Hi Massimo,
Hope all is well with you. More updates on the hi-fi…
So I’ve got 3 new pieces of gear:
1) Sanyo JA 220 (which I’ve already mentioned before)
2) Grundig CD 35x (also mentioned before)
3) Grundig Box 850a prof
Let me tell you my impressions and ask a couple of things.
1) Sanyo is a good amp. Amazingly good for this money. I think its sound is largely similar to V7200 (which makes me think both haven’t been tampered with – as I understand from your writings, CCI amps will have similar sound) but I’m careful not to listen too loud given it drives the 4Ohm speakers… I’m wondering how loud is it safe to get? For now I’m somewhat limited in comparing JA220 to V7200 – I don’t normally listen too loud but I’m listening on Sanyo even quieter than I usually do on V7200… Should I monitor the heat? The JA220 didn’t get too hot so far.
2) I’m somewhat puzzled as with CD 35x I didn’t get too great an improvement compared to my Primare player. The latter may even sound a little more “powerful”. So I’m not sure what to do. Am I at a point that I need to disconnect the Primare from the amp in order to get better sound from the 35x? Any other suggestions? Regarding the power cable – it’s detachable and it doesn’t look like it’s the original one, does it?
3) This was a somewhat impulsive purchase – they were relatively cheap and I really wanted to try them given you regard them so highly. I’m now wondering how best to set them up in my environment? Are they not too small for my room? Again, I’ve carried out some comparison tests – however limited by volume as explained above – V7200 with TL800 sounds better (more scale, more power …) than JA220 + 850a prof. but I guess there’s at least two things in addition to volume limitations that undermine the testing process:
a) I don’t have stands for 850a prof (should these be 36 cm or 45 cm high? BF1 or Bose? Or can I order bespoke metal stands – does the surface on which the speaker stands need to be round or can it also be square/rectangular?
b) need to change cables – I’ve only used some cheap copper cable that came with them.
Additional questions:
– I also noticed that my V7200 has one channel slightly quieter than the other. Also the display of the 35x, as mentioned before, doesn’t work. I’m going to have both devices serviced by the best technician I know here in Moscow (who also produces his own amps) – what is your recommendation, just tell him that he should find out what the problem with channels is and fix only that, and NOT change anything else and assemble everything exactly as it was before?
– Which of the screws on JA220 needs intervention? I wasn’t clear on the description available, sorry…
Many thanks, as ever.
Best regards
Boris
Hi Boris
1) Sanyo ja220 must be carefully monitored as temperature when used with 4ohm speakers being an 8ohm speaker amplifier. Leave the rear ground screw 1/4 turn slow.
2) check that the screws on the cd 35x are all tight and there are no loose screws. Then disconnect the player you are not using from both the amplifier and the 220v. Only then can you hear the sound of the player you are using.
3) in your conditions to listen to the 850a you should remove the tl800 and use the same stand you use for the tl800 in the same position but if the tl800 has a balanced bass in your room then the 850a will have a light bass. The best location for the 850a is on a 45cm stand close to the back wall but it doesn’t seem to me that you have this possibility and in any case the bass would not change in substance and would still be light in your room.
A carpet in front of the speakers is also very important
I advise you not to take these devices to a technician if they only have small problems as the risk is that they will return to you no longer well sounding.
Best Regards
Massimo