AudioNervosa

Systemic Development => Amplification and Preamplification => Topic started by: machinehead on April 18, 2013, 07:31:21 AM

Title: Wells Audio Akasha
Post by: machinehead on April 18, 2013, 07:31:21 AM
(http://www.wellsaudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/close2.jpg)
I have purchased this amp for my upstairs system.
Specs:
Review to come, totally non-professional, maybe a feww gross parts, really I have little self control over that stuff... :rofl:

The aural designer is the owner Jeff Wells, technical designer is his longtime friend of 20 years, Scott Frankland of Wave Stream Kinetic, mucho expensive tube amps.
See:
(http://www.wesbenderstudionyc.com/storage/WBSNYC_wavestream-kineticsV8gray.png?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1343684613396)
Title: Re: Wells Audio Akasha
Post by: BobM on April 18, 2013, 09:36:43 AM
Oooh, those Darth Vader looking car engines are what Wes Bender uses on his Hansons. Looking forward to your review Mike.
Title: Re: Wells Audio Akasha
Post by: lonewolfny42 on April 18, 2013, 10:09:27 PM
Nice....have fun Mike... :thumb:


Some links...

http://www.wellsaudio.com/products/amplifiers/akasha (http://www.wellsaudio.com/products/amplifiers/akasha)

http://dagogo.com/wells-audio-akasha-stereo-amplifier (http://dagogo.com/wells-audio-akasha-stereo-amplifier)

http://v2.stereotimes.com/post/the-akasha-stereo-amplifier-from-wells-audio/ (http://v2.stereotimes.com/post/the-akasha-stereo-amplifier-from-wells-audio/)
Title: Re: Wells Audio Akasha
Post by: machinehead on May 07, 2013, 09:23:51 AM
My box is here my box is here! The wife called.... I should tell her to sit on it and keep it warm, so it might hatch to its full potential. Now hurry up workday!

Why cant my wife be as excited as I am... I will have to froth alone :)
M
Title: Re: Wells Audio Akasha
Post by: machinehead on May 07, 2013, 11:23:42 AM
I have called the wife several times today and told her to rub my box..... so it doesnt get lonely!  :D
Title: Re: Wells Audio Akasha
Post by: Barry (NJ) on May 07, 2013, 11:36:55 AM
I heard this amp at my friend Larry's house driving some Gallo Reference 3.5 speakers, among others. Very nice amp, sweet, detailed, authoritative bass... I'd like one!
Title: Re: Wells Audio Akasha
Post by: machinehead on May 07, 2013, 11:46:17 AM
I only heard it at the NY Audio show... Ill bring it to the next rave after its broken in. I have no idea how it will sound in the system, but reviews are positive.
Title: Re: Wells Audio Akasha
Post by: Barry (NJ) on May 07, 2013, 12:25:53 PM
Well if it sounds as good at your place as it did at Larry's, you'll be doing the happy dance and making us blush when you review it :D
Title: Re: Wells Audio Akasha
Post by: machinehead on May 07, 2013, 12:55:30 PM
Yeah!  Jeff said it needs about 150hrs of break in. Will put that sucker on auto play tonight.
Title: Re: Wells Audio Akasha
Post by: machinehead on May 07, 2013, 03:37:45 PM
Wow it's big! That's what she said.  About a third bigger than the Parasound hca1500 and 20 lbs more.  It's over 50 lbs.
turned it on.  Works. Burn in.
Title: Re: Wells Audio Akasha
Post by: Barry (NJ) on May 07, 2013, 04:40:33 PM
Quote from: machinehead on May 07, 2013, 03:37:45 PM
Wow it's big! That's what she said.  About a third bigger than the Parasound hca1500 and 20 lbs more.  It's over 50 lbs.
turned it on.  Works. Burn in.

Always knew you had a big one Mikey.

