I didn't know much about these until my brother bought it. He has paired them with his b&w 704 s2 and when I heard it I loved it. I told him it's the best amp his ever had even better than his marantz 40n. It's definitely a step up from my powernode and worth the money
I once heard the roksan caspian paired with the roksan candy on waterfall floor standing speakers at a Manchester England hifi show many years ago, I don't remember the interconnects or speaker cables used but it sounded & felt like Ella Fitzgerald, the solo pianist & rest of the band were right in the room with me, the music had an inky back silent background when she paused which created tension & anticipation waiting for Ella to come in & sing her tonsils out again, this was the 1st time I had experienced real quality audio equipment, there were other more expensive set ups in other rooms but none performed anything like the much more cheaper roksan-waterfall set up, to this i day still have a soft spot for roksan equipment.
Thank you kindly. There is more to the sound of a DAC than the chip. However, AKM chips tend to be pretty resolving. I haven’t heard a DAC using a Wolfson chip on a while 😊👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 the Rega Saturn uses a pair of Dual Wolfson WM8742’s to outstanding effect. A shame Rega won’t engage with the you tube space and asses each reviewer on their own merits and professionalism, as I believe this channel would be a good outlet for them.
@@Theoriginalramjammer thank you kindly. I had a chat with them recently and I believe they are amending their policy inline with what you have suggested. I just haven’t had time to follow up yet 😊👍
Roksan were always a favourite of Richer Sounds and I never heard a bad review of their products. Always seem to offer great value. I’d have no worry buying a product of theirs. Nice t shirt, hope to see you at Carnage next week.
Well, thanks for accommodating my request to review a Roksan product so promptly 😂. I'm one of those few who use Heos and are perfectly happy with it. Sure, it's a bit clunky, but the sound quality is generally good. I think I'll just keep pootling along in my aged Honda Accord whilst admiring all the Astons and Bentleys swishing past me.
After querying the name Roksan in an email earlier this week, your intro was amusingly en pointe! But then most of your reviews seem to amiably scratch an audio itch to check out components, even though I'm still perfectly happy with what I have! I'm fortunate to have bought most of my music years ago, so I don't stream, but similarly with a personal digital collection I do wonder about the possibilities of a personal AI DJ. As always, thanks for a lovely review.
I’ve watched virtually everyone of Tarun’s videos I find his eloquence, intelligence, unbiased and passionate approach very endearing, interesting and informative. I’m just hoping he gets his hands on a new Musical Fidelity A1 or Myryad Z350 set up in the near future. I’d also like to see him review more Rega and Roksan equipment, as a previous owner of all the brands I’ve mentioned I would happily anticipate them.
Thank you again Tarun. As always, an entertaining and informative review. I so look forward to your videos. I must say that I'm just not into streaming. The ritual of playing the silver discs is an important part of the listening experience for me.
Hi Tarun, I purchased the amp in review, and paired it with the Monitor Audio Silver 100G, and in my relatively small room, I am very happy with the room filling sound quality I get from the set up, I also purchased the matching CD Transport, which I am also happy with. Have to say, one of the reasons I purchased the ROKSAN was the blueos streaming capability, which I can now pair with my NODE2i in another room, therefore filling the house with beautiful sounding music, cheers.
can you please describe more of the SQ combo? im under the impression the combo will be full-bodied midrange (and nuance), (expressive vocals , tight midbass (and lively treble) fun signature? (me) looking for an amp to max out full potential of MA 100 7g this combo is in my shortlist
Hi ricstars95, apologies for not replying sooner, but I will say again I am very happy with the combo I have, and will clarify, my MA 100Gs and the 7gs you are looking at, and in a similar room size, I am sure you will be happy too@@ricstars95
You asked. Yes, I am a Bluos fan. Love the software, and the Node 2i. Not prodding the spousal approval factor presently, but looking forward to the Node X. Enjoy your work here in Lenbrook country. Carry on, please.
I bought one ! It's the Bluos that convinced me. It is not the full version as far as I know. For example no tone controls. Correct me if I'm wrong. Paired right now with Mission SX1 but considering the MA Silver 50. Cheers, Al
Hi Tarun, still using Nad C338 which you also reviewed, it is good enough for a small-ish room. Nad released an update this year and Spotify connect was fixed. The connectivity is still great, despite the age
I love Roksan gear - got a Xerxes 20 plus and TR5-S2 speakers which are incredible. I had a Caspian M2 which was also superb. They are a great company to deal with also, always ready to help and customer service is superb. I sold the Caspian and bought a Naim Uniti atom as I wanted a streaming amplifier. The atom is very similar sounding to the Caspian I'd say, but it has a wonderful Naim App that allows me to stream from Tidal/Qobuz etc as well as local files in a well integrated and intuitive App. Also has a built in headphone socket which the Roksan lacked. Great video Tarun as always.
Thanks for the review Tarun. Although I never owned a Roksan, I have been tempted by their CD player. For streaming I use a MacMini i7 with Roon Core. Roon recommends splitting Core for an endpoint, so I use an M1 MacMini next to it with a CAT 8 Supra cable - 50cm. My Denafrips DAC connects to the DDC over I2S, which connects over USB to the M1 MacMini. I use Tidal as service via Roon, but also Apple Music works well via the M1.
