Another man's amp

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Ricardo
Ricardo Posts: 10,634
edited August 2008 in Electronics
Got today the Marsh A400s, after 3 or 4 months playing with the Marsh A200s (which replaced my first man's amp the Belles 350A ref.).
Some members here have or had these amps, although they are not normally seen as part of the "recommended" amps lists. The Marsh amps are incredibly musical and provide a tight bottom end.

Well, what I wanted to share is a picture of this HUGE amp; over 19 inches long, and with a toroidal that is, well, also huge.

First picture is the guts, second picture the front of the A400s, and third picture the front of the A200s for comparison.

Now to turn it on and start enjoying.
(Please avoid posting pictures of bigger amps...I know there are many out there; let me enjoy my 15 minutes ;))

001-15.jpg

002-14.jpg

004-4.jpg
_________________________________________________
***\\\\\........................... My Audio Journey ............................./////***

2008 & 2010 Football Pool WINNER
SOPA
Thank God for different opinions. Imagine the world if we all wanted the same woman
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited August 2008
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    Congrats Ricardo,,now lemme' ask a question,all things consideres(same pre--source speakers) Belles or Marsh? If you have not had enough time to listen to it,I'll wait. :);)
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,634
    edited August 2008
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    George, I don't need to wait. The answer, for me, is Marsh. I sold the Belles after listening for the Marsh A200 for a few hours. Of course I made $1,700 with that decision, which I am sure had some influence :)

    I have not heard the A400, but it won the golden ears award and has had great reviews (I know...that's not important), so I am sure I won't be dissapointed with this one.
    _________________________________________________
    ***\\\\\........................... My Audio Journey ............................./////***

    2008 & 2010 Football Pool WINNER
    SOPA
    Thank God for different opinions. Imagine the world if we all wanted the same woman
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 20,284
    edited August 2008
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    Congratulations Ricardo! Sweet.
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • nikolas812
    nikolas812 Posts: 2,915
    edited August 2008
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    Congrats!!

    What are the specs?


    Nick
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  • engtaz
    engtaz Posts: 7,675
    edited August 2008
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    Congrats Ricardo. Very nice amp


    engtaz
    engtaz

    I love how music can brighten up a bad day.
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,630
    edited August 2008
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    Me likey :):D. Sending this around for demo too!! :D.

    Let's see for me the Marsh makes my list, but only after hearing dkg999's A200s.

    1) Pass Aleph 30 or Aleph J or X150
    2) Monarchy SM70 Pro mono's
    3) Classe
    4) Marsh
    5) Adcom 5802
    6) Aragon
    7) Belles
    8) Forte (Pass design)
    9) Threshold S-300

    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 | Holo Audio Cyan 2 Dac | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | Roon Nucleus 1 w/LPS - Tubes add soul!
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  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited August 2008
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    Looks great... Gee don't see those TO3 transistor much any more. :)


    You enjoy your 15 mins now. ;)

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited August 2008
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    disneyjoe7 wrote: »
    Looks great... Gee don't see those TO3 transistor much any more. :)


    You enjoy your 15 mins now. ;)

    Thats what I was drolling over. I love the T03 cases, big fat troid, and big fat caps.


    Ricardo could you please tell me the numbers on the output trannies. Please:)
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited August 2008
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    Aw, man. Very nice.

    A few days ago, I came very close to purchasing the A400 again. There's no way you're gonna find a sweeter amp anywhere near the price. The tonal quality of the A400 is outstanding.
    HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

    "God grooves with tubes."
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  • leadfoot1
    leadfoot1 Posts: 155
    edited August 2008
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    Wow! That is really nice! Always love looking at pictures like that :)
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  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited August 2008
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    Congrats Ricardo. I love the clean look. Enjoy.
    Michael ;)
    In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
    NORTH of 60°
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,634
    edited August 2008
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    Thanks guys; 15 minutes are over, so you can post some Krell monoblocks now :)

    The A400 is 200 WPC at 8 ohms; need to look up the rating at 4 ohms, and the rest of the specs.

    Ben, I have no idea what a T03 or output trannie is....point me in the right direction and I'll look at it when I open it again.
    _________________________________________________
    ***\\\\\........................... My Audio Journey ............................./////***

    2008 & 2010 Football Pool WINNER
    SOPA
    Thank God for different opinions. Imagine the world if we all wanted the same woman
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  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited August 2008
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    Richard,

    It should be a number on the transistor, I couldn't make it out with the picture you posted. Must likely 2 transistor number are used they may start with 2S or 2N or post another picture up close of those pretty transistors.


    The Geeks need to know. ;)

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,872
    edited August 2008
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    Very nicely put together.I see they wisely included an AC soft start circuit.
    Ricardo wrote: »

    Ben, I have no idea what a T03 or output trannie is....point me in the right direction and I'll look at it when I open it again.
    The 6 chrome looking thingies attached to the heat sink bracket on each side.

    They are likely Motorola or ON semi bi polars.or
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited August 2008
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    There are six on each side attached to the heat sinks. They are silver, and egg shaped. They look like Motorolla parts;)
    What GV said:)
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,634
    edited August 2008
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    Oh, those :) I'll look them up. I did notice they have "Mexico" written......I can't say I was thrilled about that ;)
    _________________________________________________
    ***\\\\\........................... My Audio Journey ............................./////***

    2008 & 2010 Football Pool WINNER
    SOPA
    Thank God for different opinions. Imagine the world if we all wanted the same woman
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,872
    edited August 2008
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    Sorry ben,I guess I hit submit a milisecond ahead of you.:D
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,872
    edited August 2008
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    Ricardo wrote: »
    Oh, those :) I did notice they have "Mexico" written......
    Yep motorola has a plant there.Besides the # there should be an M or the word ON stamped on them.
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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  • BottomFeeder
    BottomFeeder Posts: 1,684
    edited August 2008
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    Let us know, please, how the A400s compares w/its younger brother, the A200s!

