ronzo56
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Post by ronzo56 on Nov 16, 2012 23:21:20 GMT
Back to the Aune 2. Has anyone found specifications yet? Interested in how many mW it can output for one. Thinking about a solid state to try with my LCD-2's. Just received my Project Sunrise II and my first impressions are that it is a great match for LCD-2 rev 2. Of course I just got back from oral surgery so it could be the hangover from the anesthesia and the pain medications. ;D Cheers for the weekend, Ron
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Post by Deleted on Nov 17, 2012 0:09:42 GMT
Ron All I can find is the attached.Like the original kit version , it appears to run from at least + and -20V supply rails. I would expect it to be at least as good as the original kit version, and possibly the best overall commercial HA offering reviewed in R.G. If it is properly implemented it should outperform the Sunrise and all other hybrid offerings, and even Fran's C.H.Amp which is I.C. based ,BUT very versatile due to the many options Frans has provided, whereas this design is fully discrete. We need further info from Mike about whether selectable output impedance to suit different types of headphones is available either by direct switching or internal straps/ slide switches. I will be most interested to read full on reviews from both Mike and Ian. Regards Alex
• Input: Two RCA inputs
• Output: 6.5-inch headphone output jack
• Frequency Response :0-100KHz ± 0.5db
• amp maximum peak output: 20V (corresponding to the power
of the corresponding headphone impedance calculation)
• impedance :32-600 ohm
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ronzo56
Been here a while!
All you need is love. But money helps too.
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Post by ronzo56 on Nov 17, 2012 1:04:39 GMT
I will be interested to hear from Ian and Mike as well. If the new Aune does outperform the Sunrise that will be one outstanding amp, and a great value. I am still not convinced that one has to spend $1000, 5000 or 10,000 USD for a great sounding headphone amp. Perhaps I am wrong, or maybe the mark up on these things has gotten out of hand. Just looked at some new measurements on another forum. A well respected HA, at least by the pro reviewers, showed up with some pretty bad noise measurements and it's $1300 USD. Some folks on another forum even admit that's it's not the best sounding amp, but worth the money? Confusing. Thanks for the info Alex, Ron
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Post by Deleted on Nov 17, 2012 1:26:04 GMT
Hi Ron That's why so many members are into DIY. Although the original Panda kit was quite good, it was capable of further improvement in the PSU area as some members like Leo did, and careful matching of the input FETs also yielded improvements. The Class A HA/preamp that some constructed is capable of outperforming the modified Panda kit, but it is a no compromise dual mono design with distortion figures close to 4 Zeroes. It uses low noise very closely matched dual transistors in metal cases at the front end. Regards Alex
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ronzo56
Been here a while!
All you need is love. But money helps too.
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Post by ronzo56 on Nov 17, 2012 2:19:58 GMT
Hi Alex, Always good to have you awake while our members in the UK are getting their beauty rest. This crazy pricing is why I am gradually trying to learn about DIY and trying to develop the skills, but it is not something I have much time to learn and I know it takes years to become proficient, hence my interest in the SR and Aune. I have read a bit about the Class A/HA on RG. The only thing preventing me from giving it a try is my extreme lack of practical knowledge and skills in the DIY area. Is there anyone out there that builds this amp or one similar to it?? I don't mind a little capitalism, I'm American after all, it's one of our favorite hobbies, , but 7000%+ mark-up seems a bit much even to this yank. Particularly when some of our members open the case and you see how few parts there are and what basic designs are in these "audiophile products." Then they have only mediocre measuremets and SQ to boot. Somehow they then get a great review! Huh? Hope your day is a good one, Ron
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Post by Deleted on Nov 17, 2012 3:31:39 GMT
Hi Ron A couple of brave souls from the U.K. have built additional HA/preamps for family members. A couple are even building additional 15W Class A amplifiers for family members. That's a real labour of love, because of the cost involved,sourcing components from many different suppliers, and the huge number of manhours involved. Let's not forget too, the huge number of manhours put in by Jon and Will, Greg Erskine and others in coming up with suitable PCB designs to simplify construction and aid repeatability , getting them manufactured for the rest of the group and sending them worldwide.Then of course there are special group buys they organise for critical components. DIY is very rewarding personally, but it's not really practical to make them for others when you also have to source and modify suitable metalwork etc. too.It's very different when you make things for yourself, because you don't need to factor in the cost of your hours of labour. Another killer for the larger and heavier DIY projects is the P and P costs sending them anywhere but in your own country. It's the same for the guys in the Amanaro and Will's PK thread. They will end up with superb sounding little DACs that will outperform most commercial products worth a great deal more. Kind Regards Alex
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ronzo56
Been here a while!