Great review again . I hooked up a WiiM mini to my Ch Precision A1.5 power amp and Stenheim speakers and the sound was not at all bad - note the price difference ! I then used the same WiiM mini as a streamer only into my dCS Rossini Apex DAC and again it was not bad at all . In fact on some tracks I could hear no difference between it and the internal streamer of the dCS Rossini . The WiiM has an excellent UI too . I had an Aurender N20 In my system and it sounded no better than sticking a usb drive into the dCS dac . But a Melco server at one tenth of the Aurender price sounded better with the same dCS dac . Bottom line - there are so many variables to consider when streaming - the optimal Dac implementation, noise from a switch , usb implementation , software DSP etc
Great review. I am happy with MoOde streaming software running on Allo USBridge Sig hardware. Probably not as polished as BlueOS but very well maintained software.
I use the Naim app for my MuSoQb2. Very good, easy to use and stable. Also, probably the most attractive and easy to see interface. My Bluesound Node2 uses the same app as the Roksan. Also good. My main system uses LightningDS, the Auralic app. I use Qobuz only on all three and rarely have issues. I get most drops and interference with BlueOs, with LDS taking a while to get working. If I could run just one system, it would probably be the Naim, it is the easiest to see, use and navigate.
Love my Kandy K3, oodles of power and always an exciting listen. Paired it with a CA CXNv2 instead of going for the Atessa but I do like the look of this.
Coming in a bit late now. I own a Roksan Blak and compared to the few amps that I have owned is a significant upgrade by a long way… scales well with upgraded digital inputs and speakers. it has a few quirks with the volume control ( increments of 2) but what you get in sound quality makes it more than worth i imo… Would love to see how this amp based on sound quality compares to the Hegels and alike! Considering the discounted prices you can pick this up for now!
The choice when it comes to British Hi-Fi, comes down to the sweet spot between listening and liking, and budget. I am astounded by how many great British companies there are, regardless of whether they are still built in the UK or in China, the sound is often characteristically British, and good. From amplifiers to turntables, and of course speakers, one faces a difficult decision as to just which way to go, with the exception of the likes of Chord to Rega, and Naim that will soon drive out of sight with high-end, HiFi pricing. It is refreshing that with the likes of Audiolab, Leak, Arcam, Roksan, Quad, Cambridge, and others, that you can still buy British sound and not go broke doing so. The issue here in Canada, is the increase with regards to exchange though that is nowhere near the sticker shock of US produced gear.
Soft spot for Roksan.. Bought a Xerxes with my 18th birthday money in the late 80s(the Touraj years) .. But Roksan then and now just isn't the same. But I do think that acquisition of the brand was a shrewd move by Monitor audio which again is not what it was in those Iqbal times....on the whole both brands have gone on to produce a more dependable, better product range. As always great content Tarun. 👍🏻
I use a Wiim Pro > NJC Audio Reference DAC> Buchardt i150 amp> Holographic Audio Amp 16 Power Amp> Buchardt S400 M II speakers and it sounds fantastic. The Wiim App is on a par with BlueOS for me and maybe shades it in terms of listening to customer feedback and implementing suggestions through regular updates. It’s also incredible value at £150. Great review as always Tarun. Thank you. 🤘
Quite by accident I sat down with 2 raisin scones( 🇬🇧💂♂️how very British of me💂♀️🇬🇧) and a cup of joe ☕️(🇺🇸🇺🇸how very American of me🇺🇸🇺🇸) to watch your latest. It made me giggle! 😄In responding to your ask at the end …I have very capable system (all separates), with about $24K invested. It’s been quite the journey…and I smile a LOT now when listening…but you hit the nail on the head..my frustration is the streaming interface. I have Amazon Music Ultra HD and Qobuz…I can stream via HEOS thru my Marantz SACD 30n and you know how primitive that interface is or…which is my usual streaming Qobuz thru my P2Design Mercury Streamer using Volumio…which has a better interface, but my Mac IOS and the Volumio just don't play well together. Constant lags, super slow and just frustrating all around. If EverSolo would come out with just a streamer (NO DAC) and an I²S output at a reasonable price I would be all over it. Their streamers offer very high fidelity it and their interface looks promising as well!
Useful review. I was thinking if buying the attessa streaming amplifier or the attessa amplifier to be paired with the Eversolo streamer. Which combo is better to You? Alluding to the relatively poor DAC performance, will I get better performance pairing the Eversolo? Thanks
Tarun, great review with well defined pros and cons. In my setup I use streamer Primare NP5 mk2 > amp Cambridge Audio CXA80 > speakers Wharfedale Evo 4.4 Must say, Iam very happy with this combo. I also have DAC Schiit Modius with XLR outputs to CXA80, but have to say that CXA80 dac Wolfson 8740 has better depth soundstage. Keep on making great reviews!
I currently use BluOS/Qobuz in one system and Qobuz in a tablet sourced system. My Node allows subout which can act as a desirable high pass filter. Unfortunately, the Node's internal Burr Brown DAC is indeed midfi and that obviates use of the subout. I suspect that a strong competitor to the Atessa would be a WiiM Pro @$149. out to a Topping E70 Velvet DAC @$449.00 driving a Topping LA90 Discrete Amplifier @$799.00 Superior fidelity and a fine balance between warmth and neutrality. A combo that offers a similar but superior fidelity. The WiiM app reportedly has good functionality.
Thanks! I don't stream music as I buy cd's and sccd's (DSD recorded) to support the artists better. I have HEOS if I ever wanted to combine and get into it, but I can afford the largess of paying royalties out.
