[robert1325]

That kill bill DVD helps the sound,  it gives it more focus,    it also shows the huge dimensions of this amp 

Yeah, I do play a bit loud at times ,    the sound gets rough and i've heard some distortion now and then....  All will be well with the SI's!

[shep]

That blue lights a killer!

[robert1325]

Check this out:



Note: that NAD is not part of my system       

[Tubo]

Hi,

I got my Trends TA-10 a couple of weeks ago, running 15-hom LS3/5A's in my bedroom, with a subwoofer adding the low notes. Sound is very good, wonderful. Better than the original plastic Sonic Impact, which I also have. However, the other day, as I walked past one of the speakers to my closet I noticed there is a slight hum. It is only noticeable about a foot from the speaker. Is this normal? Does any other owner of a Trends care to comment? TIA!

[Songforyou]

How are you driving the sub?  You can't run speaker cables from the Trends to the speaker inputs of a sub amp.  This is a no-no with most (if not all) T-Amps.  See thread http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=19141.0  Only option is using a pre amp with RCA outs to the sub.

[acresm22]

Hey Shep,

I'll post a response to your initial query. I started as a big power ss guy in the mid-90s (Aragon amplification with Martin Logan speakers). Went from than to low power SET (Wright 2A3 monos on DIY single driver voight pipes and then Klipsch LaScalas). Got the Tripath bug in early 2005, so I ordered the SI T-amp. It arrived and I was immediately blown away by the detail and low end torgue, so it quickly replaced the Almarro A318 SET I was using at the time.

Over the course of the next year, I tried a Clari-T and then a Super-T.  Guess what I'm listening to now? I'm back in SET land with an ASL AQ1005 300B amp. Still have the SI amps hanging around to play with once in awhile, but the SET amps seem to draw me in emotionally in a way that the Tripath amps don't.

I think the little class T amps are extraordinary for the money, but I found that I gradually stopped listening to my system during that Tripath year. Had the same experience when I bought the Martin Logans back in the 90s...was dazzled when I first heard them, but then noticed that listening to music became less fun and more of a chore. I was always a critic when listening to that system, and I became that again when the Tripath amps were in the chain. When the SET is in there, I am more likely to just relax and listen. Isn't that funny?

I think the LaScalas have something to do with it. The Tripath amps tend to wear me down, while the 300B and 2A3 amps just keep me and the music "lit from within."

I welcome your response/comments.

D.

[shep]

The blue light of Trend streaks across the universe! (poor NAD) No hum, zero noise, zero heat, mucho music. CAn't imagine where that could becoming from.
I don't remember my original question! was it about emotion and musicality? Probably. I have only this amp as my first class d/t whatever, sound. I find it totally engaging, and not just because such a small package makes such a big ballsy sound. Maybe Ill go off but I doubt it. I think I got lucky in the sense that mine was modded just right to bring out the best. It seems the unmodded ones are pretty great too. Who knows, maybe we're getting a run of special chips from Tripath. I have thunderous bass, a big sound stage, ridiculously fine mid and treble. Hey Robert, I turnedit up to the max and yes it does harden up and get shrill (but my ears are bleeding from the level) If you turn up your HAwthornes, the police will be at the door!

[Tubo]

How are you driving the sub?  You can't run speaker cables from the Trends to the speaker inputs of a sub amp.  This is a no-no with most (if not all) T-Amps.  See thread http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=19141.0  Only option is using a pre amp with RCA outs to the sub.

Yep, I know about that. I also have a Red Wine Teac and a Sonic Impact in addition to the Trends, and I am aware of their hook-up limitations with active subs. Which is OK because I prefer passive subs. My source is an Airport Express to a Paradigm XA-30 active crossover; the paradigm splits the signal at about 60Hz and feeds the Trends and a NAD 2600A amp; the Trends powers the LS3/5A's and the NAD powers a Boston Acoustics THX passive subwoofer.

[Tubo]

Over the course of the next year, I tried a Clari-T and then a Super-T.  Guess what I'm listening to now? I'm back in SET land with an ASL AQ1005 300B amp. Still have the SI amps hanging around to play with once in awhile, but the SET amps seem to draw me in emotionally in a way that the Tripath amps don't.

That's funny, I replaced the Red Wine Teac with an ASL AQ2005 300B amp in my living room system! With Western Electric 300B's, it rocks! Still own and like the Teac, though. Just different flavors. In the bedroom, however, I am really liking the Trends...

[shep]

Robert (and others) why leave well enough alone when you can do a 2am tweak? here's one I tried last night: I was interested in this stuff (the "paper") ww.diyaudiostore.com. Gordy kindly did a swap with me for an unused sheet he had (this is a first for me: my art work for hi-fi gear!) I don't think it works on the cdp or I can't tell. Anyway I treated the amp, just sticking bits to the caps. I should say first that I have a slight upper mid. glare which I think is coming from the cdp and is highlighted by my speakers that are mid-range voiced. It's not really offensive but given how revealing this system now is, I kept noticing it. So after the first session it got worse. I removed the paper bits from the cdp. No change. I opened the amp yet again and removed the bits from the caps and this time treated the whole case with it, including underneath the board. This time I did notice an improvement but wouldn't you know, one channel was about 10db down! This is no fun at 3am...a short? So I looked carefully and decided somehow the sheet underneath was touching something so I shortened it slightly. Bingo! the ballance was back correctly and listening today I hear much less glare, a slightly more defined soundstage and greater ease with dynamic swings. So this is a cheap tweak for this amp, especially if someone has a sheet lying around they don't use. I don't think I would have paid 30$ for it, but then again...the only thing is you have to be realy carefull. The stuff is highly conductive, especially when cut. I treated all the cut edges with glue and made very sure there were no fibres standing proud. Trends rules!