General Asylum: REVIEW: nOhr Le Amp Amplifier (SS) by dljacob@uswest.net General audio topics that don't fit into specific categories.

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Model:	Le Amp
Category:	Amplifier (SS)
Suggested Retail Price:	$500pr
Description:	100W/ch monoblocks
Manufacturer URL:	Not Available
Manufacturer URL:	Not Available

Review by dljacob@uswest.net on November 21, 2001 at 23:50:23 IP Address: 216.160.128.227

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NOrh’s Le Amp – where’s the music?

Well I’ve been expending exhaustive days and nights wringing out a lot of amplifiers. Let me get all the administrative housework completed first. I’ve used in alphabetical order Aragon 8008st, Bryston 3B, Counterpoint SA220 w/original tubes, Counterpoint SA220 w/new NOS Amperex tubes, Denon AVR5800’s internal amps, Hafler DH220, nOrh’s Multiamp and finally five flavors of Le Amps. The five flavors were: 1) bone stock, 2) norh authorized dc cap modification (Jason’s), 3) Bolder Cable Co.’s Wayne Waananen’s dc cap bypass, 4) Wayne’s dc cap removed and jumpered, 5) Wayne’s Bolder Cable Co. Hotrod version. All of the listening tests have been performed at my home using nOrh marble 9.0 speakers sitting on nOrh marble stands. The source gear has been mostly Lexicon MC-12 preamp/processor in analog by-pass mode using a Sony SCD-XA777es SACD player in SACD mode with SACD discs. There have also been use of a Denon AVR 5800 receiver, Pioneer Elite DV37 DVD player for CD listening, a nOrh ACA preamp, a Sony R-1 separates combination CD/DAC system, Bolder Cable Co. type 1 interconnects and speaker cables, plus some generic Monster 14 gauge cables. The amps were all calibrated to within + or – 0.5 db using a Radio Shack spl meter. Wayne of Bolder Cable Co. graciously performed all of the Le Amp modifications on my Le Amps and provided all of the interconnect cables – thanks Wayne. All of the audio gear were broken-in with over 200 hours of use – cables, amps, preamps, reciever, CD players – everything. Let’s see what else am I forgetting – oh I purchased 16 Le Amps, to power 13 marble 9.0s and 3 marble 4.0 nOrh speakers.

Ok what do I think of nOrh’s Le Amp power amplifiers? Well for you to know that, you need to know what my background is. You need to know what sort of reference point I’m coming from, so you’ll need some more information. My reference system consists of Apogee’s “The Apogee” full range ribbon speakers. They are monsters – nearly seven feet tall, three feet wide, and weighing 300 pounds each. They require four channels of amplification – two stereo pair of Counterpoint SA220s. My room is 12 feet wide, and 33 feet deep with 8-foot ceilings. I sit approximately 14 feet from the Apogees normally. My reference system is quite capable of reproducing music in its entirety. My hearing (tested last weekend) is excellent for a 45-year-old male. I don’t mix words or describe the sounds of music with colorful words that are difficult to interpret. So you may find my comments on the amps as incomplete or short. I just don’t need to go on and on and on. Either the musical information is there or it isn’t. So now you know where I’m coming from. Now the method of testing. There has been blind testing with me being blind, and the opposite, with me doing all the switching. Most of my detail testing has occurred after my choices were made while I was blind.

Use these reference numbers for the five flavors of Le Amps – stock=1, nOrh by pass version=2, Wayne’s bypass=3, Wayne’s removed dc cap=4, Wayne’s Bolder Cable Co. Hotrod Le Amp=5

So now let’s hear the results.