I still use my oooolllddd Logitech Squeezebox Touch as Streaming Device! 96/24 bit resolution is enough for me… ☺ And it simply works perfectly, also with Spotify and Tidal… 👍🏻 I use an external DAC from the NL Company Metrum Acoustic, which I find great! As for the Amplifier I am getting closer to a buying decision (as my loved Astintrew Amp has given up. Probably it will be an Atoll Amp. At the moment I have the IN100 Sig at home! Great!! With the small exception of the higher mids, that I feel slighly elevated with my Proac speakers… I will try also the IN80 Sig and the IN200 Sig…
@@abritishaudiophile7314 I heard Atoll 80 sig., 100 sig. and 200 sig. Finally I decided nevertheless for the 100 sig! In conjunction with my ProAcs D15 a fantastic match!! The slightly elevated higher mids, are still there, but it is not annoying. The base on the other hand is one of the best I heard in my room with my speakers! Here the In100sig. shines over the 80/200...
Nice to see Roksan finally giving you a unit. I'm still rocking K3 and Chord Mojo with Amphion Argon 3S. I'm finding the sound not very wide, do you think I'd get more width with an R2R-DAC, or are Amphions not very wide sounding in general? I'm barely hearing anything to the sides of the speakers. EDIT: You should review Pegasus Draco. 800 pound R2R DAC very similar to Pegasus. Could be the best DAC under 1000 pounds.
Thank you. The Mojo, K3 and Argon 3S are all capable of producing decent soundstage width. Swop out one component at a time until you isolate the problem 😊
Hello Tarun. Long time. Hope all is well. Finally got my speakers: Sonus Faber Lumina 5. I am digging them. Looked at your review on the Willsenton R8. If that amp drove your hard to drive speakers well I'm sure it shouldn't have a problem with mine rated at 4ohm nominal at around 89dB sensitivity (although some reviewers measured it at 90dB) in any case, the R8 may be a nice match. I couldn't find the Exposure 2510 so ended up with the Arcam SA20, not bad, but it's really rolled off I think and tons of bottom end, it's nice but not that much depth or width of sound stage. Looking for something that will just open up these speakers. Pinpointed down to the Willsenton R8, Exposure 2510, Vincent SV237 MK2 or the Yamaha AS1200. Cheers and stay well.
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Tarun, my next purchase I will probably upgrade my integrated Arcam SA20. It's nice but as you say, a bit too tubby in the bass, but then again I only had the system for about one month. Still, after watching your review specifically on the Belles Aria, the Willsenton, and of course the Exposure 2510, which would you say is the most different in sonic flavor then the SA20? I know you heard the SA10, but I'm not sure if you heard the SA20, they sound similar. It's nice, I just would like more horizontal width (maybe even vertical height if possible) but I especially want depth. I don't know how I feel about tubes either, especially because the speakers double for music and two channel tv (albeit, I am not getting into the two channel tv thing and my expand on a 5.1/5.2
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Thank you Tarun, just to clarify, that's the Exposure 3510 and Not the 2510? Just wanted to be sure since I mentioned about the 2510 and you praised it for its price to performance. Sounds great though. Yeah, Exposure seems like a really nice company compared to the big league chains. I'll wait for your clarification about the 2510 or the 3510. Cheers.
I intend to pair a Roksan amp either the Attessa, or K3 CD, and vinyl player and will be pairing it all with a pair of Silver 300 7g's. I'm just torn between the two system families. I'm not happy about the 3.5mm over 3 1/4" on the attessa.
The Xerxes turntable was my first higher end table that I bought in the late 80's. I loved the sound and to this day the best I've ever owned. If you can review a new Creek amp that is another product brand that I owned and would like to see if the new Creek amps are good. :)
Hi Tarun. First of all i want to thank You for your work. Atessa and 7000a are on my list for upgrade my hifi. I have a pair of Dali Rubicon 2 and not sure what amplifier would be the best choice.
Cambridge CXN v2 is my choice as streamer/DAC/preamp (yes use it as preamp to my CX61. Got a in-line filter to my sub in between) and then Spotify and all internet channels there are with various stream quality. Critical listening is cd,
How do you find it vs using the CX61 as a pre? I’ve experimented with my Kandy k3 as I like using the CXN for volume control for convenience but find it sounds better with the pre from the Kandy to my ears.
@@thebingaling1105t’s ok to use the CXN as a preamp and the 61 as amp. The real hefty sound is not really there, because of low signal from the CXN to the 61. The quality are not gone missing. For sure, I can turn up the volume and it gets louder. The volume on the 61 follows the CXN when I use the remote. Great feature. All is easy to use. Swap between the CXC (cd), Spotify, internet radio, optical from tv. But in near time will I buy a power amp and use the preamp out on the 61. A DIY Hypex Nilia. The reason for this way of connections are that I have a InLine filter that removes the first octave (mine cuts 78Hz) of the signal from the CXN to the 61. Relief for the main speakers, that don’t need to play so low and the sub takes care of the low.
Hi Tarun, it is a pity Rega don't let thier products for RUclips review. My eyes is on the rega elex mk4 . It is around £1200, it has a phono input , a 6.35mm headphone plug and seemingly a good DCA, made in Great Britain.
Book a demo with a dealer linked to speakers as close to yours as possible or save up & audition speakers together. Obviously compare with say 2 others in the same price catagory
My impression was quite different as the amp is outstandingly musical, has terrific weight and soundstaging is non fatiguing yet resolving and works superbly with the included DAC streaming directly. I use it with the amazing little NEAT Acoustics IOTA Alphas. Fabulous combination.
I'm a big fan of BluOS but the issue is whether to run a separate Node streamer into an amp, or an all-in-one streaming amp. For the latter you are limited to a few amps: Powernode, this Attessa or a NAD (C368, 389, 399 and above). I just wish Rega would go down the BluOS route. I think a Brio/Elex/Elicit with BluOS module would be a great option.
