Cheers guys yes i keep looking at the Hegel ever time its mentioned. That Audio Analogue is certainly a brute. Or a Electrocompaniet but they are few and far between and expensive or old.
iQ Speakers said:
I would expect you to find the AA amp sweet, rich, open, powerful and detailed...and stable into difficult loads. It's a flexible beast with a good phono stage and HT Bypass.
I would put it on the same side of the "sonic fence" as Arcam, Electro, Musical Fidelity, Unison Research Unico and Sugden (Mystro).
Just as well as i have agreed to buy it for £1000 still not sure about the styling or the Italian origin, meeting the chap in Leek tomorrow or Friday! 22Kg thats heavy Huge caps Accuphase style. God knows whats happend to Abrahamsen I even called internatioal operater to try the number, I fear they have gone down the pan. I even asked if I could sell the Amps in the UK if they were any good, thought that might be fun and complement the iQ Speaker deal really well. Ow well we will see.
OK the Audio Analouge Maestro Settanta Rev2 (catchy name) has arrived at work so after limbering up I'm off to pick it up. Cno i see your AMS 35 weighs 28Kg! Now thats heavy. Abrahamsen finally got back to me to say they have the parts! Talk about timing I may just order one, I'm just intruiged!
iQ Speakers said:
That's what gives it more welly than the Sugden IA-4 and allows it to be stable into 2 Ohms.
Your new amp will determin the extent of your intrigue......First impressions?
Heavy and big. Better looking in the flesh very well made and very powerfull, nice remote and sound good. Given that I had one very short night with the Sugden and the Linn Majik DS before the CA got shipped off its difficult to compare apples with apples. Gut feeling is I think the Sugden is better. However I think the CA Stream Magic 6 is far better than the Linn Majik and has an influence in the overall hapiness of the system I had i need to check my ramblings to be sure. My intention is to buy the new Cambridge CXN when it comes out very soon. (Basically a CA Stream Magic 6 V2 drop the Audio from Cambridge Audio name add a new upmarket case with colour screen and slightly upgraded output stage components). to check my sanity. Although I think its wrong I have 14 days to send it back if its not better than the Linn. All sounds mad, but I have exposed and learnt much about different products, part of this mad hobby. Plus I have not lost money except £200 on the CA, not bad for 2 years of enjoyment. Watch this space.CnoEvil said:
iQ Speakers said:
I had an Maestro Settanta after my Arcam A85/P85 and I preferred the latter. Just a cleaner sound to my ears, more detail, more engaging. Nothing wrong with the Audio Analogue but I have fonder memories of the Arcams.
I also had a Pioneer A400, which may dad now uses. 25 years old or thereabouts now and still going strong. Nice amp.
I've had the current set-up for 4 years now and no intention to change it.
I bought it! Its nice but dont think its as good as the Sugden, though i changed sources the day the Sugden went! So its a tough call to say. Nice build though. I think I'm enjoying changing at the moment and learning i have alot of catching up to do only getting back into hifi for the last 2 years.JoelSim said:
NO, it's not going anywhere! I bought another two to sell! A normal and an UP. It kind of fits in the giant slaying scheme of things.
Ah, I see. How long did you have to wait for the second two, have they improved on the first one in terms of order speed?
No! I sent the mail ordering last Thursday only got the invoice to pay yesterday, however they have been shipped! None of my further questions to them were answered. Having said that every time I listen it puts a huge smile on my face it's just amazing.
iQ Speakers said:
Well the A400 was £240 new which is somewhat less than the Sugden. A nice amp, but it is only a very good budget amp.
mocenigo
Well-known member
iQ Speakers said:
Yes, listening to the amps makes you forget the fact that Thomas's inbox is a black hole ;-)
Roberto
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