The Five flavors of Le Amp: In all five of the Le Amps, the bass was very solid. They had decent control. The #4 version seemed to go a partial octave lower in bass, with Wayne’s #5 doing the same and adding more control and sharper bass notes. The #4 and #3 were similar to each other, but #4 a more favorable of those two versions. In all the testing, the stock #1 Le Amp, faired less than the modified Le Amps. The stock version had less sound stage and less detail. Details meaning that not all the musical notes being played came across as coming from instruments. The were just musical notes. This is in comparison to the five Le Amps. In version #2 some of the instruments – like piano – sounded like they were out-of-tune, and had less detail. The music sounded a little thin. In versions #3 and #4 the piano was smooth and had a lot of air around the music – much more believable. Those two also had fuller rich bass – palpable bass. Le Amp #4 had a more believable soundstage over #3 version. Le Amp #2 seemed to lack the amount of detail that was present in number #3 and #4. It was a little bright or harsh compared to #3 and #4. In most all of the listening the #5 Le Amp had the clarity and detail that was lacking in the other versions. It had a larger palette of musical tones. Instead of 64 colors, it had 256 colors. It had slightly stronger bass with more control. It had more dynamics and in particular the piano sounded like a piano with more clarity. It was also less bright on higher notes. Le Amps #3, #4 and #5 had more holographic sound staging. #4 and #5 being more similar, with #5 on top.

Le Amp #1 – the stock version: Where’s the music? Well it’s stuck in a capacitor called Bennic. This amplifier turned out to be mostly better than the Denon’s internal amp. I also feel that it is better than the Hafler as well. It has more control over the bass than those two amps. I also favored it over the nOrh Multiamp too. Where the amp falls down is in the details. You hear the musical notes, but not the instruments. It is an improvement over the Denon and Hafler, just not enough for me.

Le Amp#2 – the factory authorized dc cap modification. This is an improvement over the stock Le Amp. It just doesn’t go far enough for me. The piano instruments didn’t sound 100% like a piano – it sounded like an out-of-tune piano. It did have sharper transients, but still sounded bright and a little thin. The details were still a little muddy and more similar to the stock version over the other two dc cap modified Le Amps #3 and #4. In this version the dc capacitor is still in the loop of the amplifier circuit. This could be the reason why I prefer the #4 version to #2 and #3.

Le Amp#3 – the unauthorized dc cap modification. In this example, the dc capacitor is bridged under the board. The capacitor is still in the loop, but a straight wire bridges the two contacts, so less likely of current making the round trip through the capacitor. Theoretically, this should be equal to Le Amp #4, which has the capacitor completely, removed. This version of Le Amp comes very close to what Le Amp was designed for. It is far better than the Denon in my book. It brings the details back into the music. The piano sounds more like a piano. There is a lot more air around the instruments, with full rich bass. There is just more clarity and detail over #1 and #2. The bass comes across with more control.

Le Amp#4 – the unauthorized dc cap modification. In this example the dc capacitor is completely removed. The dc capacitor is removed and a 1/2 inch piece of 19 gauge Teflon insulated Kimber Kable TCSS Vari-Strand OFHC copper wire soldered at the circuit board. The capacitor is completely gone with only about ½ inch of copper wire in its place. This version of Le Amp completes the “more-or-less” stock Le Amp models. This version has much more clarity and details over the other versions, that this should have been the Le Amp released to the market. The bass is very solid, and controlled. There are more details in the music coming through. It has a stronger sound stage than the other non-hotrod versions. It is a little smoother as well, and the bass seems to go a partial octave lower than the other non-hotrod versions. It is very close to version #3, but I give this rendition a higher grade over #3.

Le Amp#5 – the unauthorized dc cap modification plus Wayne’s Bolder Cable Co. Hotrod additions. Please see the description of these modifications near the bottom of the review. This version of Le Amp was full flavored. It wasn’t as bright as #1 or #2. It had much more clarity among the musical instruments being played. It had a larger palette of musical tones over the other versions. It also had stronger bass and more control and sharper transients. Piano now sounded like a piano. Its soundstage was a little larger and deeper over the other flavors of Le Amp. The bass notes were more palpable and less boomy. This amp more closely exceeded the other amps except for the Aragon and the Counterpoints. This amp could be spoken of in the company of the Aragon and Counterpoint. It had greater detail than #4. The bass was stronger again with better control.

WHERE’S THE MUSIC:

Ok my picks for the various flavors of Le Amp: The king was Bolder Cable Co.’s Le Amp. Wayne’s modifications pushed the Le Amp into a position to be talked about in the company of Aragon and Counterpoint.