Hello. Could you tell me which of these amps (7000a vs Attessa) has better midrange? Which one has closer midtones and where there is more detail and separation (mainly midrange)? Thanks
Hi I've got B&W 706 S2 was thinking of getting IOTAVX stack, but that i've seen this review from you a reviewer i trust. Only for good sound quality, which one should I go for Attessa or IOTAVX.
Currently running a Rega Brio R with Focal Chora 826s. Wonder if this amp would warm up the sound and how much of that lovely Rega sound I would go amiss... I am running Blusound Node2i with power upgrades in between the two. Agreed BluOs is better than anything else.
😉Thanks, Tarun. 👍👨🏻Still contemplating what my “best” streaming platform will be. I use a WiiM and a Schiitt Modi+ on a secondary, less resolving “warm” ~4K$ (amp+ speakers) system, but still haven’t solidified streaming method on my primary listening system.👨🏻
@@abritishaudiophile7314 It is always “extra” fun to view videos that are related to things for which decisions have to be made on down the road.. I really enjoy your presentations, very informative.😉👨🏻
Hi Tarun, in relation to your comments about the Menuet SE, you say rhey deserve a better amplifier in terms of micro details and subtleties. How much would I have to spend to get such an amplifier that also has a 400vA transformer and 30 amp peak current capability?
@abritishaudiophile7314 Thanks for getting back to me, but what I meant was what amplifier with approx 400vA transformer and 30 amp current that has more detail would be an improvement over the Attessa? (Not in relation to the Menuets). I currently have an Attessa driving a pair of Harbeth 7es-3, and is really woken them up compared to my previous amps that had less drive, and was wondering how much it would cost me to get a meaningful upgrade.
Is the DAC chip the same as on my ifi-zen 2? Because if it is then its a 150 pound dac. Not great for something in this price range. Balanced DAC Burr Brown USB XMOS MQA 384kHz DSD256 is what ive got in that. It is better than the audioquest dragonfly red it replaced by a substantial margin. However it seems a bit too budget to go in a streaming amp like this. Great in an under 200 pound award winning DAC paired with a set of 300 pound Adam Audio studio monitors that i'm using. A really good set up for the price. Less so in something over 1000 pounds. Can see why it would let it down. Can you use the streaming bit and stream to an external DAC?
I cant no decide … for my dali Rubicon 5 loudspeakers…. The marantz model 40 n Roksan atessa or lyngdorf 1120 ? Can you help me out? Thanks anföd greetings from germany
Hello Tarun.I have the non streaming version of Attessa amp paired with Elac Carina bs243.4. Just to say that the relative weak points of Attessa you mentioned in your review could be improved by adding an after market power cable. In my case supra 2.5 spc provided significantly better depiction of details and air and further tightened the bass. I am using the integrated dac and a wiim mini streamer which I also feed with an ifi ipower x. However, in your opinion what external dac under 500 pounds would you recommend to get an appreciable sonic improvement?
I don't think you're missing in a power-down option with the amp. The Blusound app doesn't allow you to pwer down the NAD m10, and since it's explicit, it's not an oversight
Thank you very much for your detailed review, Tarun. Now, would you match this product with Sonus Faber Lumina III or V? And what would be the comparison of Attessa with Rotel RA 1572 MK II?
Let me finish, I stream with a raspberry pi 3 running valumio sofrware and have a Hifiberry Digi2 Pro 2.2 hat. This is toslinked into a denafrips ares ii with upgraded software. That feeds a Naim Naim 5Si integrated amp that drives Zu DW mark 2 speakers. I am very happy with the sound for jazz, acoustic and rock music. I have yet to be convinced that I need to upgrade my steamer. I’m more of an audio enthusiast than a audiophile.
Hello, First of all thank-you for this video. I have a ROKSAN ATTESSA amp, I would like to use the IR minijack socket because the device is poorly oriented for the remote control. Could you advise me on the equipment needed. A big thank-you. (Sorry for my English, I speak French). Best regards, Marcel RICHARD.
Hi I’ve got the dali oberon 5 paired with a powernode. I’m finding the sound too dark for my liking was wondering if you could suggest this amp or any other streaming amplifier to pair with my speakers
After much testing at Sevenoaks I paired my Roksan with a pair of B&W 706 S2 it was a toss up between them and the Kef R3 but the BW won with 3 of us listening to varied music. I did also test concept 30s silver 50s Lintons and Metas but other than the Wharfs they were all a bit meh with the Roksan. I’ve also after some time popped in a spare REL 150 sub as it was getting dusty in the shed and then add yet another level to the low end
@@siamxiii yes very well out of everything I tested it was between these and the B & W not much in them to be fair both sounded amazing crisp with nice Bass when compared to the other. The lintons were nice but too warm old school sounding for me
I also like the BluOS streaming app but I find myself using Roon mostly now. Any chance you might be reviewing the Holo Red streamer at some point? Thanks for another excellent review Tarun.
Hi Tarun, I have technical question for you :) Generally I'm using android tv box as streamer and connected to dac with optical cable. You can change volume with android tv box, but how this process is happening technically? Is digital signal firstly converted to analog with build in dac and then digital again? Is it possible changing volume level with digital audio signal? If so, this means I screw up digital signal and it is useless how good dac I have. Thanks for your great reviews always :)
Keeping things within the same kind of budget line, would it be better to get the non streaming attessa and adding a blue sound node? You’d get a slightly better DAC, HDMI and the BluOS streaming app. Thoughts?
