Solid-State Power Amp Adventures

Discussion in 'Power Amps' started by purr1n, Jan 24, 2017.

  1. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Oh, I know how maggies sound like. Just wanted something different and curious if I could integrate some ideas for subs.
     
  2. ohhgourami

    ohhgourami Friend

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    If anything, I'd give an active crossover a try like the Beringer DCX2496 a try. It's what's used in all the speakers created by Roger Sanders like the pair I got. Would be interested to see how it compares to an passive crossover in sound. I got no experience with the comparisons. All I know is my rig sounds damn good.
     
  3. Hrodulf

    Hrodulf Prohibited from acting as an MOT until year 2050

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    DCX2496 is a nice thing to play with. It needs analog output mods to perform good, but otherwise I'd keep it as a great test platform for filters.
     
  4. Big D Design

    Big D Design RIP 2021

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    @Marvey
    I think personally Martin Logan electrostatics are a much better speaker myself than the Maggies. The 3.7 is putting you in the $4K bracket, and the 1.7 is putting you in the Martin Logan ESL bracket. To me the ESLs are better sounding. Now looks wise. Maggies look like crap. Martin Logans look amazing. The wife factor will always win out with the Martin Logans when it comes to aesthetics in the livingroom. You can throw 300 watts into them. There is a few sales going on with Martin Logan models. Some have savings of $1,500 off the $5,000 pair of Theos, and $3,000 off the $10,000 set of reference quality Montis. Martin Logan has a new line of models coming out this spring. Right now there is a new model just a hair above the entry level ESL called the ESLx and it has 2 woofers, one front-firing and one back-firing and has 50 more square inches of panel. They are $4,000/pr over the $3,000/pr for the ESLs. Marvey, if you have heard the Martins and you don't like them, please disregard. But if you haven't, do yourself a favor and try it. Most places will let you return them without a restocking fee. Maggies just are so butt ugly and I love them as a choice (3.7s), but Martin Logan all the way with my money. Enough rant. 2 cents done.
     
  5. Grahad2

    Grahad2 Red eyes from too much anime

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  6. Big D Design

    Big D Design RIP 2021

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    @Marvey
    [​IMG]
    Here is a pic of my Martin Logan ESLs for reference. They make for a nice statement in a livingroom. Freya/Modi Multibit in middle. REL sub coming Thurs.
     
  7. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Yup. I have two of them. One stock and one modded. They are great for prototyping, woofer / sub-woofer XO, etc. A decent DAC too.

    I was just thinking the same thing.
     
  8. Big D Design

    Big D Design RIP 2021

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    @Marvey
    I gotta tell ya. I have Martin Logans singing right now. It's the Schitt front end of the Freya and the Multi-Bit DAC. The system is astonishingly as good as any electrostatic auditions I have heard. And it's with the entry level MLs. I'm listening to Cat Stevens and Kenny Chesney and the guitars and piano is as real as it gets with a planar speaker. Everything has warmed up and my ML sub with the active gain adder has warmed up over the last few days and the sub is perfect.

    I have a REL sub coming and I really don't need it. But the bug has hit me.

    ML speakers don't like crap. It is a must for good electronics to run thru them. Holy sheet. I sure of heck have found a combo. Wow. Review of Freya preamp coming soon. I have more testing using the Mult-Bit in Balanced Input. Supposedly the Passive and JFET will turn into Balanced Output on the 300 volt rail and testing of these outputs will be more inline with reality.
     
  9. Big D Design

    Big D Design RIP 2021

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    @Marvey
    [​IMG]
    Here is another shot. Just got this aquarium light today in the mail for some mood lighting. I have some blue stuff that goes in vases for the shelving to finish the job. Just got to go buy some clear vases to put the tangled looking blue LEDs in. Makes it sound so much better. Ha Ha.
     
  10. Grahad2

    Grahad2 Red eyes from too much anime

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    You can start a ML appreciation thread.
     
  11. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    Have any of you ever experienced intermittent static or volume dropouts with your DCX on a channel? I've been getting some fuzzy behaviour lately but it's inconsistent and I'm not sure what's causing it. Sometimes if I just shut it off and back on, things go back to normal.
     
  12. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Yes, that's known to happen in all of the Behringer units. Their quality is absolute shit. (If I were a pro, I would never use the Behringer stuff.) This is why I have two of them. One of them is on its last legs, only two of the inputs (B and C) work now, and SPDIF is completely gone.

    The cause of this static is bad soldering and in some cases, the leads touching the bottom of the chassis. You could try laying a piece of tape on the bottom panel right under the I/O PCB. Best to throw it out and get a slightly more expensive DBX unit for the long term.
     
  13. ohhgourami

    ohhgourami Friend

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    What kind of improvements did you get from the mods? And what are some higher quality active crossover units?

    Overall, I don't think the MLs can beat what Sanders had to offer. Imaging and dynamics are superb. It's why I settled on the Inneesounds which are an older Sanders speaker.
     
