New amp

[JoelSim]

It's time for my remaining Arcams to go I'm afraid, will be going up for sale over the next few days as I've just agreed a deal for an Audio Analogue Maestro Settanta Rev1.0. About 2 1/2 years old but in great condition.

I'm looking forward to hearing it with the Unico CDE and Kudos C2 speakers, albeit there's a fair amount of work to do before this will be possible ie new rack needed, speaker box switch needed and speaker rewiring to ensure they are not baimped (no mean feat given they are covered by glued boxes on the kitchen wall and also hidden behind the huge fridge).

Maybe in a month's time it will all be ready and I will post pics.

 

[Craig M.]

ha, i know what you mean, you get some nice equipment home feeling excited and then realise you need to rearrange the whole livingroom while you reroute cables, get the old boxes out of storage etc. big mug of tea always helps along with an occasional biscuit.

 

[JoelSim]

Craig M.:ha, i know what you mean, you get some nice equipment home feeling excited and then realise you need to rearrange the whole livingroom while you reroute cables, get the old boxes out of storage etc. big mug of tea always helps along with an occasional biscuit.

It's getting the missus to do the dusting that will take the most time.

 

[Craig M.]

surely you could convince her that she likes that kind of thing?

 

[JoelSim]

Craig M.:
surely you could convince her that she likes that kind of thing?

Yer, naked.

 

[PJPro]

Another week, another upgrade!

 

[JoelSim]

PJPro:Another week, another upgrade!

The last one. For a while.

 

[Anonymous]

...just like my last glass of wine, eh

 

[PJPro]

JoelSim:
PJPro:Another week, another upgrade!

The last one. For a while.

Oh, I don't know. Looks like a new rack is in order? ;-)

 

[lordmortlock]

JoelSim:
speaker box switch needed

. Hope you can find a good one. Any I've tried have spoilt the sound - a proper shame given the kit you have. Did you look at that Luxman one I mentioned?

 

[Phil77]

How come your getting rid of the Arcams they are awsome amps i have the A85 and i love it!

 

[lordmortlock]

lordmortlock:JoelSim:

speaker box switch needed

. Hope you can find a good one. Any I've tried have spoilt the sound - a proper shame given the kit you have. Did you look at that Luxman one I mentioned?

Guess not.

 

[JoelSim]

I did look at the Luxman but it was too expensive.

I've ordered a new rack.

I've ordered a QED SS21 parallel speaker switch box.

I've ordered Chord Signature jumper cables for both sets of speakers.

I'm picking up the Maestro Settanta tomorrow.

Joy.

And I love the A85, a great amp, but it was time to buy something else in keeping with the Unico CDE and Kudos C2s.

 

[JoelSim]

I'm now the proud owner of an Audio Analogue Maestro Settanta...

but I can't plug it in yet, ha ha.

I couldn't tell from the 10 minute demo I got on picking it up either as the guy's choice of music wasn't the ideal 'test', and I had a certain 2 year old with me who hasn't got the hifi bug...well not to my level yet unless Baloo the bear is involved!

 

[ear]

we are waiting

 

[JoelSim]

ear:we are waiting

You'll be waiting a while.

No speaker links

Still got old rack, new one probably not ready for a few weeks.

No speaker switch box yet.

Old cables in plastic covers on walls in kitchen (biamp cheapo 6mm copper to be replaced).

Redecoration due in a couple of weeks.

Far too much hassle/issues to even try to hook up new amp.

Mind you really enjoying The Cure on the Arcs tonight so not too bothered.

 

[JoelSim]

My rack has sold, which is good and means I can dismantle over the next day or two. Maybe next weekend it will be up and running albeit without new rack yet.

 

[ear]

even on the floor i would try it I wouldnt wait haha

 

[PJPro]

I admire your restraint JoelSim. I wouldn't be able to wait, particularly if I didn't audition the amp before buying.

 

[JoelSim]

PJPro:I admire your restraint JoelSim. I wouldn't be able to wait, particularly if I didn't audition the amp before buying.

Nothing about restraint, I don't have the right cables to hook it up. I need links/jumpers and I don't know where they are. I could have low frequency, or high frequency as it stands and that ain't gonna work.

I did have a quick demo but it wasn't the best track for my listening tastes so I can't really make a comparison. I also had my 2 year old with me which again isn't ideal.

We will see, 70% of my stuff has been sold now, just the tuner and a couple of cables left now. (6 cables, 2 amps and a rack gone!)

 

[JoelSim]

Restraint?

Given that my rack has been removed.

And that consequently amp, CDP and DVD are stacked on top of one another on the floor.

And I've done a quick & dirty on connecting the speaker cables.

Sounds good,

Deep sound.

I think I'm going to like this when I get all my bits.

 

[Anonymous]

Ooh.

Deep?

As in bass?

 

[JoelSim]

First Impressions are that it has more verve and depth. I can't say any more as yet. Not warmed up, not in properly.

 

[JoelSim]

I like it. A lot.

It's got the same quality as the biamped Arcs with more 'tunefulness', if that makes sense.