Good point, I thought it might give you a bit more detail than the BB for the money. I should also add, I really appreciate the reviews you do. They are entertaining and always balanced. I always get a good sense of your ‘reference point’ which you communicate extremely competently and apply consistently. 👍👍
Have been hearing all kind of music genre the last 1,5 months or so with the Attessa non stream version connect with volumio primo hifi edition dac streamer on a pair comete 40th. Took a little time to find the sweat spot placing 40th , the Attessa is a perfect match. Small amount of cash and you got hifi sound for years to come ✌️
Tarun? Do you think that the inclusion of tone controls in many of these amps would allow the listener to tailor the experience to their own likes and compensate when it comes to differing recording levels? If so, why do you think many marques like audiolab just aren't doing it?
Back in the late 80s, or maybe it was the early 90s, I purchased a Caspian cd player from my local Radford hifi store. It was being heavily promoted. I think a ex member of Roksan’s staff had just joined the Radford sales team. The unit was built like a proverbial brick sh1t house with aesthetics that could only be described as striking. I was pleased with it’s functionality and musical reproduction, until, a couple of years later, a friend bought me a Tesco dvd player. This unit was more sturdily constructed than my. Caspian and it’s design was rugged and industrial, it cost 1 10th the price of my Caspian. I plumbed the Tesco dvd player into my system and spun 2 ident disks, simultaneously. The end result was laughable. Yes, the musical reproduction on the Caspian was very slightly fuller, had more body, but the Tesco was extremely close. I still have that Caspian unit in my rack. It is still fully functional, but is not plumbed in, it is there because it still looks striking, classy! It has been replaced by a cd transport connected to my Denafrips Venus. Enjoy the music.
Great comment. I used to read What Hifi as a cash strapped student and imagined that CD players that were two or three times more expensive than my JVC xlz464 for £200 must sound truly amazing and so much better. Having heard some much more expensive cd players since I realised they were only a touch better than my JVC cd player. Even Chord Mojo only sounds a fraction better. Not sure it’s worth the price. I have kept my JVC and enjoy the build quality and looks. The mid 1990s to late 1990s might have been the best time for CD players and value as so much competition. So much subjectivity with CD players.
@@ShotGunCyril I think ultimately, it boils down to the laws of diminishing returns. If you purchase a component for say £500, likely you’ve bought a decent performing unit. If you pay £2500 for a component higher up in the range, likely it will out perform your £500 unit. Will that component costing 5 times as much offer 5 times the performance? No. You might etch out another 10% performance. So the big question is are you happy to pay 5 times the price for an increase of 10% in performance? The answer must be dictated by the amount of disposable income you have to play with. Me, I’m all for a high ratio of performance to value, bang for your buck. Most of all, enjoy the music.
Hi Tarun, Wont a good streamer do any good with the Attessa? Or is the dac really that "bad" quality. I am a little confused here as other reviews there non about the build in dac is not on point with rest of the amplification 😊 Cheers
@@abritishaudiophile7314I meant is the dac really a let down when comparing with the other components in the Attessa? As i read in other reviews on the Roksan Attessa they do not mention that Attessa onboard dac aint that good. Can it be when using the blu ios on Attessa stream version that the sound gets narrow? Have you tried with external streamer
@@abritishaudiophile7314 the Attessa dac in my opinion on the non stream version with external streamer is a little dry but still good imaging, Attessa with volumio primo dac streamer connect to a pair Triangle comete 40th anniversary speakers makes the music in all genres fun. But thats the fun with hifi we all have our own personal taste. Thanks again for your good reviews 😊
Great looking component, just a shame that internal components aren't at similar levels. Dare I say they cd use a switching supply and upgrade the DAC and achieve better sound perhaps
BluOs is decent but once you try Roon, there's no going back. Except perhaps some esoteric ultra hi-end offerings (like Taiko), it's the best out there.
Original Volumio Primo here, into 6000A. The Primo DAC sounds a little better than the Audiolab. The Primo is a great sounding streamer, but the music 'library' function is terrible / non existant. I gave up and use Roon, which works very well with the Primo. I'd recommend those looking for a transport only look to the new Rivo (why not review it?).
Hey Tarun , I wasn’t expecting you to do this one it was in my radar before I bought Audiolab 6000a , as you have explained I have few burbrown dacs and a cd player from Arcam .. you’re spot on the sound stage is between the speaker but at some point the Sound of it is just so relaxing and there is a good detail not as good as my mojo or Arche but just love the sound .. one more question what sort of speakers you suggest for audiolab 6000a I have celestion Ditton 22 , Arcam Alto and Focal chorus 706
Th am you for sharing your experiences Atri. I agree Burr Brown DAC do tend to have a warm relaxing sound. Wharfedale speakers always sound good with Audiolab gear 👍
What's really missing is a digital output for the streamer. That should not be hard and expensive and you could use an external DAC. Now you are limited forever unless using both an external DAC AND streamer (or a streamer with a much better DAC) which seems a waste of resources. This gives me the feeling Roksan hasn't really caught up with today's hi-fi landscape yet.
Personally not that thrilled with the Auralic G1.1 software. Seems a bit obtuse to me. The cd ripping controls are limited and you have no choices on level of error reaction so if you rip a CD that is not perfect it may reject 70 % of the songs but does not give you the option to go ahead and rip even though not perfect. The screen and writing is small. Hard for me to read easily. I cant help but notice the big screen on the new Everglow A6. No idea about sound comparisons.
@@abritishaudiophile7314 After some experimentation I have a good CD ripping agenda using DB power amp app. The Lokius Eq should allow me to reel in any really sonic outliers.
Every once in a while you come up with brands that I've never heard of. It's fun to expand my knowledge. Thanks!
