[mb]

Ok guys, the session here took place this morning. Time was limited on my part, so we were able to swap amps (AKSA 55N & Ampzillas) 2 cycles only. Speakers were VMPS RM2 with FST.

Both amps sounded fine. The Ampzillas sound relaxed, with lots of authority, and produced a deep soundstage. The AKSA sounds a lot faster, and separated the instruments to a greater degree. Soundstage was also wider, but there were comments that the central image moved a little forward. On a track with African drums, there was a suspicion that the AKSA clipped, but otherwise it did not seem underpowered. It was tangibly faster on small percussion, as if it was able to resolve transients a little better. As always, the AKSA over-achieved, but both amps are very good, and the final call would probably be based on preference of presentation.

A TDA-based inverted gainclone was also tested, but it struggled, even though it had as much (or greater) transformer rating and supply capacitance. A commercialized chip amp was also tested in a different session on the VMPS 626R, and it too was not an ideal match. There's probably a pattern here... That chip amp drives a pair of Meadowlarks quite beautifully.

[Guys, I've just split this topic (6th December) from MB's post forward to a new topic, AKSA Shootout.  This will give Jim a nice spot to include his results as well when the time comes......Hugh]

[EchiDna]

I was also at the Singapore Ampzilla/AKSA comparison with MB...

to cut it short, Hugh, you are in the same street as the Ampzilla

Some would say ahead, others would say behind, it really does depend on personal preferences I guess...

What follows is my opinion, YMMV of course and your preferences might be different to mine.

I am in total support of MB's comments, I think that both amps did very well indeed. IMHO, the Ampzilla's strongest point over the AKSA 55 Nirvana was the bass control and the AKSA's strongest points over the ampzilla's was the soundstage (more 'airy') and speed.

To put this into perspective, I like a forward and wide soundstage and this the AKSA provided much more of than the Ampzilla. I also like clean bass and the Ampzilla's edged out the AKSA here which is to be expected I guess with it's 200 watt power rating verses 55 watts in the AKSA.

$ for $ is not fair to the ampzilla as the AKSA costs so little in kit form it is almost embarassing!

Overall, if I had to pick one amp, I'd take the AKSA and buy the rest of the system with the change that you could spend on a pair of Ampzilla's.

I want to hear an AKSA 100 Nirvana verses the ampzilla next time...maybe it's time for me to upgrade my AKSA 100 to Nirvana  

now I'm waiting to see if you guys in the US come up with similar observations  


Cheers all,

[AKSA]

I must offer my sincere thanks to Mervin for his indefatigable enthusiasm for hifi and for his kindness to me, and to Singapore audiophiles in attendance!!  

This must have been a most interesting test;  as usual, I wish I'd been there....  

I have never heard an Ampzilla, although I understand one James Bongiorno of the US designed an amp by this name years ago - is it the same company?

Perhaps the AKSA should have been a 100W version for a truer test, but I'm well pleased.  I imagine Mervin's Nirvana is beautifully built, and this probably has a positive effect on the sonics.

It may seem difficult to improve on an AKSA - I've spent a couple of months recently in a desultory way trying to do just that - and I'm having grave difficulties.  It does seem this is about as good as it gets, but I keep trying.  A Nirvana Plus upgrade is definitely on the cards, and will be cheap for existing owners, but it's tricky!

Mervin, I'm still slaving over a hot pcb design for the DAKSA.  It's moving along, but it will be maybe three months yet.  I'm sorry, but I can't rush genius;  Ben's PhD is soon to be finished and he is directing a lot of effort there at present so we don't meet for tiffen quite so often, regrettably....  

So, we now await Jim's test with George's AKSA 100W stocker - it should be most interesting how the higher power shapes up against the AKSA.

Once again, Mervin, my sincere thanks for organising this shoot out!

Cheers,

Hugh

[EchiDna]

same guy Hugh...

http://www.ampzilla2000.com

[stvnharr]

FWIW,
I listened to Ampzilla's, Son of Ampzilla's, and I even think there was a Grandson of Ampzilla that I heard, well over 20 years ago.   These were a rage in some American hifi circles in the early 80's.   I've not heard Ampzilla 2000.   I'm sure it's been tweaked some.
A 20 year memory is pretty invalid, but, AKSA is more musically true!!

[AKSA]

Hmmm.  I had a good look at the site, thanks Glen, very interesting.

This is certainly James Bongiorno, Great American Sound, know of his designs, indeed, have studied them.

The amp is well made, and very competently designed.  But it is very difficult to divine exactly what the circuit configurations are;  I suspect it is full complementary, double differential with conventional negative feedback.  I have never been a fan of either feature, preferring non-complementary single diff.  In fact, I believe less in the topology than I do in the detail and implementation;  there is no doubt that the devil is in the detail.

