Location: Granes - Haut Vallee de l'aude - EU
Posts: 2,831
I'm Richard.
Fair...but you are totally wrong [/QUOTE]
I think Fair - but the 33 is competent and good value. I agree with Gordon about the music, but that has the potential for a flat earth denial that anything is ever better enough to care. The 33 is great value, honest, uncoloured, "nice" but very boring when you have heard better. I agree with whoever it was about the Nad 3020. I think I prefer it's phono stage - it is not as accurate, but I've never caught it yawning.
The 303 is a great product, but like the 405 (a great product) can be improved and bettered by other quality amps - but no amp at anything like the price of a 2nd hand 303 that I have found.
Dan you are just down the road. Don't tolerate this arrogance - call my bluff. Borrow the Pip for a week, and tell me how good the phono stage on the 33 is.
Actually, if you enjoy the music the way Gordon does, don't because you'll be turning the country upside down looking for Pips that no longer exist and can't be serviced
Geoff - you mentioned your amplifiers outperform this combo, and are modestly priced, but you are terribly coy about saying what they are. 'Fess up
But finally, Gordon, brace yourself for this, Gordon is absolutely right. If you have something you like, and are enjoying the music on it, then stick with it
A but harsh that is James. Granted they are old units now but suitably serviced they will amplify with no audible distortion from 20-20KHZ and that is the definition of a 'high fidelity' amplifier. I have heard systems with original 303s and fettled ones and have never heard anything I didn't like. Never heard a fettled or serviced 3020 but a pal of mine uses an untouched one with some little Tannoy six series and that combo works very well indeed.
Current Lash Up:
TEAC VRDS 701T > Sony TAE1000ESD > Krell KSA50S > JM Labs Focal Electra 926.
Just been reading this thread. I have a whole mixed bag of kit. My old Garrard 301 and SME 3012 arm are way way behind my Technics setup but I enjoy listening to Jazz on this setup and Prog on the Technics. The Garrard has its own "Sound" which I love. I love watching the kit do it's job. Some of my kit has been bought and repaired, some has been swapped. For me it's been the process of putting my kit toegther. Knowing that I spent six months of my life restoring a deck which was sat in a garage back to life, finding a cheap enough SME3012 from Australia and the Koetsu black from the USA makes me feel great. Sometimes its not about how good the kit is. It's about how it makes you feel and what it gives back to you.
SS
CD Teac VRDS25X(Audiotuned) DECK 1210 Mat Crystal Audio Mods MN Base/Bearing/Platter+Ebony armboard Feet Isonoe PSU Paul Hynes SR7EHD-27XL/DCSXL Ag DC lead/3 Stage Regs/Recap PCB+No Pitch/Strobe/Light ARM SME V(Kondo Ag Rewire&Tags) MC Cadenza Black FGS CABLES Arm Yannis SPD-4 IC Yannis 222 Litz+Ag bullets Power WAR PRE ATC SCA2 SPEAKERS ATC 50ASL STANDS Atacama PHONO Sugden Masterclass PA4 SUT Ortofon ST80SE POWER PSAudio P10
VALVE
PRE Croft Epoch(Modded) AMP Sondex S100 (Modded) SPEAKERS Tannoy 15"MG+RFC Warwick cabs+ Ref XO + Batpure supertweeters DECK Garrard 301 Mat Teunto Bearings 401(Bastin) Plinth Bamboo Arms 3009/3012 PSU Eagle+Tachometer MC Ag Meister II/FGS + Ortofon SPU MONO CABLES Arm Yannis 420.5 Litz+ SpeakerPC Tripple C+WBT-0681 Ag IC Oyaide FTVS-510 AgWBT 0110Ag Phonostages Paradise(4 Box Mega-Modded) / Croft Musicmaker
It is impossible for anything digital to sound analogue, because it isn't analogue!
Location: Deleted
Posts: 6,585
I'm Deleted.
Location: South downs
Posts: 3,477
I'm James.