Qutest, Hugo TT2, Mscaler

Hi Ali, that is quite an accolade !
Although the amps clearly appear different, I suspect it’s system synergy as well that plays a big part.
I have not found the 552 and DAVE a stellar combo, and I have written about that before… it was only when I had bought my Empyreans I tried the DAVE again, and I discovered what a truly incredible DAC/headphone amp that device truly is. So this prompted me to try an amp that is designed to be driven by DAVE… hence the Etude. It appears the system synergies are more important than I used to realise.
However Dr Hawkesford’s original architecture then developed by Bob Cordell into a design adapted by Chord’s John Franks along with use of Chord custom designed dual MOSFET output transistors (similar to Naim’s custom designed dual bipolar output transistors ) does appear to serve the goods… and it looks rather smart in black and in the same footprint as DAVE too.

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I guess a serious question is, does an Etude in bridged mono (so a pare) deliver more goods than something like a NAP300dr?

But the sense I’m getting is that such a comparison is apples and oranges if you really need to compare a whole lot of different Naim boxes into a couple Etudes at massively different price points.

Hmm… Chord and Naim do appear to have subtly different house sounds… so it is as you say apples and oranges.
I suspect Naim poweramps are voiced to sound optimum with Naim preamps, and Chord Amplifiers voiced to sound optimum with Chord preamps, or Chord DAC preamps… certainly that is what I am finding.
As far as Etude in bridge mode… I don’t need more than 100 to 150 W per channel on offer in non bridged mode driving my ATCs… I would be inclined if I need more power to drive larger speakers and listening area, to try a larger amp from Chord rather than bridging the Etude… the Etude is the baby of their higher end amps.

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Glad to hear the Etude is working out for you Simon. If you decide to move on to the full Chord system, except streamer, selling the 552/250 DR would certainly go a long way towards funding a nice black Mscaler and a pair of Wave BNC cables.
Nice and compact, but stunning sound, no doubt.

Mrs Sins - no luncheon vouchers involved I hope!

Hi Simon,

I always want to support UK PLC, but if I was looking at the Etude I know I would be curious to also try the Benchmark AHB2, any chance you might cast a wider net?

ATB,

M

My dealer doesn’t carry Benchmark… however for me manufacturer synergy is important… and right now the combo sounds right for me… it’s very good… the only variable is the DAC/preamp to amp interconnect … and these vary.
I have tried balanced Silver True Phase… and it’s not for me I don’t think … I have tried copper DNM unbalanced, now that is very good, but not the fine detail of True Phase…

If you are considering alternative power amps (to Naim), then it’s really worth checking out the ATC active speakers … since the built-in amp packs are specifically designed for the drive units.

No more inefficient speaker crossover units or esoteric speaker cables to worry about.

I think you already enjoy the ATC sound …

Just thought that you might want to try this as an option, whilst checking out alternative power amps :grinning:

I did a comparison between the Etude and the PMC Cor in my system (TT2/Mscaler and Fact 8s) last year. For me the Cor was clearly superior, so, although I was not enamoured with its appearance, I purchased the Cor. No regrets, worth a listen.

interesting, in what way was the cor superior?

I think with the Cor you are getting the other end of that all important brand synergy. An amp designed and tested with the range of speakers you are using.

I’m a massive believer in brand synergy. That’s not to say that mixing and matching is wrong or that I’ve never done it. But I strive for building systems where at least the electronics are the same. It takes a little bit of the trial and error out. You know those things will work together. There might be something better from brand X that slots in even nicer - but then again, you might never stumble across it. I think if the system is not the same end to end, then at least the amplification should match either the speakers or the primary source.

I have with SCM40A and it wasn’t for me.

That is interesting Simon, I have ATC SCM 40’s on a Nap 300DR and have often wondered whether I “jumped the gun” and perhaps should have tried the active version. After all I spent about the same by buying a used NAP 300 + DR.

Can you say what didn’t work for you with the ATC 40 actives?

I was curious about PMC speakers and discussed it with their rep. He was very fair and said they used a modified Bryston amp. He then went on on to say if you like Bryston amps over your Naim amps you’ll be delighted. But if you never liked Bryston…beware. Probably the same with ATC, their amps never really engaged me.

Not tempted to try a matching Chord preamp in between, then?

Synergy is FAR from straight forward, so I can always understand people choosing to stick with a house sound they enjoy.

Simon are you also using Naca 5 for the Etude? if not, which speaker cable?

I haven’t found brand synergy to work for me, I have a source from Chord, Amplifier from Naim and Dynaudio speakers…

I haven’t heard the etude though - am waiting for Simon to let us know what he will do…

I am fifty/fifty. For most of the last twenty years I have been using EAR pre/power, but latterly this has moved to Autoformer passive pre with 300DR, first Townshend Allegri and as of last week Icon4; but, I cannot claim any credit, this was ‘found’ by Martin Colloms (as far as I am aware).

The 300DR > SBLs is a superb Naim combination. My CB250 equaled my EAR534 into the SBLs, something it had never achieved with any other speakers I had owned.

Neutral, transparent, punchy, dynamic are some of the adjectives I would use to describe the sound of the Cor. I really wanted to like the Etude, thinking it would be the perfect complement to the TT2 and MScaler, but for me it sounded rather laid back and less ‘gripping’ than the Cor. I should say that the dealer’s Etude was very new and the demo lasted only a couple of hours. However the contrast was immediately apparent to me and my preference quickly established.