Among the “more-or-less” stock Le Amps, I picked #4 as being closest to Wayne’s Hotrod version. I feel that it is an amp I could live with and easily replace the Denon’s internal amps, and the Hafler in its form. The Denon had more detail than Le Amp #1, but less than #4. The Denon’s bass seemed to be uncontrolled and droning in comparison. I do like the better detailing of the Denon over the lesser Le Amps. It presented some air around the instruments. The Hafler had less bass, and seemed to be missing a lower octave compared to the Le Amp. It had slightly better detail than the lesser Le Amps (#1,#2), but was emotionless or lifeless. It had a smaller soundstage too with less imaging. It seemed to have a compressed freq. response in comparison to #4 Le Amp. Maybe it’s tonally off some how. I didn’t really compare it much to nOrh’s Multiamp, for it doesn’t belong to me, and it is based on a similar design as Le Amp. I also felt #4 was better than the Bryston amp too.

Overall I would say Le Amp #4 had well-controlled bass. On quieter passages, there are nice details and air around instruments with very good imaging and staging. It seems to have good tonality or accurate reproduction of musical notes. It maintains the emotion of the performance of the musicians. Where does it lose ground? I would say in louder passages it could lose the details of the musical tones. It becomes difficult to determine what instruments are being played. The musical notes are there, just difficult to determine what instrument is being played. So those details can become muddy or lost during loud passages.

OK THE BIG DOGS COME OUT TO PLAY

Now in comparison to the Aragon 8008st and the two Counterpoint SA220s. Well, this is a little easier to pick a complete winner. To get this out of the way right at the top. The Aragon is much better. The Counterpoints are next, with the Hotrod Le Amp next and the #4 Le Amp after that.

The Aragon provides great detail and air around the instruments. Never are you confused about what instruments are being played. You might forget what they’re called, but you know the difference. It has solid bass with exacting control and transients. It presents a refined soundstage that is incredibly believable. It’s hard to find faults in the Aragon, especially playing through the marble 9.0s. Of course the MSRP of the Aragon is $2249 for a stereo amp. This is overkill in this comparison. Some would say this is an unfair fight, and I would have to agree with them.

The Counterpoint SA220 twins. These amps also provide great detail and air around the instruments. It has slightly less detail than the Aragon. Or perhaps I should word that smoother or warmer. It too has great bass that is solid and perhaps a little louder than the Aragon. It presents a taller image than the Aragon, why I’m not sure. In either case both amps present a believable soundstage and image. The soundstage is a little more forward than the Aragon too. It has a little less bass control than the Aragon, or not as taught or tight.

In comparison to the Aragon and Counterpoints, Bolder Cable Co.’s Hotrod Le Amp had less detail, with a shallower soundstage. It still had good bass control, but less detail than the Aragon. But I must reinforce that it had very good bass control.

For Le Amp #4 in the comparison to the Aragon and Counterpoint, it had a much flatter soundstage. Smaller than the Hotrod Le Amp too. It presented less detail, which I would miss. It still had solid bass though, albeit with less sharpness or sharp transients. Overall though a very livable amplifier.

Well there is my long-winded take on nOrh’s Le Amp. I hope you can get some help with making your decisions about your purchase of either of these flavors of Le Amp.

NOW FOR THE COMMERCIAL.

