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Karma - Monoprice Fabulousness!

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  • ken brydsonken brydson Posts: 7,360
    Talking Heads. Burning down the house...
    HT/Main- Panny 50" G10 Plasma, Pioneer SC-1222k AVR, Panny DMP-BD60 BDP, Polk LS90 mains, CS350LS center, LS/fx side surrounds, LS50 surround backs, SVS 25-31PC+ sub, Harmony One

    Office Rig- Marantz 2252B, Denon 2910, Kenwood KD2070 TT, Polk RTA 12B's/ RTA8t
  • mhardy6647mhardy6647 Posts: 20,978
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  • txcoastal1txcoastal1 Posts: 10,247
    2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
    Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
    Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
    Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC
  • pitdogg2pitdogg2 Posts: 12,568
    edited June 2018
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    The Monoprice hybrid amplifier is unboxed, hooked up and will go online presently.

    Anyone care to guess the first song that I shall play through it?
    (there are of course many apt choices given the backstory -- but one rose to the top for me very quickly).

    Burning down the house? Ken beat me to it, first one that came to mind. Speaking of talking heads @mhardy6647 :D :D
  • ClipdatClipdat Posts: 5,878
    How does it smell?
    • "Electronic music is human sound adapting to indulge technology, and for some, it feels like the signature sound of energy. New and abstract sounds over hypnotic rhythms can conjure vast soundscapes for escape, pleasure, and transcendence."
  • mhardy6647mhardy6647 Posts: 20,978
    pitdogg2 wrote: »
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    The Monoprice hybrid amplifier is unboxed, hooked up and will go online presently.

    Anyone care to guess the first song that I shall play through it?
    (there are of course many apt choices given the backstory -- but one rose to the top for me very quickly).

    Burning down the house? Ken beat me to it, first one that came to mind. Speaking of talking heads @mhardy6647 :D :D


    Ding, Ding, Ding! :)

    I guess I need to send you something now -- what do you "need" that I might have extras of? :)

    Carousel CD player?

  • Tony MTony M Posts: 7,418
    edited June 2018
    I was thinking this one would be it;
    The Ohio Players "FIRE". :D
    Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them.
  • mhardy6647mhardy6647 Posts: 20,978
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  • ClipdatClipdat Posts: 5,878
    Are those the Dayton bookies?
    • "Electronic music is human sound adapting to indulge technology, and for some, it feels like the signature sound of energy. New and abstract sounds over hypnotic rhythms can conjure vast soundscapes for escape, pleasure, and transcendence."
  • FestYboyFestYboy Posts: 3,379
    Clipdat wrote: »
    Are those the Dayton bookies?

    Yup!


    So... What's the initial verdict?
  • mhardy6647mhardy6647 Posts: 20,978
    edited June 2018
    Comments:
    • This one seems to be working flawlessly out of the box. What's this, number four?
    • The general heft, fit and finish isn't bad at all for a ninety-nine dollar product.
    • The amber illumination (pilot light and meter light) is both apt and kind of scary at the same time.
    • Whatever is being done with them -- the tubes are run hard enough that the EL84s umm, 6P15s get pretty hot. Not EICO HF81 EL84 hot, but too hot to touch. The small signal tubes (6N1, whatever that is) run cool.
    • The amp does have an interesting bouquet. Slightly stale, musty, resinous and chemical, all rolled into one. It smells exactly like my grandparents' house in Glen Burnie, MD did -- ca. 1965. My grandfather was a dedicated smoker of very cheap cigars (El Productos -- my father called 'em "El Ropos") and the house bore mute testimony to it for many, many years.
    • The cassoulette :) of the amp isn't objectionable at all. I cannot smell it except right up by the tubes -- and my nose is pretty sensitive.
    • No flammulation, no funny noises, microphonics, etc.
  • ken brydsonken brydson Posts: 7,360
    Run Forrest run!!
    HT/Main- Panny 50" G10 Plasma, Pioneer SC-1222k AVR, Panny DMP-BD60 BDP, Polk LS90 mains, CS350LS center, LS/fx side surrounds, LS50 surround backs, SVS 25-31PC+ sub, Harmony One

    Office Rig- Marantz 2252B, Denon 2910, Kenwood KD2070 TT, Polk RTA 12B's/ RTA8t
  • mhardy6647mhardy6647 Posts: 20,978
    edited June 2018
    I cannot tell with certainty from teh interwebs, but it seems like a 6922 might be close enough to whatever a 6N1 is to drop in. It would be nice to see some consensus on the point :p but I might just have to chuck a coupla cannon fodder 6922s in there and see what happens...

    not tonight though.

