Does Corus match with my power-amp?

Re: Does Corus matchg with my power-amp?

Anybody can help?

Re: Does Corus matchg with my power-amp?

Corus has a high input impedance of 40K Ohms on its balance and unbalanced line inputs, and a uniformly low imput impedance of 60 Ohms on both balanced/unbalanced outputs. This makes Corus compatible with just about any CD players and amps on the market.

In particular, I have successfully used the Rowland Criterion -- same circuit as Corus with the addition of a battery-based supply -- for several years with Esoteric X-01 and K-01 players... Truly marvellous results.

You can't go wrong with Corus... It is a very resolving preamplifier, and amazingly musical at the same time.

Guido

Re: Does Corus matchg with my power-amp?

GuidoCorona said:

Corus has a high input impedance of 40K Ohms on its balance and unbalanced line inputs, and a uniformly low imput impedance of 60 Ohms on both balanced/unbalanced outputs. This makes Corus compatible with just about any CD players and amps on the market.

In particular, I have successfully used the Rowland Criterion -- same circuit as Corus with the addition of a battery-based supply -- for several years with Esoteric X-01 and K-01 players... Truly marvellous results.

You can't go wrong with Corus... It is a very resolving preamplifier, and amazingly musical at the same time.

Guido

Click to expand...

Hi Guido
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]Thanks! What about ARC Ref 6? Which pre-amp you think is better match with my EC AW-180 power-amp? JF Corus or ARC Ref 6?
Both per-amp are famous and not cheap, I need to be very careful to make my choice.
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]

Re: Does Corus matchg with my power-amp?

Hi MM, what is the input impedance of your EC AW-180? And what is the output impedance of ARC REF 6? Compatibility between pres and amps depends on impedance matching.... In the case of Corus, the pre should be compatible with any amp with an input impedance of approx 1500 Ohms or higher.

As for what is "better", it is purely a matter of preference.

What kind of music do you like to listen to?

What are you looking for in sonic /musical characteristics?

How does your current system fall short of ideal?

What would your ideal preamplifier do that your current one does not do?

Regards, Guido

Re: Does Corus matchg with my power-amp?

GuidoCorona said:

Hi MM, what is the input impedance of your EC AW-180? And what is the output impedance of ARC REF 6? Compatibility between pres and amps depends on impedance matching.... In the case of Corus, the pre should be compatible with any amp with an input impedance of approx 1500 Ohms or higher.

As for what is "better", it is purely a matter of preference.

What kind of music do you like to listen to?

What are you looking for in sonic /musical characteristics?

How does your current system fall short of ideal?

What would your ideal preamplifier do that your current one does not do?

Regards, Guido

Click to expand...

Hi Guido


[FONT=新細明體]Thanks a lot! Here is the specification of my power-amp AW-180 and ARC Ref 6, Sorry I'm not in technical guy, I hope you can get the answer in this information:
[FONT=新細明體][/FONT]
[FONT=新細明體][/FONT]Ref: http://www.audiotehnic.net/aw180.pdf
[FONT=新細明體][/FONT]
[FONT=新細明體][/FONT]AW-180 Amplifier section
[FONT=新細明體][/FONT]Main voltage 120 V / 240 V. Clipping point of the amplifier is set to a level where total
[FONT=新細明體][/FONT]harmonic distortion (THD) is 0.2 %.
[FONT=新細明體][/FONT]Output Impedance (20 Hz - 20 kHz) < 0,008 Ohm
[FONT=新細明體][/FONT]RCA (single) input impedance 220 kOhm
[FONT=新細明體][/FONT]XLR (balanced) input impedance 110 kOhm
[FONT=新細明體][/FONT]Input sensitivity for rated output 1 V
[FONT=新細明體][/FONT]Max. peak current > 100 A
[FONT=新細明體][/FONT]THD (measured at 1 kHz half power, 8 Ohm) < 0,001 %
[FONT=新細明體][/FONT]THD (measured at 1 kHz -1 dB, 8 Ohm)< 0,001 %
[FONT=新細明體][/FONT]Noise (measured with both inputs shorted)
[FONT=新細明體][/FONT]400 Hz - 30 kHz : 90 μV
[FONT=新細明體][/FONT]10 Hz - 30 kHz : 100 μV
[FONT=新細明體][/FONT]Rated output power
[FONT=新細明體][/FONT]10 % change in line voltage will give app. 20 % change in output power.
[FONT=新細明體][/FONT]8 Ohm 180 W
[FONT=新細明體][/FONT]4 Ohm 350 W
[FONT=新細明體][/FONT]2 Ohm 650 W
[FONT=新細明體][/FONT]Power consumption (no load or signal) 115 W
[FONT=新細明體][/FONT]

