Deang Posted June 13, 2008 Share Posted June 13, 2008 It's been a few months and just wanted to say that I give this amp my highest recommendation. If you're drooling over some very nice tube gear and can't drum up the dough or know it's going to be a couple of years or more before you can pull it off -- this thing will give you a very smooth ride while you wait. Unlike a lot of gear I've owned in the past, my appreciation for it has grown with use. I especially appreciate the grain free middle and upper registers, and the open/effortless quality. The amp leans towards the warm side, but not so much that you feel like it's blanketing detail. A truly remarkable quality of the amp is that you never catch yourself listening to the amp, which is something I can only say about a handful of pieces I've owned. The only negative things I can say about it is that there is a little bit of hum from the transformer and though it images very nicely -- it won't project the sound in 3D fashion like good tube gear does. However, this doesn't mean it's dimensionally flat, because it isn't. Some might balk at the 20 wpc, but it will seriously light up my room, and do it without causing fatique or "earwire". If you've been wondering if you should try one -- you should. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daddy Dee Posted June 13, 2008 Share Posted June 13, 2008 Dean, Thanks for the review. I sure have been coveting one of these sweethearts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cornman Posted June 13, 2008 Share Posted June 13, 2008 Dean, which croosover are you using with the jub's & that D45? Cornman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenderbender Posted June 13, 2008 Share Posted June 13, 2008 Sure looks like a lot of bang for the buck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacksonbart Posted June 13, 2008 Share Posted June 13, 2008 How much where you paid for this review? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrWho Posted June 13, 2008 Share Posted June 13, 2008 So what's different about it? Or is that a secret sauce kinda thing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenderbender Posted June 13, 2008 Share Posted June 13, 2008 http://www.juicymusicaudio.com/specials.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvel Posted June 13, 2008 Share Posted June 13, 2008 So what's different about it? Or is that a secret sauce kinda thing? He changed some of the caps, swapped ICs to get the slew rate a bit faster, changed some resistors. This increased the input Z, so you could drive it with almost any tube preamp. Wish I had the money for one.Bruce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrestonTom Posted June 13, 2008 Share Posted June 13, 2008 Dean, Those Crowns went through various design changes over the years. Does Mark do his magic on all of them or only a certain vintage? I am glad it is working out for you. -Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke Spinner Posted June 13, 2008 Share Posted June 13, 2008 series 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cut-Throat Posted June 13, 2008 Share Posted June 13, 2008 Kudos to Mark for developing this amp under the ambush of a lot of posters that continually hammered him while he was searching for a good, inexpensive solid state amp solution. He hung in there, and has apparently come up with a better 'mouse trap'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWL Posted June 14, 2008 Share Posted June 14, 2008 Would RF-7's benefit from that amp? [:^)]..........coming from someone who really pushes his 7's to the max. [li] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke Spinner Posted June 14, 2008 Share Posted June 14, 2008 No ...[] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deang Posted June 14, 2008 Author Share Posted June 14, 2008 Well, it would make one helluva horn amp if you're biamping. Dean, which croosover are you using with the jub's & that D45? I'm using the passive network designed by Roy. How much where you paid for this review? Mark sent me some scratch and dent pCats. So what's different about it? Or is that a secret sauce kinda thing? What Bruce (Marvel) said. He doubled the capacitance of the power supply, put in higher quality opamps, and upgraded some of caps in the signal path with higher quality electrolytics (Blackgates). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaiser SET say Posted June 14, 2008 Share Posted June 14, 2008 He doubled the capacitance of the power supply, put in higher quality opamps, and upgraded some of caps in the signal path with higher quality electrolytics (Blackgates). Nice, a D-45 on steroids[] It's faster, it's sharper it's cleaner all the way around[H] Kudo's Mark, making what some consider a great amp even greater[Y] It would be nice to have one like Dean's[] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvel Posted June 14, 2008 Share Posted June 14, 2008 Bruce - - Did you not build one from the parts list I sent to you? I had to send my son on an orchestra tour in Europe in May. My budget is about shot and I'll be paying it off for a while as is. It is one of my MUST DO projects. I'll let you know when I get to it, and your time is greatly appreciated.Bruce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deang Posted June 15, 2008 Author Share Posted June 15, 2008 The D45 sounds very good in it's stock form, much better than it should. I really liked it the way it was and had reservations about swapping it out for the modded one. It was the same kind of feeling I experienced back when I was trying to decide whether or not I should modify the networks in my RF-7's, and we all know the outcome of that little experiment.You make the change and it's like, "Yeesh, you gotta be kidding?!" On the surface, the physical and electrical changes seem so trivial, but the effect is tremendous. The Black Gates are interesting, it's my first experience with them -- velvety smooth. I've been eyeing the AC versions for the last month and I'm really tempted to try them in my networks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke Spinner Posted June 15, 2008 Share Posted June 15, 2008 well, MD ... when do you want to experiment with my D75 ...?? it's already got the bigger PS caps ...[] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke Spinner Posted June 15, 2008 Share Posted June 15, 2008 P.S. I'm glad ya let Chloe outta Jail ...[] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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