[Maerten]

Hello,

I just registered because im very interested in the AKSA 100N, but I've been reading alot already.

I do have a few questions, namely:

1. I got a NAD C320 BEE integrated amp with pre-outs now, i intend to use it as pre amp with the AKSA kit. Is this pre amp good enough to be coupled with the AKSA 100N, or would you expect me to have a significantly better listening experience with a better pre amp? And what about my KEF Q7 speakers, would i be able to hear the difference between my NAD amp and the AKSA kit.

Info about my amp:
NAD C320BEE
Info about my CD/DVD player:
NAD T532
Info about my speakers:
KEF Q7

2. Does anyone have any idea on how much i would have to spend on shipping since i live in holland. I estimate the total cost of the project at 600 euro now without the shipping (thats 950 australian dollars). And would it be possible for Hugh to send me the kit without the heatsink (at the same price offcourse) so the shipping costs would be reduced. I can get my own heatsinks probably.

3. Does anyone know of someone who owns a AKSA 100N in holland? It would be great to listen to it before i spend all this money.

I understand im being pretty much of an annoying customer but im going to college at the moment, and im not THAT wealthy (beer aint free im afraid   ) So im looking to save money where i can. Im looking forward to your answers if possible, and thanks in advance.

Greetings,

Maarten

[kyrill]

error

[kyrill]

beste Maarten

I still have the first NAD that made them very well known for the pre-high end entry quality/price ratio: the NAD 3020 an integrated stereo amp of If I recall well of 20 watts. They were musical sounding and I have their top receiver of 1,5 years ago the T761 for my Home theater.

You bought NAD and it was a good choice for the money and that's it. good relative to the money they cost but no way you can compare them to high end sound. Rotel sounds a little bit more open and less "sharp"in the sense of anti tube sound and is still not that expensive, but still no high end. High end ( a name originated by Harry Pearson back in the former century) means what "HiFi"should have meant: "true high fidelity to the orginal source." It means your ear will be fooled that the living human artists and their musical intruments play before you, when you close yr eyes. (Ignoring the effect of room acoustics) With true highend, suddenly the music becomes a channel to the artist. It transforms into a medium, a wide open door, for the listener to step  into a transparent time machine,which brings you back in the time of hence, in front of the performer.
If the performer is an artist, not an entertainer, you enter another door that goes beyond her or him, into the emotional formless realms of the human soul and you are transcended.  That is what highend is about.

In every way your NAD preamp will downgrade the Aspen amplifiers as the Aspen amplifiers will upgrade the NAD power section

There is a chance that the Aspen will show you clearer the imperfectibilities of the NAD preamp section, as yr KEF is able to experience, but knowing more or less the NAD sound, the all round effect will be (much) positiver and make you wonder how the GK1 will sound.

PS With shipping and without the nirwana upgrade it will be 490 euro. This is without the enclosure and transformators.. With the nad as a preamp I would postpone the nirwana upgrade to a later time.

[Carlman]

The AKSA made it apparent that I needed to make some changes in my source and preamp.  *EDIT* I say 'needed' because the AKSA made me realize how good hifi can be.

Putting a NAD integrated used as a preamp would be a temporary solution until you could find a better matched preamp.  You can find good tube preamps in the 300-1000 USD range new and used.  There are sooo many to choose from, though.  

-Carl

EDIT: PSP put it best.. buy what you can afford and don't be put off that you'll 'need' other stuff down the road.  I'm just impatient.

[PSP]

Hi Maarten.
I agree with kyril's post, but my advice would be a bit "softer".  The AKSA amps (I have three AKSA 55N amps in various stages of tweak) will take you to an entirely new level, that's for sure.  Whether the result is beautiful music or the disappointing unmasking of faults in your system remains to be seen... only you will know and only after you have been playing music for a few weeks with your new amp.

Everyone has to take this first step... but it is asking a lot of you to commit to a new amp that you haven't heard and a preamp that you haven't heard either.  If you want to travel the road to true hi end, you can be confident that the AKSA amps will deliver at a very high level.  Once you have listened for a few months, then you will know what problems need to be addressed in your system (and you will be quite confident that the amp is not your problem).

Good luck,
Peter

[Malcolm Fear]

Having a location of "in bed" makes it difficult for me to offer you to pop over and have a listen to an AKSA pre and power set up.
Where do you live?

[kyrill]

malcom the bravest:
He lives in Holland, which is The Netherlands.
You being in Sydney..

[Maerten]

wow thats alot of replies in a very short time, thanks for your input so far guys, you're making me even more enthousiastic (dont think thats healthy)

If you want to skip this long story, scroll to the end for the short version  

My 'problem' is that i stepped into this world of audio with the idea "I have to get better sound then these pc speakers, lets spend some SERIOUS money" As i was looking around for denon and sony low end models, which were serious money at that time, i discovered NAD. The C320 BEE's reviews are very good and it has received a couple of awards, so i picked that one without even listening to it.

