You guys may remember that (with all your help; much appreciated and many thanks!), I built up a pair of ACA 1.8s last summer while I was recovering from a total left hip replacement surgery. I based my build on Tungsten's premium parts protocol.
My plan was to use these with a pair of Danny Richie's (of GR-Research) Encore X-LS standmounts that I was built up at the same time to stay with the DIY theme.
I got really busy with reviewing and writing up three simultaneous full-length reviews for TAS in Q4, 20 and first part of 2021, and as I just finished up my latest review, of the Fidata HFAS1 network audio server, I decided it was time to set the X-LS Encores and ACAs up again.
Moreover, I also recently found out from Danny Richie, that in contrast to the 25 hours or so the guys in the GR-Research circle at Audio Circle told me the X-LS Encores speakers needed to run/burn in, with the premium parts I used, notably the Mills resistors and Miflex copper caps, they actually needed....400 hours! 😱 Time to get some hours on these boys....😀
Long story short, I set them up as my Mains for my HT setup and ran up about 240 hours on them over a period of some weeks (I kept track in an Excel worksheet). As I was about halfway through the burn-in process, though I'd give them a listen, and at the same time, get some hours in on the little ACAs. I'm running mine as a pair of bridged monos.
Here's a shot of them set-up at present. My Harbeth 30.2s have been moved out of the way for the time being. I also have a new DAC, the Lampizator Baltic 3, which I bought after writing the review for it (middle right shelf; amazing DAC).
So....after listening for 4-5 hours/day for since the beginning of the long Memorial holiday weekend, I've also noted that the ACAs are getting better and better and better, too.
And, in a really nice way. When I first built them, they sounded nice, quite pleasant, but were a bit closed in at the very top, and somewhat recessed-sounding. The mids were nice, but highs were not as open, extended or airy as my reference Conrad-Johnson LP70S power amp.
Well, that's all changing now, the ACAs have really opened up in the top end, the presentation is becoming much more fleshed-out and the amps actually are becoming more resolving and transparent, yet liquid (mellifluous is probably the operative word here), and, it seems,...quieter. I'd estimate i've got about 40 hours on them, and I expect they will continue to improve as they march towards 100 hours or so, but...Dang! Color me really impressed. These bad boys really do...music.
Here's another picture of them, closer-up. The fact they're plugged in to a Shunyata Everest power distributor, with its massive QR/BB device, with my Lampi as source, and being driven by my First Sound Presence Deluxe preamp likely doesn't hurt, either. 😛 Woot!
Think I'll discuss with my editor, Robert Harley, writing up a "DIY" article for TAS on the ACA 1.8s. Stay tuned...
Cheers.
My plan was to use these with a pair of Danny Richie's (of GR-Research) Encore X-LS standmounts that I was built up at the same time to stay with the DIY theme.
I got really busy with reviewing and writing up three simultaneous full-length reviews for TAS in Q4, 20 and first part of 2021, and as I just finished up my latest review, of the Fidata HFAS1 network audio server, I decided it was time to set the X-LS Encores and ACAs up again.
Moreover, I also recently found out from Danny Richie, that in contrast to the 25 hours or so the guys in the GR-Research circle at Audio Circle told me the X-LS Encores speakers needed to run/burn in, with the premium parts I used, notably the Mills resistors and Miflex copper caps, they actually needed....400 hours! 😱 Time to get some hours on these boys....😀
Long story short, I set them up as my Mains for my HT setup and ran up about 240 hours on them over a period of some weeks (I kept track in an Excel worksheet). As I was about halfway through the burn-in process, though I'd give them a listen, and at the same time, get some hours in on the little ACAs. I'm running mine as a pair of bridged monos.
Here's a shot of them set-up at present. My Harbeth 30.2s have been moved out of the way for the time being. I also have a new DAC, the Lampizator Baltic 3, which I bought after writing the review for it (middle right shelf; amazing DAC).
So....after listening for 4-5 hours/day for since the beginning of the long Memorial holiday weekend, I've also noted that the ACAs are getting better and better and better, too.
And, in a really nice way. When I first built them, they sounded nice, quite pleasant, but were a bit closed in at the very top, and somewhat recessed-sounding. The mids were nice, but highs were not as open, extended or airy as my reference Conrad-Johnson LP70S power amp.
Well, that's all changing now, the ACAs have really opened up in the top end, the presentation is becoming much more fleshed-out and the amps actually are becoming more resolving and transparent, yet liquid (mellifluous is probably the operative word here), and, it seems,...quieter. I'd estimate i've got about 40 hours on them, and I expect they will continue to improve as they march towards 100 hours or so, but...Dang! Color me really impressed. These bad boys really do...music.