All you need is love. But money helps too.
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Post by ronzo56 on Nov 17, 2012 3:46:20 GMT
Hi Alex, Makes sense when I look at the pictures of these projects, and read some of the build threads. Looks like I will have to wait for retirement. Maybe then I can get another degree. In the mean time I'll go to Amazon and buy "Electronics for Dummies" ;D The Real Dummies Edition. Ron
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Post by gommer on Nov 17, 2012 12:59:06 GMT
Hi Alex,
Is this somewhere in the Panda thread? I must have missed this. I did FET matching, bias increase as Frans described, but nothing in the PSU area.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Dec 6, 2012 21:57:08 GMT
This has not been forgotten and will be shipped over to Ian tomorrow. Apologies for the delay but I have had a lot on my plate these past few weeks..... I will review the amp once Ian has had some quality time with it. Ian, I'm not sending BOTH of the amps..... I'm sending the one that I think sounds "slightly" better (and I mean within a hair's breadth better) For Aune's reference this is the one without the large smoothing capacitors..... there's not a lot between the two and they always say that "less is more" so no point you blindfolding yourself and doing endless AB comparisons..... I've had the two of them for a good while now and both are much the same as each other.... no point in Aune fitting extra caps if they are not required. I had a look inside the PSU and it's a nice little job.... a quality 17V toroidal, pair of LM337 regulators, Nichicon gold caps etc....... certainly NOT a "wallwart" Apologies for the picture quality but the lighting conditions up here are crap From the time I have spent with the S2 I would say it is top quality both in construction and sound.... it is now fully "burnt in" and all ready for Ian to put it through it's paces. No hurry Ian, just relax with it and get to know it..... you can compare it with your DIY Panda if you like (if you have the time / inclination) but, for the money, I think the S2 is the way to go if you don't have the hours and skill to DIY one yourself. I hope to ship it to you tomorrow. Mike.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Dec 7, 2012 20:07:11 GMT
Hey Ian, There's a big box on it's way to you via Parcelforce 48 Should be with you soon! I'm going to clean up this thread, remove all the depression posts.... it is, after all supposed to be an amp thread and not a Clair Rayner type thing Thanks for all your support but let's keep this thread amp specific
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2012 22:03:24 GMT
OK, Mike. Thanks. I'll keep an eye out for it. I must admit that I am very curious about it. It looks good and it's has some similarities with the Panda which should be nice. I presume Parcelforce 48 is Post Office. The bloody couriers can be hopeless. They can't find my place because it's pretty remote (in spite of being inside a load of land) and doesn't have a road. Virtually every time I have anything sent other than Post Office, it doesn't arrive because the drivers sat navs don't guide them here. It's great for an old hideaway hermit like me, but awful for post. I think to the people of this area, I must be a gnome that keeps appearing out of some trees because not many people know I'm here. Sad eh? I could drop dead and no one would know!!!
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Post by PinkFloyd on Dec 7, 2012 22:28:35 GMT
Parcelforce 48 are a seperate company from the post office but the postman delivers Parcelforce stuff..... this country is getting more f+ck+ng strange by the hour..... don't worry, they will find you.
