Hi Guys
Finally got around to popping my NAKSA 100 into my system. Started with playing some ABBA. It sounds exactly as I remember it when I heard it on some other systems. Superb bass control (rockers will love it), very easy to listen to non fatiguing sound - an excellent generalist amp. Does not have the divine midrange of my Trafomatic SET (it bass and detail however are a lot better) - but its close - not scary close - but close - does not have the detail of my Patek (again bass a bit better and it does not sound SS - the Patek is obviously SS) - but again its close. If you want just one amp and not do what I do - change depending on mood and music this is an excellent choice. Really relaxing and enjoyable to listen to on all music.
Listening more to the NAKSA - Gloria Estefan - Destiny this time. Another standout is imaging and soundstage - actually it's noticeably better than both the Traf and Patek. More to follow as listening continues.
Just chatting to an acquaintance who helped set up a system with this amp. The previous amp was some Primare - dont know the price but evidently it was not cheap - the NAKSA simply MURDERED it.
While penning this switched over to some Shirley Bassey - equally entrancing.
Thanks
Bill
I think if they made a 5 channel amp it would make an...excellent..HT amp.
Great bass control, or in a multi amped system it would be great for the bass....the mids and highs.....er you could do better
Yea the midrange is not the last word - my Traf is better - but not hugely so - I still think its close. Don't know about the highs being an issue - they sound pretty good to me but then again my room is rather bright so if its a bit lacking it may tend to sound better in my room.
I certainly can detect a trace of warmth and enjoy it. Have been listening for a few hours now and the impression to my ears is it really is a relaxing amp to listen too - the tone seems to grow more on you the more you listen. I must admit to enjoying it a lot.
Thanks
Bill
Hugh Dean make lovely products.
I have what is now known as his Lifeforce amp. I've been evaluating other amps, as I really need a balanced input for development of XLR interconnects. But amps in the >$10k range just aren't doing it for me.
I've just bought a pair of Jensen input transformers and am going to rig them for both single ended and balanced galvanicly isolated inputs. If that works well, I'll probably buy one of Hugh's top of line, Maya open loop, diamond buffer output amplifiers.
If your priority is sound quality, Hugh Dean's products have much to offer.
FWIW,
Paul
Bill give it some time to open up. It gets better I'm told. BTW who distributes the amp here. To date no one has contacted me after my interest several months ago. The Lenehans like this amp. :(
charles
Is 'Naksa' the retail/non-kit version of the Aksa amps?
C
Naksa is the kit version, they are complete modules, just add power transformer, box and connections. Soroya is the finished amp.
http://www.aksaonline.com/products/products.html
Quote from: rollo on December 21, 2011, 09:08:28 AMBill give it some time to open up. It gets better I'm told. BTW who distributes the amp here. To date no one has contacted me after my interest several months ago. The Lenehans like this amp. :(
Hugh doesn't have retail outlets - his is basically a small direct sale operation. He has a couple of completed amps but most of the stuff are kit amps like the NAKSA.
I like the sound coming out of my ML3's with this amp. I did a direct comparison to Mac 501's. Yea the Mac's were better with 1.2kw on peaks of effortless power but the easy to listen to character of the NAKSA sure is enjoyable.
Just listening to Sam Cook live at the Copa - this time through my Truth pre amp and that relaxing sound still shines.
If you want to critically listen then other amps like my Patek may reveal a tad more detail - just trying to think of the right words - PRAT maybe - your foot involuntarily starts to tap with this amp as you relax into it.
Once my Trafomatic is fixed I think I will have a GTG over my place to see what others think of my three amps.
Thanks
Bill
Quote from: Carlman on December 21, 2011, 02:30:23 PMIs 'Naksa' the retail/non-kit version of the Aksa amps?
He has two kit amps - the Lifeforce and NAKSA and two built amps - the Soraya and Maya. The Soraya is based on the Lifeforce - the Maya the NAKSA. The NAKSA uses a very non standard output topology with both a FET and BJT on the output stage which probably is responsible for its unique sound.
Hugh has a bit of a dedicated following especially amongst those that actually build and design amps because they know what he does is actually quite hard to do - which is to get SS amps to sound decidedly not SS like. But in doing that a few people have said they don't like his amps. I got a hold of his 70w version about 18 months ago and took it along to a DAC shoot-out. We played it at the end and many people came up to me and said how much they enjoyed it and now understood what the all the fuss was about. But two guys - one a very experienced reviewer and another an audio engineer said they didn't like it - it added a coloration they disliked. I couldn't hear what they were talking about but there is no denying the backgound and experience of these guys. I have also seen posts on the forum here in Aus where a few people said exactly the same thing. A lot of people took them to task about it but they held firm. Personally my view on such things is its vitrually impossible to satisfy everbody so it it's rather important to listen for yourself. I know for example Chris (Lonewolfny) like me likes Hughs stuff and he has heard tons of stuff so I am sure its a personal preference sort of thing.
