Audition Day

[Anonymous]

matthewpiano:

I've actually got something here (amp wise) to try. I won't reveal what it is yet. I want to take the time to listen to it from a completely neutral standpoint. Its playing now fed by my 340C through the V-DAC, and powering my Mission 751s and it sounds beautiful but it is early days. I'll keep you posted.

must be a pioneer sa-9800

good luck Matthew and keep us posted ... am glad that you are looking at an amp with tone controls as you mentioned that some music sounded fine and other types did not ... tone controls will sort that prob plus any probs with cables etc

 

[crusaderlord]

I must admit to really enjoying this thread and the Matt saga unfolding - keeping me very interested. One problem is there is so much choice in terms of manufacturers and then old and new that you can go around in circles.

I have my own issues trying to decide if my Neats are worth upgrading - they sound amazing but i cant help thinking 'what if i bought a standmount from double the price'.

This is despite an audition of the Proac 1SC direct against the Neat Motive 3 when i didnt feel the extra cost was worth the outlay as the Neat was so good.

Time to stop thinking about it really but the trouble is i do enjoy thinking about it 🙂

 

[Anonymous]

crusaderlord:I must admit to really enjoying this thread and the Matt saga unfolding - keeping me very interested. One problem is there is so much choice in terms of manufacturers and then old and new that you can go around in circles. I have my own issues trying to decide if my Neats are worth upgrading - they sound amazing but i cant help thinking 'what if i bought a standmount from double the price'. This is despite an audition of the Proac 1SC direct against the Neat Motive 3 when i didnt feel the extra cost was worth the outlay as the Neat was so good. Time to stop thinking about it really but the trouble is i do enjoy thinking about it 🙂

sad thing is when you buy used items, you do your research on google ... make a shortlist, watch ebay like a hawk ... one on the shortlist comes up at a good price, you buy .....

2 days later you read on google about someone who is not entirely happy with the same item and raises several issues ...... Think Matthew is taking the correct approach this time by listening on his system at home ...

 

[plastic penguin]

dim_span:

crusaderlord:I must admit to really enjoying this thread and the Matt saga unfolding - keeping me very interested. One problem is there is so much choice in terms of manufacturers and then old and new that you can go around in circles. I have my own issues trying to decide if my Neats are worth upgrading - they sound amazing but i cant help thinking 'what if i bought a standmount from double the price'. This is despite an audition of the Proac 1SC direct against the Neat Motive 3 when i didnt feel the extra cost was worth the outlay as the Neat was so good. Time to stop thinking about it really but the trouble is i do enjoy thinking about it 🙂

sad thing is when you buy used items, you do your research on google ... make a shortlist, watch ebay like a hawk ... one on the shortlist comes up at a good price, you buy .....

2 days later you read on google about someone who is not entirely happy with the same item and raises several issues ...... Think Matthew is taking the correct approach this time by listening on his system at home ...

Problem with old stuff is unless you buy from a recognised dealer, and you're not happy with it, it's virtually impossible to return it. Then you're left trying to flog on the same auction site in which it came; this is the personal stigma I have, whatever the item.

 

[tonky]

A poster mentioned about the brio " hardening up" at high volumes. I agree - it does. Most amps in the 30-50W bracket do I think.

At respectable volume levels it sounds great. Tone controls? No way!! The CA840A amp has switchable tone controls. I can hear a slight ( but obvious ) deterioration in sound quality when switched in. I wouldn't use it under any circumstances.

BTW the CA840A is a difficult amp to clip and the sound does not harden at even the highest volume levels.

The difference between 30-50W amps and the 120W+ per channel of this amp is that the sound is much more unforced and dynamic even at the moderate sound volume levels as the 30-50W amps I own.

Tonky