Welcome to the AudioShark Forums.
Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12
Results 51 to 64 of 64
  1. #51

    Re: 501 Mono Amplifier

    Quote Originally Posted by Odyssey View Post
    Hi Ken, the 701's are a bridged design. This is somewhat of an oversimplification but inside each 701 are two 711's side by side. Each internal 711 as it were drives each channel coming out of the mono block. One of the advantages of this design there is a better structure for grounding than is possible in the stand alone 711. The housing for the 701 is much bigger and therefore can dissipate much more heat.

    This is important because the 701's are biased for the first 60 watts to operate in Class A. This is about 10% of the total output of 600 watts into 8 ohms. But when you put your hand on top of the 701 it barely feels warm. This is also because of the replacement of the huge transformers with the fully regulated switch mode power supplies. No need for a separate AC system in your listening room!

    As for the sound I think that Harley gives a pretty good description in the January TAS about the sheer dynamic verve and assertive immediacy. I'd encourage you to read his account. I think that he captures the essence of the sound quite well. As he said in a different entry "their is probably not a more musically compelling amplifier out there".

    As for which way I'm leaning, well I don't know. The 701's are a much bigger chunk of change. But when you consider that you are getting four 711's (two per mono block) instead of one it puts in a better perspective. There is probably nothing that the 701's can't do. No speaker out there that they can't drive. They are powerful and subtle at the same time.

    When they go head to head I'll know better. My feeling is that the 701's are certainly the SOTA.

    I still think the inside of that amp looks like a computer motherboard sitting on top of some giant caps.
    Micro Seiki SX-8000 air bearing table, SME 312s arm, SME 3012R arn, Dynavector XV-1s cartridge, Lyra Etna SL cartridge, ARC Ref 3 phono stage, Otari MX-55 2 track R2R, Ampex 350 tape repros, Roon Nucleus Plus music server, HiFi Rose 150B DAC, ARC Ref 6, ARC Ref 75 with KT-150s, Parasound JC5 amp , JBL 4345 speakers, Viero Equilibro Level 3 speaker cables, and Definitive Technology Ref subs.

    Reviewer for Positive Feedback

  2. #52
    Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Chicago
    Posts
    1,234

    Re: 501 Mono Amplifier

    Quote Originally Posted by Odyssey View Post
    Hi Ken, the 701's are a bridged design. This is somewhat of an oversimplification but inside each 701 are two 711's side by side. Each internal 711 as it were drives each channel coming out of the mono block. One of the advantages of this design there is a better structure for grounding than is possible in the stand alone 711. The housing for the 701 is much bigger and therefore can dissipate much more heat.

    This is important because the 701's are biased for the first 60 watts to operate in Class A. This is about 10% of the total output of 600 watts into 8 ohms. But when you put your hand on top of the 701 it barely feels warm. This is also because of the replacement of the huge transformers with the fully regulated switch mode power supplies. No need for a separate AC system in your listening room!

    As for the sound I think that Harley gives a pretty good description in the January TAS about the sheer dynamic verve and assertive immediacy. I'd encourage you to read his account. I think that he captures the essence of the sound quite well. As he said in a different entry "their is probably not a more musically compelling amplifier out there".

    As for which way I'm leaning, well I don't know. The 701's are a much bigger chunk of change. But when you consider that you are getting four 711's (two per mono block) instead of one it puts in a better perspective. There is probably nothing that the 701's can't do. No speaker out there that they can't drive. They are powerful and subtle at the same time.

    When they go head to head I'll know better. My feeling is that the 701's are certainly the SOTA.


    Ok Le Roy, you changed my mind; forget bi-amping....Let's do the 701's!

  3. #53
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Oregon Coast
    Posts
    3,424

    Re: 501 Mono Amplifier

    sounds like 4 701s would be the ultimate
    Jock

    If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity, nothing else matters.

    ---------

    House: Naim ND555/2PS, Naim 552, Naim 500, Studer A80/Doshi V3, Magico M2s, 2 Magico Q-Sub 15s, Lumina IC/SC, Shunyata Everest and Omega PCs.

    Workshop: Naim ND555/2 PS, VAC Master Pre, VAC Sig 200iQ, Border Patrol pre/power, Avant Garde Duo Mezzo XD, 2 Magico Q-Sub 15s, Shunyata IC/SC, Shunyata Typhon QR/Triton V3/Sigma PCs.

  4. #54
    Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Chicago
    Posts
    1,234

    Re: 501 Mono Amplifier

    Quote Originally Posted by mep View Post
    I still think the inside of that amp looks like a computer motherboard sitting on top of some giant caps.

    As usual Mep, you have it exactly backwards. Those are giant caps beneath a motherboard; not the other way around.