Later that week i went to a small hifi shop nearby to bring my granddads speakers there (he died recently and left huge ass transmission line speakers, monitor series 3. Forgot the brandname as the company is dead. If someone recognises what im saying here please respond )
Anyways, the story, they had a NAD C320 BEE secondhand for 250 euro, which i thought was alot of money, but since it was such a good deal i immediately bought it.

Then i needed speakers, since i already had my granddads denon DCD-1700. I went to a big store in NL called Correct, consumer electronics. They had quite a few lined up, and as they showed me the different models i was amazed at the difference in sound and quality. Before i knew it i was hooked to the most expensive model they had, the kef Q7, for 800 euro per speaker. When i found it on the internet for 530 it was such a good deal.... i immediately ordered them. So now i needed amp upgrading i decided, to fully enjoy the KEF's.

I'm going to stick with the KEF's since they were a good deal and i like their sound, but only now i see what a basic model the NAD really is. So i feel an upgrade is in place. As you may conclude i dont have alot of money, and i am pretty new to hifi. I've been listening alot at HiFi shops to get my head around to what i want. But i keep falling in love with the most expensive stuff they have. But i really cant afford it, not now, not in 10 years probably.

I feel AKSA is the solution, even though my limited listening experience, and budget.

A preamp update would be possible in about half a year, but i think i am going to get the nirvana upgrade in the first place because i can finish the project in 1 time. Instead of taking it apart in half a year again ( i guess i dont have a DIY attitude, im sorry ) I've also seen someone said a passive pre would be a 'cheap' DIY option, which might also be a good temporarily solution, with only a 2 source switch and a volume knob.

Short version

i bought the NAD in a rush, bought more expensive speakers and want to upgrade now. If the AKSA lives up to its promises i bet im going to order the pre amp in about half a years time anyways  . I could also make a passive pre for the time being.

[AKSA]

Hi Maerten,

Thank you for your posts.  Appreciate your comments, and what you are after.

Yes, I can certainly sell you a kitset without the heatsinks at a saving of $AUD50;  this will reduce postage from around $AUD92 to $AUD48;  just half.  But you will need to buy heatsinks locally, and you'll find they are expensive in Europe, and you'll need to drill them (not too difficult for the 100W, a little more difficult for the 55W as you need four M3 tapped holes.)

Of course, if you have ledged heatsinks, or access to surplus product at low cost, the saving will be considerable.

Before you start out, you need to realize that the AKSA will expose weaknesses elsewhere in your system, and you may not like what you hear until you upgrade other parts!!     But this is a sickness which afflicts all audiophiles, so you are in good company!

Cheers,

Hugh

[Maerten]

This is a journey into sound... i dont think i'll ever be cured and stop spending money so your words dont scare me  

Im determined to hang on to my KEF's, all the other stuff can be replaced at will. Im not sure about tubes, since i never even heard a tube amplifier (be it pre or main).

Not sure what will happen with the CD/DVD player, but i got it for 280 euro's instead of the 600 euro's price thats on the site. I could upgrade it by adding weight, and getting another DAC and so on. I see possibilities.
By the way, dont get that T532 for anything more then 300 euro because its simply not worth it. The menu is sluggish, as well as skipping numbers. The build quality is 99% thin plastic. Then again why am i telling this to people who probably have CD players priced 10 times my entire system.  

Maarten

PS: Would a QUAD 33 mark II preamp be any better then my C320's ? My dad would be ok with trading i bet

[Seano]

I've had my 100W Nirvana for nearly two years now. For all that time it has been running off the preamp section of a Yamaha integrated amp. And for some of that time it has been running only the midrange/bass portion of the speakers (Krix Lyrix - Made in Oz) while the Yamaha has been doing pre-amp/tweeter duties. In other words, I've biamped my system.

I have every intention of upgrading to a GK-1 but have been balancing other financial priorities in the meantime.  I guess that this doesn't make me much of an audiophile (less frequently known as a "sound wanker") but I don't much care.  The improvement over just using the Yamaha for everything was immense.....very obvious, very pleasant and very rewarding.

So basically, do your original planned upgrade. Your NAD integrated will do fine as a pre-amp in the short term and you WILL hear an improvement. Especially with those Kefs.  Then you can put together the next patch of money for the GK-1 - by that time the Oz dollar should have settled down cause interest rates in the US will come up so it'll be cheaper for you......although Hugh will have also released the AKSADAC and some other toys by then.......bummer eh!!

SO....
Do what you can to get hold of the AKSA amp.
Do get the Nirvana upgrade when you get it - it's easier to install at the intial build stage and you will hear the difference.
Do remember that all good things take time

[Maerten]

Thanks for your clear advise Seano, its much appreciated.

I guess we're the lazy ones here, not the true DIY'ers, or am i doing you wrong here?