Thank you Mike 👍
I didn't know much about these until my brother bought it. He has paired them with his b&w 704 s2 and when I heard it I loved it. I told him it's the best amp his ever had even better than his marantz 40n. It's definitely a step up from my powernode and worth the money
Cool 😎
I once heard the roksan caspian paired with the roksan candy on waterfall floor standing speakers at a Manchester England hifi show many years ago, I don't remember the interconnects or speaker cables used but it sounded & felt like Ella Fitzgerald, the solo pianist & rest of the band were right in the room with me, the music had an inky back silent background when she paused which created tension & anticipation waiting for Ella to come in & sing her tonsils out again, this was the 1st time I had experienced real quality audio equipment, there were other more expensive set ups in other rooms but none performed anything like the much more cheaper roksan-waterfall set up, to this i day still have a soft spot for roksan equipment.
What a great experience 👍
Thanks a lot Mr Tarun. I have been waiting a lot for this review from you. U are doing a great job. I am a great follower of you.
Thanks for your opinion on Burr Brown DAC chip. Kindly put your opinion on AKM vs Wolfson DAC chip.
Thank you kindly. There is more to the sound of a DAC than the chip. However, AKM chips tend to be pretty resolving. I haven’t heard a DAC using a Wolfson chip on a while 😊👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Thanks soo much
@@abritishaudiophile7314 the Rega Saturn uses a pair of Dual Wolfson WM8742’s to outstanding effect. A shame Rega won’t engage with the you tube space and asses each reviewer on their own merits and professionalism, as I believe this channel would be a good outlet for them.
@@Theoriginalramjammer thank you kindly. I had a chat with them recently and I believe they are amending their policy inline with what you have suggested. I just haven’t had time to follow up yet 😊👍
Roksan were always a favourite of Richer Sounds and I never heard a bad review of their products. Always seem to offer great value. I’d have no worry buying a product of theirs.
Nice t shirt, hope to see you at Carnage next week.
Thank you. I will be there 😊
One thing for sure their products are very reliable iv had the m2 amp now for about ten years with no trouble at all
Cool 😎
Well, thanks for accommodating my request to review a Roksan product so promptly 😂.
I'm one of those few who use Heos and are perfectly happy with it. Sure, it's a bit clunky, but the sound quality is generally good. I think I'll just keep pootling along in my aged Honda Accord whilst admiring all the Astons and Bentleys swishing past me.
You are most welcome 😉
You’re good. Keep up the great curiosity and search for more…. We all follow in your footsteps. NO pressure 😀
Thank you 👍
Danke!
Thank you kindly. Much appreciated 😊👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 You're dearly welcome, Tarun!
After querying the name Roksan in an email earlier this week, your intro was amusingly en pointe! But then most of your reviews seem to amiably scratch
an audio itch to check out components, even though I'm still perfectly happy with what I have! I'm fortunate to have bought most of my music years ago,
so I don't stream, but similarly with a personal digital collection I do wonder about the possibilities of a personal AI DJ. As always, thanks for a lovely review.
Thank you kindly my friend 😊👍
I’ve watched virtually everyone of Tarun’s videos I find his eloquence, intelligence, unbiased and passionate approach very endearing, interesting and informative. I’m just hoping he gets his hands on a new Musical Fidelity A1 or Myryad Z350 set up in the near future. I’d also like to see him review more Rega and Roksan equipment, as a previous owner of all the brands I’ve mentioned I would happily anticipate them.
Thank you Richard. The A1 should be coming. Shhh… don’t tell anyone 😉👍
Hi Tarun. Solid review. Thank you. We use BluOS via a Bluesound Vault 2i. Cheers Tarun😎👍
Thank you 👍
Thank you again Tarun. As always, an entertaining and informative review. I so look forward to your videos.
I must say that I'm just not into streaming. The ritual of playing the silver discs is an important part of the listening experience for me.
Thank you kindly Gerald. This is something more involving about physical media 😊👍
🙋♂️TARUN,THANKS FOR KEEPING US UPTO DATE WITH OPTIONS 🤗👍💚💚💚
Hi Tarun, I purchased the amp in review, and paired it with the Monitor Audio Silver 100G, and in my relatively small room, I am very happy with the room filling sound quality I get from the set up, I also purchased the matching CD Transport, which I am also happy with. Have to say, one of the reasons I purchased the ROKSAN was the blueos streaming capability, which I can now pair with my NODE2i in another room, therefore filling the house with beautiful sounding music, cheers.
That makes a lot of sense Tony. Good purchases 👍
can you please describe more of the SQ combo?
im under the impression the combo will be full-bodied midrange (and nuance), (expressive vocals , tight midbass (and lively treble)
fun signature?
(me) looking for an amp to max out full potential of MA 100 7g
this combo is in my shortlist
Hi ricstars95, apologies for not replying sooner, but I will say again I am very happy with the combo I have, and will clarify, my MA 100Gs and the 7gs you are looking at, and in a similar room size, I am sure you will be happy too@@ricstars95
nice review, as usual ... thank you sir
Thank you 👍
You asked. Yes, I am a Bluos fan. Love the software, and the Node 2i. Not prodding the spousal approval factor presently, but looking forward to the Node X. Enjoy your work here in Lenbrook country. Carry on, please.
Excellent video as always.
Thank you kindly 😊👍
I bought one ! It's the Bluos that convinced me. It is not the full version as far as I know. For example no tone controls. Correct me if I'm wrong. Paired right now with Mission SX1 but considering the MA Silver 50.
