Amplifier upgrade journey.

[CnoEvil]

I am truly pleased that you are looking over the fence at some of the wonderful brands that often get overlooked, due to the pull of a couple of award winners (good as they may be).

Thanks Cno!

the wife don't like the look of the Pathos... :? To be honest i like it! 8)

the down point is i can't fit a phono stage...

Once you hear the magic, it's hard to turn your back on......believe me, I know! :doh:

did you had a Pathos and sell it...?

I'm talking about the MF AMS 35i, which I borrowed for a home dem, but returned as I thought the price was a step too far....but the amp had got under my skin, and I missed it every time I put on some music. When the dealer made me an offer 8 months later, I could no longer resist. :doh:

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

I am truly pleased that you are looking over the fence at some of the wonderful brands that often get overlooked, due to the pull of a couple of award winners (good as they may be).

Thanks Cno!

the wife don't like the look of the Pathos... :? To be honest i like it! 8)

the down point is i can't fit a phono stage...

Once you hear the magic, it's hard to turn your back on......believe me, I know! :doh:

did you had a Pathos and sell it...?

I'm talking about the MF AMS 35i, which I borrowed for a home dem, but returned as I thought the price was a step too far....but the amp had got under my skin, and I missed it every time I put on some music. When the dealer made me an offer 8 months later, I could no longer resist. :doh:

Thats the spirit!

I think that this amp for 850€ is a no brainer!!! And I can think in a near future of a UnitiQute as a source...

lets face it Cno less 1400€ that the retail price...

 

[CnoEvil]

I think that this amp for 850€ is a no brainer!!! And I can think in a near future of a UnitiQute as a source...

lets face it Cno less 1400€ that the retail price...

I think you are right, though imo, you should also consider a Sneaky DS (as a source) as well.

 

[plastic penguin]

I am truly pleased that you are looking over the fence at some of the wonderful brands that often get overlooked, due to the pull of a couple of award winners (good as they may be).

Please forgive me, Cno. I've mentioned this so many times that I'm changing my username to 'deja vu'. :rockout:

Totally agree that looking over the fence is fantastic. However, usually, in southern England, when one looks over that wooden partition there's little more than weed.

These lesser names are only lesser because, in the main, they have crummy distribution.

Solution? no idea, I'm afraid.

 

[CnoEvil]

I am truly pleased that you are looking over the fence at some of the wonderful brands that often get overlooked, due to the pull of a couple of award winners (good as they may be).

Please forgive me, Cno. I've mentioned this so many times that I'm changing my username to 'deja vu'. :rockout:

Totally agree that looking over the fence is fantastic. However, usually, in southern England, when one looks over that wooden partition there's little more than weed.

These lesser names are only lesser because, in the main, they have crummy distribution.

Solution? no idea, I'm afraid.

It's down to research, priorities, determination and a willingness (ability) to travel........though FWIW. HFO is in a different country, with local access to these interesting brands.

 

[plastic penguin]

I am truly pleased that you are looking over the fence at some of the wonderful brands that often get overlooked, due to the pull of a couple of award winners (good as they may be).

Please forgive me, Cno. I've mentioned this so many times that I'm changing my username to 'deja vu'. :rockout:

Totally agree that looking over the fence is fantastic. However, usually, in southern England, when one looks over that wooden partition there's little more than weed.

These lesser names are only lesser because, in the main, they have crummy distribution.

Solution? no idea, I'm afraid.

It's down to research, priorities, determination and a willingness (ability) to travel........though FWIW. HFO is in a different country, with local access to these interesting brands.

Yup, HFO lives in Portugal, nevertheless there's still a dearth of certain brands, and in the main is patchy.

Still maintain these so-called smaller brands need to be more accessible.

 

[plastic penguin]

Hi all,

Some of you know that i got that itch of a new amplifier, so far i've demo the Linn Majik DSM ( will write down my findings later) and yesterday look what came to dinner last night... 8)



My Rega dealer came yesterday and made some litle tweaking in my system, made acoustic measurements of my living room, repositioning of my dyns, and when he was done, oh boy!It was quite a different sound coming out of the dyns! For better of course. And he left behind the Elicit R (full burn in as it is is demo unit), and although it has 105w at 8ohm, has a better control over the low frequencies but i prefer the Brio R some how...

Arrest me...!The Brio R is a bit more civilized, less bright that the Elicit R...In my opinion is not worth the the extra 1300€ that i've to spend...The amp is on since yesterday and I will give it another go later on, but the differences in sound quality are very slim... How can that be possible...?!

Doesn't surprise me about the Elicit-R being brighter. I did point this out some time ago just by reading the initial review. It almost mirrored the Leema Pulse. Also when i heard the Elicit a couple of months ago, and if I closed my eyes, it sounded scarily familar.

What I would point out is that it could be better with improved speakers. The amp at £1600 and £1300 (rough figure) for speakers, and this is serious money.

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

I am truly pleased that you are looking over the fence at some of the wonderful brands that often get overlooked, due to the pull of a couple of award winners (good as they may be).

Please forgive me, Cno. I've mentioned this so many times that I'm changing my username to 'deja vu'. :rockout:

Totally agree that looking over the fence is fantastic. However, usually, in southern England, when one looks over that wooden partition there's little more than weed.

These lesser names are only lesser because, in the main, they have crummy distribution.

Solution? no idea, I'm afraid.

It's down to research, priorities, determination and a willingness (ability) to travel........though FWIW. HFO is in a different country, with local access to these interesting brands.