Since I can afford any of the above amplifiers, and because I have the time to do critical listening of all my systems, I’ve decided that I want the extra performance of the Aragon amplifiers. So while reluctant, I’m going to sell all of my Le Amps. Wayne has already claimed five for himself, so I’m down to 11 amps available. Four of the Le Amps have hardly been looked at – other than making sure they work. The balance – 7 are fully broken-in and ready for listening. Now, if some of you are like me, I can’t solder worth a damn, I’m offering Wayne’s services to do any of the above Flavors of modification. If you want the nOrh authorized dc cap modification – that can be performed. This modification should maintain your warranty with nOrh. Also, Michael has told me that he would extend the nOrh warranty to the new customers. That can be provided in written form. For the rest of the Flavors, I would highly recommend version number 4 for those who don’t want to upgrade their Le Amps. I feel that this version offers the most bang for the buck. Last but not least I can arrange for any of Wayne’s Hotrod modifications. You can do some or all. That is up to you, Wayne and your wallet. Wayne is also doing some more upgrades to internal components that I haven’t heard yet. He can certainly discuss any of these for you. Wayne estimates a full Hotrod Le Amp upgrade to cost near $100 per amp. The dc cap modification is substantially less. Now the best part, since I purchased all these Le Amps at the “special price”, I will offer all the Le Amps at my cost plus shipping. I estimate my current cost of each Le Amp at about $225. So for $225 plus shipping to your home is all it will cost. I can have Wayne do his magic dc cap removal for a nominal fee. Wayne is also offering if you purchase any flavor of his power cords, he will do the dc cap modification for free (any flavor #2, #3 or #4 thanks Wayne). Seven of the Le Amps are all ready broken-in. All of the Le Amps are cosmetically new. If you would like, Wayne could make you or provide any of his upgraded power cables to match your other modifications.

So first-come-first-served. Here is my email address:

dljaudio@hotmail.com

My phone number is 303-322-8130

If you want to speak to Wayne about any of his modifications – here is his email address:

waananen@msn.com

Wayne’s Bolder Cable Co. HOTROD version of Le Amp:

In this Le Amp the dc cap is removed like version #4. On top of that the internal unshielded wiring is removed, with shielded cables installed in their place. The stock speaker terminals and RCA input are removed. In their place a Cardas GRFATHN RCA input is installed, it requires a larger hole in the casing. It has silver/rhodium plating which has the lowest resistance, hardest and most durable surface. It also is the least magnetically susceptible, most non-reactive and best sounding plating available, at least according to Cardas. Superior Electric brand speaker terminals are installed. These allow complete insertion of banana plugs, and allow regular spade connectors to work as well. The original speaker terminals won’t accept standard spade connectors or allow full insertion of bananas. The dc capacitor is removed and a 1/2 inch piece of 19 gauge Teflon insulated Kimber Kable TCSS Vari-Strand OFHC copper wire soldered at the circuit board as done in #4 version. The speaker terminal wiring is replaced with CC89259 cable – Jon Risch recipe Wayne uses for his speaker cables. The input wiring is replaced with another Jon Risch recipe for shielded interconnect cables also used in Wayne’s interconnect cables. A different valued resistor is replaced allowing the db gain to be increased from 26 db to approximately 29 db. This brings the db gain close to the Thompson specifications for the IC chip in their generic amplifier specification. It also adds more dynamics to the music presented. Wayne is doing additional internal component upgrades that I’ve not heard yet. You should ask about these upgrades when talking to Wayne. Wayne also provided a pair of his Type 1-power cords with Watt-gate gold plated terminations. Again I would like to thank Wayne for making all the modifications that allowed for very meaningful comparisons to the nOrh Le Amp shoot-outs. Thanks Wayne.

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Product Weakness:	overall performance limited to the cost of the materials used and design.
Product Strengths:	value number one, decent bass control, in "authorized" dc cap modification makes it a better amp, easily upgraded for much better performance. A modern day Hafler upgradeable amplifier

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Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Aragon 8008st, Counterpoint SA220s, Bryston 3B, Hafler DH220, nOrh Multiamp, Denon AVR 5800 internal amps
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Lexicon MC-12, nOrh ACA preamp, Denon AVR 5800
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Sony SCD-XA777es SACD player, Sony R-1 combination CD/DAC, Pioneer Elite DV37 for CD playback
Speakers:	nOhr marble 9.0s on nOrh marble stands
Cables/Interconnects:	Bolder Cable Co. Type 1 interconnects and speaker cables, Monster 14 guage
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Piano, female vocals, pop, rock, SACDs
Room Size (LxWxH):	33 x 12 x 8
Room Comments/Treatments:	all brick walls and ceiling, carpet over cement floor
Time Period/Length of Audition:	approximately two months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	line conditioners for source gear
Type of Audition/Review:	Home Audition
Your System (if other than home audition):	home system

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