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Post by gzubeck on Dec 9, 2016 14:10:56 GMT -5
Components
A300 amplifier
Schiit sys preamp
Schiit bifrost 4490 dac
Sony Blu-ray player
Audtek RCA cables from parts express
Ive owned the a100 for about 6+ months and I have to say that the a300 is a huge step up in sound quality for me. My self built speakers using a 6.5 SB Acoustics driver and seas h1212 metal domes have completely come alive. There is no more tubbiness in the base and there is no harshness in the higher frequencies. As a matter of fact the only time the amp gets warm is when I'm playing something heavy with base like the hobbit (smaug disc). The rest of the time the amp is cruising comfortably controlling the drivers with pinpoint accuracy. The imaging is not to forward or too backward. Just about in the middle. It took about a week for the amp to fully break in (most like due to not really pushing it hard) and now it only takes about a half hour warm-up for optimal listening. One thing I do have mention is that when setting up the dac next to the amplifier the stray magnetic fields greatly influence the sound quality. I started out with two sets of half meter audtek cables and for some reason I was not happy with the sound. I switched to one set of 1 meter cables and separated the dac and amplifier by one foot. The sound quality actually got louder and cleaner with greater imaging. My guess is that the bifrost dac is sensitive to magnetic fields. Be aware of this if two components have transformers with large power supplies.
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Post by Boomzilla on Dec 9, 2016 14:46:23 GMT -5
Thanks, gzubeck for the review! I'd never thought much about magnetic interference (assuming that all modern components were adequately shielded against it). But if your experience is correct, then just about EVERY rack manufacturer is doing it wrong by placing equipment in close horizontal AND vertical proximity. Perhaps the Schiit is the exception to the rule? In any case, it's something to try (and for little to no money, depending on what interconnects you have in your spares box). Boom |
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Post by gzubeck on Dec 9, 2016 15:34:47 GMT -5
Thanks, gzubeck for the review! I'd never thought much about magnetic interference (assuming that all modern components were adequately shielded against it). But if your experience is correct, then just about EVERY rack manufacturer is doing it wrong by placing equipment in close horizontal AND vertical proximity. Perhaps the Schiit is the exception to the rule? In any case, it's something to try (and for little to no money, depending on what interconnects you have in your spares box). Boom Ive got the dac 14 inches below the amp. I bought a $40 nook made out of particle board from Walmart better homes and gardens. Looks good for veneer. Best $40 ive spent because it's made of thick mixed density particle board. Lol! I think the bifrost is a little bit more sensitive because of high quality power regulation in it. I would say that if someone owned the gungnir I would definitely move it away from the amp because it would be even more sensitive. It really made a huge difference in clarity and imaging. |
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Post by Tin Bird on Dec 9, 2016 19:00:12 GMT -5
"Ive owned the a100 for about 6+ months and I have to say that the a300 is a huge step up in sound quality for me. My self built speakers using a 6.5 SB Acoustics driver and seas h1212 metal domes have completely come alive. There is no more tubbiness in the base and there is no harshness in the higher frequencies."
I just purchased the A-100. I like the sound, but do find the higher frequencies a bit more strident than what I am used to. I am assuming that they will calm done a smidge as the amp breaks in. Do you really find the A-300 smoother on top? Did you find that after a few months your A-100 calmed down a bit? Thanks!
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Post by brutiarti on Dec 9, 2016 19:10:13 GMT -5
"Ive owned the a100 for about 6+ months and I have to say that the a300 is a huge step up in sound quality for me. My self built speakers using a 6.5 SB Acoustics driver and seas h1212 metal domes have completely come alive. There is no more tubbiness in the base and there is no harshness in the higher frequencies." I just purchased the A-100. I like the sound, but do find the higher frequencies a bit more strident than what I am used to. I am assuming that they will calm done a smidge as the amp breaks in. Do you really find the A-300 smoother on top? Did you find that after a few months your A-100 calmed down a bit? Thanks! Depending what amp you were using before you might find emo equipment kind of bright but in reality they are neutral |
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Post by Tin Bird on Dec 9, 2016 20:07:17 GMT -5
I was using a Pioneer A20. The highs don't bother me on the Emotiva, but I have noticed they are a bit more present. Still breaking everything in, so am giving it time to breath. I do like the clarity.
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Post by copperpipe on Dec 10, 2016 9:26:04 GMT -5
Solid state amps do not "break in". The sound you hear now will be the same sound in 5 months.
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Post by Dan Laufman on Dec 10, 2016 11:20:19 GMT -5
Well, I'm not sure I agree with this statement 100%.... Amps need to warm up a while before serious listening. This allows the bias currents to stabilize and for the unit to reach thermal equilibrium, so to speak... And aluminum electrolytic capacitors do have a settling in period where leakage currents are slowly reduced after initial voltage application... now these are very small leakage currents, but maybe they generate audible artifacts... ? Also, film capacitors can take a while to "set", and this is further complicated by the dielectric used. But again, how much of the process is actually audible and quantifiable is beyond my pay grade. And capacitors DO have different sound qualities, of this I am sure. I do know that speakers definitely need mechanical break-in to sound their best. This is easily heard, even by casual listeners. In particular, our AMT's must have 20 hours at a minimum to break-in. At first, the have a slight "etch" to the sound that magically disappears after a week or so. And then they are so sweet and detailed, but they have lost that little tizzy"bite". It's crazy, but it is real. Isn't this a great hobby??  |
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Post by mgbpuff on Dec 10, 2016 12:19:43 GMT -5
Absolute statements are usually false, even highly technical ones!
