SLA1 in the house-WOW!!!!

doug s. · « **Reply #20 on:** 4 Jun 2003, 02:34 pm »

hi keith, among other things, you say:

"...Yes, direct manufactured audio gear can be good, but i would say it is the exception, rather than the norm..."
=================
while i don't disagree w/this statement, i feel it applies equally to audio gear marketed at bricks-&-mortar stores. 90% of *everyting* is crap, after all!

and, the nature of the biz means that yure gonna pay more for the bricks-&-mortar product, than for equivalent-technology direct-market product.

as for modding stuff decreasing the walue, except for collector stuff like old mcintosh or old toobed marantz, etc, i tink most folk would be happy to pay more for a modded product, if they knew what the mods were. if i'm mistaken, then i'd be happy to pay less than $100 for a modded di/o, if anyone has one they wanna unload.

regards,

doug s.

audiojerry · « **Reply #21 on:** 4 Jun 2003, 03:19 pm »

peakrchau,
Thanks for offering some insights. It looks like this was your first post. If so, hello and welcome. I hope you are not another one of those recent 'nice guys' who mask a hidden agenda behind the appearance of providing help to the general membership.

I recently picked up a Bryston 2B 50wpc amplifier, and I'm curious to find out how it would compare to something like the SLA, IRD, Aspen, or norH. I'd be willing to send it around to trusted members if they would agree to compare it to their amp and post a review of their impressions. It only weighs about 15 pounds so it wouldn't cost that much to ship. But it does require a preamp or passive volume device. I only ask that it be returned to me at the end. It would be fun to learn how some of the factory-direct products compare to a venerable old amp like Bryston.

doug s. · « **Reply #22 on:** 4 Jun 2003, 03:28 pm »

jerry, peak's ok - i've communicated w/him on the yahoo diomods site for some time now. how he discovered this site, i believe...

re: sending yer amp around, another alternative is to buy an amp like the art; most vendors offer 30-45 day-no-questions asked return policy...

doug s.

peakrchau · « **Reply #23 on:** 4 Jun 2003, 04:54 pm »

Quote from: audiojerry

peakrchau,
Thanks for offering some insights. It looks like this was your first post. If so, hello and welcome. I hope you are not another one of those recent 'nice guys' who mask a hidden agenda behind the appearance of providing help to the general membership.

I recently picked up a Bryston 2B 50wpc amplifier, and I'm curious to find out how it would compare to something like the SLA, IRD, Aspen, or norH. I'd be willing to send it around to trusted members if they would agree to compare it to their a ...

Yes, it was my first post. I put together a http://www.angelfire.com/ca/rchau/audio/sla-1.html">SLA-1 Page last night. I've poked around here on this site and on the Harmonic Discord site until Boulder Cables (DI/O upgrade) moved over here. I think I'm a nice guy...you can take a look at my audio pages and form your own label. There are a set of links there that captures most of this "nice guy" story. I know someone that I'll be visiting who has a Bryston Amp (maybe 4B) with a passive DACT volume control, so I might be able to comment in a week or so.

A quick listen last night confirmed that the amp does require burn-in and is "opening" up as it runs. When it has settled down, I'll plop in my old integrated NAD 3020 to size things up. At this point, I say it is a great entry point for the budding audiophile that does not want to mess around with tubes and is looking beyond "mid-fi".

One last comment: The weak point in most people's system is the hi-level preamp section that does the gaining and equalization. Most of the tone controls need to use large electrolytics to block DC current from entering and deteriorating the wiper. By essentially designing a cleaner (dual mono, no tone controls) high level section into the "amp", the SLA-1 can take line level inputs (i.e. CD, tuner, tape deck...but only one) and reap the benefits one would get if they connected their CD player directly to a power amp.

PeAK

cheers,
PeAK

Wayne1 · « **Reply #24 on:** 4 Jun 2003, 05:20 pm »

Howdy Peak,

Welcome to AC

All this talk about the SLA-1 has gotten my interest up.

I just ordered one from my bud Erik at Full Compass.

