The Die is Cast

Honestly I’d like to not have a preamp if possible. The CH Precision power amps are adjustable for some parameters that might help bridge the gap. Talked to my local dealer and he’s looking into carrying the CH line. I’d love to hear these Swiss brands but for less than a Statement pre I can get the CH pre + big ass power amp combo including appropriate interconnects and power cables. Only problem with them is they’re doing the whole Naim/Linn thing with unlimited upgrade path with add on power supplies. Also only a couple of dealers in the US.

Yeah and it’s very large… very large. However I am looking at this from many angles and it’s on my shortlist.

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You have many choices apparently in Chicago, a very big town and more than 3 big high end audio shops.
Without listening and pairing these amps to Magico, as you choosed these speakers, it will be difficult to choose between Gryphon, Soulution, CH Precision or Vitus.
I prefer Vitus personally to Soulution, but it’s me. Was often tempted by Gryphon but never heard.
CH Precision is not the best for PRAT. My dealer has this brand. But as you listen to classical music, it’s different.
Vitus sounds big, organic, detailed and is a king for soundstaging.

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The largest HiFi dealer in Chicago and it’s suburbs (at the time they had five stores) was Audio Consultants which was owned by a Frenchman, Simon. It closed its doors for good after 33 years in 2020.

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It’s quite heavy too, so take care when looking from underneath!

Best regards, BF

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The vitus 030 is certainly a big step up from the 025, apparently due to its size and the much larger heat sinks, it actually runs cooler than the 025, but I don’t know if that’s true or not.

It has the masterpiece power supply in it and the true class A certainly sounds nice and has a nice warm but detailed sound. Plus it has a rock button that changes the sound slightly that’s more sorted to that kind of music. Balanced inputs plus you can add built in dac/streamer boards and phono boards if you want just one big box only.
I was going to try one after the 025 but I got the feeling that the dealer I was using had lost interest in me, as I decided not to have it, plus I also got the feeling he was pushing hard for me to trade in my naim kit, my speakers and most of it apart from my melco and dcs.

But apparently quite a few have moved to the 030 and other vitus kit from naim 500 systems, not sure how many as I kind of think the dealer was a bit of a gizza lol and very different to Paul at hifi lounge.

But I feel the 030 could be a nice one box solution going forward and I would love to see naim do something like it.

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I would discount it just on this basis alone. :grinning:

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It’s more a bit of fun I think, probably a bit like the old loudness button, but never heard it used so can’t comment really. But the 030 certainly has some nice punch to it and even in class A can drive hard speaker’s, you may also be able to fry a breakfast on it while doing this lol.
The 025 I had even managed to operate the fan in the 500, the 500 was not being used at the time, but on and was in the rack still with the vitus sitting on the floor near it, I couldn’t believe it when I realised what the noise was as never had it operate before

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I saw some high end dealers in Chicago. Or maybe they are online ?

CH Precision and Nagra headquarters are just a few minutes from where I live, and Soulution factory is in Zurich, not far either. But I never took the time to listen to Nagra’s electronics.

Both CH Precision and Soulution DACs can be connected directly to their amps.

If your goal is to reduce box count, then CH Precision might not be the best choice. Their “full DAC” is a three boxes system: C1 + X1 + T1 (DAC, power supply and external clock).

Soulution has a different approach; the 760 DAC has it all in one box, hence the price. Considering its output stage, I believe it has been designed to be connected to a power amp.

As for how they sound, I’d say it’s a matter of taste at that level.

I read somewhere an unusual description of Soulution’s 711 or 701 sound: a bottom-up sound, and I’m not sure I understand it. If Soulution has a bottom-up sound, then I’d say CH Precision has a top-down one.

Both brands measure exceptionally well, and both are highly revealing. I’d say CH Precision is a tad “thinner” while Soulution is a tad “fuller”. But I never heard them side by side in the same room, so you shouldn’t take what I say too seriously. As many said, you better listen for yourself and build your impressions.

If found that Soulution has more in common with Naim than CH Precision. They all sound really well: CH, Soulution and Naim. I like them all. What Soulution has that the others have less is this incredible airiness and layering. If you enjoy having a deep soundstage, then Soulution might be something to try.

What ever you choose, you can’t really go wrong with CH, Soulution or Naim.

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My local dealer a few years ago had the Nagra rep in to do a demo. Their highest-end line, playing through big Rockport speakers. I was quite blown away; very very impressive. I’d love to “step up” to Nagra but it’s at yet still another price point.

One anecdote. The rep fed the Nagra HD Dac (not sure if it was the X or not) from a Macbook and a cheapie USB cable. He said that the dac was so good that it didn’t matter what source you used. (I do believe it totally re-clocks everything and that he’s probably right.)

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I believe their showroom is in Romanel-sur-Lausanne, less then 10 minutes by bike. Perhaps I should take an afternoon and pay them a visit.

The HD DAC X seems very interesting!

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I want to send you a private message but don’t know how on this new forum.

You cant. You have to get @Richard.Dane to help you share email addresses behind the scenes…

There’s no private messaging on here except between members and moderators (if initiated by mods). This was because it was abused in the past and used to try to circumvent forum rules re. buying and selling and also used by commercial parties to solicit members.

If you wish to make contact with another member then you can request I ask them. I have to be respectful of GDPR rules and will only do do on assurance that no forum rules will be broken.

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I found a lightly used top of the line Agostino integrated for $21k. Seems like a deal if you’re into that kind of thing.

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Another good possibility. Can you go to listen ?

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No but I’m not interested. It just seems like somebody out in the world is looking for that thing in used condition at that price. Don’t think I’ve seen many on the usual places people look. Just a random dealers stock.

2 posts were merged into an existing topic: Magico Speakers with Naim

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