Loaner: AustinAudioWorks Black Amp

I hope the owner doesn’t mind I couldn’t help myself from putting little rubber feet on the amp because it had none and was sliding all over the place. They’re easy to remove.

 

Does this amp do better left on all the time?

so far my impressions match everyone else. Sounds really good but bass lite.

 

A quick note, there were feet on it one time, gone now, I may have forgotten to put them on when I sent it back. As you found out, the red light is also a the switch, does not need to be left on.

 

Well I put some sexy feet on it for you that raise it up a little bit. Looks nice.

it’s a beautiful amp

 

I think rhythmdevils still has it or has recently shipped it off. So yeah, somewhere in California. I found it uniquely interesting but lack experience and expertise compared to many members here so YMMV.

 

it will be shipped Monday. I cranked the knob on the back so it had the high “gain” (I think this was impedance not gain) as I vaguely thought that sounded bassier. I have a Gungnir A1 which is supposed to have slammin bass. It was noticeably lacking in bass compared to my reference amp and costs 1500. Many positives for me but that doesn’t work. Also this isn’t an analytical type amp where a bass lite signature might work for some. It’s signature demanded excellent bass response in my opinion.

Just being honest. I mention many positives in my two posts in the impressions thread. Like having respect for the designer.

 

You and Barry are practically neighbors. The list keeps growing. Measurements are lacking, maybe @atomicbob would be interested as well.

 

Got a package yesterday. I believe it’s the Black Amp. Didn’t have time to open it yet

 

@Clemmaster can you confirm you received the Black Amp? have you sent it off to @ChaChaRealSmooth yet?

come on guys, I know real life gets in the way but we need to know where loaners are, especially when the unit belongs to the manufacturer and not the community.

 

lmao... I realize you can't absolutely control this, but aren't you the guy that sets the schedule/order of these tours?

 

Oh I thought I did respond, sorry.

The amp was pretty scratched up and the SE 2 RCA connectors were “pinched in” to a point where I don’t even know if all cables could fit on it.
The amp was working just fine, though.

 

picked up the black amp from @ChaChaRealSmooth . Just wanted to note that the amp seems to be in pretty beat up condition when I opened the box. notable scratch around the front and rca jack seems kinda squished in. Soundwise no issue other than some scratchiness in the pot.

Oh I just noticed @Clemmaster already mentioned this LOL my bad

 

An embarrassment of riches

 

Hello SBAF - It is good to see that this little critter has been holding up well, it's life has been far more traveled than one would ever expect an amplifier to be.

I am proud that it has done as well as it has, shipping is always a traumatic experience for hardware. Most of all I am very pleased that it works well for you, brings pleasure and fun, can't ask more than that from an inanimate collection of electronic parts in a metal box.

When I shipped it out I expected that it would be externally trashed. This was neither a sacrificial unit nor a pejorative expectation but an important part of the development cycle. I will be changing the Sensitivity control to a switch soon and apologize for the pot, I assume that it is the result of landing on its face panel too many times.

I noticed that one of the feet of the original set is now covering the word 'Left' on the back, peal and toss it for it serves no suppose now.

As for the RCA connector, I can't imagine what happened to the poor little sucker but c'est la vie, I look forward to some time in the future hearing a funny story about it.

Please enjoy the unit and thank you for your participation in this odyssey.

--
Barry Thornton

 

Thank you for the 'first aid' for our little traveler.

 

Black amp handed off to Ev

 

@E_Schaaf @roshambo123

There is a chance I will need to swap spots or remove myself from the loaner if that works for you two. Something has come up and I may not be able to seriously listen 2nd half of next week. I will be PM E_Schaaf to coordinate, etc.