I was going to go with special delivery (RM) but they wanted £24.50...... I got this "parcelforce 48" thing for £13.80 and that was with compensation for £500..... same damned thing (give or take 24 hours) and delivered by Royal Mail.
It's all a racket man...... I ordered 100 metres of bubblewrap from some punter on ebay for £15.99 shipped..... I then get an e-mail telling me that there is a £9.99 "surcharge" from their courier because I live in the Highlands.
I told them to cancel the order and process a refund. I got the SAME bubblewrap for £12.99 "shipped" from somebody else who was sending via Royal Mail.......
These couriers are a bunch of fekkin' sharks.... surcharge my ARSE! If Royal Mail can get a package up to me for a fiver then so can these bloody clowns, it's daylight robbery......
FIGHT to keep Royal Mail the way it is, the minute it gets privatised we are all Royally arse fekked.
£9.99 surcharge for sending bubblewrap?? Go and DO one!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2012 22:44:13 GMT
Aha, the Mike of old appeared there!!
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Post by PinkFloyd on Dec 7, 2012 23:04:03 GMT
Aha, the Mike of old appeared there!! He's never been away, just been under a duvet for a while...... he's almost ready to get out of bed and start putting the world to rights again An old sage asked me why I was depressed.... I told him it was because of a woman.... he told me to tell her to take a hike.... I told him that it was her that told ME to take a hike...... he advised that I ride a pony, it's easier than walking...... I dunno what he was on but he made me feel better with that strange suggestion ....... feeling a lot better after those wise words
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ronzo56
Been here a while!
All you need is love. But money helps too.
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Post by ronzo56 on Dec 7, 2012 23:48:40 GMT
All sounds good. Hope the Aune finds its way to you Ian. A Canadian company is running a holiday special on it right now. Don't want to take the plunge until some more ears have heard it. Sorry Mike, they only charge $9.99 USD shipping to the U.S. Clair Rayner? Didn't they make a tubed DAC? And then outsourced it to China and went our of business?? ;D They have been trying to privatize our Postal Service over here too. We can't let them do it. I won't be able to afford to send a letter once there done with me.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Dec 7, 2012 23:58:36 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 8, 2012 0:23:34 GMT
Or maybe she was;
Dreary Afternoon Conversation
"Can you you do that for me lovey?"
She was quite the campaigner though...
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ronzo56
Been here a while!
All you need is love. But money helps too.
Posts: 316
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Post by ronzo56 on Dec 8, 2012 0:36:14 GMT
Or maybe she was Dreary Afternoon Conversation "Can you you do that for me lovey?" She was quite the campaigner though... Oh that kind of DAC! ;D ;D I looked her up before I made my smart arse comment. Quite a person. We could use someone like her to start up are our own NHS IMHO. Did she use valves to demonstrate the condoms?? Sorry Alex has become a bad influence. ;D
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ronzo56
Been here a while!
All you need is love. But money helps too.
Posts: 316
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Post by ronzo56 on Dec 8, 2012 4:15:36 GMT
On to a serious amp question for Mike. Any idea of the output impedance on the Aune? And, was there any way you could see inside or out a way to change the output impedance or gain if need be?
