A new memebr of the AKSA "Family"

bearddavid · « **on:** 14 Apr 2005, 12:28 pm »

Just wanted to say Hi and let the community here know that after several weeks (months maybe) of lurking and reading here followed by 2 days of email conversations with Hugh I've taken the plunge and ordered my AKSA 100 N+

If the amp is only half as good as Hugh's service and the reports on this board I'm sure I'll be delighted.

I'm in Abu Dhabi U.A.E. (although I'm from U.K.) can I claim the Middle East's first AKSA ? or does someone out there know better ??

Cheers for now

David.

andyr · « **Reply #1 on:** 14 Apr 2005, 12:44 pm »

Good on ya David, ma man!

Yes, we all had to make that leap of faith initially but I think every AKSA owner would agree:
a) that they made the RIGHT choice, and
b) they have a superbly musical amplifer which connects them emotionally with the music!! After all, what the F*&! more do ya want!!??

Of course, then you'll find that the rest of your system has to live up to the promise of your power amp!

Regards,

Andy

Rom · « **Reply #2 on:** 14 Apr 2005, 01:04 pm »

David,

I'm afraid you can't make such claim as the first AKSA but maybe the first 100WN+ as a friend of mine has one 55WN in the neighborhood of Afganistan.

Anyway, Congrats and welcome to AKSA.

Cheers
Rom

fajimr · « **Reply #3 on:** 14 Apr 2005, 02:48 pm »

hello David

Congratulations on making the plunge...er, purchase. I'm there psychologically...

Do keep us updated on your building journey... I certainly would love to hear about your experiences, electrocutions excluded of course

zachslc · « **Reply #4 on:** 14 Apr 2005, 02:58 pm »

Does UAE use 220/50?

bearddavid · « **Reply #5 on:** 14 Apr 2005, 06:52 pm »

Hi All,

Thanks for the welcome.

Andyr, I'm confident that Hugh's amp will deliver sonically and the "things more" I want -- the fun of building it and most of all the satisfaction of being able to say "I made it!"
Your comment about the rest of the system strikes a chord! but perhaps not in quite the way you meant it- I actually have a pretty good commercial sytem that I'm very happy with but the AKSA is step one in a project to construct a second system entirely home built. I hate to think where this quest will end up taking me, I'm sure it will involve a lot of fun, frustration and money!

In answer to Zachslc's question UAE uses 240V 50Hz with 13A Fused square pin plugs - exactly like my home country U.K. except that here in UAE 240 usually means 240 (mine typically measures 241) whereas back home 240 often means 250-260.

In response to Rom - oh well I can't claim "Middle East" so I guess I'll have to go for "first GCC AKSA" (Gulf Cooperatiobn Council - i.e. the Gulf Arab countries)

To fajimr - ok I will post periodic updates on my progress - I have to confess 2 things though -

(1) I chickened out on the casework and bought one of Hugh's cases (I'm desperately trying to forget the shipping cost Oz to Abu Dhabi!) Mainly because sourcing a decent case here in Abu Dhabi would be a real challenge and I lack both the skills and the facilities to make my own.

(2) Somewhere in my dim and distant past I qualified as an electrical / electronic engineer, truth be told I've worked in sales and marketing for almost 25 years and forgotten most of my electronics but it does at least mean I know which end of the soldering iron to hold and have sufficient experience of 240V shocks not to feel too intimidated! I guess I'm really saying that I'm not a total newcomer to electronics!

Lastly a thank you to Hugh for superb responsiveness, sensible advice and highly entertaining emails I know already that I'm dealing with a true Gentleman! (I'm English - that IS a compliment)

Cheers all

andyr · « **Reply #6 on:** 16 Apr 2005, 02:25 am »

Quote from: bearddavid

.... Andyr, your comment about the rest of the system strikes a chord! but perhaps not in quite the way you meant it - I actually have a pretty good commercial sytem that I'm very happy with but the AKSA is ...

David,

Please make sure you do compare the AKSA 100N+ against the "commercial" amp in your main system, when it's had, say, 400hrs on the clock (so the BGs are run in).

I know we all - and especially Hugh - will be v. keen to know how our "babies" stack up against "known names". All I know is that Hugh's AKSA creamed my old Naim 250 when I took it over to audition the AKSA ... and that was before the "N+" refinements.

Regards,

Andy

bearddavid · « **Reply #7 on:** 16 Apr 2005, 06:17 pm »

Hi Andyr,

I'll certainly do that, don't hold your breath though, there's a lot of building, not to mention component sourcing, to be done before the 400 hours run-in can begin.

I'll give an honest opinion of the comparison once I'm able to make it, in case anyone is interested in knowing something about the "commercial competition" take a look at www.avihifi.co.uk it's their integrated amp, CD player and Trio speakers. AVI is a specialist UK company and come close to Hugh in terms of personal service. Their kit is "neutral and accurate" in character and of superb build quality. It doesn't have the warmth of usually associated with "valve sound" but totally avoids the astringent aggressive sound common in SS. (I have no commercial link to AVI!)