    Us little guys want to know!

    :)
    "Wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then." Bob Seger
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  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited August 2008
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    After hearing how good the Marsh A200s sounded driving LSi15's, especially compared to the over-grown Sunfire mega-watt thing of an amp that preceded it in the evaluation, most of the crowd was stunned when I informed them it was only 120 wpc. Well maybe not stunned, but there was a moment of silence :)
    DKG999
    HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

    Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,634
    edited August 2008
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    Yes, the A200s is an impressive little amp. Imagine how 200 of those watts sound :)

    I listened last night for a couple of hours. I'm using the CRS+'s. Same tight botom end. No difference in the highs that I could notice. But the mids, there's some additional "magic" on the mids; they sound more alive, more liquid. And when I say more I don't mean exaggerated, just better. So far I'm happy. Need to try it with the Dynaudios which are a harder load.

    And here's what those transistors have:

    The front 3:

    ON
    MJ21193
    MEXICO
    BM0105

    The back 3:

    ON
    MJ21194
    MEXICO
    BM0123

    The little caps have the text to the back and I could not get a good read on brand, but they are 15,000 uF each.
    _________________________________________________
    ***\\\\\........................... My Audio Journey ............................./////***

    2008 & 2010 Football Pool WINNER
    SOPA
    Thank God for different opinions. Imagine the world if we all wanted the same woman
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited August 2008
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    Thanks Ricardo. Those are the new replacements for the trannies found in the older Adcoms. They are an excellent tranny.
    Ben
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • AndyGwis
    AndyGwis Posts: 3,655
    edited August 2008
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    Nice amp. Got a good write up in SoundStage, for what that's worth (not much).

    http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/marsh_a400s.htm

    Looks like a hefty 330 into 4 ohms. Nice!
    Stereo Rig: Hales Revelation 3, Musical Fidelity CD-Pre 24, Forte Model 3 amp, Lexicon RT-10 SACD, MMF-5 w/speedbox, Forte Model 2 Phono Pre, Cardas Crosslink, APC H15, URC MX-950, Lovan Stand
    Bedroom: Samsung HPR-4252, Toshiba HD-A2, HK 3480, Signal Cable, AQ speaker cable, Totem Dreamcatchers, SVS PB10-NSD, URC MX-850
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  • phipiper10
    phipiper10 Posts: 961
    edited August 2008
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    No kidding was looking at this very amp on Audiogon yesterday. It's on my "hot" list! Tell us more!
    Analog Source: Rega P3-24 Exact 2 w/GT delrin platter & Neo TT-PSU Digital Source: Lumin U2 w/Roon (NUC) DAC:T+A DAC 200 Phono Preamp: Rega Aria MK3 Preamp: Rogue RP-7 Amp: Infigo Method 6 Speakers: Joseph Audio Perspective 2, Audio Physic Tempo Plus Cables: Cardas Clear Reflection SC/IC, Shunyata PCs Misc: Shunyata Hydra Delta D6, VTI rack, GIK acoustic panels
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,634
    edited August 2008
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    It's a great amp; both Marshs are. The more I listen, the more I think that the only noticeable difference in in the mids; very sweet difference. Piano, saxophone and vocals sound beautiful. I was reading the Soundstage link and was surprised to read that the reviewer thinks it "lacks a little force or power in the midrange". Oh well, if we all heard and liked the same things there would be only one brand :)

    I would recommend both of these.
    _________________________________________________
    ***\\\\\........................... My Audio Journey ............................./////***

    2008 & 2010 Football Pool WINNER
    SOPA
    Thank God for different opinions. Imagine the world if we all wanted the same woman
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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited August 2008
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    Ricardo -- this may sound strange, but when I had the A400, I used a set of RCA/XLR adapters and there was a clear and distinct improvement. I stumbled across this trick by reading a couple of reviews of this amp. In the A400 the XLR uses a different circuit path than the RCA, and apparently it offers better sonics. If you're interested, I can send you the adapters to try out and see for yourself.

    My impression of the differences between the A200 and the A400 was that the A400 had more power. This translated into a fuller sound, increased dynamics, slightly more bass, and a bit more detail.
    HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

    "God grooves with tubes."
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,634
    edited August 2008
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    I am waiting for my XLR cables; I've read all about the benefits of using the balanced inputs on these. I'll have balanced from source to pre and from pre to amp.
    _________________________________________________
    ***\\\\\........................... My Audio Journey ............................./////***

    2008 & 2010 Football Pool WINNER
    SOPA
    Thank God for different opinions. Imagine the world if we all wanted the same woman
    · Share on Facebook
  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,634
    edited August 2008
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    Oh, and thanks for offering the adaptors Brad ;)
    _________________________________________________
    ***\\\\\........................... My Audio Journey ............................./////***

    2008 & 2010 Football Pool WINNER
    SOPA
    Thank God for different opinions. Imagine the world if we all wanted the same woman
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  • dudeinaroom
    dudeinaroom Posts: 3,609
    edited August 2008
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    I need a paper towel now
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited August 2008
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    a sock will do nicely. :D
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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