ASR Emitter - Any opinion ?

[Jim Smith]

Rob,

These images should answer your questions:

Heat resistant tape over rubber pads between heat sinks of control unit:



Ikea top surface board, cut to allow heat to escape from imprinted top plate of power supply:



Ikea top board on control unit:



Latest room set-up:

[Diasoft]

I have been using an ASR E2 for the last 4 years. It drove my previous Wilson Sasha to its best (compared with CJ Premier 8, Krell KAS-2, Ayre MRXI used). It now drives my Magico S5 with excellent results. The ASR sound is relaxed, slightly dark and sweat, with an almost tube-like palpable mid-range (like the CJ), and yet has the power and control of good SS amp. Background is dead quiet/dark. I sometime may wish for slightly more extended highs but wouldn’t exchange for its quality. I also bought and borrowed some other SS amps to try on the S5 (Vitus RI-100, Plinius SA Ref) but I still ended up keeping the ASR. ASR's boss Frederic Schaefer is most friendly. He usually answers your emails within 24 hours.
I have heard the ASR E1 at a friend’s place. He was comparing with an E2 (boy, the number of boxes). In that session we actually slightly preferred the E1 for its more delicate and refined sound on smaller scale music, such as female vocals or quintets, although we felt the E2 threw a deeper soundstage. Definitely worth trying if you have efficient Speakers.

Hello from Germany,
I am new here. I am a big ASR fan. I have owned 4 Emitters since 1989. I bought the Gauder Akustik RC7 MK2 loudspeaker recently . My ASR Emitter 2 HD Akku is 18 years old by now. Some updates were made, but a new amplifier would probably be a good idea. CharlesL mentioned 3 amps I am thinking about: ASR Emitter 2 exclusice (2016 Edition), Devialent 400 and Vitus RI 100. Can you elaborate on the sound differences? I asked my dealer and he had the idea of Vitus RI 100 + RCD 100. I like the full, rich and deep sound of the Emitters very much. I listened to the Dartzeel 8550 and was not very impressed.
Thanks
Dirk

Gauder Akustik RC 7 MK II / HGP Fuga ST / Infinity 9.2i / Infinity 9a
ASR Emitter II HD Akku / ASR Emitter II plus
Wadia 830 / Oppo 105 tuned by Gert Volk Audio / Simon Yorke S9 / Amazon1 + SME V
Omtec Antares Phono Pre
Magnan, Acoustic Zen + Aural Symphonics Cable
Shun Mook

[joeinid]

Welcome to the forum Dirk, thank you for joining.

[Mike]

Hi Dirk. The ASR is a great sounding amp. Jim Smith here uses one. If you're going Vitus, try to step up to their Class A products - that's where the magic happens. As for the Devialet, well, the 400 is now discontinued and the 440 is the new one. I can't get a handle on the differences quite yet because I haven't compared my 400 to a 440. The best reason to go Devialet would be SAM and I believe I see SAM for your speakers, so that's good.

Do you have the specs on your speakers? Dr. Gauder isn't big on publishing specs.

I heard your speakers at CES this year. Very nice. I think they were driving them with Accuphase. The A-200's would be a nice match.


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[Elescher]

I have been very happy with my 2015 Emitter I for nearly two years. I have never heard the Dartzeel integrated in my system but I had the 108/18 pre/amp combo for many years. It would be a tough call if the Dartzeel amp was better able to drive my Vivid G2 because the tonality and emotional connection was superb. Realty is that it just couldn't create the suspended belief that my Emitter does for me. The only downside with the Emitter (for some) is that you have to deal with three boxes and all that goes with it.

Bottom line is that the Emitter will not hold you back and has the potential to provide absolute top notch sound. You just need to fill in the all the other holes that comes along with any quality system.

Looks like Jim and I have the same taste in racks, too.

[joao.b.pias]

Hello all

I was the owner of a ASR emitter ii exclusive blue for 9 years, together with DCS Puccini and Proac loudspeakers. Cabling was nordost valhalla.

The ASR was the most natural and emotional amplifier I knew. The soundstage was fenomenal. I miss it a lot. Unfortunately it was 4 big boxes and didnt have room for them in my new smaller home. Note that I auditioned amps like krell pass dartzeel jadis macintosh vtl before buying the ASR.

Must also point that the support from the ASR people was really really good.


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[Mike]

Welcome!


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[CharlesL]

Hello from Germany,
I am new here. I am a big ASR fan. I have owned 4 Emitters since 1989. I bought the Gauder Akustik RC7 MK2 loudspeaker recently . My ASR Emitter 2 HD Akku is 18 years old by now. Some updates were made, but a new amplifier would probably be a good idea. CharlesL mentioned 3 amps I am thinking about: ASR Emitter 2 exclusice (2016 Edition), Devialent 400 and Vitus RI 100. Can you elaborate on the sound differences? I asked my dealer and he had the idea of Vitus RI 100 + RCD 100. I like the full, rich and deep sound of the Emitters very much. I listened to the Dartzeel 8550 and was not very impressed.
Thanks
Dirk

Hi Dirk, Welcome to the forum. I enjoyed all 3 amps driving my Magico S5: ASR E2, Devialet 400, Vitus RI-100, and my preference is in that order.

I sold my RI-100 already. I think one has to go for Class A for fully appreciating Vitus' sound. Furthermore the RI-100 volume control was sometimes too coarse at my normal listening level (and the sensitivity of my system). I felt the SIA-025 was "substantially better" but then I only heard it in a different environment.

The Devialet has a more sunny (bright yet not lean) character. It is slightly not as sweat and relaxed as the ASR, but it has more bass volume and control. With SAM adjustment, one may be able to dial in the right balance for the room. It would be interesting to compare the ASR with the new Devialet 440.

--Charles