What's up and down stream of it?
Title: Re: Wells Audio Akasha
Post by: machinehead on May 08, 2013, 10:34:30 AM
Speakers are the acoustic Evolution mm micro ones with stands.  Preamp is a cheap and cheerful Dared sl2000a (excellent pre!), a rel t7 sub, and I'm running audirvana out to a ressonessence concero USB to spdif... To an old theta chroma 396 non over sampling dac. 
I had used the concero as a dac but it was missing a lot of the musical texture and warmth I like.  Concero is more neutral and throws a bigger soundstage, but the theta seemed more real.  Being fed by the concero, which is excellent at reducing jitter, makes the theta sound really good.
Though that would be the next step to find a better dac, there is a slight, grain in the upper registers, not always noticeable with the Theta.. not on the Concero as DAC
Speaker cables are fantastic, soon to be released by Triode Wire labs.... PC are TWL and Magic mix.   I think that's it.  I put some nos tubes in the preamp.   Sylvanias I believe. 
Title: Re: Wells Audio Akasha
Post by: sleepyguy24 on May 08, 2013, 11:49:47 AM
Say what!! A Dared sl2000a with all that primo gear. :shock:  I'm honestly shocked that the Dared would be there. I'll have to look into a SL2000A now. Is it modified in anyway other than just rolling in older NOS tubes? Thanks
Title: Re: Wells Audio Akasha
Post by: jimbones on May 08, 2013, 12:48:32 PM
OMG that Wavestream is georgeous. I consider myself a skeptic and recovering audioholic but that amp gives me withdrawl symptoms. If I were wealthy I would buy one just to lokk at all day.  :drool:
Title: Re: Wells Audio Akasha
Post by: machinehead on May 08, 2013, 01:12:26 PM
Me too.. wish I could afford that tube amp!
With the Dared I just rolled in NOS tubes, nothing is modified.  For the cheap price I think its ridiculously good. Its small too. Well balanced, a nice full sound. You can shut off the preamp and music will keep playing for a good while, so it keeps a lot of power in stores. Not sure what that means lol. Sounds great though. And comes with a remote. But only 2 inputs.
Title: Re: Wells Audio Akasha
Post by: BobM on May 09, 2013, 05:34:15 AM
Heard the Dared when Mike first got it. Very nice sounding, compact little pre. Not to be overlooked because of its price. Ballsy little sucker, but it only has 2 inputs I believe. However its simplicity (and the resulting great sound) might be its best feature.
Title: Re: Wells Audio Akasha
Post by: Barry (NJ) on May 10, 2013, 12:58:19 PM
So Mikey, any preliminary thoughts?
Title: Re: Wells Audio Akasha
Post by: machinehead on May 15, 2013, 06:23:54 PM
So I wanted to give the amp time to break in before giving any quick thoughts, uh slower quick thoughts. While Breaking in the amp it sounded good but was tight, lacking expression.

Broken in:
It flexes its muscle... the amp is more powerful than the Parasound even having less watts. At least it feels more powerful. So Id say as of today, the amp has settled and is fully broken in. It took a while. The amp sounds really natural and really connected. Clarity is killer and the control is like no amp Ive heard. There is no etching, its a very musical amp. About the same warmth as the Parasound. Parasound being Class A/AB, the Wells is straight AB. Both amps put out equal heat so Im not sure what that means. The Wells is really Wells balanced.. ha ho ho... Ive heard that the bass is incredible, but Im using it on the Acoustic Evolution MM Micro Ones, so it doesnt go down to the 20s. Bass is detailed for what I do get. I also have a REL T7 sub which fills in the very bottom. My favorite is the highs. Id say they are sweet and addicting :) So I am enjoying it very much. Definitely check it out if you get the chance...
Title: Re: Wells Audio Akasha
Post by: lonewolfny42 on May 15, 2013, 06:32:05 PM
QuoteSo I am enjoying it very much.

That's all that matters Mike...happy listening... :beer:
Title: Re: Wells Audio Akasha
Post by: richidoo on May 15, 2013, 06:47:34 PM
That's great Mike! Congrats.
Title: Re: Wells Audio Akasha
Post by: Barry (NJ) on May 15, 2013, 07:01:27 PM
Sounds like you heard what I did, good deal!
Title: Re: Wells Audio Akasha
Post by: Emil on May 16, 2013, 04:59:15 AM
Giot a first hand look/listen over at Mike's. The amp looks the business.
Wonderfull sounding combo with the Evolutions all hooked up with
Triode Wire Labs speaker cables
Title: Re: Wells Audio Akasha
Post by: BobM on May 16, 2013, 05:21:05 AM
Ahh, there's the magic. The (secret) TWL speaker cable project has exerted its influence.
Title: Re: Wells Audio Akasha
Post by: rollo on May 16, 2013, 07:02:57 AM
Glad your happy with your purchase. Enjoy !!!


charles
Title: Re: Wells Audio Akasha
Post by: machinehead on May 16, 2013, 09:08:08 AM
lol... The speaker cables did add a cohesiveness that wasnt there before. They are excellent, and still in beta. I was using Blue Jean Cable Biwires previously.