26 replies to this topic

[Fangzie]

I've been in the market for a new amplifier for a while now. I've been deciding on whether to get a new Pre-amp or just a new integrated and be done with it. I was almost decided on a Bryston pre, when I remembered a company that has always intrigued me: Audio GD

So, quick question, has anyone out there had any experience with their pre-amplifiers? If so, what sound characteristics do they possess? I'm looking for something very neutral

[katattack74]

You'll like the Audio-Gd sound then. Thier ACSS based pre's and amps are quite neutral sounding. Reviewed by our resident SNA'er - JD: http://www.digitalau...0-se-power-acss

[Nada]

I have the Audio-gd C39-MK3 pre - http://www.audio-gd....39/C39MK3EN.htm sitting on my rack.

I must admit its probably not even fully run in. I got it for setting up a tuner and playing DVD and CDP and a couple of DAC's but by the time I got it had moved on to computer audio......

I used it into SGR active speakers via XLR and it was ever so slightly on the warm side but still had heaps of clarity.

It had an odd ability to take a mediocre source and make it sound much better and so would narrow the difference between the DVD and Audio-gd REF7 DAC for instance.

The thing about this pre is its very flexible. It has RCA/XLR and ACSS output. According to Darko when its in ACSS mode its a master of transparency and uncoloured clarity but for me via XLR it was slightly warm and still fast.

The XLR goes via different processing to the ACSS and will sound different. That reminds me there are different plug in boards for the XLR out for getting different sound signatures.

Here it is buried away on the Audio-gd site: http://www.audio-gd....diy/MD/MDEN.htm

In fact there are six modules. Its a bit like tube rolling I suppose. Hmmm..how about dialling in .....[FONT=宋体] sound is crystal clear, thick and warm.[/FONT]

The one in mine is: [FONT=宋体] idea is from MARANTZ’s CD7HDAM. It provides a wide dynamic range, and sounds still full of musical flavor.

[/FONT]My Audio-gd C39-MK3 pre is well built, solid and reliable. Ive found Audio-gd to be great to deal with apart from some hilarious English from some staff. It helps to use simple sentences.

Hope that helps a bit?

[orcker]

----snipped-----

In fact there are six modules. Its a bit like tube rolling I suppose. Hmmm..how about dialling in .....[FONT=宋体] sound is crystal clear, thick and warm.[/FONT]

The one in mine is: [FONT=宋体] idea is from MARANTZ’s CD7HDAM. It provides a wide dynamic range, and sounds still full of musical flavor.

[/FONT]My Audio-gd C39-MK3 pre is well built, solid and reliable.

Along the same lines, I find Audio-Gd's DAC's intriguing in the same way: That you can select a 'flavour' of conversion, and hence sound. What a bloody brilliant idea. How many pieces of hifi gear actually allow you to do that? I ordered an NFB-10SE (that can act as a pre with digital sources) and am eagerly anticipating it's arrival in Feb.

[davewantsmoore]

I'm looking for something very neutral

AudioGD amps fit this description according to reviews. I've only heard one very briefly though (not using current input). Have heard a lot of their DACs.

[pete_mac]

Along the same lines, I find Audio-Gd's DAC's intriguing in the same way: That you can select a 'flavour' of conversion, and hence sound. What a bloody brilliant idea. How many pieces of hifi gear actually allow you to do that? I ordered an NFB-10SE (that can act as a pre with digital sources) and am eagerly anticipating it's arrival in Feb.

The different preamp boards have a far greater impact on the sound than the filter options on the DACs. The DAC filters are quite subtle. A few people on SNA and elsewhere have been disappointed, expecting them to be like a tone control. This is not the case.

[orcker]

The different preamp boards have a far greater impact on the sound than the filter options on the DACs. The DAC filters are quite subtle. A few people on SNA and elsewhere have been disappointed, expecting them to be like a tone control. This is not the case.

Thanks for info.

[Fangzie]

Thanks, Nada. That's quite informative. Looks like its probably worth a gamble

[TLL]

PM me if if you are interested in buying audio-gd's ToTL preamp, being a user for more than three years, very happy with their product.

[protecon]

I've got a couple of C1 Master monoblocks and would completely agree the sentiments regarding transparency.

[katattack74]

My sources are all practically Audio-GD except for the amp. Very happy with the components, sound and value.

[rantan]

The Audio GD pre/power combination certainly seems to be great value without any trade of, in either sound or build quality. They certainly make amplifiers like Redgum look stupidly over priced by way of comparison. In point of fact it seems that Redgum and Audio GD are the kind of amplfiers that would appeal to the same buyer.
I would definitely be interested to read/hear/know people's impressions about this combination.

[Fangzie]

(Late) update...Ive pulled the trigger on the C39...hopefully in a week or do. I'll be postin my impressions one I receive it

[Fangzie]

Another update: I've now received and set up the C39 I ordered, so I can begin providing an opinion

My first impression after unpacking is that its solid. Not as in its a brick, but its well put together. This isn't to say its a lightweight bit of kit, as with 3 separate transformers, it was never going to be light. Its just that it feels sturdy without the feeling of unnecessary weight. Aesthetically its well restrained, saving itself from some of the excess of some other Chinese manufacturers (Shanling, I'm looking at you). I'll say it looks nicer in the flesh than on the website, with fit and finish being good, but functional. Its also big, and I think the depth doesn't really strike you until you go to set it up.