  14. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Don't want to spend that much. Would prefer to pick up used Maggies or MLs for cheap. They are good enough to evaluate amp sonics while I build a traditional multi-way, maybe with the Accuton drivers.
     
  15. Rex Aeterna

    Rex Aeterna Friend

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    i don't like lot of martin logans and find some of them over-rated and never integrate well at all with their panel to woofer thing. always found the top-end smoother on my altecs than most electrostatics. there is some i didn't mind though.

    as for behringer stuff, i don't use them either really. there is couple items i liked from them but, that's bout it. i was thinking of the dcx at one point but, it's integrated dac i didn't want to deal with since i already have a good audio interface i think so, if going active, i always use analog active crossovers. right now using an old school decent rane crossover. think it's an ac22. it gets the job done and don't sound too bad. allows me to set the crossover point at 300-400hz where my giant EV horns can run at and i always liked running simple 2-way crossover points.

    you have the active dsp thing. i forgot what it's called but, it's popular to use with av people but, i never found the little box any use since my crown xti 4002 has everything i need when it comes to dsp selection and power so. haven't burned up 3200w quiet yet but, might need some bigger power down the line later on maybe during the summer.

    as back to amp stuff. have some older altec lansing power amps, b&k, bryston, ueri, phase linear, dynaco, peavey, ect. there has always been a peavey tube 60/60 power amp i always ever wanted but, only luckily only ever found 1 on cl but, was sold before getting in contact with the guy. loved the older peavey tube power amps.
     
  16. Big D Design

    Big D Design RIP 2021

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    That's what I did was sat and waited till some kind of deal came up for me. Paid $1,580.00 for my MLs
     
  17. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    I'm not really a fan of any Behringer gear that has active circuitry (some of their old PA cabs and floor monitors are decent), and I'm a bit afraid of their power amps in general. But the DCX was generally regarded as one of the better digital crossovers for the budget (not many competitors in that range though). Moving up to the DBX stuff jumps in price fast. Do you have any recommendations for other units to try?

    Has anyone heard of this one: https://www.long-mcquade.com/58509/...ro_Audio/SMS226_Speaker_Management_System.htm
    It's basically our Canadian brand and is available up here for only marginally more than the DCX ($499 vs 469 CAD)

    I'm skimming through some gearslutz posts and it seems the ribbon cable in the DCX is a weak point too. I'll have to dig through my box of discarded pc parts and see if I Can find anything compatible.

    Ooh, looks like AMB has a new project for upgrade the DCX2496...
    http://www.amb.org/forum/kappadcx-fully-differential-analog-board-development-t3358.html
     
  18. mrflibble

    mrflibble Friend

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    Nord Acoustics in the UK make prebuilt Hypex NCore amplifiers. They have worldwide shipping.

    https://www.nordacoustics.co.uk

    They have budget models available - the Nord One MP NC250 and NC500, £749 and £849 respectively. Shipping £75 to USA.

    I've been reading great things about Hypex, despite being class D. Many positive reviews around on the net.

    They're a similar price to Vidar, it would be interesting to see / hear a head-to-head one day :)
     
  19. Big D Design

    Big D Design RIP 2021

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    @Rex Aeterna
    I respect your opinion on the Martin Logans. I haven't heard their whole line myself. I know Rock is not the kind of music that plays well with them. Altec Lansing on the other hand is king with Rock. I think the people that enjoy electrostatics are listening to music that conveys the voice and instruments not so much as a barage of a all at once type of music. My taste has changed when sitting down in the livingroom now and listening. I'm enjoying subtle tracks. Out in the car, well that's a different story.

    I haven't heard what you call a mismatch of woofer and panel with Martin Logan. The Audio Salons I used to work with hand picked the right equipment to plug into them. They are very much revealing. I can't imagine that all of their models are perfect, but setup right, and with certain source material, there is a quality of soundstage that is second to none. Standard speaker design will still trump electrostatics for sheer dynamics. And truth be told, there are speakers that convey impact 10 times the amount that Martin Logan can. Thiel used to be one of my favorites. Then there's the speakers like the JBL, Altec Lansing, Tannoy that can SPL till your ears bleed. But there is something to be said for an electrostatic panel and the soundstage that comes out of the panels. It's so very different and so very realistic. I was hooked after a few sessions of bringing my own music to an Audio Salon I used to work with. MLs driven by 300 watt Krell Mono Blocks. It was Martin Logan's flagship panels at the time. Circa 1983. I'm not trying to fight you on the Martin Logan issue. Just don't want this forum to think that the brand is anywhere near lacking. Sub is required item in my book with them. I'm going to go radio silent on this subject now. Just a large fan of the brand. When setup properly...... kickass. Rockers need not apply.
     
  20. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Let's not get into maggies vs ML vs estats. I justed wanted a serviceable transducer that will call upon some watts from the amps.
     

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