[SamL]

I am looking for nice/expensive looking knob for my WIP aksa100n which will have wooded face plate. My preference is gold colour with resonable price - ie $US10 - US$15?
OZ or NZ source will be good but will go anywhere if the price is right.

Sam

[andyr]

I am looking for nice/expensive looking knob for my WIP aksa100n which will have wooded face plate. My preference is gold colour with resonable price - ie $US10 - US$15?
OZ or NZ source will be good but will go anywhere if the price is right.

Sam

Mate, for a moment, reading your sugject heading I thought you were contemplating plastic surgery!

You can buy some super-duper-looking, gold-plated Audio Note knobs from Parts Connexion - they're within your price range.

Regards,

Andy

[SamL]

Mate, for a moment, reading your sugject heading I thought you were contemplating plastic surgery!

How do you know that??

Anyway, thanks for the info, the Audio Note knobs from Parts Connexion sure look classy. Will go for it.

Well, since I am be going to Parts Connexion, will like to pick up some Riken-Ohm resistors. Can someone tell me which resistors on Aksa100 worth replacing.
Don't think I'll have 2nd chance to mod my aksa once it is into "production" as I use my amp for everything, including watching TV so my wife and son will not allow me to take it offline.

TIA,
Sam

[andyr]

[/quote] .... Well, since I am be going to Parts Connexion, will like to pick up some Riken-Ohm resistors. Can someone tell me which resistors on Aksa100 worth replacing.  ...[/quote]

Sam,

There was a list previously posted of the reses which could be replaced - it's:
R1, R4, R9, R13, R14, R16, R17, R18, R19.

This is what I put in on my recent AKSA 55 (well, the 55 doesn't have R18/R19).  However, be aware that after listening to mine, Hugh thinks that maybe the "feedback resistor" should NOT be a Riken Ohm (but I can't tell you which R this is!!).

Happy soldering!

Andy

[abo]

Saml,

I thought you are building aksa 100N. I thought that the Nirvana option includes audiophile grade components only. There shouldn't be a need to replace any resistors or any other component. At least that's what I understand from Hugh.
I'm very keen to find out why you are considering to replace resistors. If I'm wrong about the Nirvana kit, then let me know. In fact, what does Nirvana include?

Happy building,

Abo

[andyr]

Abo, Hugh may well post U an answer too (as well as Sam), but I thought I'd send U my response in the meantime.

You said "I thought that the Nirvana option includes audiophile grade components only. There shouldn't be a need to replace any resistors or any other component".

The Nirvana kit certainly does improve the sound of stock AKSAs ... and it certainly does include audiophile-grade parts.  To look at it in automotive terms, the Nirvana kit is the bits that you need to add to a basic engine to get it to run on enhanced fuel (like, with nitro in it!).  As a result, you get a lot more performance but there are still more things you can do to the car to get it to run even better!!

Since the Nirvana kit came out (quite a long time ago), various AKSAphiles have played around, changing this and that cap, this and that resistor ... to find that they could extract EVEN MORE sonic beauty out of the amp!!  Riken Ohm reses and Nichicon Muse/Black Gate caps in strategic spots do improve the AKSA to beyond the "Nirvana package" level ... and Hugh may well include these in a future "Nirvana Plus" upgrade.  In the meantime, tweakers can use this Forum to improve what Hugh puts out ... after all, that's one of the benefits of having the Forum!

Regards,

Andy

[SamL]

Hi Abo,

There's always room for improvement. Changing to audiophile grade resistors might be over kill for a lot of people but since I will not be revisiting the aksa once it is finish, I'll take the chances now. The only disadvantage is I will not be able to tell if the audiophile grade resistors is worth the money since I am not able to do a 'before' and 'after' comparision.


Hi Andy,

Your list is a lot longer than mine.
I though it is only R1, R9, R13, R14 for the aksa55 - guess I am wrong.
So, the change for aksa100 is the same as aksa55.
Um... R16, R17, R18 & R19 will be tricky to replace  and they look like the feedback resistors. Can someone confirm please?

Thanks,
Sam

[andyr]

... The only disadvantage is I will not be able to tell if the audiophile grade resistors is worth the money since I am not able to do a 'before' and 'after' comparison ...

Sam,

Don't worry ... other people have been able to do B4 & afters ... the RO reses ARE worth it!

Regards,

Andy

[AKSA]

OK guys, here's the official line.    

1.  The Nirvana upgrade contains all necessary parts for a sonic revision upwards by about 20% for both the 55W and the 100W AKSAs.

2.  Many people have experimented with their AKSAs above and beyond the standard AKSA and even the Nirvana'ed AKSA.  Some have reported improvements, some have felt it went backwards.

3.  I have encouraged this experimentation, since ten experimenters can cover much more ground in a short time than I can.  I have tried to talk with each person who has been down this route.

4.  I am encouraged to offer a super Nirvana - perhaps a Nirvana Plus - for those who want the nadir of perfection for the AKSA.  As I am well aware that more of this means less of that, I'm very sparing (some might say conserative, others perhaps reactionary!) in my choices.  I also have a gimlet eye on costs, as you would expect.  I do not believe, having now built up an AKSA redolent with Rikenohms, that too many is good.  It seems these are voltage dependent resistors;  that is, their resistance changes with applied voltage.  This introduces subtle changes in operating points in the AKSA, which inturn fosters creation of H2 and some H3.  (second and third harmonics).  Too much is NOT good;  a balance is necessary.

5.  In a couple of months I plan to release a Nirvana Plus for those who want the very best.  It will contain very carefully formulated parts, and it will likely be quite expensive.  But it isn't ready yet, and I don't particularly want to rush it.  But I can assure you that firstly it will be only marginally superior to the existing Nirvana, and secondly, that it will not contain many Rikenohms.  Nice resistor, but too much of a good thing is audible and a little oversweet to my taste.

6.  The Nirvana Plus will be easily fitted after construction, and I will give consideration at purchase to those who have already purchased the Nirvana.  It would not be fair otherwise.......

Please be patient, it's coming!!    

Cheers,

Hugh

[andyr]

Sam,

Here's another link for some nice looking knobs:
http://pages.sbcglobal.net/quackfat/_wsn/page5.html

Don't know how much they are, though.

Regards,

Andy

[Martin]

Hi Sam
I came across a knob
at http://www.referenceaudiomods.com.
called the Silver Rock Signature knob...$485.00 ea.
Amazing!
It is a rather nice looking knob.
Martin

[SamL]

Hi Sam
I came across a knob
at http://www.referenceaudiomods.com.
called the Silver Rock Signature knob...$485.00 ea.
Amazing!
It is a rather nice looking knob.
Martin

And it is suppose to improve sound quality for those who use Silver Rock potentiometer  - which start at US$3780. Frankly if I have that kind of money for showing off, I would rather go for the Accuton diamond tweeters. Which have a much higher "Wau!" efffect.

*Edit* to add link.
http://www.thiel-partner.de/e_index_iexplorer1152.html

Sam

[EchiDna]

Hi Sam
I came across a knob
at http://www.referenceaudiomods.com.
called the Silver Rock Signature knob...$485.00 ea.
Amazing!
It is a rather nice looking knob.
Martin

!!! I reckon I could make that in under an hour on my father's lathe. It could be no more than AU$50 for a decent chunk of very well seasoned beech or whatever wood you choose... geez even ebony wouldn't come close to $10 in timber