SLA1 in the house-WOW!!!!

Marbles · « **Reply #60 on:** 11 Jun 2003, 08:03 pm »

I gave this some thinking when the SLA first came up.

The QSC amp that Wayne had in his MAF room had a 14 db fan and I never noticed it, and I hate fans. One advantage the QSC amps have are the add on modules for room EQ that might be pretty cool.

Anyway, I think I would look to those.

NOTE*** I only heard that one QSC and it was only driving a sub!

Wayne1 · « **Reply #61 on:** 11 Jun 2003, 10:05 pm »

Nathan,

I have a SLA-1 on the way to me from Full Compass.

I will feed it the signal from Jim Hagerman's FryKleaner http://www.hagtech.com/frykleaner.html for a week into a couple of 250 watt 8 ohm resistors I have on my bench.

If the rest of the DAM is willing, we can compare the broken in, stock SLA-1 to my highly modded Le Amps, a stock Hafler DH-220, Jason's Radii Class A tube amp and maybe Brad B might bring by his AVA Fet-Valve 350 ex. We could take over Jason's place again to use his old stock 626Rs for speakers. Jason also has the "small" QSC DCA-1222. (Marbles heard my DCA-3422 at MAF) http://www.qscaudio.com/products/amps/dca/dca2/dca2.htm

That should give us some idea of where this amp stands sonically.

eric the red · « **Reply #62 on:** 13 Jun 2003, 02:32 am »

Where does this meeting take place? I will most likely be in Colorado in a few weeks and could bring the infamous Don Nance modded SLA1 if I get it back by then. I'd really like to hear the 626R's.

mgalusha · « **Reply #63 on:** 13 Jun 2003, 02:50 am »

If Jason lets us take over his place, his house is in a south west suburb of Denver. I would enjoy the opportunity to hear Mr. Nances modded SLA1.

When and where are you going to be in Colorado?

Mike

Wayne1 · « **Reply #64 on:** 13 Jun 2003, 02:50 am »

ETR,

It will be somewhere in the SW suburbs of Denver. About 45 miles from the airport.

Drop me a PM or E-mail and we will try to see if we can hook-up

eric the red · « **Reply #65 on:** 13 Jun 2003, 04:56 am »

I'm going to be doing some climbing based out of Salida. You boys figure out a date in a few weeks and I'll try and show up if I'm not working at the time. I'll be traveling in my truck with 120 lb giant dog.

peakrchau · « **Reply #66 on:** 14 Jun 2003, 09:12 am »

Quote from: Wayne1

Nathan,

I have a SLA-1 on the way to me from Full Compass....we can compare the broken in, stock SLA-1 to my highly modded Le Amps, a stock Hafler DH-220, Jason's Radii Class A tube amp and maybe Brad B might bring by his AVA Fet-Valve 350 ex...

It would great if could post an initial finding of your comparison results. Another owner of a Plinius SA-102 from Audiogon took about a week and 1/2 to listen to the SLA-1 and had http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?aamps&1054527534&openflup&49&4#49">this to say: <p>

06-13-03: Waltersalas

I have spent quite a bit of time listening to the SLA-1 for the past week or so, and have more or less arrived at the following conclusions. First, it is an unbelievable value, and I like the idea of having it in a second system and as a backup amp for my main system. I cannot really improve on the impressions of Dlshifi in his excellent review--I agree with everything he said. The amp is dynamic and clean, with precise placement of instruments in the soundtage, but can sound hard or lean at times and does not quite have the extension/dimension or musicality of reference quality amps costing thousands of dollars more. At first, I was so impressed by the sound coming out of this little booger that I wasn't quite coming to terms with the fact that I was missing something I had with my Plinius SA-102.

So, was it a close competition? Well, yes and no. Yes, in the sense that the SLA-1 exceeded my expectations and amazed me with its performance for <$200. It is a credible performer even in audiophile systems. If I ever fall on hard times, I could easily "settle" for the SLA-1 and be fine. But the Plinius is just more musical. As my girlfriend said, "It just gets down in your ears more." Simple, but true.