  5. #55
    Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Chicago
    Posts
    1,234

    Re: 501 Mono Amplifier

    Quote Originally Posted by the professor View Post
    sounds like 4 701s would be the ultimate
    Yikes, I hadn't considered that.

  6. #56

    Re: 501 Mono Amplifier

    Quote Originally Posted by FlexibleAudio View Post
    As usual Mep, you have it exactly backwards. Those are giant caps beneath a motherboard; not the other way around.
    Not even a smiley face for saying exactly the same thing I said?
    Micro Seiki SX-8000 air bearing table, SME 312s arm, SME 3012R arn, Dynavector XV-1s cartridge, Lyra Etna SL cartridge, ARC Ref 3 phono stage, Otari MX-55 2 track R2R, Ampex 350 tape repros, Roon Nucleus Plus music server, HiFi Rose 150B DAC, ARC Ref 6, ARC Ref 75 with KT-150s, Parasound JC5 amp , JBL 4345 speakers, Viero Equilibro Level 3 speaker cables, and Definitive Technology Ref subs.

    Reviewer for Positive Feedback

  7. #57
    Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Chicago
    Posts
    1,234

    Re: 501 Mono Amplifier

    Ok , but I still say the caps are beneath the mb. It says so in Chapter 3 of The Head of the Pin Dance Instructions.

  8. #58
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    3,381

    Re: 501 Mono Amplifier

    Quote Originally Posted by Odyssey View Post
    Hi Ken, the 701's are a bridged design. This is somewhat of an oversimplification but inside each 701 are two 711's side by side. Each internal 711 as it were drives each channel coming out of the mono block. One of the advantages of this design there is a better structure for grounding than is possible in the stand alone 711. The housing for the 701 is much bigger and therefore can dissipate much more heat.

    This is important because the 701's are biased for the first 60 watts to operate in Class A. This is about 10% of the total output of 600 watts into 8 ohms. But when you put your hand on top of the 701 it barely feels warm. This is also because of the replacement of the huge transformers with the fully regulated switch mode power supplies. No need for a separate AC system in your listening room!

    As for the sound I think that Harley gives a pretty good description in the January TAS about the sheer dynamic verve and assertive immediacy. I'd encourage you to read his account. I think that he captures the essence of the sound quite well. As he said in a different entry "their is probably not a more musically compelling amplifier out there".

    As for which way I'm leaning, well I don't know. The 701's are a much bigger chunk of change. But when you consider that you are getting four 711's (two per mono block) instead of one it puts in a better perspective. There is probably nothing that the 701's can't do. No speaker out there that they can't drive. They are powerful and subtle at the same time.

    When they go head to head I'll know better. My feeling is that the 701's are certainly the SOTA.

    Hi Le Roy,

    Thank you for that detailed description of the 701's! I did not know there were two bridged 711's per monoblock. I understand why they are so expensive now. I love those four huge capacitors per monoblock, they are awesome looking. With that sort of capacitance and the switching mode power supplies, it would seem that these amps would never run out of power. If I had D5's and could afford it, I would find some way to get these babies into my listening room. It will be a fun day at your house when you have your Soulution 7 Series amp shoot out!

    All the best,
    Ken
    "No summit worth climbing is easily attained."
    --------------------------------------------
    Source: MSB Select II DAC with Two Mono Powerbases and Femto 33 Clock; Renderer V2 Digital Input Module and Roon Nucleus Plus; MSB UMT V Signature Transport
    Amps: Vandersteen M7-HPA Mono Amps; MSB M204 Mono Amps
    Speakers: Vandersteen Model 7 Mk2
    Power: Two AudioQuest Niagara 5000’s with AudioQuest Dragon and Hurricane Power Cords

  9. #59
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    3,381

    Re: 501 Mono Amplifier

    Per Cyrill Hammer, the Soulution 501 monoblocks run in Class A for about 15-20 Watts.

    Ken
    "No summit worth climbing is easily attained."
    --------------------------------------------
    Source: MSB Select II DAC with Two Mono Powerbases and Femto 33 Clock; Renderer V2 Digital Input Module and Roon Nucleus Plus; MSB UMT V Signature Transport
    Amps: Vandersteen M7-HPA Mono Amps; MSB M204 Mono Amps
    Speakers: Vandersteen Model 7 Mk2
    Power: Two AudioQuest Niagara 5000’s with AudioQuest Dragon and Hurricane Power Cords

  10. #60
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2020
    Location
    Florida, USA
    Posts
    1

