Audionerd

Incredible styling to match performance. This is serious gear that doesn't come along every day!

From my experience, Dynaudios tend to have a sweet and restrained top end as well as rich mid to upper bass, lowish sensitivity and impedance. All these characteristics gravitate away from matching with valve power amps. On the other hand, a hybrid design such as the McIntosh I posted on behalf of a friend (or separate valve pre and transistor power if budget allowed) could be a nice compromise. Keeping the bass tight and controlled with the higher damping factor and current capability at lower impedances of a solid state power amp stage should mitigate the speaker's tendency to bloom, and slightly drier tonality should balance the valve preamp's warmth while maintaining the advantage in inner detail and ambience over transistor preamps in this price range. I mention all this because the original owner of the MA252 used Dynaudios.

This model has only 4 tubes, 2 x 12AX7 and 2 x 12AT7. Being low current devices in the preamp stage, the amp should not require any maintenance for many years.

Item: Nordost Valhalla Speaker Cables 9ft (2.7m) spade-spade factory terminated pair Location: Melbourne Price: $3400 FIRM. No offers or tyre kickers please. Donation to SNA on sale Item Condition: Good. No damage Reason for selling: Selling for a friend who is moving and getting out of high end. More items (a whole system) will be listed as I find time Payment Method: Cash, Bank transfer or Paypal Extra Info: No introduction should be needed for these legendary cables, which became an industry standard through the abundance of reviews. Renowned for detail, clarity and soundstage. They were Nordost's top model until the introduction of the even more extravagantly priced Odins. There is no box, but these cables are 100% guaranteed original Nordost manufacture, as indicated by the serial numbers on one end and green heat shrink on the other. The green labels denote "shop demo" and not for resale until the model is about to be superseded, in this case by the current Valhalla V2 at approx $20K RRP. I've also connected them to my reference system and confirmed that they are Valhalla standard in performance. If you've dreamed of owning almost the best that Nordost have to offer at a feasible price, this is a rare opportunity! Photos: Advertisements without photos of the actual item will not be approved.

Item: McIntosh MA252 Hybrid Integrated Amplifier Location: Melbourne Price: $5800 (RRP $7495). Donation to SNA on sale Item Condition: Mint with all packaging, manual & remote Reason for selling: Selling for friend Payment Method: Cash, Bank transfer or Paypal Extra Info: Recently released hybrid model combining the best of valve (preamp) and solid-state (power amp) circuit design in a visually and sonically stunning package. With a beautiful polished stainless steel chassis, McIntosh has taken retro design cues from its legendary tube power amps and incorporated modern conveniences like comprehensive remote control adjustments, overload protection and inbuilt phono stage. These features make the amplifier very flexible and easy to use, without sacrificing the musicality for which McIntosh is famous. Advanced high current output transistors are coupled to the heat sinks in a way which allegedly eliminates warm-up time. Bass, treble, tone bypass, balance and input offset levels can be adjusted using front panel knobs or remote control with an advanced microprocessor. All 4 inputs (1 pair balanced, 2 pairs RCA and 1 pair MM phono) can be electronically selected, labelled or adjusted and displayed on the OLED screen. While the valve front end imparts typical sweetness and warmth, the 100W RMS @ 8 ohms (160W RMS @ 4 ohms) output is enough to drive all but the most power hungry speakers. Several recently patented technologies have been included in this model, including "Power Guard, Sentry Monitor, High Drive (headphone amplifier) and Monogrammed Heatsinks" making it the best value McIntosh model ever produced. This particular unit is a virtually flawless example of the model and therefore a great option for someone wanting a versatile and beautifully made amplifier using current technologies, without the high price tag. As the original carton is included, freight at the buyer's expense is an option. Photos: Advertisements without photos of the actual item will not be approved.

There is no box for these cables, but they are 100% guaranteed original Nordost manufacture. The serial numbers on one end of the cables and green shrink on the other end indicate this. The green labels denote shop demo (not prototype) and not intended for resale until the model is about to be superseded, in this case by the current Valhalla v2 at about $20K RRP. I have also connected them to my reference system and confirmed that they are Valhalla standard in performance. Knowing the owner, I never had any doubts about their provenance. There are copies around of course. I bought some "Odins" from Hong Kong out of curiosity. Knowing they couldn't be original at the price, I was not surprised that they didn't sound anything like the real thing. Still, for the price and appearance, I reckon I got my money's worth in materials!

Hi Dacman The Olympicas sound even better than when you last heard them. A couple of relatively cheap new tweaks should stagger you. The fact that the changes are so noticeable is a compliment to the design.

Sending interstate is an option at the buyer's expense. I don't have original cartons, but happy to arrange with Pack & Send or whatever courier is chosen.

