flatpopely
Prog Rock/Moderator
Sounds like a plan!
Hi, I've got a spare JVC AX-Z1010TN and I'm also in Glasgow if you want to get in touch.
Prices definitely going up for these JVC amps:
http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-5...0001&campid=5338728743&icep_item=133463429279
>£650 asking price, and that's the previous model to the AX-Z1010 with no K2 processing. Of course, whether anyone bites is another matter...
Prices definitely going up for these JVC amps:
http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-5...0001&campid=5338728743&icep_item=133463429279
>£650 asking price, and that's the previous model to the AX-Z1010 with no K2 processing. Of course, whether anyone bites is another matter...
That's from the seller StereoPassion- has all the big '80s TOTL amps and usually not particularly good value imo.
A big thank you to Douglas (Gassor on here) who yesterday loaned me his Victor AX-Z921- the Japanese version of the AX-Z1010TN.
I set it up last night, and have let it play in a bit. Not going to say anything sound-wise until I have had a good listen over a few days.
All I will say is that the black finish is very fetching compared to the grey of the western version.
Prices definitely going up for these JVC amps:
http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-5...0001&campid=5338728743&icep_item=133463429279
>£650 asking price, and that's the previous model to the AX-Z1010 with no K2 processing. Of course, whether anyone bites is another matter...
I would happily pay that for a well cared for amp in excellent order as this amp sounds like it could suit my tastes and speakers. However, that seller is painful to deal with as I found out earlier in the year and I wouldn't even bother, he offers some mint looking kit which is usually priced too high and often 220v or even 110v, with little interest in describing if the unit has been checked over etc.
That seller cannot even be bothered to take a full set of good photos to backup his description.
Best look for a good used example and get someone like @Arkless Electronics to service it and check it over.
Was yours a new one from Canada? Feel I need to get mine checked to make sure the bias etc is correctOr @toprepairman if you are in the SE. He did mine.
I would happily pay that for a well cared for amp in excellent order as this amp sounds like it could suit my tastes and speakers. However, that seller is painful to deal with as I found out earlier in the year and I wouldn't even bother, he offers some mint looking kit which is usually priced too high and often 220v or even 110v, with little interest in describing if the unit has been checked over etc.
Was yours a new one from Canada? Feel I need to get mine checked to make sure the bias etc is correct
Tease............at least give us a clue if it's thumbs up or down?
Ha well, I want to give it a good listen, last night was more setting up. Also, it hasn't been on for a couple of months before last night so I'm sure tonight will be a good chance to get some proper listening done....
Well, now I have finally had some time to myself to listen to the 1010.
And...
Firstly the PCM56-P twin dac with the K2 interface.
I made notes whilst I was listening which I will refer to.
It's obvious that this dac does timing and rhythm very well- which I suppose is down to the K2. It takes a clear hold of the movement in music and gives it correct placement in the hifi time/space continuum
From my real-time notes (always capitalised for ease of reference)
"PINK FLOYD: LET THERE BE MORE LIGHT M4A:
AMBIENT DETAILS ARE WELL-RECONSTRUCTED, EG ECHO DECAY TIME ON ISOLATED VOCALS.
SOUNDSTAGE WIDTH: 3.5/5 VERY GOOD BUT ARTIFICIAL SPREADING? OR JUST AS INTENDED?
DREAMER'S BALL-QUEEN
CLARITY OF SEPERATION- RHYTHMIC NUANCES OF BASS GUITAR AND ELECTRIC GUITAR/ACOUSTIC ALL WELL DELINEATED.
THINGS LIKE DEACON'S SLIDES CLEARLY AUDIBLE.
TONE THOUGH- IS IT THE MISSING PIECE OF THE JIGSAW?
THE DETAIL RETRIEVAL IS GOOD, GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME AND THESE OLD SPEAKERS...BUT SOMETHING'S NAGGING ME ABOUT THE OVERALL TONAL COLOUR. TO ME A LITTLE BLAND, NOT ENOUGH HARMONIC RICHNESS LIKE THE REAL THING.
