Ampsandsound Casablanca

**Kingrex** · November 27, 2018, 11:40 PM

https://ampsandsound.com/products/casablanca

I have been looking for new amps, I don't need anything super powerful. 45 watts is fine with my 96db speakers. I hope these do the trick. I got the transformer input. Pretty excited. Justin the owner is great. Very helpful and professional. I get them Friday.

**joeinid** · November 28, 2018, 08:59 AM

Congratulations on your new amps. I’ve always wanted to hear their gear. Build quality looks outstanding.

Please update us with your thoughts.

**mep** · November 28, 2018, 10:27 AM

Those amps remind me of Bottlehead gear.

**Mr Peabody** · November 28, 2018, 11:17 AM

I was not familiar, looks like a really nice amp, for reasonable prices. If the comments on the site are sincere, it makes you just want to try one. I like a product made with passion. Look forward to hearing your thoughts once the amp is settled in.

**Randy Myers** · November 29, 2018, 04:20 AM

Congratz on the amps. They look very interesting. Enjoy your new amps!

**Kingrex** · December 1, 2018, 12:21 PM

Darn fedex. Suppose to be here Friday. Now its Monday at the earliest

**joeinid** · December 1, 2018, 12:27 PM

I hate when that happens. Sorry.

**Kingrex** · December 1, 2018, 12:54 PM

I heard these amps are at the VPI house running the Wilson speakers.

**Randy Myers** · December 2, 2018, 01:43 AM

FedEx sucks... or that is how it feels when you are waiting for something.... had some SACDs supposed to arrive today... didn't make it

**jadedavid** · December 2, 2018, 09:16 AM

I ship a lot of items and have found that for smaller and lighter items the U.S. Post Office can't be beat for speed of delivery.
When shipping larger heavier items I have found that FedEx beats "Brown" every time.
With that said, yes it is a bummer waiting for your next new "toy" to arrive.

**CPP** · December 2, 2018, 10:16 AM

Originally Posted by Randy Myers

FedEx sucks... or that is how it feels when you are waiting for something.... had some SACDs supposed to arrive today... didn't make it

In all the years I've been shipping stuff, FedEX rules over the brown truck any day. For huge heavy items say way over 100 lbs it JB Hunt or Southeast Freight in my area, when it comes to cars its Reliable Carriers.

**Kingrex** · December 2, 2018, 02:00 PM

I am so tired of my old amps humming. I have become more sensitive knowing I have a solution in the mail. My refrigerator causes my amps to makes a deep warbling wow, wow, wow that just bugs me. Add to that just the constant din of bass BRRRRRRrrrrrrr. Can't believe I have lived like this so long. I guess it is because I always blamed my power, not my gear. This amp better not react at my house too. I tested my power. It's better than most.

I was told last night I should turn everything off in my panel, then move my audio power between the A & B phase. I might find one sounds better than the other. The one that is more flat is actually better than the one with a bright sparkle to it. That brightness is noise. Once I have the correct phase for audio, move all your lights and any motors that cause issues onto to the other phase.

**Randy Myers** · December 4, 2018, 09:11 AM

That would drive me crazy as well. Fortunately I am not having a hum issue. The AM has a switch to "lift the ground". Not exactly sure what it does but it is to help if you have a hum issue. Vlad told me that most times it makes no difference, but if there is a hum it should help. He stated that hum is almost always caused by wiring in the house <shrug>. I am lucky to not have to deal with that.

Hopefully your new amps take care of this for you.

**Kingrex** · December 4, 2018, 10:54 AM

Hey Randy. I have had 2 tech do a superficial check of the amps. The transformers and chokes seem good. It could be old caps. Not sure. They are 23 years old. I found a AM amp for $1k but Vlad said at that old he had to rebuild it. I have done everything possible with or without the ground in my amp. With my new amps I will have more time to start recapping and see if that helps. Maybe trim pots on power tube grids. One amp is worse than the other so I am more sure its not my house. Yes yo all I have tried tubes power sockets, cords, power conditioners. I even scoped my house with very high quality analizers. My Altec need a bench.

Amps are suppose to be ready for pick up today. 7 days to travel up the left coast.

