AKSA, DK, TacT, and Butler

Carlman · « **on:** 28 Oct 2005, 09:14 pm »

Oh my!

In the past year or so, I've 'rolled systems' quite a bit. I have no point with this post other than the fact that I'm amazed when I look back at it.

I built an AKSA amp and decided it was the best amp I'd ever heard. To this day, I would be willing to say it's as good as any I've heard and is a flavor I still enjoy. I decided for some reason that having an integrated amp would look sexier in my room. (I wanted a phono pre, pre, and amp all in one for size and simplicity reasons.)

Enter the highly-touted DK Design.... Great ballsy amp, as good as the AKSA in some regards but not quite as refined somehow. Refined is likely the wrong word but it was different and still 'good'. Oh, and the phono preamp was complete trash. As predicted by many, the value went down $100 each month I owned it... I think I sold it at its nadir, we'll see...

As some may know, I made a promise to my wife of not buying gear for a year last December. I *almost* made it.

But I was so blown away at what room correction did I *had* to have it. I was dealing with Shane (my local dealer) who I must say has been EXTREMELY helpful thoughout my "audio-odyssey." He told me about not only an integrated but an integrated that did room correction also... WOW! That's *IT*

(I thought)... So, on to the next shiny new piece of gear...

Well, the TacT 2150x is a good idea but I couldn't get it to work the way I wanted and the interface was a little weird and I decided that really wasn't the right device for me... yet again... a change... my wife is ready to shoot me now.

(and with good reason)

So, where now... ? I'll likely end up with a TacT 2.0... gotta have that room correction... paired with an amp of some sort.. likely a Butler, maybe a 2150.. maybe an AKSA... don't know. Just depends on deals, timing, etc.. we'll see...

I've learned a lot of things in the process but one important one was don't make promises you can't keep!

Other things I've learned... it's about the music not the gear... a music PC makes a lot of sense.... room treatments are great but digital room correction makes it much better... room nodes are important.... measure 3 times cut once...

OK well, hope you enjoyed sharing my little mental journey today... hope others can pipe in with their experiences.

NealH · « **Reply #1 on:** 28 Oct 2005, 09:57 pm »

The life of an audiophile is not an easy one. These were the infamous words of Peter Azcel and they are as true today as yesterday, if not more so. I too keep searching for that magic combo, or system, that I can finally throw in the towell and bid farewell to headaches and empty pockets. But I have a feeling it isn't going to happen.

Speaking of Shane, I have not seen much of him lately around this forum. Is he taking a break or something? I just looked at his website and, as it has been for the last year, it's still partly under construction. Heck, he only lives a couple blocks from me so I could drop by and see if he is alive. But then again, when one visits him they emerge "blown away", and with the headaches of figuring out how to buy and what promises to break.

Carlman · « **Reply #2 on:** 28 Oct 2005, 11:18 pm »

Shane's been a bit under-the-weather lately.... and taking care of business at the same time. So, if you stop by give him a call first.

I'm happy I've at least found a couple elements of 'the magic combo'.

-C

BikeWNC · « **Reply #3 on:** 29 Oct 2005, 02:51 am »

Carl, you know that I have a TacT 2.0 for sale right? Let me know if you're interested. I promise not to tell your wife.

Andy

zybar · « **Reply #4 on:** 29 Oct 2005, 03:35 am »

Quote from: Carlman

Oh my!

In the past year or so, I've 'rolled systems' quite a bit. I have no point with this post other than the fact that I'm amazed when I look back at it.

I built an AKSA amp and decided it was the best amp I'd ever heard. To this day, I would be willing to say it's as good as any I've heard and is a flavor I still enjoy. I decided for some reason that having an integrated amp would look sexier in my room. (I wanted a phono pre, pre, and amp all in one for size and simplicity reasons.)

Enter ...

Carl,

Sounds very similar to my own journey over the last year or so (except for the integrated part).

Room correction, room treatment, and proper setup will do wonders for ALL gear - period!!

Add in some pc based music and reasonably priced ic's/cable and you really have something cooking.

Enjoy those tunes and let your wife know that you are getting closer and closer to being able to keep that promise...

George

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #5 on:** 29 Oct 2005, 04:27 am »

Carlman :

Quote

Oh my!

In the past year or so, I've 'rolled systems' quite a bit. I have no point with this post other than the fact that I'm amazed when I look back at it.

[/list:u]

Chris[/list:u]

Carlman · « **Reply #6 on:** 29 Oct 2005, 02:00 pm »

Good point, Mr. Wolf... I have had fun... and am continuing to do so... BTW, I got the Straley's back... ahhhhh.... that's better...

I do know I'll be holding on to these cables for a long time.

-C

Rocket · « **Reply #7 on:** 30 Oct 2005, 12:52 am »

Hi Guys,

I've swapped a few pm's with carlman and lonewolf about my own audio odyssey which started in January. I also had an aksa 100 nirvana plus which sounded vibrant in my system and had my foot tapping on a nightly basis.

