,

okay by reading your post it looks like you've had a similiar experience to me. i was a bit nervous when you purchased the amp after my recommendation, not that i don't think the amp isn't excellent. it's just that we all have different tastes with our music, some ppl like a dark, warm or tubey sound.

i guess i must like a tube sound, may'be that's why i like the aksa amp. by the end of the year i'll be buying the nirvana upgrade kit as my amp is the stock version, i find it hard to believe that it can sound any better.

anyway best of luck and happy listening.

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?action=gallery;area=browse;album=37

i haven't posted pictures previously and i'm not sure if this will work but here is a poor quality picture of the aksa.

regards

rod

Carlman · « **Reply #6 on:** 30 Apr 2003, 08:46 pm »

I'll be taking the AKSA to a fellow audiophile's house on May 18th. He lives in Apex, NC. If you are interested in hearing it then and there, please let me know. He's got a nice sound room. I have not yet asked if I could bring a friend or 2 but, I wanted to see if anyone was interested before I asked.
Thanks,
Carl

DTH · « **Reply #7 on:** 1 May 2003, 04:39 am »

Hey, thanks for the offer(at least I think you were bringing this up to me) but I have a close friend in town that weekend. I think we are going to head to the beach, or the mountains, or one of those things that make NC good.

Todd