Well, I think this post will be little longer. First, I would like to thank Anthony for excellent job he did with this amplifier (Thank you, Anthony).
Amplifier that I was using for a long time was one build based on AV400 schematic diagram, and I was pretty satisfied with it. Lower frequencies were very good, high ones were little “pulled back”. This, of course, could be attributed to my diy pcb, not so perfectly paired output transistors, or something else other then schematic diagram.
When my amplifier died (I'm not revealing why), I purchased two NXV200 modules, ones with “garden” feedback capacitors. Power supply I build with 500VA 2x35V toroid, 6x10000uF capacitors (not low ESR), two block bridge rectifiers and 680nF + 1Ohm “snubbers”. First tests I did by directly coupling amplifier and my old Sony player's variable output. I was not impressed by result, but I was thinking “Well, I can live with this if I have to”. Then I bridged original input capacitors and put instead Ampohm 6,8uF foil capacitors taken from my old amplifier. That was already big improvement, but still I felt that something was missing. From before I was thinking that sound of my CD player was not as good as it was. Most of audiophiles know themselves feeling when they start to polish connection contacts and change interconnection cables convincing themselves that “it's better now”.
So, I asked a friend of mine to bring his player (Marantz CD6000OSI Limited Edition). That friend of mine is real audio freak (in the positive manner) . I am serious music lover, and not listening music more than few days makes me nervous. But that man! Each while I receive from him by email recension of some new audio device or his impressions about some CD or concert. Few months ago he had mild ear infection, and afterwards he was desperately touring specialists convincing them that he does not hear well enough, despite the fact that all tests were showing that his hearing is excellent. By the way, he is happy owner of Quad 909 amplifier and 99 preamplifier.
Yesterday (after my wife cautiously left apartment) that friend of mine, my brother and me started amplifier audition. Wow. Everything was there. Crystal highs, space, tight and deep bass. Everything was so nice balanced, no matter what type of music we were listening. After few hours and a few bears, my brother almost started to cry when we were listening Peter Gabriel's first album (remixed CD layer from SACD). Sensitive kind, my brother. I love him very much.
We were listening music several hours and none of us got tired of it. And almost all of our conversation was “listen to this” or “let me hear this CD”. When I mentioned to them that I want to change feedback capacitors, they both yelled not to touch it, that I will destroy something.
My apologies for being so “personal”, but I think that to validate some person's opinion you have to know how he reached it and what kind of person is telling it. I could warmly recommend this amplifier to anyone.