I took the amp to my local hifi store and compared it to a belcanto evo 2 gen 2 and it didn't compete with the amplifier and sounded slow in comparison. I also didn't like the diy look of the amplifier and decided to scower the internet for a replacement.

After reading about 50 reviews (all positive except for one) i imported a ps audio hca - 2 which cost me about $2000au. In its unmodded form this amplifier really is a bit of a stinker and i cannot understand how it Ever received its class a stereophile status. I modded the amp replacing 4 signal caps with blackgates. It sounded much much better but still lacked the excitement which the aksa gave me in my system. I had an intermittent fault and i removed the amp board and sent it to ps audio for repair. After the repair i sent it off to a person in texas who has extensive knowledge upgrading the hca -2. He replaced 45 components on the amp board and back in my system the amp sounded very very good. It had a wonderful flavour and i listened to my system again on a nightly basis.

I took the amp to a friend's house to show it off to him and plugged it into his diy powerboard. Unfortunately it blew my amp up and no technician in perth could repair it for me. I sent the amp back to ps audio and at this stage this is where it is currently located waiting for repair.

I had a few dollars left over and decided to buy another amp as a backup. The dealer gave me a 30 day unconditional money back guarantee and i decided to buy it. After burning the amp in for about 400 hours i decided it just didn't sound any good in my system.

I have now purchased a spread spectrum technologies 'son of ampzilla' for a very good price and should collect it on monday. I'm hoping this amp sounds good as my confidence in believing the opinions of audiophiles is low at the moment.

I cannot write and structure a review like some professional and amateur audiophiles can but i do know the sound that i like. I think that i have been taken in by some of the overstated reviews that i have read on the internet regarding these different products.

At this stage i wish i had left well enough alone and kepty my aksa. I keep thinking that with all the money i had spent on my hifi pursuit this year i could be holidaying on some exotic island relaxing on the beach.

Now your probably wondering how i'm paying for all the equipment i've purchased in the last year. I'm working a second job (operating a mobile rock climbing wall) and not listening to my system

Oh well, the search continues

Regards

Rod

Geoff-AU · « **Reply #8 on:** 30 Oct 2005, 05:42 am »

Carlman, Rocket... which version of AKSA did you guys build?

I recently built the base model AKSA 55 and Rod Elliott's P88 pre-amp, into separate 2RU and 1RU enclosures respectively. I also have a Rotel 965BX CD player (not the most detailed player but renowned for its smooth, relaxed, "vinyl-like" presentation of the music) and a pair of DIY bookshelf speakers I made a few years ago with Vifa drivers in them.

This system is definitely not the pinnacle of hi-fi by any means, but it has a synergy to it which makes it sound very enjoyable none the less. I was VERY surprised just how much difference new amplification made, with the new electronics replacing a 30 year old Sansui integrated amp that previously sounded more likeable than a NAD C320!! I was also expecting to have to upgrade my speakers immediately after completing the amp projects but this pair has wrung some impressive quality out of my existing speakers.

Although I feel bad for your odysseys trying to surpass the AKSA, I must say I'm very happy that the AKSA is such a well regarded amp and that I didn't waste time building a lesser piece of gear

Next step in my search for nirvana will be replacing the speakers, and trying a few different output op-amps in my CD player in search of a little more detail. Maybe then I'll be ready for an N+ upgrade on the AKSA or a different pre-amp..... it continues

Rocket · « **Reply #9 on:** 30 Oct 2005, 11:51 am »

Hi Geoff,

If you like the sound of your aksa it is my recommendation that you stick with it and upgrade to nirvana plus imo.

If you live in australia you should give war audio here in perth a go. Pat has affordable speaker kits selling for $500au plus and you won't be disappointed. I haven't heard the aksa speaker and i can't comment on their sound.

I have a pair of war audio speakers which i've had for 6 years. I am in the process of building a zalytron speaker kit which hopefully will be completed in a few months time (subject to money).

If you have a look at the different forum on audiocircle you can order speaker kits from gr research which have a good reputation.

Don't listen and believe all the hyperbole you read on the internet regarding different products.

Regards

Rod

Carlman · « **Reply #10 on:** 30 Oct 2005, 01:28 pm »

Quote from: Rocket

Don't listen and believe all the hyperbole you read on the internet regarding different products.
...

I think Rod has had more audio bad-luck that anyone I know... Which is sad because he's definitely one of the 'good guys' in this world.