    Re: 501 Mono Amplifier

    I could use your learned help.
    I have Soulution 501s on my shortlist, but here currently are not any Soulution 501 demo amps in the USA (thank you Covid). I am running an all digital system (see description below) so no need for a preamp.
    Years ago I listened to Soulution 701 Monoblocks with a preamp and Magico S5's at the dealer and, from what I can remember, thought the sound was great.
    Pre Covid I did an in home demo of the Soulution 511 Stereo (without a preamp), which I was not a big fan of. I felt that while the Soulution's had better resolution/cleaner, crisper transient attack on bass string plucks, better bass, bigger soundstage; instruments were too separate (music wasn't continuous) and timbre overtones were not as rich/warm (esp piano low notes & violin), and in total they weren't as musical as the Odyssey's.
    A dealer has warned me that Soulution amps don't "play well" with others and the amps need the Soulution preamps. Is this true or is this a dealer just trying to sell a preamp? Is the lack of a preamp why I didn't think the 511 Stereo was a musical as the Odyssey's?
    I am also considering Constellation Taurus, but when heard them at an audio show (suboptimal conditions?) they were unremarkable (particularly bass). Florida is too hot for Pass gear (I leave the amps on 24/7 because my listening time is often impromptu.

    My system is Magico M3's, Berkeley Alpha Dac Series Two, Berkeley Audio USB to SPDIF/AES Converter, souped up Odyssey Audio Stratos Extreme mono amps, Aurender N100H server, 2 JL e110 Subs, Synergistic Research 12 UEF power cell with Galileo SX power cord, SR Galileo UEF Digital and USB Cables, some Shunyata Alpha power cords, and Wywires Diamond interconnect and speaker cables.
    What am I giving up, if anything, using 501's without a preamp? Suggestions? Thanks in advance.

  11. #61
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    3,381

    Re: 501 Mono Amplifier

    I owned the Soulution 501 monoblocks for two years and moved on from them. While they had a very clean and clear sound, they were not all that musical. I would recommend a new or used Soulution 711 stereo amp instead. It sounds so much more musical and refined. It is in an entirely different league sonically from the 501 monoblocks.

    Soulution preamps sound best with Soulution amplifiers because of their preamps’ low output impedance that matches well with the Soulution amps’ low input impedance, and the same sonic signature.

    Ken
    "No summit worth climbing is easily attained."
    --------------------------------------------
    Source: MSB Select II DAC with Two Mono Powerbases and Femto 33 Clock; Renderer V2 Digital Input Module and Roon Nucleus Plus; MSB UMT V Signature Transport
    Amps: Vandersteen M7-HPA Mono Amps; MSB M204 Mono Amps
    Speakers: Vandersteen Model 7 Mk2
    Power: Two AudioQuest Niagara 5000’s with AudioQuest Dragon and Hurricane Power Cords

  12. #62
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    Solana Beach, CA
    Posts
    199

    Re: 501 Mono Amplifier

    Quote Originally Posted by dmc View Post
    A dealer has warned me that Soulution amps don't "play well" with others and the amps need the Soulution preamps. Is this true or is this a dealer just trying to sell a preamp? Is the lack of a preamp why I didn't think the 511 Stereo was a musical as the Odyssey's?
    I am also considering Constellation Taurus, but when heard them at an audio show (suboptimal conditions?) they were unremarkable (particularly bass). Florida is too hot for Pass gear (I leave the amps on 24/7 because my listening time is often impromptu.

    My system is Magico M3's, Berkeley Alpha Dac Series Two, Berkeley Audio USB to SPDIF/AES Converter, souped up Odyssey Audio Stratos Extreme mono amps, Aurender N100H server, 2 JL e110 Subs, Synergistic Research 12 UEF power cell with Galileo SX power cord, SR Galileo UEF Digital and USB Cables, some Shunyata Alpha power cords, and Wywires Diamond interconnect and speaker cables.
    What am I giving up, if anything, using 501's without a preamp? Suggestions? Thanks in advance.
    FWIW, my dealer whose opinion I trust and who sells Soulution, has also told me that Soulution amps sound best with Soulution preamps.

    I also auditioned the newer Constellation Taurus monoblocks for over a month with my Magico M3s. That wasn’t a good match for me either, in part because of a lack of bass.

    Gryphon amps (Antileon EVO and Mephisto) play very well with tube and SS preamps, and sound GREAT on the M3’s. Haven’t heard them without a preamp.
    Analog source: AMG Viella 12; Ortofon Anna cartridge, van den Hul Crimson Stradivarius XGW
    Digital source: Totaldac d1-twelve Mk2 DAC, Totaldac d1-player, Totaldac d1-streamer, Totaldac Live Power supply
    Pre amp: VAC Master with phono
    Phonostage: ​Constellation Andromeda
    Amps: VAC 200iQ monoblocks
    Speakers: Magico M3 with MPods
    Cables: Synergistic Research Galileo SX speaker, phono, analog and digital interconnects
    Power products: Synergistic Research Galileo PowerCell SX and Transporter Ultra. Galileo SX and SRX power cords. Keces P3 LPS for cable modem and router.

