[Tim]

Hi all,

I presently have a naim 250 power driven via a heavily tweaked naim 62 pre-amp.

My question is how well will the GK-1 fit in the 62's position?

I have heard the Sugden A21a amp and this sounds marvellous, how do aspen amps sound in comparison?

Thanks,

Tim

[Fredly]

Hi Tim, Fred here from Canada.

I'm what you call a lurker on Audio Circle and rarely feel compelled enough to reply to any posts, but when I saw you asking how the Sugden A21 Amp compares to the AKSA amps, I just had to chime in.

Reason being, I owned, and still own, a Sugden A21 before upgrading to an AKSA amp a few years back.

In my humble opinion, the AKSA TOTALLY blew away the Sugden...left it in the dust. No comparison.

(Again, in my opinion, the AKSA line is in an entirely different league than MOST high-end Amps, a bargain, for their price).

Anyways, hope this helps.

(The Sugden has since be rendered to my Sons room)

Cheers, Fredly.

[Tim]

Fred,

Many thanks for your feedback, and one that makes me want an AKSA even more!

Can I ask what model and specification AKSA you have?

DO you have an ASPEN pre-amp also?

Regards,

Tim

[andyr]

Hi all,

I presently have a naim 250 power driven via a heavily tweaked naim 62 pre-amp.

My question is how well will the GK-1 fit in the 62's position?

I have heard the Sugden A21a amp and this sounds marvellous, how do aspen amps sound in comparison?

Thanks,

Tim

Hi Tim,

I think fredly answered your Q by saying the AKSA amp (I presume the preamp, the GK-1) completely blew away the Sugden A21 ... but I agree, he wasn't explicit (so I'll let him answer you).

On my part, as an ex-Naimy (tri-amped system with a heavily tweaked 12s & 3x250s; the 12s is now paired with an AKSA 55N in my "second system" and I sold off my 250s), I thought I'd give you my opinion.

The GK-1 preamp will fit very well in the 62's position!!     In fact, I suggest it will suck you into the music much more than the 62 does - even if it's driven by a HiCap PS.

One great thing about the preamp is that it has 2 outs ... the "normal" out which comes off the final (unity gain) tube stage and the "sub out", which comes after the initial ss gain stage and the volume control.  It's the tube stage which adds the "magik" to the GK-1's sound but the bass coming from the "sub out" is crisper - so it's good for subs!     But if you run active speakers, like I do, and don't have subs, you can run the bass drivers off the "sub out" and use the tube out for the remaining drivers.  Not many preamps have this flexibility!   

I was "converted" to AKSA about 3 years ago, when I took my 250 over to Hugh's place and compared it to an AKSA 55.  The AKSA blew it out of the water ... so I suspect if you buy a GK-1 preamp, you'll end up selling your 250 and buy an AKSA 100.

Regards,

Andy

[Tim]

Andy,

Many thanks for your detailed answer, its really wetted my appetite!

Is there anyone here who is (or knows) based in the UK that has a GK-1 that I could possibly listen to? preferably with an AKSA amp !

Any help most appreciated

Regards,

Tim

[andyr]

Andy,

Many thanks for your detailed answer, its really wetted my appetite!

Is there anyone here who is (or knows) based in the UK that has a GK-1 that I could possibly listen to? preferably with an AKSA amp !

Any help most appreciated

Regards,

Tim

Nah, mate ... if you're serious, hop on a plane and get over here to Hugh's place!!   

I'm sure as a pasty-faced Pom you're dying for a bit of sun, aren't you!!   

Regards from God'sown! 

Andy

[Tim]

Andy,

Thanks for the offer matey,

I could always tie up my visit with the retention of the ashes against your shane warne 11 !! aa

As for the sun, nah think i will avoid that like the sun  I didnt like skin cancer the first time around. ..

dying to hear what it sounds like though.

regards,

Tim

[AKSA]

Hi Tim,

You have a few answers now, thanks Fredly and Andy, much appreciated.

Bit of a story here.  Back at Xmas 2000 I called at a friend's house in my home town to listen to a Sugden A21.  Nice amp.  He drew a simple amp circuit and asked my thoughts on improving it.  I suggested three significant changes, and left on a 300 mile journey for the state capital, returning three days later.

Richard had by then built and auditioned the amp with my suggested mods.  He rang me at my parents' home and asked that I come round for a listen.  He played the Sugden, then the 'amended' amp.  The new amp was very impressive (I'll refrain from disparaging remarks about the Sugden as I had a most offensive email from their Marketing Director over another incident a couple years back!), and so the AKSA was born.

Since then the AKSA has been through a couple of versions, and of course the upgrade paths were figured out in the course of time.  Since early 2003 I've tried to further improve on the AKSA, but four concerted attempts, most of them tube/SS hybrids, have finished up on the cutting room floor.  In mid-May I finally found the node, and the Lifeforce was born.  It is partly derived from the AKSA, but sounds completely and utterly different.  I am convinced that the answer to a better sounding amplifier does not lie in the erudite, complex maths models one sees endlessly discussed in other forums.  It lies in real experimentation, and a profound knowledge of what is happening in the topology.  It is not a comprehensible maths model, which by its very nature is reductionist and takes little account of the man-machine interface.  This is not to decry maths, which is a wonderful tool, but amp design right now is as much art as science - because so much of human aural perception is not yet fully understood, and we are designing for the ear, not for measuring instruments, which can't handle music anyway.

Tim, the preamp is designed to complement the AKSA and the Lifeforce.  They are matched sonically.  I cannot speak with authority of the Naim, but I would expect that the GK1 would enhance its sonics.

Cheers,

Hugh

[RonR]

Hi Tim,

I had my GK1 playing through a Naim 250 and Isobariks for a few months while I was building my AKSA 55's. They played nicely together, with one small earthing/hum issue which required sorting out.

IMHO, the GK1 was a major step up from the upgraded (Time aligned) Naim 32.5 I was using before.

I'm based just outside London (SE) near the M25, with a GK-1 and Lifeforce amps just breaking in. I'm busy for the next few weekends, but maybe we can arrange a visit for later in the month? Nick (Grumpy_Git on this forum) also wants to hear the Lifeforce amps, so I'll PM you both when/if I can arrange something.

Cheers,

Ron.

[AKSA]

Hi Ron,

Many thanks, greatly appreciated.  This is a wonderful, convivial way for anyone to be introduced to the kits, as they get to talk with the maker and get long term impressions!

Cheers,

Hugh

[Fredly]

Hi all, Fred here back one last time to fill in the missing details from my original post.

Tim, my current setup consists of Hughs AKSA (Nirvana +) 55 W amp and his budget TLP preamp, tricked out with VH audios V-caps, DACT volume/selector and cryo parts throughout. My audio budget, which seems to be getting smaller every year, has prevented my from indulging in the GK-1. Perhaps one day…sigh.

Having said that, I have been patiently saving my pennies so that one day I can upgrade my amp to Hugh latest creation, the Lifeforce.  (I still can’t believe it improves upon the AKSA Nirvana + amps)

Tim, before the AKSA amp & pre, I had little experience in soldering and electronics in general, now that these projects are behind me I couldn’t be happier and would strongly suggest going this route for those considering it. It brings a strangely satisfying feeling.

Hope this helps in your decision making, Fred in Canada.

[Tim]

Thanks to all concerned for their invaluable feedback, it is most helpful and appreciated.

Ron, I would love to have a listen to the GK-1 before I commit, please let me know whenever you are free, I am based in Cardiff, but travelling is not an issue.

I am drooling now! 

Cant wait!

Thanks,

Tim

[AKSA]

Hi Ron, Tim,

Any rendezvous coming up?  Do let us know what transpires.........

Cheers,

Hugh

[RonR]

Tim and Nick,

You have pm.

Cheers,

Ron

[kyrill]

just curious Tim

or RonR how was the edition? Or did it not happen?

[AKSA]

Yes, Tim,

Any news?  Did you get to listen?

Inquiring minds, and all that stuff..........

Cheers,

Hugh

[RonR]

Hi All,

We've tried to meet up twice so far, but it just hasn't come together yet due to last minute changes / commitments.
Tim got as far as sorting out which CDs to bring with him the last time!

We'll hopefully meet up soon, Tim. Then you can have the opportunity to "Recalibrate your Ears" (You really should use that as an advertising slogan, Hugh!) aa

Meanwhile, I'll get the chance to change C1 from VH OIMP to Sonicap Platinum.
The VenHaus OIMP (Non-Teflon) V-caps sound much better when they have lots of volts across them, so I'll keep the 2uF VH for C21, and re-use the 1uF in a new Tube DAC.

Cheers,

Ron.

[Tim]

Its my fault again..... sort of anyway.

Rons got the patience of a saint!

trying to sort out visit on company expenses and in sync with family commitments is proving easier said than done.

If Ron allows I will conquer..... cant wait.

re-calibrate re-calibrate....

regards,

Tim

[AKSA]

Ron,

Many thanks......  how about this?

'Painless aural surgery - recalibrate your ears - step right up, Folks!'
Tim,

That should be 'Exterminate - Recalibrate - Exterminate'......

Cheers,

Hugh