I should have it in about 7-10 days. Erik says they have had a lot of interest and sales of this amp lately.

I'll let it break-in stock and then maybe force Jason, Tyson, brad b and mgalusha to listen to it and offer their opinions.

Then, maybe, I'll start rippin' it apart and try out some different mods.

Andrew JC · « **Reply #25 on:** 4 Jun 2003, 06:49 pm »

Wayne

Keep us posted on how it works out. I can see it now the Bolder SLAyer amp

Should I run to the patent office on that one? It would be interesting to compare the SLA against the Le Amp 2.

Wayne1 · « **Reply #26 on:** 4 Jun 2003, 07:49 pm »

Andrew,

GREAT NAME

I would think a copyright would be all that is needed.

I may have to talk to you about a licensing fee

audiojerry · « **Reply #27 on:** 4 Jun 2003, 09:00 pm »

Unfortunately, there is a buyer for the Bryston, so it won't be available for comparisons. Sorry.

peakrchau · « **Reply #28 on:** 4 Jun 2003, 09:59 pm »

Quote from: Wayne1

Howdy Peak,

Welcome to AC

All this talk about the SLA-1 has gotten my interest up.

I just ordered one from my bud Erik at Full Compass.

I should have it in about 7-10 days. Erik says they have had a lot of interest and sales of this amp lately.

I'll let it break-in stock and then maybe force Jason, Tyson, brad b and mgalusha to listen to it and offer their opinions.

Then, maybe, I'll start rippin' it apart and try out some different mods.

Hey Wayne,

Sorry I couldn't make it to Lima to see you demo your wares at the Mid-West Audio Show. I think I know the type of sound that you and your cohorts (Jason, Tyson, etc) aspire to...so I look forward to your comments. The unit runs great (no overheating problems) without the fan and with the top cover off in my setup.

The interest in this amp looks like the second coming of the DI/O....looking forward to your mods. I expect the the phono plugs will go first so that your can use your M80 cables on RCA jacks.

cheers,
PeAK

Wayne1 · « **Reply #29 on:** 4 Jun 2003, 10:32 pm »

Actually most of us are using Bybee Nitros

I do have a question for you and any others who have picked up this amp.

Would you be interested in a high quality 1/4" male phone plug to RCA female?

I could build these from the Neutrik gold plated phone plugs and Cardas GRFA Rhodium plated RCAs.

This would be an easy way to use your own cables without voiding warranty or using the poor quality RatShack adaptors.

I will guestimate about $60.00-$65.00 for the pair.

peakrchau · « **Reply #30 on:** 4 Jun 2003, 11:06 pm »

Quote from: Wayne1

Actually most of us are using Bybee Nitros

I do have a question for you and any others who have picked up this amp.

Would you be interested in a high quality 1/4" male phone plug to RCA female?

I could build these from the Neutrik gold plated phone plugs and Cardas GRFA Rhodium plated RCAs.

This would be an easy way to use your own cables without voiding warranty or using the poor quality RatShack adaptors.

I will guestimate about $60.00-$65.00 for the pair.

Wayne...that is about 1/3 the cost of the DI/O

...you pays for the last 10% of improvement.

I think the more interesting project might be coming up with a differential output stage for the DI/O so that you could use XLR cables to connect to the balanced input of the SLA-1

nature boy · « **Reply #31 on:** 4 Jun 2003, 11:19 pm »

PeAK,

I like your suggestion a lot, especially since I'm in line for Wayne's MENSA audition kit and have a modified ART SLA-1 on order. Seems like this would maximize the performance of the two units. Now the only thing for this vinyl junkie is to hunt down a synergistic phono stage for this fabulous modified ART DUO.

NB

nature boy · « **Reply #32 on:** 4 Jun 2003, 11:30 pm »

Change that to ARTful DUO.

