Albarry's

[trio leo]

Ok Simon, the review is meaningless because you don't know the reviewer and the Albarry website is not produced by a web designer, do you have anything positive to say, have you ever heard any Albarry products?
Agreeing with Alex, their best efforts go into producing superb amplifiers.

Jerry, thank you I stand corrected, I was aware you could send back goods if they were faulty,broken or not fit for purpose, I wasn't aware you could send something back just because you didn't like it. plus the cost of returning a possibly heavy item

Personally with something like HiFi equipment I would rather hear it at a dealers before purchasing and I'm sure there are many dealers who really love what they do in bringing music to their customers.

Enjoy your music

regards Al

[DSJR]

Of little interest here, but one manufacturer who used to make some well received separates and is now mail order on the two products they assemble here, make a re-stocking charge on any returns I understand. I suspect that just opening the boxes is enough and I believe that on their site, it's been said that the special order top model cannot be returned at all. I don't know exactly how this stands in law, but please don't think that buying online means you can have something for a weeks w@nk and then return for a full refund.............

[DSJR]

As an aside, the input impedance of the Albarry power amps appears to be frighteningly low at 5k1 ohms (5.1k). With a modern ss preamp, this may not be at all an issue, but some valve based preamps may not quite match, although Glenn's products, which I've tried with the 608's, seemed ok to me.....

[Alan Sircom]

To sum up:

Good review - never heard of the reviewer, don't buy it
Good review from a reviewer they know well - reviews don't count, don't buy it
'four star' review - the product is carcinogenic and liable to explode, don't buy it
Good review from a forum - company shill, don't buy it
Bad review from a forum - told you so, don't buy it
Good reviews from 250 different places, one mediocre review - the mediocre one is right, don't buy it
Slick website - money spent on marketing, don't buy it
Clunky website - can't trust a company that doesn't know how to market itself, don't buy it
Sold at a dealer - rip off, don't buy it
Sold direct - not good enough to be sold at a dealer, don't buy it
Second-hand for more than half retail price (irrespective of condition) - too expensive, don't buy it
Second-hand for less than half retail price (irrespective of condition) - too cheap, must be broken, don't buy it

It seems to everyone (at home and abroad) that we're too busy moaning about stuff to buy stuff. Unless it's Apple stuff. It says something that we buy less hi-fi (by value and volume) than Portugal, despite that country's economic implosion and the fact it has roughly one-seventh the population of the UK.

[hifi_dave]

Never had any trouble over the years with matching. Back in the day we used to sell many Albarry power-amps with Croft but also Audio Research, Counterpoint and CJ.

As to the website - I believe Neil should be cut a bit of slack. He has restarted this business on a very tight budget. At present, all income is going on stock with nothing spent on advertising or reps on the road, in an effort to keep overheads in check. A wonderful website with pro pictures costs a lot of money and his present site gives all the info any prospective customer needs. At least there is a website..

[Macca]

. It says something that we buy less hi-fi (by value and volume) than Portugal, despite that country's economic implosion and the fact it has roughly one-seventh the population of the UK.

They were claiming on the radio the other day that Portugal has higher overall broadband speed than the UK. Portugal? I seriously doubt it, just as I doubt they spend more than the UK on hi-fi - I think it's just another 'factoid' - like the one about Cuba having a world class health service.

[Elephantears]

As an aside, the input impedance of the Albarry power amps appears to be frighteningly low at 5k1 ohms (5.1k). With a modern ss preamp, this may not be at all an issue, but some valve based preamps may not quite match, although Glenn's products, which I've tried with the 608's, seemed ok to me.....

So can you give me some guidance on what pre-amps are likely to work with the Albarry monos? As I've reported on pfm a few days ago, I have a pair of the M608's but sadly don't have the pre. I'd hate to have to sell the 608's because I can't afford the Albarry pre, so I'm interested in other preamps that might work well with it.

[DSJR]

Maybe there isn't an issue, and perhaps asking Neil himself what he thinks is the best course of option here. if it works for you, then it works for you and you'll certainly do no harm at all in trying...

When we last heard the 608's, we used the matching pre, which I found a bit too controlled and "dead" if anything. Changing to the Croft 25 at just over a thirs of the price, seemed to bring the life back although some might find it a bit raw in comparison (I don't know). The 25R may be an excellent half-way point, as it's a tad more subtle in delivery. As for vintage preamps, the AVI lab series one is sturdily made, was designed from the outset to drive a low inpedance load over a long run and should sound very good as my earlier S2000MP+P does.

I'm going to duck out of this thread now, as a certain gent at NVA has quoted one of my above posts in full on his revamped forum, slating it for blatant shilling. I shall say no more but I wish he'd get to know me first before constantly slagging me off

[sq225917]

Ok Simon, the review is meaningless because you don't know the reviewer and the Albarry website is not produced by a web designer, do you have anything positive to say, have you ever heard any Albarry products?

Yeh, I like the red plastic.

I heard them at one of the trade shows, Audioworks were playing them in the room with the rattly ceiling and the upper corner boom. Paul Benge from ABC-Audio was similarly afflicted in the same room the previous year so I gave the system the benefit of doubt.

[Alan Sircom]

They were claiming on the radio the other day that Portugal has higher overall broadband speed than the UK. Portugal? I seriously doubt it, just as I doubt they spend more than the UK on hi-fi - I think it's just another 'factoid' - like the one about Cuba having a world class health service.

AFAIK, Portugal spent more money on one one brand of high-end British-made CD players last year than the UK spent on CD players in total. It's why I singled the country out.

Aside from sales of headphones in the €200+ market (where we buy more than any other European country), if we were buying audio equipment in proportion to our population, the rest of Europe and and our relative wealth, we should be buying about £250m worth of AV equipment and nearly £175m worth of hi-fi separates per year. We spent £167m on AV equipment and around £80m worth of hi-fi separates last year.