Is there a pre-amplifier(control) on the horizon?

Hi @frank7036

Yes it's in the pipeline and will have mm/mc phono inputs.

Hoping for end of year.

Good to hear this. Out of interest is it likely to be stackable with the original p452?

Phorize wrote:
Good to hear this. Out of interest is it likely to be stackable with the original p452?

Hi @Phorize

It will be the same fundamental case design, 36cm wide.

Can I put in a suggestion for a current gain input stage for MC? I have a Aqvox 2CI with this as an option which works really well with an Audio Technica MC. A DAC board would be great…

@Andrew - While I like the idea of a trans impedance (TI) phono, I have not used one, and they are a bit rare.
I almost got one, but in the end I switched to a different brand of dual input phono stage.

This might be better done as a daughter card with MM and… then MC or TI for the second side??

Holmz wrote:
@Andrew - While I like the idea of a trans impedance (TI) phono, I have not used one, and they are a bit rare.
I almost got one, but in the end I switched to a different brand of dual input phono stage.

This might be better done as a daughter card with MM and… then MC or TI for the second side??

Trans impedance, that’s what I was racking my brain for! The AQVOX unit I have does mm, mc and mc-ti (only through the balanced inputs). I think it helps if the mc has low impedance. It’s great because the mc has similar output to other line level sources and a similar strong sound. A dac I’m looking at has a volume control and my modded turntable blew up so it’s a bit moot at the moment! Fantastic to see a great company in WA and wish I’d known you were there when I was visiting Albany.

I assume you are up in Perth?
I have not stumbled upon many similar minded people around here.

The TI phono stages seem like they are a bit nuanced, and I have generally had a bit better results with dedicated phono stage… not hugely better. One if usually better off with a balanced phono input, so maybe keep your AQVOX..

Which DAC are you using?

I’ve got a Nuprime ida16 class d integrated; lots of power for my Maggie’s, digital straight in off the iPad / iPhone (since the bluenode decided to be a pain), 1 analogue in for the turntable, until that broke… I’m not having a good run. I’m in Geraldton. I was looking at a Sonnet DAC and Pass Labs or Sanders amps (dreaming…) but the class D is so good and the thought of getting something made in WA even better.

Noice!
I didn’t think Maggys were a thing here.
A friend has been through lots of amps trying to ones that power his, and I have gotten 2 sets of his left over amps.
I am not sure a Pass would have enough grunt? You probably want the 400W version.

I have an RME and am new to digital, and just stream it in via the iPad… but the TV AVP/AVR apparently does Roon, so I can try that at some point.

The TT is getting a dose of TLC in the form of a new motor controller, bearing, and a new (used) tonearm and new cart.
It is 38 years old.

The whole AVR/AVP is new to me, and I picked up 5 used speakers and some cheap AIYAMA for those and some tactile transducers.
It is a 5.0 at the moment, and should end up 5.2.2 which is in a multipurpose TV and lounge room.
Subs, Hypex amps, and the wood and router and saws are patiently awaiting me.

I used to know a few people that worked just outside of Geraldton, and visited there once or twice.
I suspect that there are not a lot of people like minded there, but at least the hipsters are on the tables now. 😉

Andrew wrote:
Can I put in a suggestion for a current gain input stage for MC? I have a Aqvox 2CI with this as an option which works really well with an Audio Technica MC. A DAC board would be great…

Hi @Andrew
The pre amps will have optional MM/MC cards available. TBH the cards are the last item on the development plan, so the topology of the MC hasnt been finalised. Transimpedance for MC does have some advantages. We shall see.....;)

Andrew wrote:
I’ve got a Nuprime ida16 class d integrated; lots of power for my Maggie’s, digital straight in off the iPad / iPhone (since the bluenode decided to be a pain), 1 analogue in for the turntable, until that broke… I’m not having a good run. I’m in Geraldton. I was looking at a Sonnet DAC and Pass Labs or Sanders amps (dreaming…) but the class D is so good and the thought of getting something made in WA even better.

Hi @Andrew
You made the right decision going with class D, even if it wasnt one of ours :).

Looking at the Sanders I get concerned when I see quotes like "Roger's unique, 100% efficient, linear, regulated power supply". Its unique al right because no such thing exists! The Pass Labs are just daft money. 🙂

Which Maggies do you have?