What really impresses about this product is the marketing.  The website, the ethos surrounding James B., the sad story of his liver illness, the fancy graphics show, the grandiose claims:  "Less than 0.05% at any power to 200W of any distortion known to man" - this is impressive stuff!

I guess I'm poaching to the perverted here on our forum, but it seems to me that the real test is a good long listen, on a variety of music with some VERY good recordings, and at differing volumes, and whilst doing other things, like cooking an omellete.  This is the real test and it takes time.  But the advertising hype is VERY important as it seems to justify the price regardless of the sonics.

That said, I think the Ampzilla is very keenly priced, and for the quality, I doffs me cap.  Their production engineering is very good, and the construction is both elegant and inexpensive.  I particularly like the heatsink mount, and the single card mainboard.  Notice also the EI transformer, the limited capacitance in the power supply, and the use of some remarkably inexpensive caps........  It certainly ain't all jewellry!!

Thanks for the chance to examine this product, guys.  And once again, thanks to Mervin for his commitment to AB testing.  Without this sort of enthusiasm, I would never know, as I've not seen a recent Ampzilla downunder.

Cheers,

Hugh

[DSK]

Hi MB & Echidna,

Thanks for sharing the results of your test. As you probably know, the AKSA 100N has significantly greater bass control, authority, drive, dynamics etc than the 55N, with no loss of speed or soundstaging and very little (if any) loss in the highs. Do you guys have access to a 100N over there to put up against the Zillas? Based on your results with the 55N, I think the 100N would remove any doubts you may have.  

Cheers,
Darren.

[John Casler]

Hi Guys,

Looks like I'm going to have to "hear" what this mighty mite sounds like.

As a VMPS owner (and dealer - also an AmpZilla dealer) I lust after the Ampzilla and generally regard it as one of the best AMPS avaialble at any price.

It has been particularly praised with the VMPS ribbons.

I have heard it many times with the RM40s and have not heard an amp that sounds better, overall.

I have in my possession a review of the amp by a reviewer I trust (Anthony Cordesman), who places it in the company of the Pass x600, the Mark Levinson 436, and the Theta Dreadnaught II, several of the premier amplifiers available.

(edit) looks like it has been posted on the website http://www.ampzilla2000.com/Cordesman.pdf

While price is not a qualifier for quality sound, these amps all retail in the upper stratosphere (even in comparison to the $5500 AmpZilla)

Now I hear that a 55 watt amp with a much lower price not only matches it but (in the opinion of some) is better???

This is an amp I must hear.

Hugh, are you going to be at CES, and if so where.  I'd like to hear your wares!!

[AKSA]

Hi John,

Thanks for dropping by!

Ah, if only it were so simple.......  my travel priorities at present lie with Semarang and Jakarta, Indonesia!

No, I'm not going to CES, but I am considering advertizing on Google.

I direct sell AKSA kitsets from the company website to nine European countries, the US and Canada, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Oz, and Brazil.  I haven't counted lately, but there have been about 500 sales of the power amplifiers, mostly the AKSA 55W.

There are quite a few AKSAs in LA.  I will ask Michael Amster if he is willing to give you a listen!  There are also three 100W AKSAs and two 55Ws in Sacto.

The range also includes a hybrid preamplifier called the GK-1, a retail version of which I'm working on right now, and which should be in production just after Christmas.  It will retail direct for around $US2,800 on present exchange rates, has full remote control, mute, HT bypass, tube output stage and complete dual mono construction.  People say it's every bit as good as the AKSA 55W, dunno, sounds pretty good to me.  We are working presently on a DAC, which will use the same FIFO buffer concepts as the ML Model 36 DAC, with a highly sophisticated error management topology which we believe is unique.  That's due in March/April, but it's taking much longer than expected because it's COMPLICATED!!!

Stick around, I'll contact you via email......

Cheers,

Hugh

[EchiDna]

Hi Guys,

Looks like I'm going to have to "hear" what this mighty mite sounds like.

As a VMPS owner (and dealer - also an AmpZilla dealer) I lust after the Ampzilla and generally regard it as one of the best AMPS avaialble at any price.

It has been particularly praised with the VMPS ribbons.

I have heard it many times with the RM40s and have not heard an amp that sounds better, overall....

Hi John, this is where it could get 'messy'... the RM40 is a different beast to the RM2 that we had at the comparison. I wouldn't be surprised to find the AKSA 55 would suffer somewhat with an even larger load than the RM2.

If we had 20 people's opinions of the AKSA/Ampzilla comparison, I think you would find that some would find the ampzilla too slow, some the AKSA too fast, some the AKSA soundstage too forward, some the Ampzilla soundstage just right and most/all the ampzilla bass superior. The bass thing is why I feel an AKSA 100 nirvana would be a better match for the RM2.

At the end of the day, I guess it comes down to each individuals definition of "better" doesn't it?

I should also say that I loved the RM2 and would love to hear the RM40!

