Hi Rob,
Not sure if my saga will help, but you asked for it:
Having heard most of the amps out there (with the exception of the Vitus), today I feel that the ASR 2 Exclusive (only the Exclusive - with the battery power supply line stage) is the best amp I have ever heard. Here’s caveat #1 – that’s on
my system with
my Canterburys.
Some more caveats – again, on my system:
2 - This is with the direct
unbalanced input. The balanced input is via transformer, and not exactly the direct connection that the balanced offers, even if you prefer balanced connections.
3 - I find that the amp - when operated in Position 2 - offers fabulous, musically involving sound – unmatched in that aspect IMO, for about 10 hours or so after after it was warmed up for at least an hour. It continues to sound very good for another 24 hours or so, but not quite at the fabulous level, IMO. But I never listen seriously for 10 hours at a stretch, so it is never a problem for me. And it recharges pretty fast. As long as the battery charge indicators have at least six lights illuminated, and it’s still in that eleven hour or so window (10 + 1 hour warm-up), it is in the zone. Don’t misunderstand – it is still among the best, maybe even THE best afterwards. But within that window, I honestly cannot hear
anything to criticize.
4 - When listening seriously, I unplug the battery power supply from the wall. I know it is supposed to be isolated but I
think it is better unplugged – not huge and I could be fooling myself on this one.
5 - I have to keep the 2 output stage power supplies as far removed from the control unit as possible.
6 - I use an internal switch on the control unit’s main circuit board – I think it is called Enhance – for my Tannoys.
7 - I didn’t like the ringing of the heat sinks (a not uncommon problem with most SS amps). So I damped each of them in a narrow area that would not effect heat dissipation.
8 - A taste caveat - This definitely gets into the realm of tuning to taste. Although I have all 4 of my ASR pieces on my preferred Grand Prix Audio F1 amp stands, I still preferred the overall Tone with the components on Ikea Bamboo cutting boards on the stands – not neutral in the purest sense – it was simply my preference. I also I used Cardas Myrtle Block a instead of the supplied feet. Lastly, I also used specially cut Ikea boards on top of each of the components.
Looking at my list above, it would probably deter me from the ASR2 Exclusive - except that I did the tweaks over time, and I have
never encountered another amp nearly as musically involving
in my system.
Below is an image of the set-up before my most recent system changes. The ASR is still the same. The battery power supply is behind the control unit, but it is set-up with the same F1 amp stands, Ikea, Cardas tweaks.
Just in case you don’t know, each of the three power supplies are heavy, and the control unit is
very heavy (even without power supplies!).
