Getting the Best Out of the Bantam

[John]

I just been reading Stuart review of the Bantam Gold http://hifipig.com/temple-audio-bantam-gold-integrated-amplifier/ Its a pretty fair review. But its not the end of the story around getting the best out of the Bantam I think the Bantam has two major flaws limiting its performance and to get the best out of the amp you need to address the following issues Power supply and the pre amp
The standard power supply is not really up to getting the best out of it and I advise either getting a good linear power supply or using a battery, I would not bother with a Lithium battery charger it seems to cause the amp to clip and is best avoided. With regards to battery I found higher capacity batteries seem to get more detail and energy from the amp. I been speaking to a few people around getting a really decent linear power supply to try out and will go for this when it becomes available to see if it takes things further. http://www.coreaudiotechnology.com/pixie-linear-power-supply/ I let you know how if it is a upgrade to battery or not.
The pre amp section is cheap and whilst it does it job it is limiting its performance. My Bantam has the pre taken out and uses a passive pre amp section to control the volume.
I personally prefer the high gain setting. The Bantam on normal setting lacks slam and tends to get distorted if I do not use the high gain setting in my system. This is more due to how I like to hear my music but I would recommend you try the higher gain setting.
Please feel free to add

[brian2957]

Nice one John . I took your advice and switched to the higher gain setting and IMO you are correct , it is better. I have a Bantam Gold like your good self and was using it with a 12V car battery which was a big improvement over the supplied PSU. Latterly I have been using mine with a Maplins PSU and a Power Inspired AG500 and it sounds excellent.
Awhile back I bought one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/bte-designs-passive-pre-preamplifier-preamp-valve-or-solid-state-amps-/251504028917?pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiF i_Amplifiers&hash=item3a8eceecf5
and this has improved things further again in my system (IMHO ). Don't know why - one for the ' suck it and see ' brigade.
The other day I bought this http://www.hifiwigwam.com/showthread.php?104604-FS-Temple-Audio-Bantam-Gold-%28Power-Amp%29&highlight=temple+audio+bantam . This is the same Maplins PSU in the sale thread which I use so it should be just plug in and play .
I haven't received it yet and will be trying it with and without BTE passive preamp . I will report back when I've listened for a few days.
Thanks for your help and advice BTW John.

[John]

I think addressing the power supply issues is critical in getting it to sound better
Glad the advice paid off for you Brian and that the pre is making a difference

[brian2957]

Yes right again John . This little amp sounds excellent in stock form but a clearly audible improvement can be achieved by improving the power supply . I would really like to try one of these http://www.custom-hifi-cables.co.uk/home/power-supplies/dc-power-supplies I've dealt with this company before and they are excellent .

[John]

Keep me informed Brain
I am interested how it compares against a Battery as I am sure their a bit more to come from the Bantam

[brian2957]

No problem John .

[tpbholm]

Yes right again John . This little amp sounds excellent in stock form but a clearly audible improvement can be achieved by improving the power supply . I would really like to try one of these http://www.custom-hifi-cables.co.uk/home/power-supplies/dc-power-supplies I've dealt with this company before and they are excellent .

I have a DC1 powering my Amptastic Mini-1. I previously used it to power a Bantam. I also have a DC 2 powering a pair of Bantam Monoblocks. The DC1 is an excellent pieces of kit and the Bantam definitely sounds better using it. The soundstage seems better defined and more detailed and bass is improved. I'm currently using the Mini 1 in power amp mode with a Sonos Connect and Pro-ject CD Box DS connected to an Audiolab MDAC. The whole thing seems well matched to my ears.
The DC2 was customised by Sean at Custom Hifi Cables to power both Monoblocks. Again I'm impressed with the improvement over the standard power supply. I also use one of Sean's PP10 passive pre-amps connected to the mono blocks. Source is a Linn Majik LP 12 thru a Graham Slee Reflex M phono stage.
Both systems are connected up using Custom Hifi Cable Blue interconnects and the DC's use the company's Powerback IEc leads
Sean is ultra helpful and answers all questions promptly. He also operates a 30 day money back guarantee. So far I haven't sent anything back.

[Nigel]

I use a Bantam Gold as a headphone amp for my AKG K1000. I have the Maplins regulated power supply but much prefer a simple intruder alarm battery from Yuausa. I think this gives a sweeter, less harsh sound, in my set up of course. I have always gravitated towards the lower gain setting simply because of the TNT review, where the amps designer agreed with the reviewer that this was the prefered optimum setting.

[John]

It will depend on your speaker for me the Bantam runs out of puff for the kind of music I listen too most of the time. For me the lower setting is okay for more jazz and acoustic based music put something that needs to be driven and its not so great on the lower settings
(I am using 96db speakers too)

[brian2957]

I also use the Bantam on the higher gain setting because I prefer it .

[Nigel]

Do you chaps leave your Bantams powered constantly?

[brian2957]

No I don't . I find it comes on song pretty quickly . Not much to heat up really :)

[John]

Same with Brian just sounds good right away, especially if using a battery with a liner power supply it seemed to take 20 mins to be t its best