NB

Occam · « **Reply #33 on:** 4 Jun 2003, 11:50 pm »

Peak,

Thanks for you responses about SLA-1 and your informative website. They've been tremendously helpful in trying to suss out the architecture.
Yet another question -

On your site - http://www.angelfire.com/ca/rchau/audio/sla-1.html

on the bottom right photo, there appears to be an IC(s) framed by the crossing brown wires, just to the left of those small electrolytics that the brown wires appear to be resting upon, what are they?

Thanks in advance, yet again,
Paul

d911 · « **Reply #34 on:** 5 Jun 2003, 12:00 am »

Bare with me for a moment. I want to take a moment to flat out APOLOGIZE. I have behaved badly to say the least. Though zealous, I could have and should have presented myself in a more forthcoming manner. I accept the responsibility of my action and I throw myself on the mercy of the "forum tribunal", all kidding aside, I really do apologize to the audio community at large.

Best regards,
d911

PS> I will be posting this apology on all sites affected.

Andrew JC · « **Reply #35 on:** 5 Jun 2003, 12:47 am »

No fee necessary

. Just let us know how it sounds after you work your magic on it, then we can talk. Best of luck on the new project!

d911 · « **Reply #36 on:** 5 Jun 2003, 01:09 am »

Quote from: Andrew JC

No fee necessary . Just let us know how it sounds after you work your magic on it, then we can talk. Best of luck on the new project!

Will do.

Regards,
d911

JohnR · « **Reply #37 on:** 5 Jun 2003, 01:44 am »

PeAK: any interest in facilitating a Modder's Circle?

Occam · « **Reply #38 on:** 5 Jun 2003, 02:49 am »

Quote from: d911

Quote from: Andrew JC
No fee necessary . Just let us know how it sounds after you work your magic on it, then we can talk. Best of luck on the new project!

Will do.

Regards,
d911

From a theological perspective, absolution requires full and complete allocution of sins. While being caught 'in flagrante delicto' with Dilbert, I've seen no acknowledgement of Jack Seaton, another pudpuppet. Whether a real or 'imaginary' cohort, cahoots is cahoots (isn't it amazing that both have owned Tube Research amps, ain't the sychronicity of the universe just amazing). d911's indignation over the wrongs done him by Audiogon over his disengenuous pimping is truly precious.

As to telling us what you think of your own mods, who gives a rat's ass?

The engineering expertise shared on the Audiogon thread, was nothing more than what can be gleaned by a competent reading of advise offered by Jon Rish, Bob Crump and John Curl on AA, or Fred D, (H.H.) on DiyAudio, my fave. BSEE he may be, but there has been absolutely no technical information shared, or demonstrated. As I've not even seen a prototype on the DNA site, its reality, in light of what has transpired, can only be judged by each of us, by our own metrics.

Given that Mr. Nance is a medical student ( or is what was said on Audiogon total BS?), why would anyone think he would have the time to support his product. Will he provide schematics for all his mods (like Stan Warren), so the buyer is not left holding the bag, when he moves on to his residency? (or moves on to his next hustle).Why anyone would trust a person who has acted in such a manner strains credulity.

If the SLA-1 is indeed a great product, amenable to modification, there will be SLA-1 modification sites soon enough, just like there are for the DIO. There will be modders like Wayne, Stan Warren,.... with track records and demonstable expertise and integrity that can do the job for you.

Nature Boy, while you are certainly free to do as you choose, if you have any common sense, back out. If Mr. Nance has any class at all, he'll let you do so. If not, stop the check, or call you credit card company a explain the fraudulent tactics.

d911,

.... ..., and the horse you came in on.

peakrchau · « **Reply #39 on:** 5 Jun 2003, 03:03 am »

Quote from: JohnR

PeAK: any interest in facilitating a Modder's Circle?

Sounds interesting but I wonder if the facilities already exist elsewhere. Basically I see a site here (and at AA) whereby users are free to post ideas/comments/discussion on a public domain board. On this the board the "Lab circle" seems close to what you want.

The Yahoo Groups facilitates the above function and more in the form of gathering of PDF files, images, and FAQs are maintained by the members at large. It also organizes post into visual threads that are easy to navigate.

In general what else would a facilitator do ? Any $$$

?

PeAK