**Mr Peabody** · December 4, 2018, 10:55 AM

I had an amp, Audio by Van Alstine, it had a ground hum. The lift switch didn't work. What finally cured it was another brand of cables. Some cables are only grounded on one end.from what I was told. It was just that amp didn't like a certain design of cables. Oddly, the cables where the amp hummed were Siltech, I wanted to try the theory with something reasonable so I tried some Anticables and, no hum.

**Kingrex** · December 4, 2018, 11:13 AM

Everyone wants first dibbs on my amps till they hear I want money for them. Maybe someone will trade me a Select II for them. I'm ok with just 1 powerbase. Anyone? ????

**Kingrex** · December 4, 2018, 06:04 PM

My god Fedex sucks. It's now 8 days and they still cant get a package from LA to a Fedex store in Seattle. Did you know freight through fedex is a franchise buisness. It's not fedex. It's some independant business purchasing the route from Fedex. Makes you wonder. I am unsure about fedex anymore. I usually say use the usps. They actually get stuff there on time and in good shape. Brown throws your equipment with great furry and vengance. Your lucky if it gets there at all. Having said that, with all the additional handling my amps are getting, I hope they are not broken or the tubes shattered.

**Kingrex** · December 5, 2018, 12:23 AM

Holly smokes. I was not prepared for this. Way way way beyond my expectations. I'm floored. Their stunning.

**Randy Myers** · December 5, 2018, 01:26 AM

Awesome! I assume the amps arrived

**UltraFast69** · December 5, 2018, 01:46 AM

Originally Posted by Kingrex

Holly smokes. I was not prepared for this. Way way way beyond my expectations. I'm floored. Their stunning.

Earth to Rex, Over, Come in Rex, Over

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

**Randy Myers** · December 5, 2018, 02:08 AM

Ah... we need pictures Rex... you know the rules

**Kingrex** · December 5, 2018, 11:54 AM

**Kingrex** · December 5, 2018, 11:55 AM

Very good packaging, Double boxed. precisely cut foam.

**Kingrex** · December 5, 2018, 12:12 PM

It comes pre biased with labeled sockets and tubes.

It really is magical sounding. I did not know I was keeping so much from my speakers.

My initial notes are Nice and clean, natural, accurate, musical and flowing. It's great at low volume. Of course it has a magical sweet spot but It's not that loud, or at least I did not push it at all to have my jaw drop. I have not fully opened it up as my wife was home. She too said it sounds nice. Of course she would be happy with and old syrup sounding CJ. Fortunately this has plenty of bass to keep her happy.

Today Adrian with the Linear Solution is coming by to demo his new Endpoint. These amps will make it much easier to hear minute changes.

By the way, the change I hear is on an order of magnitude. I'm actually kind of pissed my Altec sound that bad. I can't think of better spent money. DACs, cables, phono pre, phono cartridges all subtle changes. This is on the magnitude of speaker or really fine preamp change. Maybe if you were going from 14 awg house receptacles power to 10 awg ofc from your panel to rack. I'm very satisfied.

**joeinid** · December 5, 2018, 02:46 PM

Congratulations, looks awesome.

**Kingrex** · December 6, 2018, 01:46 AM

I heard the network streamer (endpoint) its nice. Subtle but nice. It coaxea more life and natural ease as well as clarity of cymbal strikes and drum roles. But, it's subtle. These amps are far from subtle. I very much enjoyed playing them through the day. So far there is nothing about them I am unhappy with. There are pretty much just right. Lots of detail but never strident. Nice tight bass, not thin and not bloated. These In my mind are a deal for $4,400. I did add the transformer input for an additional $500.

**Randy Myers** · December 6, 2018, 01:53 AM

Very nice Rex. Congratulations on your new amps. So glad you love them and I am happy you found amps that make you smile.

Everything you are describing is exactly what I feel about my Audio Mirror amps!

So I guess you decided against SET amps. I thought you were leaning towards SET

... As long as they make you happy is all that matters.

**Kingrex** · December 9, 2018, 09:50 PM

I am really liking these amps. Really really nice. Just so musical and right.

**Randy Myers** · December 10, 2018, 12:30 AM

Very happy for you Rex! They sound like fantastic amps.

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