feeling Tactful today

Good day to throw a sicky
New amp has just been delivered, the TacT SDA2175 semi digital power amp, to replace the RB1090 i have been using.

Cant realy comment as yet, its been powered up for all of 20 minutes. But stone cold and straight out the box it seems to have better bass grip, and maybe a deeper/wider stage.
It is very well built, nice decent thickness to the case, and from the internal pics ive seen very neat inside aswell.
I have been told that it will need a week to settle in, so looking promising.
Watch this space

 

Nice one Penance - I'm sure your work would understand anyway .

Pretty much right and I'd advise leaving it on as well. They are very efficient (+80% AFAIK) so your elec. bill won't go through the roof and your room won't feel like a sauna . What power lead are you using ? I tried Eupen and Kimber Classic, with the Kimber ( ) being my preference.

Keep us posted.

 

Voodoo, have you got one as well? or are you referring to experience with other TacT amps/processors?

reg

:Quad:

 

Voodoo,
I'm using a Eupen at the mo, will experiment with others (gutwire and Omiga) Also some mains treatment.
Its sat on top the Rotel:shame:
Ill sort that tomorrow.
Been listening all afternoon, had bad sibilence at first but that went in the first hour. Most noticable at the mo is the slam it has, much better dynamics than the rotel. The stage has definately grown aswell.
Still reserving final judgement bbut it is looking good.

 

Reg, I have a TACT RCS 2.0 pre/correction and S2150 power amp (one of Merlin's actually !).

 

pennace,

Any update on the Tact SDA 2175 review?

What exactly is a "Semi" Digital Amp?

Ken

 

Ken
Still early to form a full impresion.
It seems a bit hard in the highs at the moment, hoping this will mellow with some use. It is more forward than i am use to, although in itself not a bad thing.
I was spoilt Saturday night and had the chance to hook a Bel Canto 2000.4 to the system, a much nicer presentation, but also over 3 times the cost even s/h.

Semi digital, AFAIK means it accepts an analogue input but uses digital PWM in the amplification process.

 

That's disappointing. I had hoped that the TacT would be at least equal to the BC, but at a giant killing price (especially without the dealer margins). Seems like quality digital amps for the masses may be a little way off yet.

Oh well, let us know if it improves (and I really hope it does).

reg

:Quad:

 

well hoping it will, i dont think it's fair to pass a definitive comment as yet, not with only 4 days power up time.
The forwardness i can live with

 

Reg,
We ran the B/c in straight 2 channel stereo mode first (120wpc), If feel the Tact has more power, its seriously forward, hardness is quite prominent, but It needs a good 10 days or so constant use before making a fairer comparision.
the B/c has about 50 hours on max, (there isn't that sort of difference between a fresh and run in B/c).
Both amps we run using exactly the same cables/conditioning/pre/cdp.
The B/c has a more natural and flowing presenation, the tact (at that point) defiantely sticarto and forward.
I feel it will improve by a fair margin, though I'm sure it'll be a more than capable power amp. Wm

 

Been listening since i got in from work.
Bass has good authority and seems well presented. Still hard at the moment, havent noticed much change in that yet, i think i'll start hooking up the DVD (cant access repeat on my CDp) and leave it playing all day while im at work.

 

The SDA I had that my friend now uses in his system is not hard, although it's got plenty of mains treatment on it. It's controlled, quite dry, with good power down below. It will not start sounding valve like in it's presentation, more Bryston like.

The point of it is, it's a good value for money product in the right system. I prefer something that gets hot and lights up - but then I couldn't find one for £700 or so.

 

I'm not knocking it Merlin, indeed for the money it is good. And as said, a fair comment cant be formed for a while yet.
It has mains treatment with decent leads on it, i have swapped leads a bit and tried it on conditioner aswell as iso tranny, still hard tho at the top.

 

Penance, can I suggest a little speaker repositioning after you feel it has settled in.

The extra control, gifted by the Tact, should allow a more 'aggressive' speaker placement. Maybe not by much, but it may be beneficial.

 

Voodoo, advice apreciated, but not to sure what agresive positioning is (ooh er missus)??

I must admit, the Bel Canto sound was much more to my liking

 

Penance, was the B/C 200/4 stock or was this Wm's tricked up jobbie ?
be interested in a Evo 4 vs 200/4 vs SDA shootout

 

Twas completely standard, I got a peek inside while trying to help Tone sort the switch problem it had. Even running just half of it, it sounded a lot sweeter.
I'd be interested in a shootout aswell, although i think i know the results

 

was the b/c a tony special or was it unmolested? if it had been felt-up by tony then i'd not think it a fair comparison as there was probably a lot of MIB proscribed technology under the hood if it was.
cheers


julian

 

Was honestly standard julian, nothing untoward under the hood.

 

what mains treatment was used?