I have fallen for a few 'rave reviews' myself but have done well to figure out what's really good for me.... If a review is coming from someone I don't know personally or haven't been in the same room, the review is 99% useless. (1% is just the fun of reading it)

I've reviewed less of my gear for this reason... Of the 6-10 people that have been in my room, how many are really in the market for new gear and value my reviews? 1 or 2? Likely none. So it almost seems pointless. I'm a huge fan of 'hearing it for myself' and I wish more people were willing to pay a little shipping to do the same thing. I think a lot of people get caught up in the 'magic' of guessing/dreaming how wonderful some gear is... and are then let down... (kind of like a blind-date where your mate chatted up the girl

)

I like LW's reviews when he says 'I tried it, I liked it, I bought it.' What's more to say really? If you know what Wolfy likes, you are likely going to like it too! (as long as his tastes haven't changed) And, BTW, this happens to me... my tastes change or I decide that what sounded good yester-year doesn't sound good in this one.

Anyway, there's a lot to consider when reading (and writing) reviews. I've established a few friends with different tastes that I can trust to tell me what they heard and how they liked it. And sometimes they'll even tell me why...

Which is the best case scenario if I can't actually listen myself.... So, I can then purchase or try the stuff.

I wish Rod could've saved his money and taken a trip to NY for the big Rave at Daniel's. That way you could've heard a lot of gear, gotten a lot of opinions... oh, and had a lot of fun.

Best of luck, Rod... and to all audiophiles chasing 'the audio dream'...

Agisthos · « **Reply #11 on:** 31 Oct 2005, 11:21 am »

Rocket did you try the Nuforce amps which waraudio stocks there in perth?

Rocket · « **Reply #12 on:** 31 Oct 2005, 01:36 pm »

Hi Agisthos,

Although i started the nuforce thread i haven't purchased one of the amps. I was just asking if anyone had heard one of the amps as i was pretty impressed with the sound for the price being asked and before i knew it the product became very popular.

I have bought a spread spectrum technologies 'son of ampzilla' and received it tonight and i'm just warming it up for a good listen tomorrow.

It sounds very tube like and laid back at this stage.

I need a keeper in my system.

Regards

Rod

Agisthos · « **Reply #13 on:** 31 Oct 2005, 02:25 pm »

I didnt think you had bought nuforce, I just thought you at least would have heard them and be considering to buy, since you are familiar with War Audio and go in there.

Just out of interest which companies do you use for sending amps back and forth internationally? Postage can be a killer once you get above 10kg

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #14 on:** 2 Nov 2005, 05:17 am »

Rocket:

Quote

I have bought a spread spectrum technologies 'son of ampzilla' and received it tonight and i'm just warming it up for a good listen tomorrow.

[/list:u]

Chris[/list:u]

Rocket · « **Reply #15 on:** 2 Nov 2005, 01:45 pm »

Hi Chris,

Funnily i just sent you a pm just before reading this post.

I've told the oz dealer that i will be keeping the amplifier. The 'son of ampzilla' does sound a little different from what i'm used to and May possibly be a little too smooth but it does many things right.

Vocals on this amp are very good and no other product has sounded as good in my system. The amp may not be quite as transparent as my modded ps audio hca - 2 (i'm relying on sonic memory) but it sounds right to my ears.

Its good having an amp that sounds excellent without using behemoth (n.e.w. dc -66 battery amp) batteries or having to mod the amp to get it to sound any good.

Regards

Rod

ps now all i have to do is pay off my credit card.
pss the blue faceplate doesn't look that bad imo

Carlman · « **Reply #16 on:** 8 Nov 2005, 01:55 pm »

Well, the latest part of the saga continues and it's looking more and more like the combo I will keep is all TacT gear. This may be no surprise but I stayed objective as I compared the TacT 2150, Butler 2-channel, and Nuforce Ref 9 amps this weekend.

The Butler is such a nice sounding amp but not quite punchy enough for me. The TacT sounds more like the AKSA where it just seems effortless and with gobs in reserve for dynamics. The TacT excels in PRAT, detail and impact. The Butler had a little sweeter, prettier mids but I wasn't willing to give up the punch and PRAT for it.... The Nuforce amps provided more bass than the others but wasn't what I liked up top. However, it was the least broken-in piece and the power cords I'm using aren't the best so, I'm going to hold onto it until it breaks in a bit more and I get better PC's to try.

Anywho, looks like I'm going all TacT and all black. Everything will match and look nice if that works out. I'm spending a lot more than I'd hoped but that's the way it goes sometimes.... The sound is grrrrreat, though.

-C

Rocket · « **Reply #17 on:** 8 Nov 2005, 02:09 pm »

Hi Carlman,

Hope you have luck with the new amplifier purchase. Btw how much is the tact?

Regards

Rod

Carlman · « **Reply #18 on:** 8 Nov 2005, 02:15 pm »

They're about 3,k each (2.0S preamp and S2150 amp).
This is the amp.
However I'm trying to work something out for a little better deal since TacT released the 2150x which isn't quite ready for release yet... which caused me months of waiting and various grief....

OBF · « **Reply #19 on:** 8 Nov 2005, 08:32 pm »

Carl, have you decided subs are not needed or wanted for your speakers/ music tastes (hence the 2.0S)?