VOICE VERY-WELL HANDLED, NUANCES OF VIBRATO AND BREATHING/DELIVERY APPARENT.
JEALOUSY- QUEEN:
CYMBAL WASHES WELL-HANDLED, DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CYMBAL TYPES/SWELL SPEED APPARENT
A BIT OF THAT “ARTIFICAL” WIDENING APPARENT ON BACKING VOX PLACEMENT
WHITE BIRD- IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY 24/192 VINYL RIP (DOWNSAMPLED)
DUAL LEAD VOX HARMONY CLEARLY SEPERATED. TIMING IS OBVIOUSLY A GOOD ASPECT OF THIS AMP/DAC
AGAIN, TONALLY NOT MAKING ME SWOON, ALL A TOUCH CLINICAL.
SO FAR I FEEL LIKE IF THIS AMP HAD A MORE HARMONICALLY VIVID PRESENTATION I'D BUY ONE, BUT THAT'S WHATS GIVING ME PAUSE- THE TONE.
DON'T THINK ITS ANY BETTER AT FOLLOWING BASS PARTS THAN THE AUREX SB77..WHICH ADMITTEDLY WAS VERY GOOD AT THAT.
FEEL LIKE I AM ADMIRING THE AMP/DAC BUT NOT GETTING OVERLY INVOLVED IN THE MUSIC
CURTAIN CALL- TORI AMOS
GOOD JOB IN INTRO OF REVEALING SYNTH ARRANGING UNDERNEATH PIANO
AGAIN TONALLY GREY TO MY EAR
MAKES ME WANT TO TRY SWAPPING IN MY POLK COBRA LITZ CABLE AS THIS GIVES MORE BITE/HIGHER END DETAIL...
SOUNDSTAGE DEPTH: 3/5 NOT BAD BUT THE AUREX SB77 HAD A BIT MORE...IN FACT, WOULD LIKE A BIT MORE LAYERED SOUND...
TORI SOUNDS GREYED OUT. SHE NEVER SHOULD!! I THINK THIS IS THE ONLY THING WRONG-IT'S DOING EVERYTHING ELSE RIGHT.
FIRE TO YOUR PLAIN- TORI AMOS
THIS HAS GOOD RHYTHM TRACK AND THE AMP IS SHOWING AN ADEPT TOICH AND MAKING ME MOVE TO THE PROGRAMMED/LIVE BEATS MIX. IT'S GOOD AT THIS.
HIGHWAY STAR- DEEP PURPLE MADE IN JAPAN 2014 REMASTER
STAGE DEPTH BETTER
DOING ALL THE RIGHT THINGS BUT...IS IT ME?
UNDER THE MAKEUP- A-HA
KNOW THIS TRACK SO WELL AND HEARD A LOT RECENTLY.
SOUND WASHED-OUT TO ME. JUST A BIT.
BUT OF COURSE WHEN I GO BACK TO MY REGULAR AMPS AND DACS MAYBE IT WILL GIVE PERSPECTIVE."
All of this was done with the DAC Direct on.
Those real-time musings lead me to conclude that the K2 is very good at a lot of things (most things), but for me the tone colour just isn't rich enough with my system. I find particularly with voices it doesn't quite get me there. There was a slight synthetic tonal tinge to vocals that left me unfulfilled. I sing and know/work with lots of other vocalists so maybe I am picky in this respect.
In all other respects I was perfectly happy with it. Just shows how one little thing can spoil the cake.
Anyone know if the PCM56 could be swapped out with a 63? Or maybe the dac board would show big improvements with recapping (after all it's probably coming up for 30 years old).
I should point out that I don't use any valve stuff nor do I usually have a particularly euphonic presentation. Plugging my regular little DAC back in resolved the issue with voices for me.
That brings me to the second part of the review- the amp itself. Bloody hell, it's pretty good isn't it! It has just about everything I'd need in terms of reproduction. Don't need to say much more- would be happy with this if it was mine.
I think for the roughly £500 to pick one up these days it's a great package indeed. Highly recommend it.