Trends T-10 stuff

shep · « **on:** 6 Feb 2007, 10:24 pm »

I hope this is the right place. what with things moved around and I don't always pay attention

Anyway, being a Trends owner and an obsessive/compulsive, Ive been scouring the web and noticing that this little thing is catching on and springing up here and there. I chanced upon a new site and it looks to be good. they don't gouge the customer and they are closer to home (your home). I was even more startled to see that they offer a ready-to-go modding kit (is that a first?) as part of the deal. So for those of you who are hesitating and worrying about quality control and that stuff, go for it!
http://www.audiomagus.com/

Bemopti123 · « **Reply #1 on:** 6 Feb 2007, 11:37 pm »

Nice website with tons of options. The prices are not bad and the service might actually make people actually push for one of these or other usual affordable digital suspects.

HHabit · « **Reply #2 on:** 7 Feb 2007, 07:25 am »

Quote from: shep on 6 Feb 2007, 10:24 pm

I hope this is the right place. what with things moved around and I don't always pay attention
Anyway, being a Trends owner and an obsessive/compulsive, Ive been scouring the web and noticing that this little thing is catching on and springing up here and there. I chanced upon a new site and it looks to be good. they don't gouge the customer and they are closer to home (your home). I was even more startled to see that they offer a ready-to-go modding kit (is that a first?) as part of the deal. So for those of you who are hesitating and worrying about quality control and that stuff, go for it!
http://www.audiomagus.com/

Just an FYI: I purchased my TA-10.1 from Obad Imports at www.musical.ca last month. I received the unit in 3 days flat at my home in New Jersey! A week later, the LED stopped working. I called Sasha at Obad Imports and he arranged (with ZERO hassle) to replace my faulty unit and I have been a happy camper ever since. That's the kind of service I can appreciate. My only complaint is that he didn't tell me that they were getting the Little Tube Tripath amp in...Now that appears to be a TA-10 upgrade! Anyone have an opp to hear it?

thayerg · « **Reply #3 on:** 12 Feb 2007, 06:12 am »

I ordered two Trends amps and the Trends USB DAC from buyoyo. I received the 10.1 models and right now I am passive biamping a pair of old B&W floorstanders with them.

They are just terrific. Totally unfatiguing sound and easily the most detail and microdynamics of any amp I've had in here. Imaging and the soundstage were both more than decent when I was using only one of the amps, but when I wired in the second one the soundstage just leaped in size, almost like a cartoon or something. Truly an excellent little amp.

jjseiw · « **Reply #4 on:** 11 Mar 2007, 12:28 am »

I noticed that the last post concerned the UD-10 from Trends. How is that working for you? I am considering the same set up. What speakers do you use?
thanks.

Tweaker · « **Reply #5 on:** 11 Mar 2007, 02:19 am »

I checked out Obad Imports website. The Little Dot sounds really cool. I was about ready to purchase a couple Trends T-10 amps from Audiomagus.com but after hearing about the Little Dot I may hold off. Interesting though, Obad is selling it for $499.00 unless you buy it from them on e-bay where it's only $299.00!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220078206366&indexURL=0&photoDisplayType=2#ebayphotohosting
Pant-pant-slobber-drool.

doorman · « **Reply #6 on:** 11 Mar 2007, 02:52 am »

I'm enjoying my TA10.1 also, (but can't seem to access the audiomagus website??) The Trends really benefits from a tubed pre in front!
Don

Songforyou · « **Reply #7 on:** 12 Mar 2007, 01:06 pm »

Doorman,

What tube pre are you using with the Trends? This is exactly the way I want to go.

Thanks!

Jampot · « **Reply #8 on:** 12 Mar 2007, 02:00 pm »

Quote

unless you buy it from them on e-bay where it's only $299.00!

Unfortunately the listing is quite old and it seems they actually only sold 2 at that price (unless there is another listing)

Most interesting is the sub connector - sounds rather like the one Ed Schilling (The Horn Shoppe) has come up with!

Shep, do you know whether the Micheal Mardis Special is a true reflection of what he did to your TA10? (idle curiosity really - I'm very happy with my Clari-T

)

Jim

shep · « **Reply #9 on:** 12 Mar 2007, 02:58 pm »

Jampot, good question. I presume you've looked at his site and seen the breakdown of the "Shep1"?
As far as i can tell they are the same. I'm a proud papa! I hadn't heard about the tube pre

Well it still doesn't solve the problem of driving inefficient spkrs so I guess I'm not missing out. I'm really glad this amp can be heard the way it should. I really encourage anyone with some spare change and high eff. spkrs to give this a whirl. Now there was a suggestion elsewhere that if everybody put some money in the pot, we could buy out Tripath, which is in liquidation. How's that for a project? There are enough brains around here to make it work aa

acd483 · « **Reply #10 on:** 12 Mar 2007, 07:18 pm »

how does one go about bi-amping? my ADS 1290s can be bi-amped...seems like an interesting idea.

robert1325 · « **Reply #11 on:** 12 Mar 2007, 07:22 pm »

I'm using the ( still stock) trends ta-10,1 with my Hawthorne SI OB's , very fun musical combo... could use a bit more warmth with jazz. some pio caps would help I've read....

Goes unbelievably loud to ! Painfull at times

Tweaker · « **Reply #12 on:** 12 Mar 2007, 07:29 pm »

Quote from: Jampot on 12 Mar 2007, 02:00 pm

Quote
unless you buy it from them on e-bay where it's only $299.00!

