Nick's System

[Nick]

Nice amp, Nick!

What kind of valve is that in the middle? I haven't seen it before.

Marco.

Thanks Marco, that's a 101D in the middle

[Togil]

Nick,

have you ever tried the digital volume control on the dcs ?

Hans

[Nick]

Nick,

have you ever tried the digital volume control on the dcs ?

Hans

Hi Hans

Yes I have used the digital volume on the dCS but mainly as a trimming tool to adjust the output into whatever amplifier I'm using. By this I mean rather than using it in the same range of adjustment as a preamp.

Cheers

Nick

[Nick]

Well, it's been a while since I last posted here so by way of an "I'm back" I thought I'd post up the changes/additions to my system.

I still have the Zu Def 2s but there have been some changes to both the front end and amplification in my system. I still have the RWA 30.2 and the Melody AB 22, they reside in my backup rack most of the time these days.

New front end :-

Esoteric P-05



Esoteric D-05



The current amplifier of choice :-

Yamamoto A-011




and just in case :-

Luxman L-550 AII

[Ali Tait]

Very nice! Are those emission labs 45's?

[Nick]

Very nice! Are those emission labs 45's?

Hi Ali and thanks

They are Emission Labs 2A3s.

[Spectral Morn]

Hi Nick


Wow, WOW, WOW

Love your new kit. Esoteric lovely. Yamamoto....oh how I would love to hear that. I read all about it on 6 Moons, and it got a stonking review.

You are a very fortunate chap..indeed


Regards D S D L

[Nick]

Hi Nick


Wow, WOW, WOW

Love your new kit. Esoteric lovely. Yamamoto....oh how I would love to hear that. I read all about it on 6 Moons, and it got a stonking review.

You are a very fortunate chap..indeed


Regards D S D L

Hi DSDL

I am indeed a fortunate boy, with the longest suffering wife

The Yamamoto reviews on 6Moons were mostly for the A-08, although they did review the A-09 later. Mine is a real powerhouse compared to the 2 watt A-08, all of 4 watts

[Ali Tait]

How does it sound?

[Nick]

How does it sound?

I guess you're really interested in the Yamamoto ?

It sounds great, not really the "archetypal" valve sound so often cited by naysayers.

It is fast and open, superb midrange as would be expected. It also is very sweet in the treble and good in the bass. It has very good resolution but doesn't throw detail at you in that unpleasant way some gear can do. Things are revealed on the recording in a very natural way. I never find it runs out of juice either for my listening levels, of course some of the load is eased with the Zu's powered bass array coming in around 50Hz. It's quite simply the best of the amps I own. I can listen to it for hours and it just makes the music very accessible and enjoyable.

I just thank my lucky stars that I bought before the Yen got too strong against the pound.

Also a big heads up for Keith at Angelsound, no affiliation apart from being a satisified customer, who has always been helpful and really looks after his customers.

If anyone is interested I'll put together a more detailed resume for the Yamamoto and the other gear