    Having played (no kidding) a bunch of Talking Heads 'greatest hits', I've moved on to the Wailin Jennys. They're Wailin' nicely enough.

    I might work up the nerve to try the amp on some real loudspeakers... again, not tonight.

    :|
  • ClipdatClipdat Posts: 5,878
    Careful with your nicer speakers, look out for those turn on/off transients.
    • "Electronic music is human sound adapting to indulge technology, and for some, it feels like the signature sound of energy. New and abstract sounds over hypnotic rhythms can conjure vast soundscapes for escape, pleasure, and transcendence."
  • pitdogg2pitdogg2 Posts: 12,568
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    I cannot tell with certainty from teh interwebs, but it seems like a 6922 might be close enough to whatever a 6N1 is to drop in. It would be nice to see some consensus on the point :p but I might just have to chuck a coupla cannon fodder 6922s in there and see what happens...

    :|
    Yes Doc but there are some differences


    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/6N1P
  • lightman1lightman1 Posts: 10,178
    To reiterate...
    My amp is not in your house?
  • pitdogg2pitdogg2 Posts: 12,568
    lightman1 wrote: »
    To reiterate...
    My amp is not in your house?

    No it is holding up the lawn tractors axle off the ground.... outside
  • mhardy6647mhardy6647 Posts: 20,978
    pitdogg2 wrote: »
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    I cannot tell with certainty from teh interwebs, but it seems like a 6922 might be close enough to whatever a 6N1 is to drop in. It would be nice to see some consensus on the point :p but I might just have to chuck a coupla cannon fodder 6922s in there and see what happens...

    :|
    Yes Doc but there are some differences


    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/6N1P

    Yeah, the 6N1P I am very familiar with -- it's not completely clear to me that the Chinese 6N1 is "identical" to the Soviet/Russian 6N1P, though.
  • mhardy6647mhardy6647 Posts: 20,978
    edited June 2018
    lightman1 wrote: »
    To reiterate...
    My amp is not in your house?

    That is correct :)
    It is in an undisclosed location -- Dick Cheney may be groovin' to some tunes on it, I suppose.

    ;)
  • mhardy6647mhardy6647 Posts: 20,978
    pitdogg2 wrote: »
    lightman1 wrote: »
    To reiterate...
    My amp is not in your house?

    No it is holding up the lawn tractors axle off the ground.... outside

    Naaah -- that's what the MC-2100 is for.

    Actually, that's a joke. The MC-2100 makes a much better doorstop.
  • tonybtonyb Posts: 30,768
    Judging by the extreme glow of that thing, I'd say....the wick is lit. Delayed fuse maybe ? Kinda like when we were kids and made that wick on the M-80's/quarter sticks long enough to buy us some time to get the heck out of the way.

    What's the warranty on this thing....36 hours ? :)
    HT SYSTEM-2 channel
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Dynaudio Audience 72
    Polk FX500 surrounds
    Cary xciter dac
    Cullen modded Sonos
    Joule la-100 pre
    B&k Ref 4420 amp

