Macca's Lash Up 2: Lash Harder

[Macca]

I used a passive with the 50S for a while, it worked reasonably well.

DCB1 is active but has no gain so it isn't far off a passive, it's all about the black art of impedance matching though isn't it?

[User211]

I used a passive with the 50S for a while, it worked reasonably well.

DCB1 is active but has no gain so it isn't far off a passive, it's all about the black art of impedance matching though isn't it?

I think it's all about trial and error.

Who knows with the right speakers and a passive that KSA50 just MIGHT have been OK.

I wouldn't bet on it but I have been surprised in the past.

[crimsondonkey]

I think it's all about trial and error.

That's a potentially expensive and time consuming way to go about it. The specs of pre and power amp sensitivities and impedance are usually available and can help narrow down the field and eliminate things that just won't work.

[User211]

That's a potentially expensive and time consuming way to go about it. The specs of pre and power amp sensitivities and impedance are usually available and can help narrow down the field and eliminate things that just won't work.

You might be able to increase your probability of success that way but it just isn't an exact science.

Plenty of amps that 'should' work with my speakers just sound shite. Very few sound good but when they do, like the Luxman, you're in for a very good ride indeed.

[Macca]

You might be able to increase your probability of success that way but it just isn't an exact science.

.

This is true and it is annoying because it really should be an exact science.

[User211]

This is true and it is annoying because it really should be an exact science.

Don't start watching astronomy and quantum physics videos on YouTube then...

[Macca]

Too late!

[Macca]

Bought a Philips 22AH380 / DC380 ‘Black Tulip’ Power Amplifier last week with the vague aim of collecting the full set for no really good reason other than I like how it looks.

Here's what the full 'Black Tulip' system looks like, in its own matching rack mount stand thingy for those who have never seen it:



This was Philips last foray into the high end back in 79 or thereabouts, at least under their own name. They sold some in Europe but the British hi-fi mags crucified it and dubbed it 'Black Turnip'. But they were all into Naim, Exposure, Linn and so forth in in those days...most foreign gear was suspect - most of us remember it well I guess so no need to elaborate.

Anyway although I know it has been re-evaluated in more recent, less partisan times, my intention was to collect it all over time and use it as the TV system. So absolute sound quality not a priority. It's just my favourite looking gear of all time. Yamaha NS1000M are what speakers should look like. Phillips Black Tulip is what electronics should look like. For me at least.

This is the pic of the actual amplifier from the sale thread as my camera is not cooperating right now. I took some photos of it myself but they are crap.



On connecting it up to some sacrificial speakers just to make sure it was okay I got hum on the left channel. I've bought a few bits of faulty kit recently so my first thought was 'Not again!' But after some tedious trial and error I won't go into, it turned out it was some sort of ground loop. Swapping pre-amps from the DCB1 to the pre-amp section of an XTZ integrated sorted it.

It's only for the tv system and I intend to get the matching pre, but I thought I might as well hook up my proper speakers and see what it was like in absolute terms. I've tried the XTZ pre amp with a fair few power amps and concluded it is not much cop. But it's the only pre-amp I have right now beside the DCB1.

Well knock me bandy this XTZ/ Phillips combo is outstanding! I actually prefer it to the DCB1/Krell KSA100 combo that has been the daily driver for the last 6 months or so.

See the previous ten or so posts on this thread where the matching of pre and power amps is said to be a black art....

Although don't get me wrong I think a lot of people would prefer the DCB1/Krell 100 combination. That's big, warm, a little bit 'valvey', whereas the XTZ/Phillips is far more forensic although without losing the 'sweetness'. But not as forensic as the DCB1/Krell KSA50S combo which is still the best I've ever had. Although the 50s is still U/S unfortunately. This Phillips is close, although not quite as good in the bass as the 50S, or the 100Mk2 for that matter.

Having said that I am having to use thin speaker cable to hook the Philips up instead of my usual hosepipe stuff so maybe that will have some bearing on things. I was going to keep it original but I might get some proper binding posts fitted as I can't see this leaving the main system until the Krell 50S gets sorted.

But anyway - it's close in the bass. And like all the best power amps it does the harmonics right, sounds like guitar chords ring out like chimes, they don't go all grainy as the sound peaks and decays. Likewise with female vocals. There's lots of highly regarded amplifiers that can't do that.

I'm after the matching pre-amp now so if anyone has got one in a cupboard or whatever, let me know.

[Made in 1968]

Obviously 19" Rack mountable.. Macca do you know if they are standard Rack Heights?

1U - 1.75", 2U - 3.5", 3U - 5.25"

[Macca]

Obviously 19" Rack mountable.. Macca do you know if they are standard Rack Heights?

1U - 1.75", 2U - 3.5", 3U - 5.25"

No idea sorry. Philips offered a rack as an accessory as in the photo up top but no idea if it was standard to anyone but Phillips.

I'd have everything rack mount if I could. With stainless steel grab handles.