[Marbles]

Hugh,

How much do you think (in USD) your Daksa will cost?  Just an estimate will do.  Thanks

[AKSA]

Hi Marbles,

Ben and I have discussed this only cursorily, but we intend there to be three levels, starting around $US450, finishing around $950.

I won't go firmer than that, because I don't yet know for sure until I start buying inventory and figuring costs.  Heck, I won't even go firm on a release date, because this !@#$ pcb is taking me forever, bloody multiple layers!

Cheers,

Hugh

[mb]

Hi MB & Echidna,

Thanks for sharing the results of your test. As you probably know, the AKSA 100N has significantly greater bass control, authority, drive, dynamics etc than the 55N, with no loss of speed or soundstaging and very little (if any) loss in the highs. Do you guys have access to a 100N over there to put up against the Zillas? Based on your results with the 55N, I think the 100N would remove any doubts you may have.  

Cheers,
Darren.

Somehow I've never felt that my 55N has any lack of bass control, or the other qualities described, and from Hugh's and others' description of the 55 v 100W, my 2nd AKSA purchase was still a 55 (yet to be assembled!). As hinted by  Hugh, there are some tweaks on my 55N, and it probably has just a little better bass control than a stock 55N. The ideal scenario is probably 100N+55N biamp. I use a Rotel for my bass drivers in a biamp system (passive XO), and most of the bass "speed" really comes from the ASKA.

Reality check: the qualities we heard on the AKSA during the A/B were really in the "different, but not always better" category. Some might find it brighter / more revealing / less relaxing than they would enjoy in the longterm. Even the cables at the listening room were my designs, primarily voiced using AKSA . It happens that the cables suited the Ampzilla / VMPS combo rather well too.

[DSK]

Somehow I've never felt that my 55N has any lack of bass control, or the other qualities described, and from Hugh's and others' description of the 55 v 100W, my 2nd AKSA purchase was still a 55 (yet to be assembled!). As hinted by  Hugh, there are some tweaks on my 55N, and it probably has just a little better bass control than a stock 55N. The ideal scenario is probably 100N+55N biamp. I use a Rotel for my bass drivers in a biamp system (passive XO), and most of the bass "speed" really comes from the ASKA. ...

Hi MB,
Please don't misunderstand what I said ...I am *not* saying that the 55N "lacks" bass control, and I certainly can't comment on your tweaked 55N. However, based on hearing Hugh's 55/55N/100/100N on a number of occasions, there is no doubt that the 100 has significantly more heft/balls/dynamics/viscerality/impact/control. On high sensitivity speakers that are an easy load, this may be less obvious (I'm not referring to the RM2's here as I know nothing about them).

I fully agree that all evaluations/comparisons in this extremely subjective hobby (obsession   ) come down to personal preference and system synergy. My comment about the 100N possibly removing lingering doubts was based on Echidna's remark ..."IMHO, the Ampzilla's strongest point over the AKSA 55 Nirvana was the bass control" ... and the fact that the 100 is significantly better than the 55 in this regard.

As always, YMMV.

Cheers and thanks for sharing your experiences.
Darren.

[audiojerry]

just noticed this thread; the most surprising comment I read here was

It will retail direct for around $US2,800

Whoa, that's some serious $$$.    It appears that this product will be targeting a much different audience than the prototypical AKSA owner.

Well, I guess Hugh does deserve to get out of missionary work and start making some real money.  

Hugh, did I interpret that correctly - that you have sold only about 500 diy units worldwide? This is a rather priveleged group, I'd say; to have had the opportunity to work with a designer that makes world class designs available to the hobbiest. Once Hugh's new ventures take off, AKSA may  be available as a high priced product only available at  dealers like Sound By Singer.  

[AKSA]

Hi Jerry,

I'm not so sure about that!  I will sell more or less direct at first, but inevitably, to get market penetration, will be forced to take on agents, distributors, retailers, the whole nine yards.  I'm not much looking forward to it, so will try Internet marketing direct first, probably through Jon Lane at The Audio Insider.

It's very difficult to get known;  there's so much competition out there and the big names flood the marketplace with high priced advertising, which locks out the little guys and jacks up prices.  I'm constantly amazed at how many advertising dollars are tied up in the high end products;  I'd estimate at least 25% would be marketing costs, and perhaps 50% more is commissions on sale.  Could even be more.  Since they are produced in smallish quantities, there are few economies of scale, so voila! - the price has to be high.  

I've done well considering I have a tiny ad budget, but I need to sell more, and find more new customers to spread the word.  Very few people actually like to make their own components, so you have to go retail, since the margins are tight for DIY, really only possible because of currency differences.  With the falling US dollar, the DIY sales are tough, so I'm being forced to look at other options.  

I apologize for this, but will remain DIY for as long as I can, at least while it is still viable.    
 
Cheers,

Hugh