  13. #63
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    May 2019
    Location
    Malaysia
    Posts
    155

    Re: 501 Mono Amplifier

    I had the same concerns about pairing a tube pre with a Soulution 511 that I had been looking at.

    Electrically I have no issues as the VAC pre could work with 300 ohm load as recommend but sonic match was the biggest concern to me.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Turntable: VPI Prime - Ortofon Quintet S Black - VPI ADS
    Digital Source: dCS Bartok w/headphone amp
    Preamp: Soulution 520
    Amplifier: Soulution 511
    Speakers: Rockport Atria II
    Power conditioning- Shunyata Research Denali 6000T v1
    Power cord: AQ Thunder/Transparent Audio XL Gen 6
    Interconnect: Transparent Audio Super Gen 5 XLR and tonearm cable / Transparent Audio Gen 6
    Rack: Critical Mass Sotto Voce/ Critical Mass Black Platinum/MXR spike

  14. #64
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2017
    Location
    Los Angeles, CA
    Posts
    5

    Re: 501 Mono Amplifier

    Forgive the late reply...I used to run a 520 pre + 501 monos as well. While this was my first step into the world of Soulution it did open up an entirely new musical experience from my previous set-up. I actually prefer the latest 5 series to the 7 and have since moved to the 511 stereo amp and 525 pre. There is a definite synergy when it comes to pairing Soulution electronics so I'm not entirely surprised the 511 fell short of its true potential. A used 520 will certainly make magic but I would definitely consider the 525 as it's pretty significant step up. Best of luck!
    Source: dCS Network Bridge, Berkeley Audio Design Alpha Reference Series 3
    Preamplifier: Soulution 525
    Amplifier: Soulution 511
    Speakers: Kharma Exquisite Midi Signature, JL Audio Fathom 113v2 (x2)
    Interconnects: Ansuz Signalz C2 XLR
    Digital Cable: Ansuz D-TC XLR, Ansuz D-TC Ethernet
    Speaker Cable: Inakustic Reference LS-2404 AIR
    Power Cables: Ansuz Mainz D-TC2, D-TC, C2, A2
    Power conditioning and distribution: Ansuz Mainz8 D-TC, Ansuz D-TC Supreme PowerSwitch, Ansuz Sparkz TC, iFi ACiPurifier, Akiko Triple AC Enhancer, Sonore opticalModule w/ Startech SFP1000LXST Module – 10KM (2)
    Isolation: Custom Billy Bags component rack, Ansuz Darkz T2s Supreme, IsoAcoustics Gaia1, Auralex SubDude HT, Maple Block Platform, Symposium Svelte Shelf Plus
    Acoustic Treatment: ASC IsoThermal Tube Traps, Real Traps, Stillpoints Aperture 2, RPG Diffusors, Vicoustic Ceiling Diffusors, GiK Acoustics, Synergistic Research HFT

    ][/COLOR][/FONT]

Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12
AudioShark - The Best High End Audio Discussion forum.

AudioShark forum is a leading forum site for High End Audio Discussion, Stereo System Discussion, Home Theater System Discussion, Best Home Stereo System Discussion, Home Theater Installation Discussion etc.

The AudioShark forum was created for sharing the passion of high-end Audio. We have Audiophiles from all over the world participating and sharing their knowledge. From novice to experts, you will find a friendly environment for discussing about High End Audio, Stereo System, Home Theater System, Home Stereo System, Home Theater Installation, Amplifiers, Speakers, Subwoofers, Integrated System, Acoustic treatments & Digital Room Corrections and many more.

At AudioShark, we also have incorporated an exciting Marketplace where members can peruse terrific buys on used gear, as well as meet dealers and discuss the purchase of new gear.

We are as crazy about this hobby as you are! So come on in and join us! Audioshark.org the Friendliest Audio Forum!

Industry Participation Disclosure : The owner and administrator of Audioshark is the owner of Suncoast Audio LLC in Sarasota Florida. Suncoast Audio has a full brick and mortar presence in Sarasota with several great show rooms with many world class brands. More information can be found at http://www.suncoastaudio.com

Audioshark is a community of like minded individuals. Audioshark welcomes participation from all manufacturers and owners of all brands and products. It is our belief that online forums provide a community of like minded audiophiles and music lovers to encourage the growth of this wonderful hobby.

Sincerely,
The Audioshark.org Team

501 Mono Amplifier

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •