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Item: ASPEN NAKSA 80 Location: Canberra Price: $500 Posted AUS wide ($450 pick up) Item Condition: 8/10 (minor scratches on the chassis) Reason for selling: NLR Payment Method: Pickup or post - Cash, Paypal Extra Info: A good friend has given me the opportunity to buy a Sansui AU-707i which at 130W works much better with my Schiit Saga PRE (unity gain) and my speakers. Although this amplifier has a beautiful sweet tube like sound with decent bass, I've found that at 80W (NAKSA 80) my 85db speakers cannot get loud enough with my vinyl set up. This is likely due to the unity gain of my PRE. My digital sources don't exhibit the same issues and sound very sweet with this amplifier. The amplifier has been modified at some point by someone and I was not made aware of this when I purchased the amp. The work is serviceable however and has not caused any problems with day to day operation. I have bypassed the two front pots myself so this is now a power amplifier. I can reattach the pots if nessecary. Physically the amp is in pretty good condition and only has a few slight scratches on the chassis. Pictures:

Item: ASPEN NAKSA 80 Location: Canberra Price: $550 + postage Item Condition: 8/10 (minor scratches on the chassis) Reason for selling: NLR, after finding a amplifier with much more power for my low efficiency speaker Payment Method: Pickup or post - Cash, Paypal Extra Info: A good friend has given me the opportunity to buy a Sansui AU-707i which at 130W works much better with my Schiit Saga PRE (unity gain) and my speakers. Although this amplifier has a beautiful sweet tube like sound with decent bass, I've found that at 80W (NAKSA 80) my 85db speakers cannot get loud enough with my vinyl set up. This is likely due to the unity gain of my PRE. My digital sources don't exhibit the same issues and sound very sweet with this amplifier. Unfortunately there are some slight caveats with the amp. It does work perfectly and has worked without issue the whole time I've owned it. It does display a small speaker 'thump' on power on but this is something that wasn't ironed out until the SAKSA 85 and is normal with this amp. The amplifier has been modified at some point by someone and I was not made aware of this when I purchased the amp (I have attached photos for any potential buyers). The work is serviceable however and has not caused any problems with day to day operation. I have bypassed the two front switches myself so the amplifier could be used with a separate preamp and therefore bypass any possible degradation from the pots being in the circuit. I can reconnect them for potential buyers if required. Physically the amp is in pretty good condition and only has a few slight scratches on the chassis. This is an amazing sounding power amp and had I not needed to pay for the Sansui, it would have stayed with me in my second system. One of mates was so impressed with it that he bought a SAKSA 85 from Hugh after hearing my NAKSA 80 and has been happy ever since. He fortunately has 92db efficient speakers. Pictures:

Item: AudioQuest, Aspen, Speaker Cables full range 3m / 10ft pair $1250 Location: Clayton or Devon Meadows happy to post anywhere. Price: $1250 Item Condition: Used but in excellent condition I have original receipt from Amber Technology who are the importers. Reason for selling: I'm now running mono blocks so need shorter speaker cables Payment Method: Pickup - Cash, direct deposit, COD Only Extra Info: SOLID PERFECT-SURFACE COPPER+/PERFECT-SURFACE COPPER (PSC+/PSC) CONDUCTORS: Aspen uses a carefully finessed combination of high-purity Perfect-Surface Copper (PSC), and extreme high-purity Perfect-Surface Copper+ (PSC+) conductors in a Self-Shielding Double Counter-Spiral HyperLitz design. Solid conductors prevent strand interaction, a major source of distortion. Surface quality is critical because a conductor can be considered as a rail-guide for both the electric fields within a conductor, and for the magnetic fields outside the conductor. The astonishingly smooth and pure Perfect-Surface nearly eliminates harshness and greatly increases clarity compared to OFHC, OCC, 8N and other coppers. The superior purity of PSC+ further minimizes distortion caused by grain boundaries, which exist within any metal conductor. DIELECTRIC-BIAS SYSTEM (DBS, US PAT #S 7,126,055 & 7,872,195 B1): Insulation is an electrical barrier, and also a “dielectric” because it is inside the conductor’s magnetic field. All insulation slows down and smears the signal inside. When insulation is unbiased, it causes different amounts of delay for different frequencies and energy levels, a real problem for very time-sensitive multi-octave audio. AudioQuest’s DBS creates a strong, stable electrostatic field which saturates and polarizes (organizes) the molecules of the insulation. Saturated (full) insulation absorbs less and therefore releases less out-of-phase energy. Minimizing nonlinear time delays results in clearer sound emerging from a “blacker” background. The DBS battery packs will last for years. A test button and LED allow for the occasional battery check. DOUBLE COUNTER-SPIRAL GEOMETRY: Aspen and the other AQ “Tree” Series cables have an inner circular array of positive conductors spiraling in one direction. Around this inner group, the negative conductors spiral in the opposite direction, which makes possible the significant performance advantage of the positive and negative conductors crossing each other instead of being parallel. However, the critical need for positive and negative to have a fixed non-changing relationship is ensured as the negative and positive groups are in fact two tubes with a perfectly consistent relationship. The result is an astonishing clarity, like focusing a camera lens you had no idea was so far out of focus. CARBON-BASED NOISE-DISSIPATION AND CROSSTALK-DISSIPATION SYSTEM (INSULATION): The negative conductors in Aspen are covered with partially conductive Carbon-Loaded Polyethylene. This remarkable material damps radio-frequency garbage from being fed back into the amplifier. The sonic benefit is exactly the same reduction in “hash” and improved dimensionality that comes whenever RF interference is reduced in an audio circuit. Another carbon layer also damps interaction between positive and negative conductors, and an external 3-layer carbon-based NDS System additionally absorbs external interference. SPREAD-SPECTRUM TECHNOLOGY (SST): Any single size or shape of conductor has a specific distortion profile. Even though radially symmetrical conductors (solid or tubular) have the fewest discontinuities, any particular size still has a sonic signature. SST is a method for significantly reducing the awareness of these character flaws by using a precise combination of different size conductors. The different SST-determined conductor sizes used in Aspen allow an exceptionally clear, clean and dynamic sound. BIWIRING: When possible, running separate conductors or separate cables to the treble and bass halves of a speaker will considerably reduce distortion. BiWiring helps by keeping the large magnetic fields associated with bass energy out of the treble cable, allowing the delicate upper frequencies to travel a less disturbed path, like keeping the big waves out of the water when you swim. Although Aspen is an ideal Full-Range cable, it has also been designed to make it possible to truly Single-BiWire. Many multi-conductor cables claim to be good for BiWiring, but unless there is real magnetic isolation between the bass and treble conductor groups, dividing such cables into bass and treble can actually be worse than keeping them together. TERMINATIONS: Aspen is prepared by Cold-Welding AudioQuest’s 1000 Series Hanging-Silver Multi-Spades or Bananas. The plugs are plated directly over pure Red Copper by submerging (hanging) the spades and bananas into a vat of extreme-purity silver, resulting in a very thick Direct-Silver Plate. There are no intermediary performance degrading materials. Aspen’s breakouts (where the cable divides into positive and negative legs) are also special: Because a metal breakout would disrupt the cable’s magnetic fields, Aspen’s breakouts are magnetically invisible ABS. DIRECTIONS: Because all drawn metal is directional, all audio cables are directional. AudioQuest analog and digital audio cables are all controlled for correct directionality. The best sound is made possible by following the “Amp” and “Speaker” labels on Aspen’s breakouts.

Item: Aksa Aspen GK-1 PREAMPLIFIER Location: Goulburn NSW 2580 Price: $460 inc postage Australia Mainland Only, $ Discount if collected, can deliver to Canberra. Item Condition: Excellent Reason for selling: Surplus To requirements Payment Method: Pickup - Cash, Bank Transfer Extra Info: Aksa Aspen GK-1 PREAMPLIFIER " Sonically stratospheric, the GK-1 builds on lessons learned in the TLP and power amplifier development. It delivers stunning engagement and extraordinary musicality, comparing favorably with the top names in high end. It brings the same, sensational benefits to sound stage, clarity, layering and engagement, particularly when used with AKSA power amplifiers. the GK-1 matches and exceeds the performance of big name products costing five times more. The potentiometer is a very high quality dual gang cermet, enabling the music to shine through." (Quoted From Aksa Website) Which can be found here, http://www.aksaonline.com/buying/buying_price.html Independent review here: Pictures:

Item: AudioQuest, Aspen, Speaker Cables price drop 3m / 10ft pair Location: Clayton or Devon Meadows Price: $1700 price drop Item Condition: Used but in excellent condition Reason for selling: Not suitable for new speakers Payment Method: Pickup - Cash, direct deposit, COD Only Extra Info: SOLID PERFECT-SURFACE COPPER+/PERFECT-SURFACE COPPER (PSC+/PSC) CONDUCTORS: Aspen uses a carefully finessed combination of high-purity Perfect-Surface Copper (PSC), and extreme high-purity Perfect-Surface Copper+ (PSC+) conductors in a Self-Shielding Double Counter-Spiral HyperLitz design. Solid conductors prevent strand interaction, a major source of distortion. Surface quality is critical because a conductor can be considered as a rail-guide for both the electric fields within a conductor, and for the magnetic fields outside the conductor. The astonishingly smooth and pure Perfect-Surface nearly eliminates harshness and greatly increases clarity compared to OFHC, OCC, 8N and other coppers. The superior purity of PSC+ further minimizes distortion caused by grain boundaries, which exist within any metal conductor. DIELECTRIC-BIAS SYSTEM (DBS, US PAT #S 7,126,055 & 7,872,195 B1): Insulation is an electrical barrier, and also a “dielectric” because it is inside the conductor’s magnetic field. All insulation slows down and smears the signal inside. When insulation is unbiased, it causes different amounts of delay for different frequencies and energy levels, a real problem for very time-sensitive multi-octave audio. AudioQuest’s DBS creates a strong, stable electrostatic field which saturates and polarizes (organizes) the molecules of the insulation. Saturated (full) insulation absorbs less and therefore releases less out-of-phase energy. Minimizing nonlinear time delays results in clearer sound emerging from a “blacker” background. The DBS battery packs will last for years. A test button and LED allow for the occasional battery check. DOUBLE COUNTER-SPIRAL GEOMETRY: Aspen and the other AQ “Tree” Series cables have an inner circular array of positive conductors spiraling in one direction. Around this inner group, the negative conductors spiral in the opposite direction, which makes possible the significant performance advantage of the positive and negative conductors crossing each other instead of being parallel. However, the critical need for positive and negative to have a fixed non-changing relationship is ensured as the negative and positive groups are in fact two tubes with a perfectly consistent relationship. The result is an astonishing clarity, like focusing a camera lens you had no idea was so far out of focus. CARBON-BASED NOISE-DISSIPATION AND CROSSTALK-DISSIPATION SYSTEM (INSULATION): The negative conductors in Aspen are covered with partially conductive Carbon-Loaded Polyethylene. This remarkable material damps radio-frequency garbage from being fed back into the amplifier. The sonic benefit is exactly the same reduction in “hash” and improved dimensionality that comes whenever RF interference is reduced in an audio circuit. Another carbon layer also damps interaction between positive and negative conductors, and an external 3-layer carbon-based NDS System additionally absorbs external interference. SPREAD-SPECTRUM TECHNOLOGY (SST): Any single size or shape of conductor has a specific distortion profile. Even though radially symmetrical conductors (solid or tubular) have the fewest discontinuities, any particular size still has a sonic signature. SST is a method for significantly reducing the awareness of these character flaws by using a precise combination of different size conductors. The different SST-determined conductor sizes used in Aspen allow an exceptionally clear, clean and dynamic sound. BIWIRING: When possible, running separate conductors or separate cables to the treble and bass halves of a speaker will considerably reduce distortion. BiWiring helps by keeping the large magnetic fields associated with bass energy out of the treble cable, allowing the delicate upper frequencies to travel a less disturbed path, like keeping the big waves out of the water when you swim. Although Aspen is an ideal Full-Range cable, it has also been designed to make it possible to truly Single-BiWire. Many multi-conductor cables claim to be good for BiWiring, but unless there is real magnetic isolation between the bass and treble conductor groups, dividing such cables into bass and treble can actually be worse than keeping them together. TERMINATIONS: Aspen is prepared by Cold-Welding AudioQuest’s 1000 Series Hanging-Silver Multi-Spades or Bananas. The plugs are plated directly over pure Red Copper by submerging (hanging) the spades and bananas into a vat of extreme-purity silver, resulting in a very thick Direct-Silver Plate. There are no intermediary performance degrading materials. Aspen’s breakouts (where the cable divides into positive and negative legs) are also special: Because a metal breakout would disrupt the cable’s magnetic fields, Aspen’s breakouts are magnetically invisible ABS. DIRECTIONS: Because all drawn metal is directional, all audio cables are directional. AudioQuest analog and digital audio cables are all controlled for correct directionality. The best sound is made possible by following the “Amp” and “Speaker” labels on Aspen’s breakouts. Pictures:

Item: AudioQuest, Aspen, Speaker Cables full range 3m / 10ft pair $1250 (RRP $3580) Location: Clayton or Devon Meadows happy to post anywhere. Price: $1250 (RRP $3580) Item Condition: Used but in excellent condition I have original receipt from Amber Technology who are the importers. Reason for selling: I'm now running mono blocks so need shorter speaker cables Payment Method: Pickup - Cash, direct deposit, COD Only Extra Info: SOLID PERFECT-SURFACE COPPER+/PERFECT-SURFACE COPPER (PSC+/PSC) CONDUCTORS: Aspen uses a carefully finessed combination of high-purity Perfect-Surface Copper (PSC), and extreme high-purity Perfect-Surface Copper+ (PSC+) conductors in a Self-Shielding Double Counter-Spiral HyperLitz design. Solid conductors prevent strand interaction, a major source of distortion. Surface quality is critical because a conductor can be considered as a rail-guide for both the electric fields within a conductor, and for the magnetic fields outside the conductor. The astonishingly smooth and pure Perfect-Surface nearly eliminates harshness and greatly increases clarity compared to OFHC, OCC, 8N and other coppers. The superior purity of PSC+ further minimizes distortion caused by grain boundaries, which exist within any metal conductor. DIELECTRIC-BIAS SYSTEM (DBS, US PAT #S 7,126,055 & 7,872,195 B1): Insulation is an electrical barrier, and also a “dielectric” because it is inside the conductor’s magnetic field. All insulation slows down and smears the signal inside. When insulation is unbiased, it causes different amounts of delay for different frequencies and energy levels, a real problem for very time-sensitive multi-octave audio. AudioQuest’s DBS creates a strong, stable electrostatic field which saturates and polarizes (organizes) the molecules of the insulation. Saturated (full) insulation absorbs less and therefore releases less out-of-phase energy. Minimizing nonlinear time delays results in clearer sound emerging from a “blacker” background. The DBS battery packs will last for years. A test button and LED allow for the occasional battery check. DOUBLE COUNTER-SPIRAL GEOMETRY: Aspen and the other AQ “Tree” Series cables have an inner circular array of positive conductors spiraling in one direction. Around this inner group, the negative conductors spiral in the opposite direction, which makes possible the significant performance advantage of the positive and negative conductors crossing each other instead of being parallel. However, the critical need for positive and negative to have a fixed non-changing relationship is ensured as the negative and positive groups are in fact two tubes with a perfectly consistent relationship. The result is an astonishing clarity, like focusing a camera lens you had no idea was so far out of focus. CARBON-BASED NOISE-DISSIPATION AND CROSSTALK-DISSIPATION SYSTEM (INSULATION): The negative conductors in Aspen are covered with partially conductive Carbon-Loaded Polyethylene. This remarkable material damps radio-frequency garbage from being fed back into the amplifier. The sonic benefit is exactly the same reduction in “hash” and improved dimensionality that comes whenever RF interference is reduced in an audio circuit. Another carbon layer also damps interaction between positive and negative conductors, and an external 3-layer carbon-based NDS System additionally absorbs external interference. SPREAD-SPECTRUM TECHNOLOGY (SST): Any single size or shape of conductor has a specific distortion profile. Even though radially symmetrical conductors (solid or tubular) have the fewest discontinuities, any particular size still has a sonic signature. SST is a method for significantly reducing the awareness of these character flaws by using a precise combination of different size conductors. The different SST-determined conductor sizes used in Aspen allow an exceptionally clear, clean and dynamic sound. BIWIRING: When possible, running separate conductors or separate cables to the treble and bass halves of a speaker will considerably reduce distortion. BiWiring helps by keeping the large magnetic fields associated with bass energy out of the treble cable, allowing the delicate upper frequencies to travel a less disturbed path, like keeping the big waves out of the water when you swim. Although Aspen is an ideal Full-Range cable, it has also been designed to make it possible to truly Single-BiWire. Many multi-conductor cables claim to be good for BiWiring, but unless there is real magnetic isolation between the bass and treble conductor groups, dividing such cables into bass and treble can actually be worse than keeping them together. TERMINATIONS: Aspen is prepared by Cold-Welding AudioQuest’s 1000 Series Hanging-Silver Multi-Spades or Bananas. The plugs are plated directly over pure Red Copper by submerging (hanging) the spades and bananas into a vat of extreme-purity silver, resulting in a very thick Direct-Silver Plate. There are no intermediary performance degrading materials. Aspen’s breakouts (where the cable divides into positive and negative legs) are also special: Because a metal breakout would disrupt the cable’s magnetic fields, Aspen’s breakouts are magnetically invisible ABS. DIRECTIONS: Because all drawn metal is directional, all audio cables are directional. AudioQuest analog and digital audio cables are all controlled for correct directionality. The best sound is made possible by following the “Amp” and “Speaker” labels on Aspen’s breakouts. 

A Night with Hugh Dean, Aspen Amplifier Designer 8pm Wednesday 15th March, visitors welcome. Willis Room, City of Whitehorse Offices Maroondah Highway (Whitehorse Road), Nunawading Melway Map 48 Ref G9 Contact: 9437 1249 The name Hugh Dean is synonymous with the Aspen amplifier range. His kit form amplifiers have won many hearts among audio enthusiasts who appreciate a very high standard of sound. The Maya 200 and the SAKSA 85 amplifiers are a culmination of over twenty years innovative design, starting in 1974 with the Glass Harmony. The Maya was conceived in 2015 with a topology breakthrough, which Hugh will attest has brought huge improvements in speed, bandwidth and clarity. This 200W per channel amplifier comprises four discrete stages: Input stage including a feedback node, Voltage Amp stage, Driver stage, and the Output stage which uses a pair of very large 480 watt MOSFETS. Hugh's primary aim in his amplifier design is very low odd order harmonics. The MAYA avoids phase issues with extremely linear first and second stages. With very low THD, less than 0.025% into 200W and very low noise, the Aspen amplifiers have none of that solid state glare. The amplifiers can be bought as a DIY build from a pair of tested and assembled PCB modules, starting at $930 plus GST for the SAKSA 85, and $2200 plus GST for the MAYA 200. Both units can now also be purchased with purpose built full enclosures. An OPPO 105 multi-disc player will be playing the music, while a pair of classic KEF 105/3s will entertain us with their sound. The 105/3 was the first Reference Series Loudspeaker from KEF to incorporate Uni-Q technology. This four way floor-standing speaker embodies several advanced and unconventional design features for its time. Its bass section drivers are mounted within the cabinet in a double coupled-cavity configuration. The combined output of the two woofers is radiated through a front mounted 6" inch diameter port. The D'Appolito array on the front panel is shared with a pair of midrange drivers and a KEF Uni-Q driver, with a concentric 6-1/2" inch cone and a 1" inch tweeter. Midrange bloom, solid state glare, lifeless sound? None of that with Aspen Amplifiers. Nick Karayanis Program Co-ordinator Ken Tripp Wise and Wonderful Webmaster Melbourne Audio Club, Inc. http://www.melbourneaudioclub.org.au

Hugh Dean's MAYA amp and VSonics 8pm Wednesday 20th April, visitors welcome. Willis Room, City of Whitehorse Offices Maroondah Highway (Whitehorse Road), Nunawading Melway Map 48 Ref G9 Contact: 9437 1249 The name Hugh Dean is synonymous with the Aspen amplifier range. His kit form amplifiers have won many hearts among audio enthusiasts who appreciate a very high standard of sound. His latest model is the MAYA, the culmination of over twenty years of innovative amplifier design, starting in 1974 with the Glass Harmony. The new MAYA was conceived in 2015 when a topology breakthrough appeared, which Hugh will attest has brought huge improvements in bandwidth, speed and clarity. This 200W per channel amplifier comprises four discrete stages; Input stage including a feedback node, Voltage Amp stage, Driver stage, and the Output stage which uses a single pair of very large 480 watt MOSFETS. The MAYA avoids phase issues, yielding significant stability and linearity for a global feedback amplifier. It uses only 29dB of global feedback, possible because the first and second stages of the amplifier are extremely linear. Very low THD, less than 0.025% into 200W, very low noise, and very low odd order harmonics, this is the primary aim in this design. "The musical grace of tubes with solid state muscle." Partnering the amplifier will be the VSonics Transmission Line speaker. This is a compact, two- way using a Three-Way Fold, an 8" SEAS woofer and a 1" Peerless tweeter crossing over at 2,600Hz. The 32-litre enclosure has a sensitivity of 87dB/watt/metre. With a front aperture, the 1-metre tall by 9" wide loudspeaker is very suitable for small rooms or apartments. It is available as a partial kit for $1420, including crossovers, fasteners, filling and detailed specifications with instructions. You need to purchase the drivers and timber to finish off the speakers. The MAYA can be bought fully assembled for $3,600 plus GST, or a DIY build from a pair of tested and assembled pcbs modules for $2,200 plus GST. Midrange bloom, solid state glare, lifeless sound? None of that with Aspen Amplifiers. With a sound quality to rival the very best in High End, we will see if this "Hugh-Dean-ie" has done his magic on the MAYA. www.aksaonline.com Happy MAYA owners give unbiased opinions at... www.diyaudio.com/forums/aksa/188853-aspen-maya.html Nick Karayanis Proxy proxy Program Co-ordinator / Vice President Ken Tripp Wise and Wonderful Webmaster Melbourne Audio Club, Inc. http://www.melbourneaudioclub.org.au