    Cables-
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    Analysis plus crystal oval ic's
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    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    B&k 1430
    Tad 803 speakers
  • verbverb Posts: 5,092
    I’m happy so far so good. Perhaps number 4 is the charm! :smile:
    Basement: Polk SDA SRS, Rega RP1 TT, VTL 2.5 Preamplifier, Enlightened Audio Designs CD Transport, Northstar Designs DAC, Conrad Johnson MF2300A Amp, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Wireworld Oasis 8 RCA IC's, MIT Terminator2 Bi-Wire speaker cables
    Office: PC, Marantz CD-1 transport, Marantz AMP-1, Acoustic Technologies Classic Speakers, SVS SB12 Plus Subwoofer, MIT AVt2 speaker cables, IFI Purifier2, AQ Cinnamon USB cable
    Spare Room: Dayens Ampino Integrated, Tjoeb 99 tube CD player (modified Marantz CD-38), Project BoxE Bluetooth Streamer, Polk TSi200's
    Living Room: Pioneer SX-N30 Network Receiver, Pioneer PD10AE CD Player, Furman M8-LX Power Conditioner, Polk RT265 In Wall Speakers, Polk DSW Pro 660wi Subwoofer
  • mhardy6647mhardy6647 Posts: 20,978
    edited June 2018
    verb wrote: »
    I’m happy so far so good. Perhaps number 4 is the charm! :smile:

    That's what I am thinking.

    In fact, early results suggest that this gizmo, as is, represents a great 99-dolla desktop/nearfield amplifier, except:
    1. It's rather large compared to most other such devices.
    2. It generates a fairly large amount of heat - mostly from those EL84s - relative to most other such devices.

    I wonder if I can figure out how to do something with the Bluetooth on it? I am pretty... shall we say... low tech. ...or is it old school?


  • ClipdatClipdat Posts: 5,878
    edited June 2018
    It's actually $120 plus shipping. Not sure where this $99 figure is coming from.

    https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=13194
    • "Electronic music is human sound adapting to indulge technology, and for some, it feels like the signature sound of energy. New and abstract sounds over hypnotic rhythms can conjure vast soundscapes for escape, pleasure, and transcendence."
  • mhardy6647mhardy6647 Posts: 20,978
    It was $99 at least at one point -- and the same amp with other brand names is or was available for $99, last time I looked.

    If the OP paid more than $99 for it, I do apologize! :blush:
  • mhardy6647mhardy6647 Posts: 20,978
    As a postscript -- I will give this amp a serious audition at some point in the not too distant future.

    If we really do get rain later today (it's in the forecast), maybe even tonight! :)
  • Viking64Viking64 Posts: 3,751
    $139.99, $120, $119.99, $99? Why does something from MONOPRICE have so many prices? :p
  • mlistens03mlistens03 Posts: 2,491
    Viking64 wrote: »
    $139.99, $120, $119.99, $99? Why does something from MONOPRICE have so many prices? :p

    HAHA!

    So you like it for $99? What if it was $99.99? Would it still be good for the money? :wink:
    Micah
    music on vinyl; https://www.discogs.com/user/mlistens03/collection
    Technics SL3200 turntable; Shure M97xE cart; Hagerman Audio Labs Bugle 2; NAD C352 integrated; KEF Q150 speakers; Velodyne VA-907 subwoofer; home-built stands, generic cables but will upgrade soon...

    desktop; Lenovo G50 running Win10, Yamaha RX-v665 AVR, JBL e30 headphones
    I've always thought the goal of high-end audio was not to have your neighbors bang on the wall and say, 'Turn that darn music down' but to have your neighbors bang on the wall and say, 'Tell your friends to go home and you can practice later this week'.
  • mhardy6647mhardy6647 Posts: 20,978
    Viking64 wrote: »
    $139.99, $120, $119.99, $99? Why does something from MONOPRICE have so many prices? :p

    That's a good question.
    One of those Imponderables, I guess.

    Either that, or the company should be renamed Oligoprice. Or maybe Oligoprices, to kind of maintain some consistency of pluralism.

    :|
  • ClipdatClipdat Posts: 5,878
    Just doesn't have the same ring to it.
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    Either that, or the company should be renamed Oligoprice. Or maybe Oligoprices, to kind of maintain some consistency of pluralism.

    :|

    • "Electronic music is human sound adapting to indulge technology, and for some, it feels like the signature sound of energy. New and abstract sounds over hypnotic rhythms can conjure vast soundscapes for escape, pleasure, and transcendence."
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