ARC Ref 6 specification

http://www.audioresearch.com/ContentsFiles/Ref 6 Manual.pdf
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]
Frequency Response: +0-3dB, 0.4Hz to 200kHz at rated output (Balanced, 200k ohms load).
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]Distortion: Less than .01% at 2V RMS BAL output.
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]Gain: Main output: 12dB Balanced output, 6dB SE output. Record out: 0dB (Processor input: 0dB BAL
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]output).
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]Input Impedance: 120K ohms Balanced, 60K ohms SE. Inputs: 4 balanced, 4 single-ended. Assignable
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]processor passthrough.
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]Output Impedance: 600 ohms Balanced, 300 ohms SE Main (2). 20K ohms minimum load and 2000pF
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]maximum capacitance. Outputs (3): 2 main, 1 record out (XLR and RCA connectors).
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]Output Polarity: Non-inverting.
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]Maximum Input: 18V RMS BAL, 9V RMS SE.
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]Rated Outputs: 2V RMS (1V RMS SE) into 200K ohm balanced load (maximum balanced output capability
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]is 70V RMS at less than 0.5% THD at 1kHz).
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]Crosstalk: -88dB or better at 1kHz and 10 kHz.
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]Controls: Rotary encoders: Volume (103 steps), Select Input. Push Buttons: Power, Menu, Enter, Mono,
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]Invert, Mute.
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]Power Supplies: Electronically regulated low and high voltage supplies. Automatic 45 sec. warm-up/
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]brown-out mute. Line regulation better than .01%
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]Noise: 1.7uV RMS residual IHF weighted balanced equivalent input noise with volume at 1 (109dB below 2V
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]RMS output.)
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]Tube Complement: (6)-6H30P dual triodes, plus (1 each) 6550WE and 6H30P in power supply.
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]Power Requirements: 100-135VAC 60Hz (200-250VAC 50/60Hz) 130 watts. Standby: 2 watts.
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]




[/FONT]

Re: Does Corus matchg with my power-amp?

GuidoCorona said:

Hi MM, what is the input impedance of your EC AW-180? And what is the output impedance of ARC REF 6? Compatibility between pres and amps depends on impedance matching.... In the case of Corus, the pre should be compatible with any amp with an input impedance of approx 1500 Ohms or higher.

As for what is "better", it is purely a matter of preference.

What kind of music do you like to listen to?

What are you looking for in sonic /musical characteristics?

How does your current system fall short of ideal?

What would your ideal preamplifier do that your current one does not do?

Regards, Guido

Click to expand...

Hi Guido


Thanks a lot! Here is the specification of my power-amp AW-180 and ARC Ref 6, Sorry I'm not in technical guy, I hope you can get the answer in this information. Againm a millions thanks!

Ref: http://www.audiotehnic.net/aw180.pdf

AW-180 Amplifier section
Main voltage 120 V / 240 V. Clipping point of the amplifier is set to a level where total
harmonic distortion (THD) is 0.2 %.
Output Impedance (20 Hz - 20 kHz) < 0,008 Ohm
RCA (single) input impedance 220 kOhm
XLR (balanced) input impedance 110 kOhm
Input sensitivity for rated output 1 V
Max. peak current > 100 A
THD (measured at 1 kHz half power, 8 Ohm) < 0,001 %
THD (measured at 1 kHz -1 dB, 8 Ohm)< 0,001 %
Noise (measured with both inputs shorted)
400 Hz - 30 kHz : 90 μV
10 Hz - 30 kHz : 100 μV
Rated output power
10 % change in line voltage will give app. 20 % change in output power.
8 Ohm 180 W
4 Ohm 350 W
2 Ohm 650 W
Power consumption (no load or signal) 115 W


ARC Ref 6 specification

http://www.audioresearch.com/ContentsFiles/Ref 6 Manual.pdf

Frequency Response: +0-3dB, 0.4Hz to 200kHz at rated output (Balanced, 200k ohms load).

Distortion: Less than .01% at 2V RMS BAL output.

Gain: Main output: 12dB Balanced output, 6dB SE output. Record out: 0dB (Processor input: 0dB BAL
output).

