[Martin]

Hi all!
 Hurray! The hum has been vanquished!
 After much email, forum searching and photos to Hugh...the dragon is slain!
I have my TLP nirvana & Aksa 100 nirvana in wood enclosures with a metal
back panel. The problems stemmed from a few different areas...all in the TLP.
 1) Earthing...I finally brought all earths (grounds) to one central post.
I put ground wires on everything
2) I rearranged the layout, seperated the pcb as far from the transformer as possible.
3) Surrounded the pcb with a sheet metal wall.
4)Investeded in some sheilded cables.
 I found my units didn't like the the cat5 interconnects I made.
 
I also added a sub out directly off the volume pot.

I have to get my ear pressed against the grill and really listen the hear
any noise at all.


I'm thrilled and enjoying my TLP, Aksa and Aksonics now more than ever.

I, like so many others here cannot express how gratefull we are to
Hugh, for all the help after the sale. This is my first Hi-Fi system and first DIY project.
Had it not been for Hugh, I doubt I would be enjoying either
right now. Our hats are off and our glasses raised....cheers!

 Martin

Ps I posted some photos in the gallery of the TLP...before & after.
Also the Aksonics I built.
 (sorry...didn't know how to link them here)[/url]

[EchiDna]

lookin good

heres a link for you!

Martin's Gallery


the best lookin aksonics I've seen  

[AKSA]

Martin,

GREAT job!  You were very patient with me......

And those are mighty fine AKSonics.  Wonderful finish.  How do you find the bass?

Cheers,

Hugh

[PSP]

Hi Martin,
Congratulations!  You have a very fine system and I hope you enjoy beautiful music for decades with it.

You say that this is your first good system.  The good news is that you have saved many years and many thousands of dollars that the rest of us have spent mucking around in Big Box AudioLand, then in big-buck Audio Salons.  You didn't mess around, you went right for the center of the target.  It's sort of like marrying Miss America on your third date.  Good job!

The bad news:  Since you haven't spent decades and way too much money in the search, you might not really get how good your system is.  Believe me, you have an outstanding system.  Now turn up the tunes and enjoy!

Good luck,
Peter

[Martin]

Hi Hugh
 I found the bass pretty much like you described...there, but not forcefully.
I went ahead with a 10" / 250 watt sub kit that has filled in quite well.
 My kids got quite giddy when I got the windows ratteling...made the wife
nausious. I've got it set where it pushes the lower notes just enough to feel
them a bit and has dissapeared into the musical mix.
 
Yes Peter, I do feel fortunate and blessed to have come across
Aspen Amps at the time I started considering a DIY Hi-Fi.
"I promise...as best as possible...not to take my good fortune for granted".

  I read the post here daily...really enjoy it...don't understand most of it...
but, I've gleened alot from you all....much thanks.

Martin

[StevieM]

Martin
I am using a 10" subwoofer with my Aksonics too, and they make a great combination. I reckon the key to long term satisfaction with a s/w is to use for subtle reinforcement of the lowest notes only. In this way the sub doesn't draw attention to itself as a separate entity. I have mine set so that the upper cut off is 40hz and volume about 1.5 (on a 0-10 scale). It might be partly an age thing though as younger folk seem to want to drown in bass notes...
I only use the sub with CDs though - for records my LP12 provides more than enough bass through the Aksonics alone.
One thing I did find was that the speaker cabinet nearest the sub would resonate/vibrate at higher volumes. I overcame the problem by lining the inside of both speaker cabinets with sound barrier mat, a 2.5mm thick dense rubber stuff. (this sort of thing http://www.customaudiodesigns.co.uk/soundproofing/barriermat.htm) I chose this particular product on the simple basis that offcuts were lying around in the skip at work. The Aksonic cabinets are now heavier and sit better on the floor, and an already good sound quality got even better, so it might be something for you to consider for the future. You might find that once you start DIY hifi you don't know when to stop....
Steve

[fos]

g'day martin, stevieM

im curious about what type of music you both listen to. just to get a feel for how the aksonics would handle my listening tastes.

[Martin]

Hello fos
 Mostly I listen to contempory christian which I would probably put in the
pop/rock catagory. I also like Baroque...Bach, Vivaldi & Handell.
All my music is CD...I owned my last LP in '82
Every once in a while I'll find something that really cooks and just can't help but rattle the windows.  The Aksonics just handle it all.
 Just today I was noticing how natural the sound is. Nothing forced or pumped up, just everything where it ought to be.
 In a world of hype, its nice to be settled with a stereo...happily.

Thanks again Hugh.
  Martin

[kyrill]

Hi Martin,
Congratulations!  You have a very fine system and I hope you enjoy beautiful music for decades with it.

You say that this is your first good system.  The good news is that you have saved many years and many thousands of dollars that the rest of us have spent mucking around in Big Box AudioLand, then in big-buck Audio Salons.  You didn't mess around, you went right for the center of the target.  It's sort of like marrying Miss America on your third date.  Good job!

The bad news:  Since you  ...

This is what I told my wife when as an 18 yr old virgin she met me. After having me, she could not do an A/B comparison to find out she met "the center of the target" .

Like having a Mecedes sports car right after passing your driver's exam