Thanks,
Ron
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Post by Deleted on Dec 8, 2012 8:39:16 GMT
All sounds good. Hope the Aune finds its way to you Ian. A Canadian company is running a holiday special on it right now. Don't want to take the plunge until some more ears have heard it. Sorry Mike, they only charge $9.99 USD shipping to the U.S. Clair Rayner? Didn't they make a tubed DAC? And then outsourced it to China and went our of business?? ;D They have been trying to privatize our Postal Service over here too. We can't let them do it. I won't be able to afford to send a letter once there done with me. You know Ron, since it is Aune gear, if you can get a good deal, I' d go for it personally. That's why I got a T1. Since their gear always sounds pretty good to me and the company are really helpful. I do like their gear: even the quirky digital player, the Mini Ape. The amps seem to be really good to me and if this one is related to the Panda, then it' s a good one. Mike put a Panda together for me and it is impressive. Only one thing about it is the power supply causing minor hum but that has been rectified in this one with the supply being away from the rest of the gear. The sound is really good though.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 8, 2012 8:51:03 GMT
Aha, the Mike of old appeared there!! He's never been away, just been under a duvet for a while...... he's almost ready to get out of bed and start putting the world to rights again An old sage asked me why I was depressed.... I told him it was because of a woman.... he told me to tell her to take a hike.... I told him that it was her that told ME to take a hike...... he advised that I ride a pony, it's easier than walking...... I dunno what he was on but he made me feel better with that strange suggestion ....... feeling a lot better after those wise words Sorry Mike. I was pushing buttons to see if Mike was still in. I know the couriers always get you going. Sorry. That advice is really good. Tell her to take a hike or take the pony ' cos the pony may be slow, but it makes the journey easier. I really like that. Anyway, the main thing is, you ain' t galloping away on a horse and Michael is still in the building. Took me two to three years and was never the same again!! Divorced. Remarried. Changed my whole life to suit me and not everyone else. You may have to stay under the duvet though. Weather is starting to turn nasty, even down here. Mike, buy a Twister Quad and go out for a really fun fly!! It's easy for someone with experience to fly and doing loops is a doddle. It's one of the most fun things I've flown. £45 with transmitter, charger and two canopies well spent. You'll need loads of batteries - I can't stop flying it and looping all over the place. Forward, backward and side loops!! Dead easy with this. www.pegasusmodels.co.uk/product.asp?type=&searchtxt=twister%20quad&prodid=1003283You may well be better off, Mike in a way. Look at it as maybe a lucky escape. I would never say what I really think on here but you were taking an awful lot on your shoulders which I didn't really think was fair on you.
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ronzo56
Been here a while!
All you need is love. But money helps too.
Posts: 316
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Post by ronzo56 on Dec 8, 2012 19:21:05 GMT
Hi Ian, Thanks for the advise. I have yet to read anything negative about Aune on RG or anywhere else, so that says a lot about their products. I think the special goes until the 23rd, or as is the custom during the holidays the 24th at 11:59:59! Then they will drop it another 20% on the 26th. I might go for it now, or wait to see what your first impressions are, assuming you have the time right now to give it a listen. Don't rush it on my account. (I have this picture in my mind of you ripping the box open as soon as it arrives and trying can after can until the wee hours ) Ordering it is more really about getting up the courage to tell the wife I "need" another toy. I mean how many cans and amps does one man need? As many as he can get away with! ;D Cheers, Ron
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2012 16:30:12 GMT
I'm looking forward to hearing it, actually. I'll start a new thread to be fair to Aune though since we've been pratting around a bit on this one. (Yes, I'll own up!! : However, I'm sure that Aune would like to see a nice clean new thread once we get a review out. However, don't just rely on me!!!! It was more about Mike here ' AUNE' = Are U Now Extinct'. Checking on him and whether the guy lives ......... It's kind of like searching for the Yeti but in Scotland you see, so it's kind of linked to AUNE except it's A.U.N.E. (The man from Uncle up there in Scotty Land!!)
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Post by PinkFloyd on Dec 9, 2012 17:29:11 GMT
I'm still here and will review the S2 after you Ian..... I've stopped my pining now.... no point in it when the other person doesn't give a shit about you any more..... yeh, let's start a new thread and do it properly..... I'm OK now and am putting my energy into thinking about things that are worthwhile
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oldson
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Post by oldson on Jan 13, 2013 19:14:43 GMT
"It's a very refined listen, nothing is overly accentuated, it's neutral and it is accurate....... I'll say no more Oh hell, yes I will....... Don't even "ask" how it compares to a "solo" or a "Musical Fidelity" etc.... it doesn't..... it's leagues above."
are you still of the same opinion, Mike?
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