Input Impedance: 120K ohms Balanced, 60K ohms SE. Inputs: 4 balanced, 4 single-ended. Assignable
processor passthrough.

Output Impedance: 600 ohms Balanced, 300 ohms SE Main (2). 20K ohms minimum load and 2000pF

maximum capacitance. Outputs (3): 2 main, 1 record out (XLR and RCA connectors).

Output Polarity: Non-inverting.

Maximum Input: 18V RMS BAL, 9V RMS SE.

Rated Outputs: 2V RMS (1V RMS SE) into 200K ohm balanced load (maximum balanced output capability
is 70V RMS at less than 0.5% THD at 1kHz).

Crosstalk: -88dB or better at 1kHz and 10 kHz.

Controls: Rotary encoders: Volume (103 steps), Select Input. Push Buttons: Power, Menu, Enter, Mono,
Invert, Mute.

Power Supplies: Electronically regulated low and high voltage supplies. Automatic 45 sec. warm-up/
brown-out mute. Line regulation better than .01%

Noise: 1.7uV RMS residual IHF weighted balanced equivalent input noise with volume at 1 (109dB below 2V
RMS output.)

Tube Complement: (6)-6H30P dual triodes, plus (1 each) 6550WE and 6H30P in power supply.

Power Requirements: 100-135VAC 60Hz (200-250VAC 50/60Hz) 130 watts. Standby: 2 watts.

Re: Does Corus matchg with my power-amp?

Hi MM, as your amp has a very high input impedance of approximately 220KOhms balanced, there is no worry whatsoever about its compatibility with either preamplifier.

One thing to consider is that ARC preamplifiers tend to go through 6550 tubes as fast as kids go through candies... The 6550 in the power supply probably needs replacement after 1000 (1K) hours... 6H30 tubes should last 2.5 times as much before their sound starting to sag.

But compatibility and tube life are by no means the only criteria for choosing an amp... So, here are again my original questions:

What kind of music do you like to listen to?

What are you looking for in sonic /musical characteristics?

How does your current system fall short of ideal?

What would your ideal preamplifier do that your current one does not do?

Best regards, Guido

Re: Does Corus matchg with my power-amp?

Hi Guido

Here is my answer of your questions:

1) What kind of music do you like to listen to?
I only listen to modern Jazz music, Bossa Nova. Here are some examples for you, you can listen to the sample:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hope-Lars-Jansson/dp/B00004T9XS?ie=UTF8&ref_=pe_385721_124915011_TE_3p_dp_1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000QGEVYY/ref=pe_385721_124402661_TE_item_image

http://www.amazon.co.uk/We-Will-Alw...O?ie=UTF8&ref_=pe_385721_124402911_TE_3p_dp_3

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bossa-Nova-...N?ie=UTF8&ref_=pe_385721_124402911_TE_3p_dp_1


2) What are you looking for in sonic /musical characteristics?
The idea sonic or musical characteristics for me is good 3D stage with silky smooth highs & mid-range, solid bass, very good transparency with good tonal texture and density.


3) How does your current system fall short of ideal?
I’m using my per-amp (Electrocompaniet EC-4.8) and power-amp (AW-180) about 4 years. Before this, I use their ECI-5 for 3 years. I enjoy EC sound, which is neutral with a little bit warm, slightly sweet, nice transparency. But after 7 years, I’m interest to try something new, which is much better than my EC sound quality. Perhaps I will also upgrade my AW-180 power-amp in the future but not now, because my budget is not enough at this moment. Also I have small listening area, which cannot allowed me to use very big power-amp (like Passlab, McIntosh). AW-180 is a pair of small mono-block that fit for my home. And it drive my speaker very well (Avalon Opus Ceramique).


4) What would your ideal preamplifier do that your current one does not do?
More transparency sound, better 3D stage, more silky smooth on the high and mid-range, more solid base, with better tonal texture and density.


PS: ARC Ref 6, this is another target per-amp for me beside JR Corus. But Ref 6 is a tube-amp, the tube has limited life-time, and the size of Ref 6 seem to be a little bit high for my audio rack. Ref 6 has about 7” height, my audio rack has only 8.5”. ARC ref 6 upper case is quite hot as I heard, I’m afraid my audio rack don’t have not enough ventilation space to move out the hot air. These are my biggest concern for Ref 6. But Corus’s size is very small, I have no problem put it into my audio rack in anytime. However, sound quality is no. 1 for my decision.