Cheers,
Al
Cool 😎
Hi Tarun, still using Nad C338 which you also reviewed, it is good enough for a small-ish room. Nad released an update this year and Spotify connect was fixed. The connectivity is still great, despite the age
That is a good allrounder 😊
I love Roksan gear - got a Xerxes 20 plus and TR5-S2 speakers which are incredible. I had a Caspian M2 which was also superb. They are a great company to deal with also, always ready to help and customer service is superb. I sold the Caspian and bought a Naim Uniti atom as I wanted a streaming amplifier. The atom is very similar sounding to the Caspian I'd say, but it has a wonderful Naim App that allows me to stream from Tidal/Qobuz etc as well as local files in a well integrated and intuitive App. Also has a built in headphone socket which the Roksan lacked. Great video Tarun as always.
Thank you 😊
Thanks Tarun. good review.
Thanks Jim 👍
Thanks for the review Tarun. Although I never owned a Roksan, I have been tempted by their CD player. For streaming I use a MacMini i7 with Roon Core. Roon recommends splitting Core for an endpoint, so I use an M1 MacMini next to it with a CAT 8 Supra cable - 50cm. My Denafrips DAC connects to the DDC over I2S, which connects over USB to the M1 MacMini. I use Tidal as service via Roon, but also Apple Music works well via the M1.
Cool 😎
Tarun, yet another excellent review. Since you asked about streaming, I have a raspberry pie 3b running Valumio software.
Thank you 👍
Great review again .
I hooked up a WiiM mini to my Ch Precision A1.5 power amp and Stenheim speakers and the sound was not at all bad - note the price difference !
I then used the same WiiM mini as a streamer only into my dCS Rossini Apex DAC and again it was not bad at all . In fact on some tracks I could hear no difference between it and the internal streamer of the dCS Rossini . The WiiM has an excellent UI too .
I had an Aurender N20
In my system and it sounded no better than sticking a usb drive into the dCS dac . But a Melco server at one tenth of the Aurender price sounded better with the same dCS dac . Bottom line - there are so many variables to consider when streaming - the optimal Dac implementation, noise from a switch , usb implementation , software DSP etc
Thank you Mr S 😊
Great review Tarun, I think i'll keep my Roksan Caspian M2 Power Amp connected to Node, which has HDMI Arc and amp can standby/power on itself.
Thank you 😊
Great review.
I am happy with MoOde streaming software running on Allo USBridge Sig hardware.
Probably not as polished as BlueOS but very well maintained software.
Thank you 😊
I use the Naim app for my MuSoQb2. Very good, easy to use and stable. Also, probably the most attractive and easy to see interface. My Bluesound Node2 uses the same app as the Roksan. Also good. My main system uses LightningDS, the Auralic app. I use Qobuz only on all three and rarely have issues. I get most drops and interference with BlueOs, with LDS taking a while to get working. If I could run just one system, it would probably be the Naim, it is the easiest to see, use and navigate.
Thank you for sharing your experiences 😊
The Naim App is wonderful isn't it?
Love my Kandy K3, oodles of power and always an exciting listen. Paired it with a CA CXNv2 instead of going for the Atessa but I do like the look of this.
Cool 😎
Coming in a bit late now. I own a Roksan Blak and compared to the few amps that I have owned is a significant upgrade by a long way… scales well with upgraded digital inputs and speakers. it has a few quirks with the volume control ( increments of 2) but what you get in sound quality makes it more than worth i imo… Would love to see how this amp based on sound quality compares to the Hegels and alike! Considering the discounted prices you can pick this up for now!
Thank you. I appreciate the suggestion 😊
MinimServer (UPNP/DNLA Music Server) -> RaspberryPi4 (running moOde) -> SMSL DAC -> Yamaha Integrated Amp [ Controlled with Linn Kazoo]
Cool 😎
I’ve got the attessa turntable on a recent deal at £599 and it’s a great bit of kit
Great buy 👍
Love the title 💨😊
I have just corrected it 😉
The choice when it comes to British Hi-Fi, comes down to the sweet spot between listening and liking, and budget. I am astounded by how many great British companies there are, regardless of whether they are still built in the UK or in China, the sound is often characteristically British, and good.
From amplifiers to turntables, and of course speakers, one faces a difficult decision as to just which way to go, with the exception of the likes of Chord to Rega, and Naim that will soon drive out of sight with high-end, HiFi pricing. It is refreshing that with the likes of Audiolab, Leak, Arcam, Roksan, Quad, Cambridge, and others, that you can still buy British sound and not go broke doing so.
The issue here in Canada, is the increase with regards to exchange though that is nowhere near the sticker shock of US produced gear.
Good points. Thank you 👍
The filter caps aren't from "Electronic Concepts from Ireland," they're from Epcos (Germany/Japan)
Soft spot for Roksan.. Bought a Xerxes with my 18th birthday money in the late 80s(the Touraj years) .. But Roksan then and now just isn't the same.
But I do think that acquisition of the brand was a shrewd move by Monitor audio which again is not what it was in those Iqbal times....on the whole both brands have gone on to produce a more dependable, better product range.
As always great content Tarun. 👍🏻
Thank you Marcus 👍
I use a Wiim Pro > NJC Audio Reference DAC> Buchardt i150 amp> Holographic Audio Amp 16 Power Amp> Buchardt S400 M II speakers and it sounds fantastic.
The Wiim App is on a par with BlueOS for me and maybe shades it in terms of listening to customer feedback and implementing suggestions through regular updates. It’s also incredible value at £150.
