BasX Combo First Impressions - PT-100 & A-300
Mar 31, 2017 15:42:41 GMT -5
Boomzilla and wje2 like this
Post by rossonero3 on Mar 31, 2017 15:42:41 GMT -5
I love a good value, I'm frugal but have expensive taste. So buying ANYTHING in which it's quality seemingly exceeds it's price tag is a big plus for me.
Of course it's nothing new that the BasX line has been coined 'great value' so I thought I'd give it a go and jump on the great deals from Emotiva's eBay store. Both the PT-100 and A-300 arrived together rather quickly actually, and looked brand spankin' new. I believe these are being sold as 'refurbs'. Anyways, very pleased with the quick service and adequate packaging.
As a side note, I thought it was a nice little touch to include mono trigger cables with both pre-amp and amp in case you didn't already own one, I already own a couple but opted for the included one so I didn't have to go dig mine up from the never ending cables bin. Visually and physically, initial build quality is, well, quality. They feel and look more expensive than they are for sure and fit perfectly together in a stack.
Before I get into more impressions of the new gear, here's my (current) system...
I use the Roon Core software on a Mac Mini in another room on another floor of the house controlled by an iPad / Roon app. This accesses both a library of local ALAC/FLAC files and TIDAL HiFi. My main system components on the 1st floor are connected to the network via ethernet.
AC Mains > APC voltage regulator> BK Precision isolation transformer > Linksys Router > 40' CAT6A (to 1st floor) > EMO Systems Network Isolator (EN-70HD) > 1m CAT8 > Sonore MicroRendu (powered by Uptone LPS-1) > Cardas USB adapter > PT-100 Pre amp >RCA> A-300 > Speakers (Tekton Designs Lore Reference)
(2 channel components are plugged into a nice simple well made aluminum power strip with NO filtering or power conditioning, plugged into a large medical grade ISO transformer (ECA500), plugged into a dedicated 20A circuit)
Back to build quality...I do have one gripe...that CHEAP remote for the PT-100! Ugh, I understand that these are considered more Emotiva's 'entry level' or whatever else you want to call the BasX line, but the flimsy little 100% plastic remote does not match the quality of the amps. It's not that it's plastic that bothers me so much, although a nice aluminum remote would be great a la Apple TV, it's the plastic buttons on plastic that tactically feels terrible, like it's going to break after a month of use. I would also much prefer to have separate buttons for the input and volume rather than the big plastic circle for everything. I would gladly pay extra for a better remote!
Lastly on the subject of build, after powering up the gear i was surprised and a little nervous that I had no sound! I tried different inputs but still could not figure out why. Finally I got behind the amp again and took a closer look. As it turns out, the issue was due to a combination of my speaker cables and the binding posts on the A-300. The '5 way' binding posts apparently don't accept larger spade lugs because they don't make contact with any metal. The binding posts are plastic, which is fine, but they screw down onto a plastic base as well, so it's a plastic on plastic connection. My Peachtree amp also has plastic binding posts but they have gold plates at the base for using spades. Anyhow, I remedied this by flipping my cables around using the banana plug end into the amp and the spade ends on the all metal binding posts of my speakers. Minor inconvenience.
Ok, Sound...Again, these are first impressions since i have maybe a couple of hours of total listening so far, and I'm not a professional reviewer that can wax poetic about the nuances of the sound but here's what I think...
Right away I noticed a wider soundstage than my previous setup. (again, all music running through Roon and a MicroRendu connected to the PT-100's USB input). Sounds seem to be further outside the speakers when they need to be. I would say there is an overall 'smooth' quality to the music but still plenty of detail. I say this because for some reason I was expecting a more 'harsh' or harder sound from the Emotivas than my tube pre-amped Peachtree integrated. Instead, the latter sounds brighter if you will. I also find that the volume increases much smoother and gradually than other amps i've used. So far I find that I can play the Emotiva's louder without sounding 'shouty' or harsh than my previous amp. This is a big plus due to my non-acoustically treated unfriendly room.
Another nice plus is the bass. I can hear a bit more control, realism and weight to the bass notes. Listening to "Weight of Love" by The Black Keys, the kick drum had weight and authority but still sounded like a kick drum and not just a heavy bass note. Same with Ray LaMontagne's album "Ouroboros", this album at times sounds a bit Pink Floyd-esque, any instrumental passages sounded amazing but also Ray's voice, especially during the last track on the album, is conveyed with such presence, almost spooky.
Now, one thing I may or may not do, is compare the DAC in the PT-100 to my Arcam irDAC that i've been using. I really like that DAC and it's original MSRP I think was as much as the two Emotiva components combined! Of course I didn't pay full price for it. Now that the Emotiva gear is sitting there now, I really don't have the space to keep the Arcam around, so maybe it will end up on the market, we'll see.
So far I'm really digging these amps. I think they are a great match for my Tektons, especially with their high sensitivity, the A-300 just pushes them with absolute ease. Even after playing for a little while the sides of the amp were cool to the touch still and the top was barely warm. The combo of the MicroRendu and the Emotvia's DAC seems great as well. Synergy is huge in a system and so far these are not only playing nicely with the rest of my system but seems like they'll be best pals!
I have minor issues with the menu system and remote of the PT-100 but i'm sure with more time i'll get used to it's operation. I'd love a better remote, but the remote doesn't make sound, the amp does, and so far I think they sound just as good or better than the much more expensive integrated amp they are replacing.
