The Two Channel Advice Thread

Discussion in 'Advice Threads' started by purr1n, Nov 10, 2016.

  1. crazychile

    crazychile Eastern Iowa's Spiciest Pepper

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    I probably could have phrased that better. The Denon is being used as a preamp. Because this is a do everything system, the TV, blue ray, Cd, DAC, a computer, are all connected to it. When watching video, it is a 5 Ch. system with the Denon internal amps driving the center and rear channels. The Adcom powers the front stereo channels.

    I realize the Denon as a preamp isn’t audiophile grade, but it isn’t horrible either when the direct mode bypasses all the unnecessary crap. I guess I was inquiring about a new amp to see if there was something else out there to replace it with. It is almost 30 years old and will eventually fail.
     
  2. Forza AudioWorks

    Forza AudioWorks MOT: Forza AudioWorks

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    Well, at my place I had a metric ton of hardware over last two years; speakers, DACs and amps, oftentimes awfully expensive. And when I encounter products such as this Kinki/JOB etc, how good these are for the money is admirable to say the least. My buddy favors EX-M1 over his 13k integrated amp because the former sounds much better with his difficult to drive speakers. It's about synergy of course, but the message is clear. EX-M1 can sound like several times pricier hardware in right setup. I wouldn't match it with quick, open and bass light speakers tuned to be precise, but everything else is affirmative.

    Haven't heard Rega and gave a listen to only one Naim (which was a small integrated machine), but I agree in 100% with JOB/Goldmund reference point you made. I haven't heard Schiit's power amps but my guess would be that there's a significant quality gap between these and EX-M1.
     
  3. Forza AudioWorks

    Forza AudioWorks MOT: Forza AudioWorks

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    STA200? Cold. I have one with Boenicke W5 and it gets mildly warm at best.

    Not as good as Job225 tho; a bit slower, less snappy and bloomier. Judging by how this amp behaves (instant on/off, no cracks, dead silence on speakers etc.), someone did something right. For $500 though it's a highly recommended beast. Looks good too.
     
  4. Maximillion

    Maximillion Acquaintance

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    @Forza AudioWorks I've been reading a lot about the EX-M1 since your post. I have to say it reads very well - both in terms of specs and reviews, especially for the price. Alvin also seems very helpful, although he is closing international orders down from the 18th of this month - after which, in country dealers will be the only source. Dealers are pretty scarce on the ground in the UK, so it's difficult to get a listen.

    It does sound very tempting, however - expecially as I just bought a new TT and Phono stage with some of my 5k budget (my goal was always to improve my 2 channel experience - so the amp was only the starting point and I was never fixed into it as the next step). I do however have enough left for the EX-M1. I might just try it.
     
  5. Greg121986

    Greg121986 Almost "Made"

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    This is disappointing to hear. I don't think I'd order from anyone other than Alvin.
     
  6. Forza AudioWorks

    Forza AudioWorks MOT: Forza AudioWorks

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    They probably had enough offers from distributors that it made financial sense to build a regular network.
     
  7. Forza AudioWorks

    Forza AudioWorks MOT: Forza AudioWorks

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    Out of curiosity, what speakers do you have?
     
  8. Maximillion

    Maximillion Acquaintance

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    Kef R700's
    87dB sensitivity
    Frequency range is 37Hz to 45kHz (-6dB)
    Frequency response 42Hz to 28kHz (+/- 3dB)
    8Ohms, dipping to as low as 3.2Ohms impedence.
    Crossovers @ 500Hz and 2.9kHz

    Mea culpa - I don't know exactly what the above means (other than sensitivity and broadly the frequency limits before significant degredation in sound?). Anyway, thought it might be useful info to save you having to look 'em up.

    Would these speakers fall into the category that you mentioned might not be suitable for the EX-M1?
     
  9. rlow

    rlow A happy woofer

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    These specs are pretty average relatively speaking for a floor stander. The Kinki should have far more than enough power to drive them easily to ear splitting levels without distortion.

    Relative to the sound presentation, according to the Stereophile review of those speakers, the reviewer found them to be a bit sluggish with transient attack and that he wishes they had a bit more of that. If the Kinki aligns with the Goldmund/Job sound signature as @Forza AudioWorks suggests, they should be an excellent match, because that is exactly what it sounds like this amp would bring to those speakers.