Yup, HFO lives in Portugal, nevertheless there's still a dearth of certain brands, and in the main is patchy.

Still maintain these so-called smaller brands need to be more accessible.

thanks for jumping in PP, yes i live in Portugal and in Lisbon vicinity, all nacional dealers of internacional brand are based in this area!

There are lot of other brands that i'm not considering, like Audio Analogue...

If I have the resourses the least i can do is take advantage from it!

I'm having fun and learning a lot just from talking with people that are in the business for a long time.

Let me add that you guys are the two members in this forum that i respect the most, SO all input or sharing opinions are welcome!

I thought of you two days ago, when i pick up the Pathos amp, this dealer represent MA as well.

I've heard in first hand the new RX line, they were not burn in yet, the RX1 and RX6 they were connected to Primare i32 amp and CD player. The New rx line lay a bit smoother, quite like them!

:cheers:

 

[plastic penguin]

You're right about the Elicit-R being overpriced. I also agree with Cno that the Unicos, Lavardin, Sugdens of this world are fabulous alternatives.

If you want a more natural sounding amp then Arcam A38 would be a great alternative or (don't laugh) Leema Pulse. Contrary to WHFI's review, although lively, it isn't that bright. I would describe it as the smooth side neutral. Won't have the texture of a valve amp but the Pulse doesn't deserve the tag of being too bright. Considering it is available for around £600 s/hand, and it is easy to match with speakers, if you can get hold of one on a auction site then GRAB it. If you don't like the sound sell it quickly and you won't lose any money. I wouldn't part with my one. Superb.

 

[matt49]

Damn, I haven't looked in here for a while and have been missing all the fun.

Any news at all?

I seem to see quite a lot of stuff from Portugal on ebay, including some interesting brands. Is second hand kit an option you'd consider?

:cheers:

Matt

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

Finaly the valve has arrived!!! Picked them at Pathos dealer at 16h and come strait home... :cheer:

I think they need a litle burn in, but that's ok i'll keep the amp for another week! 8)

That's what i call a proper home demo! :cheer:

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

Damn, I haven't looked in here for a while and have been missing all the fun.

Any news at all?

I seem to see quite a lot of stuff from Portugal on ebay, including some interesting brands. Is second hand kit an option you'd consider?

:cheers:

Matt

Hi Matt49,

yes second hand is ok by me.

why don't you use the"See latest posts" option...

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

My journey has ended...! 😉 8) :twisted:

 

[CnoEvil]

My journey has ended...! 😉 8) :twisted:

FFS, it's time to spill! :wall:

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

My journey has ended...! 😉 8) :twisted:

FFS, it's time to spill! :wall:

do you want to take a gess...? 😉

 

[CnoEvil]

My journey has ended...! 😉 8) :twisted:

FFS, it's time to spill! :wall:

do you want to take a gess...? 😉

I did that some time back. :silenced:

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

My journey has ended...! 😉 8) :twisted:

FFS, it's time to spill! :wall:

do you want to take a gess...? 😉

I did that some time back. :silenced:

And you were SPOT ON you litle (D)Evil...!!!

yup! The Pathos were too good to left behind, lets face it for 850€ exdemo mint condition! The retail price is 2150€...

 

[CnoEvil]

And you were SPOT ON you litle (D)Evil...!!!

yup! The Pathos were too good to left behind, lets face it for 850€ exdemo mint condition! The retail price is 2150€...

In what ways did you find it better than the UR?

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

And you were SPOT ON you litle (D)Evil...!!!

yup! The Pathos were too good to left behind, lets face it for 850€ exdemo mint condition! The retail price is 2150€...

In what ways did you find it better than the UR?

it's not like that...

if I had to pay that same for both I would got the UR Unico Nuovo.

Although the two amps play in the same league, the UR is a litle more smooth that the Pathos, and they have differnt sound stage, things are displayed in a different way from this two.

The UR is more fogiven and is easyer to live with it IMO.

there is one thing that i love about Pathos Classic One, and its his sound stage, it seem that everithing has a contour arround, and everithing has texture you can see in three dimentions.

Suddenly the most borring music gained new live, you can ear those subtle variations on every track, sloow is played sloow, and fast is played fast ( please tell me that this makes sense) and the ritms are not limitaded by the spekers ability or the amp's.

Pathos open the sound stage letting all the information in the midle passing through.

I didn't want to do my review because the valves are still burning in, and i think the Pathos is going to smoothen a bit more...

...but, thanks Cno to point me in the right direction and looking for the Pathos or i didn't had make this live time deal!

PS - I think my Danish girls are in love by this Italian guy... 😉

 

[CnoEvil]

...but, thanks Cno to point me in the right direction and looking for the Pathos or i didn't had make this live time deal!

PS - I think my Danish girls are in love by this Italian guy... 😉

You're welcome......any time. 🙂

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

I'm listening to Dire Straits - Brothers in arms and ooooh boy...! The Dyns fade away completly, they desappear...

the tiniest change in rhythm is played in the most accurate way, "Ride Across the River" is an exemple of that.

 

[matt49]

Good to hear this has worked out well. Sounds like you got yourself a great deal too.

Happy listening!

Matt

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

Good to hear this has worked out well. Sounds like you got yourself a great deal too.

Happy listening!

Matt

Thanks Matt49! :wave:

This is such a cliche, but here it goes, this amp is a game changer, I do have thing more balance now! Pathos is giving what the Dyns needed, that bit of extra power but with finesse and elegance, like an Italian painting from the renaissance...