Anyways hat's off to Emotiva for producing VERY FINE gear at crazy low prices, it's really appreciated in this realm of overpriced equipment.
Mark
Of course it's nothing new that the BasX line has been coined 'great value' so I thought I'd give it a go and jump on the great deals from Emotiva's eBay store. Both the PT-100 and A-300 arrived together rather quickly actually, and looked brand spankin' new. I believe these are being sold as 'refurbs'. Anyways, very pleased with the quick service and adequate packaging.
As a side note, I thought it was a nice little touch to include mono trigger cables with both pre-amp and amp in case you didn't already own one, I already own a couple but opted for the included one so I didn't have to go dig mine up from the never ending cables bin. Visually and physically, initial build quality is, well, quality. They feel and look more expensive than they are for sure and fit perfectly together in a stack.
Before I get into more impressions of the new gear, here's my (current) system...
I use the Roon Core software on a Mac Mini in another room on another floor of the house controlled by an iPad / Roon app. This accesses both a library of local ALAC/FLAC files and TIDAL HiFi. My main system components on the 1st floor are connected to the network via ethernet.
AC Mains > APC voltage regulator> BK Precision isolation transformer > Linksys Router > 40' CAT6A (to 1st floor) > EMO Systems Network Isolator (EN-70HD) > 1m CAT8 > Sonore MicroRendu (powered by Uptone LPS-1) > Cardas USB adapter > PT-100 Pre amp >RCA> A-300 > Speakers (Tekton Designs Lore Reference)
(2 channel components are plugged into a nice simple well made aluminum power strip with NO filtering or power conditioning, plugged into a large medical grade ISO transformer (ECA500), plugged into a dedicated 20A circuit)
Back to build quality...I do have one gripe...that CHEAP remote for the PT-100! Ugh, I understand that these are considered more Emotiva's 'entry level' or whatever else you want to call the BasX line, but the flimsy little 100% plastic remote does not match the quality of the amps. It's not that it's plastic that bothers me so much, although a nice aluminum remote would be great a la Apple TV, it's the plastic buttons on plastic that tactically feels terrible, like it's going to break after a month of use. I would also much prefer to have separate buttons for the input and volume rather than the big plastic circle for everything. I would gladly pay extra for a better remote!
Lastly on the subject of build, after powering up the gear i was surprised and a little nervous that I had no sound! I tried different inputs but still could not figure out why. Finally I got behind the amp again and took a closer look. As it turns out, the issue was due to a combination of my speaker cables and the binding posts on the A-300. The '5 way' binding posts apparently don't accept larger spade lugs because they don't make contact with any metal. The binding posts are plastic, which is fine, but they screw down onto a plastic base as well, so it's a plastic on plastic connection. My Peachtree amp also has plastic binding posts but they have gold plates at the base for using spades. Anyhow, I remedied this by flipping my cables around using the banana plug end into the amp and the spade ends on the all metal binding posts of my speakers. Minor inconvenience.
Ok, Sound...Again, these are first impressions since i have maybe a couple of hours of total listening so far, and I'm not a professional reviewer that can wax poetic about the nuances of the sound but here's what I think...
Right away I noticed a wider soundstage than my previous setup. (again, all music running through Roon and a MicroRendu connected to the PT-100's USB input). Sounds seem to be further outside the speakers when they need to be. I would say there is an overall 'smooth' quality to the music but still plenty of detail. I say this because for some reason I was expecting a more 'harsh' or harder sound from the Emotivas than my tube pre-amped Peachtree integrated. Instead, the latter sounds brighter if you will. I also find that the volume increases much smoother and gradually than other amps i've used. So far I find that I can play the Emotiva's louder without sounding 'shouty' or harsh than my previous amp. This is a big plus due to my non-acoustically treated unfriendly room.
Another nice plus is the bass. I can hear a bit more control, realism and weight to the bass notes. Listening to "Weight of Love" by The Black Keys, the kick drum had weight and authority but still sounded like a kick drum and not just a heavy bass note. Same with Ray LaMontagne's album "Ouroboros", this album at times sounds a bit Pink Floyd-esque, any instrumental passages sounded amazing but also Ray's voice, especially during the last track on the album, is conveyed with such presence, almost spooky.
Now, one thing I may or may not do, is compare the DAC in the PT-100 to my Arcam irDAC that i've been using. I really like that DAC and it's original MSRP I think was as much as the two Emotiva components combined! Of course I didn't pay full price for it. Now that the Emotiva gear is sitting there now, I really don't have the space to keep the Arcam around, so maybe it will end up on the market, we'll see.
So far I'm really digging these amps. I think they are a great match for my Tektons, especially with their high sensitivity, the A-300 just pushes them with absolute ease. Even after playing for a little while the sides of the amp were cool to the touch still and the top was barely warm. The combo of the MicroRendu and the Emotvia's DAC seems great as well. Synergy is huge in a system and so far these are not only playing nicely with the rest of my system but seems like they'll be best pals!
I have minor issues with the menu system and remote of the PT-100 but i'm sure with more time i'll get used to it's operation. I'd love a better remote, but the remote doesn't make sound, the amp does, and so far I think they sound just as good or better than the much more expensive integrated amp they are replacing.
Anyways hat's off to Emotiva for producing VERY FINE gear at crazy low prices, it's really appreciated in this realm of overpriced equipment.
Mark