Re: Does Corus matchg with my power-amp?

From an electrical point of view any preamp will match with your amps due to their high input impedance (a German magazine measured it to be 600kOhm). But no one can tell you if you'll like a certain preamp combined with your amps, especially in the context of your system.

My recommendation based on what you're looking to gain is the Audionet Pre I G3 with one of their external PSU.

Re: Does Corus matchg with my power-amp?

[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]
Anatta

I heard some good comment about Audionet, unfortunately they don't have a distributor in Hong Kong.
BTW, may I know which is Audionet's flagship pre-amp: Pre G2 or Pre 21 G3?
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]

Re: Does Corus matchg with my power-amp?

Officially the Pre G2 is the top model, but the Pre I G3 is newer, has better specs and can be enhanced with one of their external PSUs; it's also less expensive and better looking IMO.

Since you're in HK I'd get the Accuphase C-3850 at the great Japanese price, top pre that will also give you the upgrade you're looking for. The user Harris4crna here has it.

http://www.accuphase.com/model/c-3850.html

Re: Does Corus matchg with my power-amp?

[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]
Anatta[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]Accuphase is a very famous in Hong Kong in this business, they have many users in here. I’ve listened to it many time, it sound nice but not my cup of tea.

I wonder how's the Audionet Pre 1 G3 + power-amp (AMP, MAX) sound quality compare with Electrocompaniet? Do you think they're in the same level? Does they have similar sonic /musical characteristics? [FONT="&#26032] [/FONT]
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]

Re: Does Corus matchg with my power-amp?

Don't have experience with EC, but Audionet is at the Soulution level at a reasonable cost. It is a very transparent, holographic, high speed, high resolution, low distortion gear, with deep and tight bass. Not warm sounding though if that's what you're looking for, but not harsh at all. The AMP model is about the same size as your AW180s.

I see the Audionet distributor is in Shanghai; maybe it has some dealers in HK? There's also a distributor in Taiwan.

[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]Anatta
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]AMP is very shorty, my AW-180 power-amp is almost same size with Audionet's MAX, same height (11.3") and same width (8.5") expect MAX is 1 inch longer than AW-180. If I have chnace I would love to listen to Pre 1 G3, EPS G2 and AMP/ MAX. May I know what is the net selling price of these 3 Audionet products in U.S. now? [FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]

[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT][FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]Unfortunately I have no chance listen to Jeff Rowland Pre-amp + Power-amp combo very clear before, but I will make a booking later with JR's dealer. If you don't mind, could you please describe the sound character or music characteristics of JR’s Corus ? I heard it is more neutral, a little bit warm (but not as warm as Passlab). THX!
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]

Don't know the current US prices, but these are the prices in Germany:

Pre I G3 €4000
EPS G2 PSU €2000
EPX PSU €5000
AMP €10000/pair
MAX €16500/pair

No experience with JR.

[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]I'll test a Corus with JR 625 S2 and Avalon Indra in soon, let see what happen. BTW, I have test an ARC Ref 6 per-amp this week, very impressive, the sound are so beautiful, very musical. I hope Corus will impress me as well.
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]My Ref 6 test report is here:
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]http://www.audioshark.org/audio-research-corporation-arc-36/ref-6-test-report-9647.html
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]
[FONT=新細明體] [/FONT]

If you choice Corus, please notes, that you can adjust the volume for each entry XLR and RCA.
There is 4 XLR for connecting 4 mono amplifiers or 2 stereo amplifier.
One of two can be adjust if you decide to take a tube amplifier(for medium and treble) and a transistor amplifier ( for bass).
One entry can be transform in BYPASS if you use home cinema like me.
There are 2 records two.

Very good preamplifier, but be careful with the choice of cable.

Another thing : you can upgrade Corus with a external PSU(thanks Guido)...So you can upgrade year after year the musicality of your product.

Hi HongKong, will you be getting PSU for your Corus?

Regards, Guido

Hi Guido,

No I don't get it because Jeff Rowland is not know in Europe and in France.
My dealer stops to work with Jeff Rowland because the distribution has changed.
When distribution has changed, all stores and all distributors in Europe have sold out Jeff Rowland...
I have note this when I search price of Jeff Rowland in audiomarkt.de .
Anyone doesn't work with the new distributor in Europe.
Why ? I don't know but I'm sure there are good reason.
So I think Jeff Rowland does a bad choice to give distribution to the new distributor.
Wait and see the futur.

Regards

T.