Here's another picture of them, closer-up. The fact they're plugged in to a Shunyata Everest power distributor, with its massive QR/BB device, with my Lampi as source, and being driven by my First Sound Presence Deluxe preamp likely doesn't hurt, either. 😛 Woot!
Think I'll discuss with my editor, Robert Harley, writing up a "DIY" article for TAS on the ACA 1.8s. Stay tuned...
Cheers.
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Cinderella sits in her corner
My little 1.6 ACA sits in the corner sad that she didn't get the fancy case, and the premium parts, and get to to to the ball....
Nonetheless she sings quite sweetly.
My little 1.6 ACA sits in the corner sad that she didn't get the fancy case, and the premium parts, and get to to to the ball....
Nonetheless she sings quite sweetly.
Hi Nelson,
I just wrote to Robert Harley vetting the idea of writing up an article in TAS on the sweet little ACAs. Back when I was building them, I sent Robert an email with some photos of my build, and he suggested at that time I write up an article on them, so my hope is he's still open to it.
Stay tuned...
Cheers, Stephen Scharf, aka Puma Cat.
I just wrote to Robert Harley vetting the idea of writing up an article in TAS on the sweet little ACAs. Back when I was building them, I sent Robert an email with some photos of my build, and he suggested at that time I write up an article on them, so my hope is he's still open to it.
Stay tuned...
Cheers, Stephen Scharf, aka Puma Cat.
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Well if Puma Cat could contact me via PM or even post here, when and if he has the article go-ahead, then we can plan ahead to produce more, so TAS readers and members here can have all the ACA amps they want!
Admittedly in the past when some info praising the amp appeared online our inventory sometimes got wiped out, but we have quite a good inventory at the moment which will accommodate most sudden demand but if you’re worried, now’s the time to order!
Admittedly in the past when some info praising the amp appeared online our inventory sometimes got wiped out, but we have quite a good inventory at the moment which will accommodate most sudden demand but if you’re worried, now’s the time to order!
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Isn’t that already often the case?
One of my ACA 1.5 currently playing downstairs.
dave
Yeah but not this time! Incidentally all ACAs can be updated to 1.8 performance without a new circuit board. The changes over the years are minimal. Basically a resistor added to the very first ones, and the LED resistor changed in value just to lower the LED brightness, plus the the much higher performance 24v Mean Well Power supply bricks vs. the generic 19v PSUs in models previous to V1.6. The new PSUs just plug right in.
If you have the much older single channel monoblock chassis, each with only one ACA channel, you would need to split the PSU cord to create 2 connectors or find a smaller PSU that’s 2.5A and 24 volt in the same Mean Well series to save some bucks, and run one to each amp. Keep us informed what you find. The fancy switching on the back of the V1.8 probably isn’t practical. HOWEVER, IF you bolted the 2 monoblocks together side by side, maybe with some washers for spacers, you could easily add a hole to share the power, to the adjacent PCB. And if clever, the tricky switching. Keep in mind the the resulting combo would be only equal to one current 1.6 or 1.8 2ch kit, so you would need a second converted pair or a 1.6 or 1.8 to have 2 higher power monoblocks.
If you have the much older single channel monoblock chassis, each with only one ACA channel, you would need to split the PSU cord to create 2 connectors or find a smaller PSU that’s 2.5A and 24 volt in the same Mean Well series to save some bucks, and run one to each amp. Keep us informed what you find. The fancy switching on the back of the V1.8 probably isn’t practical. HOWEVER, IF you bolted the 2 monoblocks together side by side, maybe with some washers for spacers, you could easily add a hole to share the power, to the adjacent PCB. And if clever, the tricky switching. Keep in mind the the resulting combo would be only equal to one current 1.6 or 1.8 2ch kit, so you would need a second converted pair or a 1.6 or 1.8 to have 2 higher power monoblocks.
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Well if pumacat could contact me via PM or even post here, when and if he has the article go-ahead, the we can plan ahead to produce more, so TAS readers and people here can have all the ACA amps they want!
Admittedly in the past when some info praising the amp appeared online our inventory sometimes got wiped out, but we have quite a good inventory at the moment which will accommodate sudden demand so if you’re worried, now’s the time to order!
Admittedly in the past when some info praising the amp appeared online our inventory sometimes got wiped out, but we have quite a good inventory at the moment which will accommodate sudden demand so if you’re worried, now’s the time to order!
I can do that once I know what the publication schedule will be. I haven't even written the review yet! 😀 And, if past reviews are anything to go by, there's generally about a 6 month lead time between the time I submit the copy to the Editors, and the time the review article is published.