I'm still impressed by how good the SLA-1 is, but I also know that I would choose the Plinius (MRSP=$4995 USD) 10 times out of 10.

In terms of a high-end sound, the SLA-1 can serve as a stepping stone but also a final destination for many. Great little amp that does not embarass itself much in the company of a http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/plinius_sa102.htm">Plinius SA-102...MSRP=$4995 USD. A longer review of the Plinius should prove useful for those who want to understand about http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/frr.pl?ramps&1018283601&read&3&4&">getting down in your ears...you end paying for some of this in your hydro bill.

peakrchau · « **Reply #67 on:** 24 Jun 2003, 02:19 am »

Quote from: Wayne1

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

I wish you hurry up, Wayne. I gave it more of a listen with lower efficiency speakers and my impressions were http://www.angelfire.com/ca/rchau/audio/sla-1.html#Day19">less favourable than a earlier listen.

Ears · « **Reply #68 on:** 24 Jun 2003, 04:42 am »

Hmmm...in the pro audio catalog that i got with my sla-1 three weeks ago, they list an sla-2 200 wpc version for 279.00.

If i had known about the sla-2, i think i would have went that route as it seems there are a lot of people reviewing the sla-1 already.

I did buy some rca jacks for my unit, only to find the 1/4 inch jacks are not only hard wired, but have a plastic housing around them that makes this mod seem like it would be a pita.

Has anyone tried a different p.c. or any other tweaks or mods on this little amp yet?

Also, has anyone swapped the 1/4 jacks for rca?

peakrchau · « **Reply #69 on:** 24 Jun 2003, 10:41 am »

Quote from: Ears

Hmmm...in the pro audio catalog that i got with my sla-1 three weeks ago, they list an sla-2 200 wpc version for 279.00....

I did buy some rca jacks for my unit, only to find the 1/4 inch jacks are not only hard wired, but have a plastic housing around them that makes this mod seem like it would be a pita... has anyone swapped the 1/4 jacks for rca?

Higher power units do not necessarily carry the same sonic signature as the lower power units due to differences in the output devices necessitated by the higher rail voltages. The difference in output level should be slight in moving from 100W to 200W (3 dB)...what is more interesting is if it uses dual transformers or seperately regulated voltage gain sections.

Another candidate is the Samson Servo 260 which already comes with RCA input jacks and reputedly very good sonics.

BTW, what did you think of the SLA-1 in your system? Was it a step up or back ? What speakers and source frontend are you using ?

Less "pita"...more bread.

Ears · « **Reply #70 on:** 24 Jun 2003, 01:31 pm »

Yes, i realize the sonics might not be the same but the sla-2 is a new/newer model and the only way to know, is to listen.

I can't add a whole lot to whats already been said about this little amp, but then again, i have been breaking in my new Phillips 963sa which came in the mail the same day.

I usually put 300 hours on both sacd/cd for burn in, but with phillips rep lately,the transport has to make 600 hours first lol.

I am running the phillips directly into sla-1 via dh labs rca, which i will switch to my az matrix1 later this week.

The speakers are kits that i made using 7 in scanspeak/revelator tweeters and alpha core/hovland x overs and they are very revealing speakers....any non belivers in gear break in, would be believers with these.

So far, i am still using the stock pc which will also be upgraded along with the ic's, and being a novice modder, i have been following several threads on this amp, waiting to see what DIY mods, if any, work on this little amp.

I am used to high current smoother sounding amps like electrocompaniet and a modded b&k and this amp is obviously anything but high current.

It does have detailed highs and great resolution and i bought it to consider using for H/T use above 80hz but i will probably end up giving it to one of my kids and keep saving my pennies for a used Theta for H/T and two channel.

I am finding the 963sa to be an even greater steal than the Art amp, it bested my 2 year old Sony 9000es in redbook and SACD right out of the box at 1/3 the cost and has absolutely amazing sound quality and resolution, even if it had cost 4-5 times the 400.00
With a superclock and a few b/g's added, i could be happy with this player for a couple of years and never feel i was missing out.

peakrchau · « **Reply #71 on:** 25 Jun 2003, 09:37 pm »

I missed this but notice today that Eric got his http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=3257&highlight=art+sla1">

Don Nance fully modded Art Audio SLA1 amp...

Based on some of his recent posts, I guess it might be expecting a bit much to ask him how it sounds...but here goes...HOW DOES YOUR modded SLA-1 SOUND ?

Apparently Jack Seaton over at AA has also got one in the works. Any pics ?

Ears · « **Reply #72 on:** 3 Jul 2003, 03:53 am »

I, for one would love to hear about a modded SLA-1 and any improvements in sonics.
It seems like tabu, to even talk about this little amp on any board

,and that is a shame because it is definitly worth talking about....politics aside.

I just did a comparison of my fully burned in SLA-1 with gold plated rca's and 5 way speaker connecters added, to my Legacy [Coda] 250 wpc high current amp, and there is no comparison, the stock SLA-1 absolutely kills the high curent Coda amp in two channel resolution.

The Legacy[Coda] 5X250 is used for two ht use normally and both amps were run through a B&K reference processor through the analog bypass to keep things even.

The Legacy [Coda] is obviously more powerful then the Sla-1 so the volume was turned down on the B&k one of the three times i swapped the two amps.
The other two times, i just compared the two by just swapping the exact same ap 9 and az matrix cables.

The Art amp was first swapped in stone cold and had better imaging,a wider ,more detailed sounstage and from the lower mids up, it kills this 4k amp period.

I may sell the big amp and buy two more SLA-1's for H/T, as i prefer the resolution over deep bass and have a couple of 12in subs for that anyway.

eric the red · « **Reply #73 on:** 3 Jul 2003, 04:01 am »

I do not at this time have my modded amp as Don is waiting for the backplate to come back from the silkscreeners. Maybe another week as I think Don is trying to collect as much $$$ as possible before he skips town

peakrchau · « **Reply #74 on:** 3 Jul 2003, 12:02 pm »

Quote from: Ears

I, for one would love to hear about a modded SLA-1 and any improvements in sonics.

...The Art amp was first swapped in stone cold and had better imaging,a wider ,more detailed soundstage and from the lower mids up, it kills this 4k amp period.

Ears,

I've followed some of your recent posts on http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=2924.msg27802#27802">modifying input and output connectors...any pictures ?

It is interesting that you also mention soundstage and detail as others with high powered amps also mention the same thing. I've not heard either of your interconnect or speaker cable choices but I know they are highly regarded. The ART does seem to respond well to different/better interconnect, speaker cables and power cords. I'm curious..."What source components and speakers are you using ?"

P.S. It is possible to purchase schematics for the products made by Applied Research and Technology for http://www.artroch.com/default.asp?p_id=59#17">$10.

P.P.S. As for the commercially modified unit of Erics...it has been a long time and I've given Don the benefit of the doubt but here are some comments while we wait for the first D.N.A modified unit to be delivered to the audio community at large...I apologize if I sound a tad skeptical/critical...curiosity will do that and I'm not even waiting on a unit:

http://www.dn-audio.com/id2.html

Ears · « **Reply #75 on:** 3 Jul 2003, 01:54 pm »

Peak, i am more interested in what novice modders are trying than having a new metal case built.
Were can i read about the seperate regulation, done on an Sla-1?

My speakers are kit speakers from Meniscus audio, a local guy who has been selling mail order kits for a lot of years..

Anyway, they are monitors with a 7in ss drivers and Revelator tweets, mine are upgraded with Hovland/Alphacore x overs and silver wiring ect.

I have five of these,but only the main fronts are upgraded for 2 channel and i move the stand mounted center back 6 ft for two channel listening.

These replaced a pair of Thiel 3.6's that i had for two channel listening before these.
These speakers play down to the 40hz vicinity and are used without subs for two channel listening.

My source is[this week] a Phillips 963sa with a lot of damping added to the interior chasis, Cardas caps, and a Virtual Dynamics power 3 pc.

This little lightweight player replaced my Sony 9000 es that i used for 2 years prior and has superior redbook, as well as sacd over the 1500.00 Sony, all for 400.00 delivered.
It also has superior picture quality over the chroma bugged Sony.
Proof that technology does indeed, trickle down.
The 963 and Art amp are the biggest bang for the buck gear, i have ever heard....bar none.

I don't have any pics of the SLA-1 aftermarket rca and speaker terminals that i also bought at Meniscus Audio, but the mods do not require pics, they are as easy as mods get imho.

Anyone who has no local parts supplier, can order gold plated rca and speaker terminals from Parts express or elseswhere on the net.
As far as the shematic for the amp, i am more interested in duplicating what others with more amp modding experience have done, then trying to pioneer mods.

eric the red · « **Reply #76 on:** 3 Jul 2003, 05:43 pm »

If you wanted a new exhaust system for your car custom-made in order to increase your car's performance, do you buy the readily available inexpensive steel tubing that you can buy everywhere, then fab and install the system yourself? Would you have the time, design know-how, tools, experience, etc to do the job? Or would it be easier to bring it to a shop that specialized in exhaust systems and knew what they were doing and pay them to do it? If you wanted to install a metal roof on your house and needed some new custom flashing for around the windows and doors for better water drainage, would you buy the readily available inexpensive flatstock sheet metal, take the time to lay out the design and have the tools to do the job? Or would you go to a metal shop, tell them what you need and pay them to build it? I could and it would be easy for me to do and dirt cheap because I am a metal worker by trade and have the knowledge, experience and tools to do the job. Here's the point: Not everyone out here in audioland is experienced enough in electronics to come up with a design, know what parts to look for, have the ability to install and test the parts in order to figure out what works and doesn't work, nor do many of us have the knowledge to understand circuits, power supplies, etc etc etc. I wouldn't have the faintest idea where to start on modding an amp, but if what I heard from the stock SLA1 is any indication of what its sonic potential could be, I'll gladly pay Don the $$$ to mod my stock amp. Plus he has a new metal case built and powder-coated specifically for his modded amp. Check the shop rates at your local metal shop and see what they would charge for something like that as it ain't cheap, especially for small order's like Don's. Why can't you guys just wait until Don has an amp ready to go as he already has said that he will send one out for inspection to the audio geek community when he's ready? Then you can tear it apart, take pictures and tell everyone what parts he uses and what they would run on the open market. Are you concerned that we're going to be ripped off by Don? Doubt it. In the meantime, why don't you open up some readily available commercial amps (or POWER CABLES and SPEAKER WIRE) that the audio community drools over (and whose manufacturers make wild unsubstantiated claims about) and tell us all what cheap parts the manufacturer is using wrapped in a nice case that are inside those pretty boxes as that would be much more interesting to many of us than you guys speculating on what exactly Don Nance is up to before anyone has actually seen or heard the amp? Wait till Don has an amp ready, get one in your hands, then start ripping. Hell I'll send you mine if Don won't send you one, because if I were him, after all this I wouldn't even bother. And as far as Don changing the design of the amp and not posting pictures of the finished product before its release: Barnes has been doing that at norh for years and he still has people brown-nosing him whenever he announces a new product long in advance of when he actually delivers or fails to deliver his stuff.

Ears · « **Reply #77 on:** 4 Jul 2003, 03:09 am »

Eric, my wanting to do some of my own minor mods to my own amp has nothing to do with the person who brought this amp to the nets attention, or whether i trust him/ nor the dollar amount he charges ect.

It is just plain more fun to do the minor mods yourself, if you feel up to it.

I am not planning that exstensive a list of mods,for this little amp, and i sure am not going to try and modify the case or have it modified, nor am i looking to copy Dons mods.

I am simply looking for diy advice from somone who may be experimenting with DIY mods of there own on the SLA-1.
Diy as in fun....not profit, so there for.... info given out freely.

As far as the original poster[Don] that brought this amp to the nets attention, i don't know why he would have anything to do with DIY, or be mad about it.
After all, i posted positive words on at least 3 boards about the stock amp, and chose to stay completely out of the politics of it all.

BTW....my last exhaust systym was built by three diferent companies and cost 2k.....but i still installed it myself [DIY] on my 11 second 00Ford Lightning pickup....or as i like to call it "My Redneck Ferrari"

eric the red · « **Reply #78 on:** 4 Jul 2003, 05:07 am »

Well I've got carbon cans on my '98 VTR if that counts-57 mph in 1st gear

peakrchau · « **Reply #79 on:** 4 Jul 2003, 12:40 pm »

Quote from: eric the red

If you wanted a new exhaust system....easier to bring it to a shop... and pay them to do it?

If you wanted to install a metal roof ...I could .... have the knowledge, experience and tools to do the job.

Here's the point: Not everyone out here in audioland is experienced enough in electronics ....

I wouldn't have the faintest idea where to start on modding an amp, but if what I heard from the stock SLA1 is any indication of what its sonic potential could be, I'll gladly pay Don the $$$ to mod my stock amp.

Plus he has a new metal case built and powder-coated specifically for his modded amp. ...

Why can't you guys just wait ...he said that he will send one out for inspection to the audio geek community when he's ready?

Then you can tear it apart, take pictures and tell everyone what parts he uses and what they would run on the open market.

Are you concerned that we're going to be ripped off by Don? Doubt it. In the meantime... guys (stop) speculating on what exactly Don Nance is up to before anyone has actually seen or heard the amp? ...

Eric, I just quoted some of the main point in your post. It sort of reminds me of when I bought my first used car. I did not know much and talked myself into buying it because it seemed to test drove fine (compared to my bike), the owner had a friend who could certify it for a song, and those nice shiny chrome bumpers didn't have a speck of rust.

I like to just get to your last three points about waiting, ripping and speculating:

On WAITING:
In the original http://www.angelfire.com/ca/rchau/audio/don_sla.html">Audiogon Post, the SLA-1 was described as:

"Cold out of the box it shames almost all high end amps I know of and I have heard all of the common high end audiophile amps. With the Mod ($500.00) forget about it."

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=2735&highlight=art+sla1

In the http://www.angelfire.com/ca/rchau/audio/don_sla.html#mike">same Audiogon post, a user named Mikeam had the mod done and says "It is every bit as good as they say" on May 23, 2003. It would nice if Mike could take a picture of his modifed unit for D.N.A. so users could see what the completed unit look like. Just a good business practice to show the nice shiny chrome bumpers.

On RIPPING:
Make/DIY or buy is a choice witness HOME DEPOT. These sorts of construction details are in mass market amps like NAD. Hopefully the existing protection circitry in the SLA-1 will protect the output circuitry (and your speakers) when the power supply capacitance reservoir is beefed up. Typical manufacturers will test for accidental shorting, high capacitive loading and testing at full rated power. Beefing it up DIY style, where you take your own risks, and offering the same thing as a commercial UL/CSA product are two slightly different games. Did you have to sign a waiver for possible downstream damage to your speakers ?

I think I'm in Ear's camp when it comes down to the nature of the inital DIY mods. It will basically be centered on upgrading the low power votage gain sections with passive parts upgrades, an opamp swap, connector changes and maybe a regulated supply for the pre-driver. The designers of the SLA-1 have made some very good design decisions given its cost constraints...should not take much (i.e. Less than $500) to get it to the next level

On SPECULATING:
Basically some bold and some somewhat extravagant claims seen previously in the audio press. Cavaet Emptor.

P.S. My first used car was a Datsun 510 with automatic transmission. It served me well...when I retired it to the junk yard...some spot holes of rust had appeared in those nice shiny chrome buffers. I hope your $500 SLA-1 investement works out as well or better for you.