Forte Audio

heiney9
heiney9 Posts: 25,217
edited June 2007 in Electronics
Since getting the SDA 1C's of course I've been bitten by the upgrade bug or at the very least the "let's try something different" bug. Being a bit cost conscious I'm looking to possibly get a different amp.

Being a fan of Nelson Pass designs I've become fixated on Forte Audio stuff. It seems resaonable on the used market and from I gather it's pretty solid stuff.

What can anyone tell me about Forte? I have been seeing the model 4a amp on Audiogon occasionally. 50 watts per channel pure class A amplification. I assume this is plenty to power my 1C's. Does anyone know if this is a common ground design? Anyone owned any Forte pieces? What did you think?

RuSs or someone else with an Orion can you give me some info on the Model 4a amp?

TIA

H9
"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,217
    edited June 2007
    This is a question for the more technical savy. Jesse? The Model 4a uses IGBT's for outputs (Insulated Gate Bi-Polar Transistor) I understand these were/are a bit exotic and are no longer available anymore???? Can anyone confirm or deny this? If one of the output tranny's goes, what's my alternative?

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,217
    edited June 2007
    Man, you really have to be careful what you read on the internet. On the surface everyone touts Forte as being associated with Nelson Pass.........

    apparently not

    http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=1136175#post1136175

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,986
    edited June 2007
    They started building the 4a in 1991, MSRP was $1800.

    I never heard Nelson Pass having anything to do with Forte. Threshold, now that's an entirely different story (and a true one). ;)
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,217
    edited June 2007
    RuSsMaN wrote: »
    They started building the 4a in 1991, MSRP was $1800.

    I never heard Nelson Pass having anything to do with Forte. Threshold, now that's an entirely different story (and a true one). ;)

    Doing a quick search at the DIY Pass Labs forum he apparently was involved with some Forte stuff. The Model 1 and 3 and some of their pre's and a dac or two. Sounds like I should just keep looking. The Forte model 4a seems to get good reviews from owners, but I tend to lean towards what NP has to say and if he says IGBT's have no place in audio then maybe it's a chance not worth taking.

    Audiogon has a 4a listed for $600 shipping incl. That's in my $$ range for trying something new and unheard. I suppose I should find out if it's common ground because if it's not; it's a moot point.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,815
    edited June 2007
    There use to be a race team in Forumla 1 called Forte, they were always at the back of the pack. During one race a commentator noted that there was actually a car running behind the Forte car to which the other commentator stated, "If it's worst than a Forte, it must be a Thirty."

    Keep looking.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,217
    edited June 2007
    I think I'll Pass (no pun intended). This is what I really want but am too cheap to pony up the $$$. Not sure if it's even released yet or if anyone has heard/reviewed it yet.

    Threshold S/350e reissue. Assembled in China to the exact specs of the original so I'm told.

    http://www.threshold-audio.com/S=350eColor-v05sc.pdf

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited June 2007
    If I remember correctly I think it was Toshiba that produced the first IGBT 's then for some reason stopped making them. Fairchild still produces them but whether they are suitable replacements I don't know.
    It is most likely a common ground unit if it is rated for 50 watts as they would not need a bridged output stage to achieve it.

    Were they not a budget line from Threshold when NP was still the big cheese?
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,217
    edited June 2007
    GV#27 wrote: »
    If I remember correctly I think it was Toshiba that produced the first IGBT 's then for some reason stopped making them. Fairchild still produces them but whether they are suitable replacements I don't know.
    It is most likely a common ground unit if it is rated for 50 watts as they would not need a bridged output stage to achieve it.

    Were they not a budget line from Threshold when NP was still the big cheese?

    Thanks for the info GV and yes, they were a bit more budget orientated versions of some of the Threshold stuff. However the 4a did not have NP's input; it was manufactured after he left as far as I can tell reading over at the Pass Labs forum at DIY audio.

    The model 1 was pure class A and the model 3 was A/B.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited June 2007
    If you want an NP design and 30 watts of pure single ended class A is enough powerr maybe look for a used Aleph 3 or Aleph 30.
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