Item: Sonus Faber Olympica III floorstanding 3-way speakers in premium Graphite finish Location: Melbourne Price: $10K FIRM. No offers or tyre kickers please. Current RRP around $20K Item Condition: Excellent. Virtually as new Reason for selling: Wilson Benesch ACT60 LE & Torus Infrasonic Generator Payment Method: Cash, Bank transfer or Paypal Extra Info: Renowned as a work of art in appearance as well as sound, to my taste these speakers have only been edged out by a $47K Wilson Benesch combo. Compared to a plethora of distinguished speakers I've had here over the last couple of years (Dynaudio Confidence, B&W 802D, Marten, Magico, etc.) they are hard to fault. Plus, for those who have a WAF factor to consider, they leave the rest for dead in styling with subtlety, as only the Italians can. Their extreme quality of build is not just for looks, with the lyre shaped enclosure, progressive thickness triple curvature damped "spread resonance spectrum system" walls and solid walnut vertical clamps plus unique paralaminar venting contributing to a remarkably uncoloured result. Sonus Faber have incorporated new innovations and technologies derived from their most expensive models, like the Aida woofers, a brand new midrange driver manufactured from a complex blend of materials and "damped apex dome" tweeter which combines a silk dome and ring transducer. The crossover uses only the highest quality components, including Mundorf Evo Oil capacitors and Jantzen inductors. At 90dB SPL they are also not hard to drive. As the flagship model of a current range I believe they will emerge as a classic, far better than any previous Sonus Faber I've heard in this price range and beyond. Please pardon my photos. They look much more impressive in the flesh! Photos: Advertisements without photos of the actual item will not be approved.

Item: Nordost Valhalla Speaker Cables 9ft (2.7m) spade-spade factory terminated pair Location: Melbourne Price: $3500 FIRM. No offers or tyre kickers please. Current RRP of the replacement mk2 version is about $20K. Item Condition: Good. No damage Reason for selling: Selling for a friend who is moving and getting out of high end. More items (a whole system) will be listed as I find time Payment Method: Cash, Bank transfer or Paypal Extra Info: No introduction should be needed for these legendary cables, which became an industry standard through the abundance of reviews. They were Nordost's top model until the introduction of the even more extravagantly priced Odins. Renowned for their detail, clarity and soundstage. If you've dreamed of getting almost the best that Nordost have to offer at a feasible price, this is a rare opportunity! Photos: Advertisements without photos of the actual item will not be approved.

Item: Bryston B-60R Integrated Amplifier Location: Melbourne Price: $1950 Firm (Current RRP $7999) Item Condition: Excellent apart from some rubbed off front panel letters. Selections are still clear Reason for selling: Too many amps Payment Method: Cash, Bank Transfer or Paypal Extra Info: Superbly engineered Canadian amp with 20 year warranty when new. Close to the quietest I've heard, with neutral and non fatiguing yet dynamic sound. Understated slimline construction is surprisingly heavy, outputs over 60W RMS @ 8 ohms and 100W RMS @ 4ohms. Features 4 pairs of RCA inputs plus Tape Monitor Loop, Headphone socket and removable Pre Out/Main In links. All switches, contacts and connectors are gold plated. This unit in silver comes complete with manual, individual test report and motorised volume control via the optional remote handset. All original packaging means that safe postage is an option. This is a rare opportunity to secure a highly regarded amp at a fraction of new retail price. They rarely appear on the used market. Many favourable reviews including MasterSwitch Photos: Advertisements without photos of the actual item will not be approved.

Your speaker cable is Red Dawn.

I suspect your inbox is full and not currently able to accept PMs.

Certainly one of the better conditioners on the market for the price, which is partly why I wanted to make a point about your mains setup. Having a dedicated circuit for an audio system is a great start and something I'd always recommend when possible, particularly if heavy duty audiophile grade power cable is also employed. However, this doesn't mean that further conditioning, filtering and RF/EMR/electrical field suppression will not be potentially beneficial. Quite the contrary! What the dedicated circuit means is that there is simply more potential for these benefits to be heard when localised mains issues are removed from the equation. The quality of mains supply entering a household and the inevitable field effects of passing current are still subject to enhancement within an audio system. With dedicated audio circuits at home, I can show anyone off the street the positive effects of certain devices within a 30 second demonstration. They are not small! To avoid distraction from the sale at hand, you'd be very welcome to discuss further by PM. It's not rocket science, but there's a lot of confusion around because it is a complex subject.

Item: Musical Surroundings Fosgate Signature All Tube MM/MC Phono Amp Location: Melbourne Price: Reduced from $2850 to $2500 Firm. Purchased directly from the importer with RRP of $4500. Safe postage at buyer's expense is available Item Condition: Like new with original carton and manual Reason for selling: Sacrificing analogue for digital funds. This is the best phono stage I've ever owned. I also have an unused Gold Note PH-10 which I'll sell if this doesn't move. Payment Method: Cash, Bank Transfer or Paypal Extra Info: Top of the Range model from US phono specialist Musical Surroundings. No longer available, so it has become a collector's item and acclaimed as their best ever model, a beautifully made piece of analogue history with up-to-date high end performance. A superbly musical and ultra-quiet unit with both MM and MC cartridges, with easily adjustable impedance settings. This model is the culmination of over 100 different circuits built by legendary designer Jim Fosgate since the 1970s, all tube in push-pull configuration for the best possible linearity while minimising noise and distortion. There are no solid-state devices, regulated power supplies or transformers in the signal path to degrade performance, with a tube also being used for the high voltage rectifier. The unusual power supply contributes to its sound quality, each tube stage being powered by a separate oversize storage capacitor that acts like a battery. The P/S simply holds the voltage across the capacitors like a "trickle charger". PCB layout is dual mono, each channel being located on opposite sides in near mirror image with a row of dual triodes down the centre. Importantly, the first stage has no negative feedback to interact with the cartridge. Second and third stages are enclosed in a single feedback loop using both positive and negative feedback. The RIAA network is divided into two sections, one passive and one active. The upper half (above 1 KHz) is accomplished with a passive network between stages 1 and 2, the lower half with an active network around stages 2 and 3. Photos: Advertisements without photos of the actual item will not be approved.