dowser
13-09-2015, 07:21
Cross posted from PFM, sorry, but am after a bit more info on these items if anyone has come across them? :)
Not sure why I bought these, they were not particularly cheap but I just got interested - Chris Bryant designed I think, XTC were formerly Orelle, or an offshoot of Orelle...not really sure! Anyhow - I need to swap 211 valves on my DIY power amps to GM70s, and want to try different output caps in my Croft Micro (mustards :))...for some stupid reason I bought these to listen to while I'm doing it...
Picked them up today from a Swiss high end dealer in Kanton Schwyz...my god but what an Alladins cave his place was! He sells the cheap stuff (!) via a local auction site, but has I estimate over half a million CHF worth of decent stock on his shop floor (at his retail prices). The AN Ongaku looked beautiful! I have never seen anywhere like this before.
Anyhow, get them home, strip off covers to take a look...
Pow-1 power amp overview - four 175W channels (key switches on rear to switch between 2 & 4 channels)...a very big FO transformer...but look at those tiny smoothing caps, and small bridges...and basic caps used. Wasn't to impressed looking at the design. Its bigger than my Lark Levinson No. 29, and about the same weight.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5762/21165110158_9a199cc628_c.jpg
Right hand channel component side;
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/777/21326731856_f6d41201fd_c.jpg
3 of the 4 output transistors (to provide 2 channels);
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/602/20731876083_0d40b88dd4_c.jpg
Big FO transformer;
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5780/21326703946_9e08f2e923_c.jpg
The pre-1 pre amp - again, not hugely impressed by it at first glance;
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5744/20731837033_6d88266f08_c.jpg
I am hoping this is an add on phono stage - think it is, other pics I find on net do not have it;
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/752/21361215231_997ca02efb_c.jpg
Wildly over spec class A (FET based I think) SE output stage;
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/645/21352915615_1d03b8738e_c.jpg
So, all looks good (rev4 board in pre, 1992 on back of phono daughter board) - bolt it all back together and whack it into system;
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5718/20732033353_95eb18406a_c.jpg
First impressions are surprisingly good compared to DIY 211 SE valve hybrid monos & modified Croft Micro II. Mid to top end much more detailled and grabs attention (cymbals are sublime!), not so sure of bottom end yet. Seems muddy, but may only be compared to higher frequency clarity. I can never do quick AB tests - I will live with them for a while and then swap back. So far I have not found anything better than my main system...I am hopeful this can do it...I really like the remote control :)
One question: I am running it in 1 channel mode, but without what I think should be link plugs on the rear...so suspect I am only getting 175W per channel currently rather than the full 350W. Has anyone who has played with one of these confirm?
Thanks!
Richard
Not sure why I bought these, they were not particularly cheap but I just got interested - Chris Bryant designed I think, XTC were formerly Orelle, or an offshoot of Orelle...not really sure! Anyhow - I need to swap 211 valves on my DIY power amps to GM70s, and want to try different output caps in my Croft Micro (mustards :))...for some stupid reason I bought these to listen to while I'm doing it...
Picked them up today from a Swiss high end dealer in Kanton Schwyz...my god but what an Alladins cave his place was! He sells the cheap stuff (!) via a local auction site, but has I estimate over half a million CHF worth of decent stock on his shop floor (at his retail prices). The AN Ongaku looked beautiful! I have never seen anywhere like this before.
Anyhow, get them home, strip off covers to take a look...
Pow-1 power amp overview - four 175W channels (key switches on rear to switch between 2 & 4 channels)...a very big FO transformer...but look at those tiny smoothing caps, and small bridges...and basic caps used. Wasn't to impressed looking at the design. Its bigger than my Lark Levinson No. 29, and about the same weight.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5762/21165110158_9a199cc628_c.jpg
Right hand channel component side;
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/777/21326731856_f6d41201fd_c.jpg
3 of the 4 output transistors (to provide 2 channels);
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/602/20731876083_0d40b88dd4_c.jpg
Big FO transformer;
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5780/21326703946_9e08f2e923_c.jpg
The pre-1 pre amp - again, not hugely impressed by it at first glance;
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5744/20731837033_6d88266f08_c.jpg
I am hoping this is an add on phono stage - think it is, other pics I find on net do not have it;
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/752/21361215231_997ca02efb_c.jpg
Wildly over spec class A (FET based I think) SE output stage;
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/645/21352915615_1d03b8738e_c.jpg
So, all looks good (rev4 board in pre, 1992 on back of phono daughter board) - bolt it all back together and whack it into system;
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5718/20732033353_95eb18406a_c.jpg
First impressions are surprisingly good compared to DIY 211 SE valve hybrid monos & modified Croft Micro II. Mid to top end much more detailled and grabs attention (cymbals are sublime!), not so sure of bottom end yet. Seems muddy, but may only be compared to higher frequency clarity. I can never do quick AB tests - I will live with them for a while and then swap back. So far I have not found anything better than my main system...I am hopeful this can do it...I really like the remote control :)
One question: I am running it in 1 channel mode, but without what I think should be link plugs on the rear...so suspect I am only getting 175W per channel currently rather than the full 350W. Has anyone who has played with one of these confirm?
Thanks!
Richard