Unfortunately the listing is quite old and it seems they actually only sold 2 at that price (unless there is another listing)

Yeah, I noticed that too when rechecking the listing. Got so excited when I first saw it I neglected to check the date

There is going to be a shootout of several of the "emerging technologies amplifiers" with the review published the end of this month. The Trends TA-10 will be one of them:

Quote from: DZetye on 11 Mar 2007, 07:14 pm

There is going to be a review and test of the Little Dot T-100 here in a couple of weeks

http://stereomojo.com/AMPSHOOTOUT_000.htm#shootout

dave_c · « **Reply #13 on:** 26 Mar 2007, 10:23 pm »

Anyone have experience using a buffer before this guy? Either Burson, Musical Fidelity or IRD Purist in 0db mode? Just curious to see if it would help in any way. Gonna use on my PC speakers and don't want to have a lot of gain otherwise the volume control becomes a very small range.

thayerg · « **Reply #14 on:** 1 Apr 2007, 10:49 pm »

Quote from: dave_c on 26 Mar 2007, 10:23 pm

Anyone have experience using a buffer before this guy? Either Burson, Musical Fidelity or IRD Purist in 0db mode? Just curious to see if it would help in any way. Gonna use on my PC speakers and don't want to have a lot of gain otherwise the volume control becomes a very small range.

I recently bought an IRD purist and disabled the Trends' volume controls (I am biamping with them).
The buffering definitely helps winkle a little more resolution out of the Trends.

robert1325 · « **Reply #15 on:** 6 Apr 2007, 12:23 pm »

Put in some Obbligato Oil caps , sound is much fuller and warmer now. Very rich and smooth with a nice punchy bass and better dynamics !!! Jazz has more life and soul.

Got them from DIYhifisupply .

Would like to know your experiences tweaking the trends ta-10. I ordered some other parts ( volume pot, panasonic FM caps) and a Skpre ( Greg Ball) .

Robert

gooberdude · « **Reply #16 on:** 6 Apr 2007, 03:12 pm »

Hey Guys,

I used the Trends TA 10.1 with a buffer, of sorts, 2 nights ago with absolutely incredible results...

A friend stopped by with his 10.1, barely broken in, and a pair of A/D/S 710/2 monitors.

Running the monitors with the Trends was cool, i'm amazed at the sound quality & performance of it by itself...my 1st Trends or T-amp experience.

Next, I ran the sources into my TVC and the RCA outputs of the TVC ran into the Trends...the speaker cables obviously running out fo the Trends. Source>TVC open 100%>Trends>speakers. In addition to bringing out a mondo large 3-d stage, the power/output of the Trends seemed to increase by QUITE A BIT & the sweetness of the TVC shined right through. I ran the TVC at full volume, and even with my turntable running we never turned the Trends up more than about 40% of volume. When just listening with the Trends, the volume was up to 80% or more to get adequate volume.....

The other major benefit to this set-up was that we could switch between all 4 sources that are connected to the TVC, no more hassling with turning the amp on/off to swap sources.

This experience, and receiving a pair of Hawthorne SI's last night, has really got me thinking. Not only about buying a Trends amp, but about using it in conjunction with the TVC.

I posted this Question at another forum but got no response: In addition to the Trends & Sonic Impact amps, what are the other brands of these montsters?? i'm a total newbie to these things...

A few years back i owned the MF tube buffer, it would probably be quite cool with a Trends amp as well. That little box can be dangerous though!! my friend fried an amp because of one...

matt

robert1325 · « **Reply #17 on:** 6 Apr 2007, 03:23 pm »

A good read/introduction would be the TNT-audio shootout :

http://www.tnt-audio.com/ampli/tripath_amps_e.html

You've got, Sonic impact , trends, kingrex, Diyparadise Charlize, the 41hz amps , the Autocostruire amps, Little Dot , RWA clari-T, RWA Sig30 /70... and more

Also have a look over at the DIYaudio:

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=49

There's suposed to be a big sonic difference between the Tripath chips,

The one in the trend is t2024 , is a leaner sounding chip. I do agree to a certain point, but It's about the other components to.

gooberdude · « **Reply #18 on:** 6 Apr 2007, 03:33 pm »

Thanks Robert!

The Hawthorne's are silly good. Every person who reads these forums or has spent good $ on any of the popular products we use MUST BUY THESE DRIVERS...it does a wallet good.

They are just sitting in the cardboard boxes they came in, on my floor, leaned back about 20 degrees...and there's an entire goddam band in my living room. this was apparent about 3 minutes after hooking it all up.

I've had what equates to a set drummer in my living room for a while, the TVC brought him in. Now, i can hear him swivel in his seat when attacking the whole set, and about 10' to the right is the keybaord player. I'm pretty sure i can hear the backup singers when they turn their heads toward each other during chorus' & what not.....SO MESSED UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I thought i had dimension & depth before. Now, its simple to see/hear which musicians are close to front of the stage & the others located elsewhere. all this with only a few hours of break in....

lord only knows what'll happen with a proper baffle, and getting these things off the floor. There's so much bass i only listened with my subs turned on for about an hour.

In a few weeks i plan to have my buddies 10.1 over for another t-amp exerience. Initially, i'd say the 100 watts now feeding the SI's is WAY too much power...these monsters want to get loud indeed.

the inner details that these brutes let in is ridiculous too, SO much texture. I was really worried i'd miss my favorite silk done tweets...this might not be the case at all.

matt

robert1325 · « **Reply #19 on:** 6 Apr 2007, 03:38 pm »

Glad your are enjoying them, are you a member of the hawthorne forum? Very nice people over there!

I agree, these speakers are a real bargain, they sound great with all kinds of music but can really rock out at times