First impressions of the sound (run from pre-outs into the home theatre bypass in my integrated) are excellent. Its clean, taught and transparent. Excellent details and very revealing. Timbre is considerably better, including in things like recording space and imaging is better defined. The bass is leaner and sounds in better proportion to the highs, which may not be more extended, but are certainly somewhat better defined. Mids are awaiting judgement.

Audio wise, so far I think its an excellent purchase. There are a few quirks that I don't like so much, but these are less to do with sound than they are the feel of operation. I'll be listening for a few weeks and then doing a comparison to the pre stage in my integrated before I make my final assessment though, at which point I may consider a proper review

[h2oxide]

Why isn't there any reviews on Audio-gd amps? I want to know how they stack up against other amps dammit. I was contemplating purchasing Bel Canto pre/power or a Plinius but this seems like far better value for money.

Edited by h2oxide, 22 March 2012 - 12:16 AM.

[katattack74]

JD did a review on the C-39mkiii pre and C-10 power amp a while back. Quite a positive review.

I have the CD7SE, Ref7.1 and C-3FV running via ACSS and i can easily report that this combo was surprisingly quite smooth, very transparent without coloration to the sound and well defined lows, mids and highs. When runing via RCA or XLR input/outputs, the sound can err slighly on the warmer than the ACSS mode. They take aaagesss to run in. In-terms of value for money, i'd rate them as 9/10 as they're built like tanks and shipping costs is quite expensive due to the weight of them.

When funds permit, i'm going to send them all back to Kingwa to get them upgraded to the HE standard, which have separate regeneration psu's built for each unit. AFAIK, only 1 SNA'er that has the CD7HE transport, Ref7HE dac, C-8HE pre and HE amps running all via ACSS mode here in Aus. Try getting him to sell his HE system..

Edited by katattack74, 22 March 2012 - 03:13 PM.

[Krypton]

h2oxide,

Like Katattack74, I have several Audio gd products.
I started small with a Dac (NFB 3) and liked what I heard.
I now have a REF 5 Dac and C-500 integrated amp. I use ACSS to connect the dac and amp and I consider the combination to be excellent.
I have had no problems with Audio gd and Kingwa (except the excruciating wait from ordering to delivery). Value for money is also outstanding.

Here is what I wrote to Audio gd when my C-500 arrived.

'Dear Audio-gd Sai,
Just a quick note to let you know that my C-500 arrived on Monday (28 Nov).
I am very happy with this amplifier and even in this early stage of burn in it sounds smooth and natural.
Bass and piano have improved markedly compared to my previous (25 watt) integrated amplifier.
Thanks for your honest advice, assistance and prompt service. I am confident that I will be enjoying this amplifier for many years to come.'

I am very happy with Audio gd and recommend them highly.

K

[alistairm]

The think I loved about the C39 was the way the volume had "memory" for each different source. In the configuration I had it in that was brilliant - all of my CDP, DAB+, DVD and Foxtel inputs vary pretty widely in terms of gain.

Edited by alistairm, 22 March 2012 - 09:25 PM.

[h2oxide]

Does the power amp have enough grunt to drive Dyn's nicely?

[Jliang70]

Does the power amp have enough grunt to drive Dyn's nicely?

Their power amps are 250 Watts in 8OHMS , 500 Watts in 4Ohm , double again 2 ohms . Power would not be an issue with almost any speakers.

[h2oxide]

Yes but obviously it's not just about paper specs. Like most say Dyns are fussy.

[Jliang70]

Yes but obviously it's not just about paper specs. Like most say Dyns are fussy.

Base on number of Audio-gd equipment I got, I trust their power rating figures. I have not doubt it will drive
your speakers to very high volume but only you can decide if it works well with your speakers.

[agisthos]

Why isn't there any reviews on Audio-gd amps? I want to know how they stack up against other amps dammit. I was contemplating purchasing Bel Canto pre/power or a Plinius but this seems like far better value for money.

i know a reviewer from a well known audio website who had been promised Audio-GD amps to review for well over a year.
After many agreements to supply product, my friend would email them and the response from Audio-GD would be "what are you talking about?"

Either their organization and communcation is really bad or they do not care much for getting high profile reviews.

[Nada]

communcation is really bad or they do not care much for getting high profile reviews.

best to email Kingwa directly with special requests
otherwise such an unusal request will get lost in the standard ordering process as the English comprehension is rudimentary

[Audiobugged]

Maybe worthwhile to fly over there to the little kingdom of Wa - Tiger Airways does weekly flights there, stopover in Hong Kong. The King of Wa is often busy, try the Prime Minister (Prai-Min Wa) or one of the many many minions there - not a worry, they're all very nice, if a tad incomprehensible, and for some strange historical/geopolitical reason are all called Edwin.

[katattack74]

Maybe worthwhile to fly over there to the little kingdom of Wa - Tiger Airways does weekly flights there, stopover in Hong Kong. The King of Wa is often busy, try the Prime Minister (Prai-Min Wa) or one of the many many minions there - not a worry, they're all very nice, if a tad incomprehensible, and for some strange historical/geopolitical reason are all called Edwin.

Prai-Min Wa is no where to be found. Try Secretary of State Sai instead. Minion Edwin(s) are ....well just minions ..

[katattack74]

Base on number of Audio-gd equipment I got, I trust their power rating figures. I have not doubt it will drive
your speakers to very high volume but only you can decide if it works well with your speakers.

I'd be very surprised if the A-GD power amps would struggle to power your Dyn's.. As Jliang said, their power ratings are modestly quoted. Best to email The King himself with your queries.