Thanks
Bill
Hugh does indeed make a nice amp.... :thumb:
http://www.aksaonline.com/
I still have my AKSA 100 Nirvana+....which was built by Carl/Carlman a few years ago (2004)...(did an excellent job).
I called it my "summer amp"....didn't want to run a Krell amp in a small room in the summer....the AKSA was the perfect replacement.
At the last Rave (Emil's) we heard the NAKSA 70 owned by Jim/Hogg....also heard it at Jim's Rave...nice.
Paul's Lifeforce amp is another that I enjoyed listening to... :thumb:
Match these amps with a nice tube preamp and they really sing... 8)
Photo...AKSA 100N+ ....
I'm more of an 'assembler' than a builder. I really enjoyed putting Chris' amp together. That particular amp sounded better than my own that was nearly identical. I was kind of surprised.
In any case, I'd never heard of "Naksa" just "AKSA" so I was wondering about the name change. Thanks for the info, Bill.
http://www.aksaonline.com/index.html
-Carl
Wow! I'm impressed Carl!! Separate output devices, that makes you a builder in my book!
Quote from: Carlman on December 22, 2011, 07:06:38 AMIn any case, I'd never heard of "Naksa" just "AKSA" so I was wondering about the name change. Thanks for the info, Bill.
The original amps were called AKSA modules, then he came up with something called the Lifeforce then something really off the wall called the NAKSA. I don't know the full details but it is supposed to be pretty unorthodox containing both BJT and FET's on the output. Hugh believes in designing amps to maximise second harmonic distortion (but total distortion is still quite low - about .04%)
http://www.aksaonline.com/products/products_NAKSA70.html
He believes that's one of the keys to amps sounding good. Indeed in some areas like sound-staging and imaging it really is special. I have heard of some research that indicates the presence of this type of distortion is the reason some people say sound-stage etc jumps with some valve amps like SET's. I have noticed that with my Trafomatic as well. However you can hear the 'warmth' of that smidgen of distortion. If that is not your bag then you may not like it - but the large majority of people, including myself, do. Generally, and its not surprising, the people that don't like it don't like valves much either (not all - but as a general observation) - they tend to produce audible even order harmonics as well.
One interesting thing though is looking at that low distortion it is under the .1% I have seen guys like Siegfried Linkwitz say makes all amps basically sound the same. You can easily hear the 'warmth' in this amp.
Don't' get worried about this being a kit amp - any competent tech can easily build it - simply contact your local audio tech that fixes or mods equipment - they can easily do it for you. Out here is Aus my local tech builds them no problemo. When you think about it with shipping costs etc etc it really is a better way to distribute an amp and keep the cost down.
Thanks
Bill
Here in America's hinderlands we don't seem to have audio techs around every corner.
I've read tons of good about AKSA, but the Aussie dollar keeps making them more and more expensive.
Quote from: JLM on December 23, 2011, 02:58:50 PMAussie dollar keeps making them more and more expensive.
Yea that is a BIG problem for you guys buying stuff out my way - it was the other way around for a long time. :?
The guy I use is about a 40 minute drive away so it's not exactly around the corner. But I see your point.
Thanks
Bill
If you don't have a local guy handy, and you live in area with a mid-level population (i.e. you have a Wal-mart and Target within an hour).... You can always start joining or having G2G's and with DIY'ers. We have a ton of tweakers in our neck of the woods... We have multiple clubs... so, not everyone sees everyone. You may have to go to 1 club to meet the wiring nuts... and another one to meet the amp heads.. etc. ;)
-C
The NAKSA is sold as completed modules on discrete heatsinks. You need to acquire transformers (two, each of 300VA), enclosure, binding posts, and IEC power cord module. All the other parts are supplied.
The Oz dollar is indeed high, and US buyers are now somewhat disadvantaged. But the reverse has happened, and when the AUD was only 55c US it was a field day for US buyers. Of course, you have to factor in that it would probably cost a lot more to buy something outright of superior sound quality, so if you factor in the issue of of pride in ownership if you assemble it yourself, the equation changes.
On balance, if you believe DIY is cheaper, then you are probably wrong. It's always cheaper to buy good brands used. But then, you don't have bragging rights!
Carl built Chris a beautiful amp, and I doffs me cap to him.
How are ya, Carl? I did enjoy my beer with your all those years ago at Denver........
Cheers,
Hugh
Sounds like I might've bought the first 'NAKSA' (or 2) without even knowing it!
Things are great, Hugh. It was a pleasure having a beer those years ago. Hope to do it again one day. :)
Good luck with your gear. I can only imagine how good your amps are now.
Carl