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Post by niuguy on Dec 10, 2016 12:23:58 GMT -5
Are you guys saying that when my MC-700 arrives with an A-500 I shouldn't stack them?
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Post by copperpipe on Dec 10, 2016 12:24:50 GMT -5
Absolute statements are usually false, even highly technical ones! Not really, science is science, there are many absolute statements one could make. Perhaps a closer truth would be "ignorant statements are usually false, even highly technical ones!" And yes, I consider myself ignorant on many things audio. I do agree with Dan that amps can sound different once they have been running for some time, but that's not a permanent change like a break-in is, they just operate/sound differently at different temperatures etc. And of course speakers can definitely break in, they are moving mechanical devices. |
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Post by gzubeck on Dec 10, 2016 12:35:48 GMT -5
"Ive owned the a100 for about 6+ months and I have to say that the a300 is a huge step up in sound quality for me. My self built speakers using a 6.5 SB Acoustics driver and seas h1212 metal domes have completely come alive. There is no more tubbiness in the base and there is no harshness in the higher frequencies." I just purchased the A-100. I like the sound, but do find the higher frequencies a bit more strident than what I am used to. I am assuming that they will calm done a smidge as the amp breaks in. Do you really find the A-300 smoother on top? Did you find that after a few months your A-100 calmed down a bit? Thanks! Yes I do. The cones are controlled much better helping in imaging and clarity. Even at lower volumes it's clearer. I would say the a100 would be sufficient for 5 inch drivers and smaller. I will say this my tweeters really liked the power increase. The only harshness I ever hear now is on poorly recorded material. Going from an a100 to an a300 is better than buying a subwoofer for me. |
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Post by gzubeck on Dec 10, 2016 12:47:03 GMT -5
"Ive owned the a100 for about 6+ months and I have to say that the a300 is a huge step up in sound quality for me. My self built speakers using a 6.5 SB Acoustics driver and seas h1212 metal domes have completely come alive. There is no more tubbiness in the base and there is no harshness in the higher frequencies." I just purchased the A-100. I like the sound, but do find the higher frequencies a bit more strident than what I am used to. I am assuming that they will calm done a smidge as the amp breaks in. Do you really find the A-300 smoother on top? Did you find that after a few months your A-100 calmed down a bit? Thanks! Depending what amp you were using before you might find emo equipment kind of bright but in reality they are neutral No...ive owned both amplifiers and they are neutral. But, because your drivers in your speakers might need more power with certain material your amp may become stressed and under powered. My a300 is not stressed 99.999% of the time with my speakers compared to the a100 where it was stressed at least 20% of the time with higher and lower frequencies. |
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Post by Boomzilla on Dec 10, 2016 21:17:48 GMT -5
Absolute statements are usually false, even highly technical ones! ...Perhaps a closer truth would be "ignorant statements are usually false, even highly technical ones!" ... I resemble that remark! LOL |
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Post by mdanderson on Dec 10, 2016 23:00:32 GMT -5
Thank you gzubeck for taking the time to write your review and glad you are enjoying the A-300. I am really liking my A-700 and the sound is certainly a bit cleaner compared to the sound in my Marantz SR-5010 receiver. Using the preouts of a receiver is a first for me and so far it is working out fine. I would however like to eventually replace the Marantz with a separate pre/pro like the Emotiva XMC-1 or the Marantz AV7002 MkII but I don't know if the sound be improved.
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jrt3
Minor Hero
Posts: 15 
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Post by jrt3 on Dec 29, 2016 12:00:40 GMT -5
gzubeck,
I doubt that the mu of your particle board is any different from air, so distance from your DAC may be all you need. Also, toroidal transformers have the magnetic field practically fully contained, unlike the older E-I construction variants, so there isn't much 60 Hz radiation. I imagine the proper lead dress - particularly not running the 120V ac line to a front panel switch - helps the high s/n ratio. I cannot imagine an aural difference in my application - a pair of older Klipsch Heresys in an 11' x 12' x 9' office - driven by my A-100 BasX vs using an A-300. Anyway, I hedged my bet - I had aa a-100 mini-X driving my Klipsch RB-81ii bookshelf speakers for most of a year in that office - and loved it!
Happy New Year!
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Post by gzubeck on Dec 31, 2016 11:59:04 GMT -5
gzubeck, I doubt that the mu of your particle board is any different from air, so distance from your DAC may be all you need. Also, toroidal transformers have the magnetic field practically fully contained, unlike the older E-I construction variants, so there isn't much 60 Hz radiation. I imagine the proper lead dress - particularly not running the 120V ac line to a front panel switch - helps the high s/n ratio. I cannot imagine an aural difference in my application - a pair of older Klipsch Heresys in an 11' x 12' x 9' office - driven by my A-100 BasX vs using an A-300. Anyway, I hedged my bet - I had aa a-100 mini-X driving my Klipsch RB-81ii bookshelf speakers for most of a year in that office - and loved it! Happy New Year! whos to say...all i can say is that there is a considerable audible difference by moving it away. the dac has very good power regulation and maybe any disruption is audible with really sensitive equipment. suffice it to say i will continue to keep it at least a foot away from the amp for the foreseable future. my speakers really liked the extra juice from the a300 compared to the a100. your mileage may vary depending on your speakers needs. |
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