I say all of this to put athe comparison in context, if the AKSA can outright beat the AVI I'll be amazed and delighted - if it can manage "as good but different" I'll still be delighted!

I honsetly expect the latter outcome with the AKSA having more of the "valve sound" but I'll make my judgement once I can listen to them both back to back after thorough running in.

I think that comparison is still a fair way off mind you !

cheers

David

bearddavid · « **Reply #8 on:** 15 May 2005, 06:57 pm »

Hi All,

SHE LIVES !

I'm currently listening to Norah Jones through my just completed AKSA100N+ and all I can say is fantastic! actually I was going to say f##### fantastic but thought I should maintain better manners!

If this really does improve as much as people say with running in then it's going to be one hell of an amplifier!

I had little or no trouble with the build, take yuor time, follow the excellent instructions and email Hugh when in doubt and it's really pretty easy!

I only had to ask Hugh a few questions and in reality these were mainly "I'm 95% sure that XXXXX please confirm" just to maintain my confidence.

A truly superb piece of kit and service to match -- wonder if the credit card can stand a GK1 ??????????

Cheers

Dave

I'm off to listen to Norah some more!

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #9 on:** 16 May 2005, 04:26 am »

Enjoy that AKSA 100N+...its a great amp. And over time, as things break-in...it just gets better.

Chris[/list:u]

bearddavid · « **Reply #10 on:** 16 May 2005, 05:16 am »

Hi Chris,

The rest of my system, at present, is an AVI Laboratory series integrated amp, AVI Trio loudspeakers, AVI integrated CD Player and a Pink Triangle Export turntable modified with Origin Live DC motor kit, SME 309 arm and Ortofon Kontrapunkt B cartridge.

The AVI kit is superb, but without a doubt the AKSA 100N+ equals the amplifier, a slightly different presentation but certainly as good and a little more "valve like".

I'm currently running the pre-out from the AVI into my AKSA.

My original reason for building the AKSA was the challenge of building an electronic project that was both useful and of very high quality - I'm more than delighted with the results thus far and the project has evolved somewhat as the bug has bitten. I have to confess that I'm hooked and that the AKSA is part 1 of a new project, to create an entirley "home made" system.

For a preamp I'm in email dialogue with Hugh concerning the GK-1 (non remote - the credit card has suffered enough recently) and a set of Aksonics quite appeal too. A DAKSA would be next in line and possibly the CDPRO2 CD kit. A kit turntable would follow in due course, my last project was a high quality mc phono stage.

If you'd like to know a little more about the AVI kit please see the URL a couple of posts above.

Cheers

Dave.

AKSA · « **Reply #11 on:** 19 May 2005, 11:18 pm »

David,

How is the AKSA sounding now?

Cheers,

Hugh

bearddavid · « **Reply #12 on:** 20 May 2005, 05:16 am »

Hi Hugh,

continuing to sound superb, I've tried a comparison with the AVI and it's currently impossible to pick the winner, the 100N+ seems to win at the bottom end with the AVI's treble sounding just slightly sweeter. In both cases the differences are small although clearly audible.

it is beginning to look likely that the 100N+ will win in the end since it's treble will probably smooth a little once the blck Gates settle in.

Overall - so far --

highly delighted - to anyone lurking and experiencing the "shall I shaln't I" dilemna the answeris simple - DO IT !

cheers

David

andyr · « **Reply #13 on:** 20 May 2005, 07:12 am »

Quote from: bearddavid

... my last project was a high quality mc phono stage
...

Hi, Dave,

Can you tell me more about this? PM me, perhaps, as it's a bit OT (although I've just tried to PM you and I couldn't get it to work!)

Congrats on your 100N+ ... you certainly got through that in record time!

Regards,

Andy

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #14 on:** 20 May 2005, 08:12 am »

bearddavid :

Quote

it is beginning to look likely that the 100N+ will win in the end since it's treble will probably smooth a little once the blck Gates settle in

[/list:u]That's correct Dave....it takes some time to break in, but in the end ...you should be very happy with the results. When I first received the demo tour audition amp (last year)...sounded ok at the beginning...but after about 100-150 hours...sounded awhole lot better !!! Enjoy it and thanks for your reply !!!

Chris[/list:u]

bearddavid · « **Reply #15 on:** 20 May 2005, 08:30 am »

Hi Lonewolf,

just in case anyone is in any doubt -- I'm already VERY pleased with the amp; if ,as I expect , it gets even better after a few hundred hours of use then I'll be VERY VERY VERY ..... PLEASED !

cheers

David

bearddavid · « **Reply #16 on:** 20 May 2005, 08:35 am »

Hi Andyr

I have sent you a pm although I'm not sure whether it worked, please let me know whetehr you got it - if not I'll happily either post here or send you an email.

cheers

david