stringo:
Thanks for the 'heads up'. However, judging by the following excerpts from the Creek website, I think they may have remedied that with the new version:
* " ...including a new feature Direct AV, which bypasses the pre-amplifier and
volume control to allow the power amplifier to be used in a
5.1 surround system."
* "...Functionality - the pre-amplifier now provides a separate AV input.
Selecting AV switches the input signal direct to the power amplifier.
This allows the front channel of a 5.1 Receiver to be amplified by the
EVOLTION 2 conveniently."
Gerrardasnails, how was the sound of the Evo anyway? Was it decent with most types of music? Not too bright or anything like that?
I'd like to think my many rants on here and my chat with Mr Creek might have contributed somewhat to them changing that!! Yes, that was the very problem I had and so you will have no issues.
The original was a great amp for the money. I would still be owning it now as I loved the sound (although my 840 is even better!). You get plenty of oomph, great tight bass and a very accurate presentation of the music. I would not describe it as bright at all - but then again, I don't find my RS6s bright and many do. I like most music apart from Metal and I don't have much classical. Radiohead, Weller, Kings of Leon, Killers, John Legend, Winehouse, Alicia Keys, Stone Roses, Noisettes, Marley, Arctic Monkeys to name a bunch.
I've read a group review of amps under £1k and the old Evo only got beat by the new 840A and trumped all the others. I would be surprised if you weren't happy with it but I would head to a local Superfi for a demo.