The AKSA amp is already getting pretty expensive so far, when i add it all up i'll be about 800 euro's lighter. Going to have to use my savings... who needs furniture if he/she has great sound? I'll just sit on empty beer crates, it will do !  

Maarten

[Jens]

Hi Maerten,

Welcome to this wondrous world!

If you are ever in Copenhagen, you are welcome to come and listen to my AKSA 55 Nirvana.

It's is (quite) a bit closer than Sydney!

Cheers,

[Maerten]

Thank you for the invitation Jens, im afraid im not alot in copenhagen, but i like the gesture alot

I pretty much got answers to all my questions, and i feel more like buying an AKSA kit then ever, but im afraid i lack the funds to go for nirvana the initial time, so i'll have to buy that later.

Only question still standing is if the QUAD 33 pre amp is any better then the C320's.... Or maybe that doesnt matter and i'll buy the kit anyways  

Maarten

[PSP]

Maarten,
If you get a chance to go to Copenhagen I would very strongly suggest that you have a listen to Jens' system.  It is way excellent and wasn't all that expensive to build.  This will give you a glimpse of what is possible and could save you from making a lot of expensive wrong turns in your audio life.

I'm not familiar with the particular KEFs you have, or your musical tastes... do you need 100 watts?  I'm extremely happy with the AKSA 55N, and it does cost significantly less.  

Regarding preamps, although the GK-1 is the best option for sure, you could save some money and build the TLP-N.  I have a GK-1R sitting in its shipment box (I'll put it together in the next few months) but in the mean time, I am extremely pleased with the sound of the TLP-Nirvana.

Good luck,
Peter

[Maerten]

The KEFS are very easy to drive, they can be powered with a 2x 15 watt amp, even though they are quite big floorstanders. The reason im going for the 100W is because i want to get my amps in order for the next decade or so  

The AKSA would also be my only power amplifier, as im not planning on bi amping or anything alike in the near/distant future. So i want it to be powerfull enough when i get a bigger room, or maybe different speakers that require more power.

I'd really love to go to copenhagen again (been there once on holiday   ) but it might be cheaper to just buy the AKSA and see for myself then to get on a train to copenhagen. I dont have a car anymore because i sold it to get a good hifi system  

Im not sure about the pre amp yet, its just too big a leap for now, i've never even heard a valve amp. Allthough i might be so convinced by Hugh's engineering qualities that i directly order the GK-1 after i put together my AKSA 100W  

Good luck with putting together the GK-1R, and i'd love to see some picture of your handywork and casing when its done!

Thanks for the info,

Maarten

[Jens]

The KEFs are quite good for the money, so don't worry too much about them for the moment (but it will come later, I promise you!).

Whether you feel you need a 55 or a 100 watt amp is entirely up to your taste - and money. Personally I think I would go for a 55 Nirvana. After all, it will probably be a while before you decide to change your speakers, whereas preamp and CD-player may come a lot sooner than you think.

Also, if you want to go for a really good system, IMO there is no way around an active bass system, which means you'll need an extra amp anyway at some point. So, when you build those new super speakers you can then continue to use your AKSA 55 Nirvana for the top end of the system, where its sweetness will be most enjoyable.

Have a look at my homepage for such a system - as Peter says it's not all that expensive (and the speakers do not have to be as large as mine if you do not have a very large room - which I have): http://j-a-thorsen.homepage.dk

Cheers,

[Maerten]

Those sure are BIG ! Almost as big as the pair of dynaudio evidence masters i've saw (and heard   ). Im about to go to bed, but tomorow im going to try and translate your page into english, unfortunately my denish is limited to Give mig noget sprut  

You are certainly right about the CD player upgrade, i've been listening to my system set up in my parents living room (which is alot larger then my room) and the differences are very clear.... my old Denon DCD-1700 is outperforming my NAD  

The denon is about 15 years old, but was one of the top models back then, and the NAD is not even 3 weeks old. Im pretty disappointed, but i cant continue using the denon since once every week it has at least one day on which it just wont play properly. The timing is way off and it plays almost random seconds from the song you selected. After pressing play it will play a song like this:

0:03 0:06 0:01 0:02 0:19

And turning it on/off wont help, i usually wait for a day or so and then its gone. I thought about getting donor parts, or getting it repaired, but the repairs would've been rather expensive, and i dont know what is really wrong with it. I opened the case and adjusted 2 pot meters, one called track offset, and one called focus offset. That reduced the problem slightly, it just hickups now n then at this moment  

Thanks for the advice and i'll give the 50wN vs 100w some more thought!

Maarten

[Jens]

Those sure are BIG ! Almost as big as the pair of dynaudio evidence masters i've saw (and heard   ). Im about to go to bed, but tomorow im going to try and translate your page into english, unfortunately my denish is limited to Give mig noget sprut  

Hi Maerten,

There is no need to translate the page into English - just press the link "In English" below the buttons! This will take you to the English language section of my homepage, where I've already done the translation for you!

Cheers,