    This is one of the reasons I have been hesitant to pick up the Job amplifier for use with my ATCs - they are already pretty speedy on attacks, and overdoing it in this way can sometimes start to sound unnatural and rob notes of body and weight. You shouldn’t have this issue at all - in this case it may be a perfect balancing amp for those speakers.
     
  10. Forza AudioWorks

    Forza AudioWorks MOT: Forza AudioWorks

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    Specs wise nothing wrong with these speakers, there's no reason why these shouldn't work with R700. But I don't know these KEFs. I had the first LS50 for quite a while and found them to be very good for the money, but quite metallic sounding and piercing in the long run.

    If R700 sound the way @rlow described, the EX-M1 should be a good match. But if these are close to LS50, then the result might not be any spectacular. If that's the case, I'd replace speakers as the amp itself is a keeper. I know, easier said than done. But even if the EX-M1 doesn't deliver, there shouldn't be any issue to sell it at minimal loss. For the money there's very minimal risk involved.
     
    Last edited: Jan 11, 2019
  11. Forza AudioWorks

    Forza AudioWorks MOT: Forza AudioWorks

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    I'll take this in any amount;)
     
  12. rlow

    rlow A happy woofer

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    I had EXACTLY the same experience with the LS50. Couldn’t handle the metallic etch. I’ve read that the “R” series are not as bad for this, but have never heard them personally.
     
  13. zonto

    zonto Friend

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    Thirded, even just from a 30 minute demo at a local dealer recently. On my own Ragnarok amp no less, which Stereophile heralded as a wonderful combination. I think this results from a combination of (1) too much down low being asked of the 5.25" driver and (2) the speaker's horrible inefficiency. Maybe with hundreds of quality watts on it some of the strain would be alleviated. KEF did run 200 Class D watts to the woofer in the wireless model.
     
  14. uncola

    uncola Friend

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    maximillion I have kef q900 and my ex-m1 is a great pairing with them. it used to be my 5.1 home theatre room, the ex-m1 actually made me ditch my onkyo receiver and surround sound.. first amp to do that..
     
  15. Forza AudioWorks

    Forza AudioWorks MOT: Forza AudioWorks

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    No surprise there, not at all :D
     
  16. Forza AudioWorks

    Forza AudioWorks MOT: Forza AudioWorks

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    Yes, the sensation of LS50 being pushed too far was there.
     
  17. restrav3

    restrav3 Likes Audio-GD

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    I have 2 questions:

    1- the psaudio perfectwave MKII DAC. what chip is it based on? apparently psaudio does not publish the specs so i cant tell whcih chip it is based on. this is the old version that is discontinued. I want to see how it compares with ~$1000 new dacs sound wise. im itching to try a new dac and i was gonna try a random Chinese one but this morning i saw this for $1k

    i think it is this: https://darko.audio/2012/09/psaudio-perfectwave-dac-mkii-review-part-1/

    2 - so I have two subwoofers in my stereo and originally each was getting its signal from its own channel (left and right) but then I tried a miniDSP 2x4 HD that combines both channels and sends a summed up signal to both subs so if I understand correctly both subs are receiving an identical signal and this helped profoundly with imaging in my room (each sub placed right under the speaker so they are also time aligned for my listening position), things came in focus. now I have an oppotunity to buy a tube pre that has one single RCA output for sub and obviously this decware tube pre does not have any dsp so how does it work? how come the two channels are reduced to one RCA output for the subs? is it just connected to one of the two?
     
    Last edited: May 2, 2019
  18. iFi audio

    iFi audio MOT iFi Audio

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    In that John's article there's a word about WM8742.
     
  19. Kamikazi

    Kamikazi Friend

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    The Perfectwave MkII used a Wolfson WM8740 as far as I'm aware. If you compared the PWD mk2 to other Wolfson based DACs from that era you would be surprised that it features that particular DAC. I remember being quite surprised the first time I heard it. If you want something similar sounding along those lines (though this is going on memory) that isn't as expensive and still available you could look at the Teddy Pardo USB DAC which features the same DAC and shares some traits due to its JFET analogue stage. The one I tried did have a couple of driver issues so it is bit finicky.
     
  20. restrav3

    restrav3 Likes Audio-GD

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    well since i have not head either of these dacs and im not too familiar with this particualar chip, the question is less finding something similar sounding to the PWD but rather is it the best sounding dac i can get for $1k USD? I have mostly encountered wolfson chips is cheap dacs like cambridge dacmagic and have found them abysmal sounding.
     

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