What hi fi system you got ?

JohnH Denon PMA-255UK amp, nice little amp them.

As for Mission speakers, owned a fair few and reviewed for my hi fi guy in a certain era 90's....yes some models but not all were a bit bright at the very top end.

Always like the Denon ltd,special edtion amps.
 
Still got my system from the early 90's, although I just listen to MP3s via PC through it now as I don't have a CD player anymore. Tape decks only plugged in for when I rip tapes to MP3.
NVA (Nene Valley Audio) A60 power amp
NVA passive pre-amp
Yamaha KX-580 cassette deck.
TDL RTL 3 speakers.


Blew the amp up in the mid 90's through playing it too loud :oops:
Looked on Ebay a couple of years back & noticed the owner of NVA now sold his amps on there, contacted him and he rebuilt mine.
 
xerxes":2r82uqny said:
Have any of you heard some of the newer amp technologies?

I've heard Class D, Class T and Gainclone amps and been very impressed with them.
I heard the 47Labs Gaincard and was impressed by its direct and surprisingly fluid sound.
This might have had something to do with the (Progression) DAC feeding it though -I'm quite a fan of 'filterless' DACs
 
I tried a non oversampling DAC based on a Philips TDA1545A. While I thought it sounded very pleasent, I also thought it was a bit soft and wooly; nice midrange, but I felt it lacked a bit of sparkle at the top end and punch at the bottom.
 
I'd agree with you there, there really is a trade-off, at least with the relatively 'modestly' priced one's I've heard.
But for me, coherence and natural musical-flow is everything -it's where CD sound has failed most. I'm just not that convinced by oversampling, -it seems to produce a kind of pseudo-detail at the expense of natural timing and solidity.
..dunno really, it's all compromises innit :)
 
I love the sound from my old Technics SUV 470 amp (it sits in my garage) and is connected to a Rotel RT 830AL tuner. Even with cheapo Pioneer speakers it is much better than all the modern stuff in the house that the kids use. I also plug in an ipod from time to time.

I have also got a Rotel RA1000 amp sitting in my loft which I stopped using 20 years ago. If anyone is interested I should move it on to an enthhusiast so let me know if anyone wants it. I recall it has a crackly volume knob but is generally ok looking.
 
I have lots of DIY audio that I'll post up later but the TDA1543/1545 really sound nice.

I always want the highest quality and will readily admit the TDA's are low resolution, soft and hiding some details but you can really enjoy the music, they produce a foot taping mellow rounded sound that is just superb for relaxing. Also they make even harsh recordings sound ok...

I have a Sabre 32 based DAC that is supposedly the be all n end all of resolution and its rubbish, it went straight to the back of the shelf, dull flat and harsh. Sounds I'd never heard before? Yes, sounds I want to hear? No! :D
 
Magsy, what do you think of vintage TDA1541a? NOS Double Crowns are selling for a packet now!
Those old DACs can sound very nice indeed -more like music to my ears.
 

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