Holmz wrote:
Noice!
I didn’t think Maggys were a thing here.
A friend has been through lots of amps trying to ones that power his, and I have gotten 2 sets of his left over amps.
I am not sure a Pass would have enough grunt? You probably want the 400W version.

I have an RME and am new to digital, and just stream it in via the iPad… but the TV AVP/AVR apparently does Roon, so I can try that at some point.

The TT is getting a dose of TLC in the form of a new motor controller, bearing, and a new (used) tonearm and new cart.
It is 38 years old.

The whole AVR/AVP is new to me, and I picked up 5 used speakers and some cheap AIYAMA for those and some tactile transducers.
It is a 5.0 at the moment, and should end up 5.2.2 which is in a multipurpose TV and lounge room.
Subs, Hypex amps, and the wood and router and saws are patiently awaiting me.

I used to know a few people that worked just outside of Geraldton, and visited there once or twice.
I suspect that there are not a lot of people like minded there, but at least the hipsters are on the tables now. 😉

Respect and admire your DIY! I got the Maggie’s, IDA amp and a bluesound 2i streamer from Mcleans audio in QLD, they were great to deal with. I put a heap of money and time into a technics 1210 hoping for something reliable, not too far from digital clean and clear but with some LP magic I remember as a kid and it worked well… apart from the reliable hic up! If I can’t fix I might go a Rega p3, though it might be more sensible to stick with digital for me. I think it’s great kids got into LP, keeps it going ha ha! its a bit of a desert in Geraldton for audio but I’m lucky to have a few friends with no interest in hi fi but good ears for music I can test my set up on.

Alan March wrote:
Hi @Andrew
You made the right decision going with class D, even if it wasnt one of ours :).

Looking at the Sanders I get concerned when I see quotes like "Roger's unique, 100% efficient, linear, regulated power supply". Its unique al right because no such thing exists! The Pass Labs are just daft money. 🙂

Which Maggies do you have?

Hi Alan, great to hear from you, I’d love to buy something “local”… I’ve got 1.7i Maggie’s; the most I could manage in cost and size, 3.7 being 3x the cost and larger. I got the IDA 4 years ago, everything plugs into 1 unit, 400w into 4 ohm, volume around 50/100 for around 80 db @ 2.5m. The Maggie’s are 87db inefficient but a resistive load, dipping to 2 ohm in the high freq but haven’t caused any probs for the IDA so far. I read Sanders technical papers so I hope it’s not a complete story! Sanders are popular with Maggie owners but a $7k amp is now $11k and Pass are more like $25k at 400w into 4 ohm + the heat and idle power consumption. I shouldn’t worry too much about the power but it just seems dumb to use a KW for a lighted metre.

Andrew wrote:
Hi Alan, great to hear from you, I’d love to buy something “local”… I’ve got 1.7i Maggie’s; the most I could manage in cost and size, 3.7 being 3x the cost and larger. I got the IDA 4 years ago, everything plugs into 1 unit, 400w into 4 ohm, volume around 50/100 for around 80 db @ 2.5m. The Maggie’s are 87db inefficient but a resistive load, dipping to 2 ohm in the high freq but haven’t caused any probs for the IDA so far. I read Sanders technical papers so I hope it’s not a complete story! Sanders are popular with Maggie owners but a $7k amp is now $11k and Pass are more like $25k at 400w into 4 ohm + the heat and idle power consumption. I shouldn’t worry too much about the power but it just seems dumb to use a KW for a lighted metre.

Hi @Andrew

There is a bit of a mythology that has developed regarding Maggie's that they are terribly difficult to drive. For most of the models this isn't the case. You obviously have done your research and understand the impedance plot of the 1.7.

Yes it does drop to 2 ohms at 20kHz, but there is very little music going on up there (maybe 50dB less than at 1kHz) so very little power is required. Hence its just not an issue. It's also primarily a resistive load, not that reactive loads are an issue for class d. They are a problem for class A or A/B.

The only issue for the Maggie's is that they are inefficient. The manufacturer specs are somewhat optimistic. So they do need a lot of power. Again not an issue with class d.