Great review as always Tarun. Thank you. 🤘
Thank you 👍
Quite by accident I sat down with 2 raisin scones( 🇬🇧💂♂️how very British of me💂♀️🇬🇧) and a cup of joe ☕️(🇺🇸🇺🇸how very American of me🇺🇸🇺🇸) to watch your latest. It made me giggle! 😄In responding to your ask at the end …I have very capable system (all separates), with about $24K invested. It’s been quite the journey…and I smile a LOT now when listening…but you hit the nail on the head..my frustration is the streaming interface. I have Amazon Music Ultra HD and Qobuz…I can stream via HEOS thru my Marantz SACD 30n and you know how primitive that interface is or…which is my usual streaming Qobuz thru my P2Design Mercury Streamer using Volumio…which has a better interface, but my Mac IOS and the Volumio just don't play well together. Constant lags, super slow and just frustrating all around. If EverSolo would come out with just a streamer (NO DAC) and an I²S output at a reasonable price I would be all over it. Their streamers offer very high fidelity it and their interface looks promising as well!
Great to learn about you experiences with streamers, scones and cups of Joe 😂👍
Using a Intel NUC in a passive Akasa case running Plex to Schiit Modi 3 here.
Nice. Thank you 😊
love your reviews. Can you please give us on your take on the attessa Turntable?
Thank you 😊
Useful review. I was thinking if buying the attessa streaming amplifier or the attessa amplifier to be paired with the Eversolo streamer. Which combo is better to You? Alluding to the relatively poor DAC performance, will I get better performance pairing the Eversolo? Thanks
Thank you. I would expect the EverSolo to sound better than the internal DAC 😊
Tarun, great review with well defined pros and cons.
In my setup I use streamer Primare NP5 mk2 > amp Cambridge Audio CXA80 > speakers Wharfedale Evo 4.4
Must say, Iam very happy with this combo.
I also have DAC Schiit Modius with XLR outputs to CXA80, but have to say that CXA80 dac Wolfson 8740 has better depth soundstage.
Keep on making great reviews!
Would love to see a review of how an Arcam A15 compares to these two. Maybe even a A25 with the G class amp.
@@kaleb500yt thx. I would like to get the Arcam A25 in at some point 😊
I currently use BluOS/Qobuz in one system and Qobuz in a tablet sourced system. My Node allows subout which can act as a desirable high pass filter. Unfortunately, the Node's internal Burr Brown DAC is indeed midfi and that obviates use of the subout.
I suspect that a strong competitor to the Atessa would be a WiiM Pro @$149. out to a Topping E70 Velvet DAC @$449.00 driving a Topping LA90 Discrete Amplifier @$799.00 Superior fidelity and a fine balance between warmth and neutrality.
A combo that offers a similar but superior fidelity. The WiiM app reportedly has good functionality.
Thank you for sharing your experiences 😊
I used to love my Roksan table, with Chorus Black cartridge ! Sadly, they quit selling in the US some time ago.
That is a shame 😥
@abritishaudiophile7314 I do still run Chorus Black / Goldring 1042 on both my Linn tables though.
Thanks! I don't stream music as I buy cd's and sccd's (DSD recorded) to support the artists better. I have HEOS if I ever wanted to combine and get into it, but I can afford the largess of paying royalties out.
Thank you 😊
Had a Audiolab, wich had the same knob action. That was one of the reasons why I send it back.
I still use my oooolllddd Logitech Squeezebox Touch as Streaming Device! 96/24 bit resolution is enough for me… ☺ And it simply works perfectly, also with Spotify and Tidal… 👍🏻 I use an external DAC from the NL Company Metrum Acoustic, which I find great!
As for the Amplifier I am getting closer to a buying decision (as my loved Astintrew Amp has given up. Probably it will be an Atoll Amp. At the moment I have the IN100 Sig at home! Great!! With the small exception of the higher mids, that I feel slighly elevated with my Proac speakers… I will try also the IN80 Sig and the IN200 Sig…
Sounds like a good plan 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 I heard Atoll 80 sig., 100 sig. and 200 sig.
Finally I decided nevertheless for the 100 sig! In conjunction with my ProAcs D15 a fantastic match!! The slightly elevated higher mids, are still there, but it is not annoying. The base on the other hand is one of the best I heard in my room with my speakers! Here the In100sig. shines over the 80/200...
Nice to see Roksan finally giving you a unit. I'm still rocking K3 and Chord Mojo with Amphion Argon 3S. I'm finding the sound not very wide, do you think I'd get more width with an R2R-DAC, or are Amphions not very wide sounding in general? I'm barely hearing anything to the sides of the speakers. EDIT: You should review Pegasus Draco. 800 pound R2R DAC very similar to Pegasus. Could be the best DAC under 1000 pounds.
Thank you. The Mojo, K3 and Argon 3S are all capable of producing decent soundstage width. Swop out one component at a time until you isolate the problem 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 I think the problem was my positioning. Additional question, Is Buchardt S400 MkII better than Argon 3S?
Hello Tarun. Long time. Hope all is well. Finally got my speakers: Sonus Faber Lumina 5. I am digging them. Looked at your review on the Willsenton R8. If that amp drove your hard to drive speakers well I'm sure it shouldn't have a problem with mine rated at 4ohm nominal at around 89dB sensitivity (although some reviewers measured it at 90dB) in any case, the R8 may be a nice match. I couldn't find the Exposure 2510 so ended up with the Arcam SA20, not bad, but it's really rolled off I think and tons of bottom end, it's nice but not that much depth or width of sound stage. Looking for something that will just open up these speakers. Pinpointed down to the Willsenton R8, Exposure 2510, Vincent SV237 MK2 or the Yamaha AS1200. Cheers and stay well.
Thanks for the update Mark 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Tarun, my next purchase I will probably upgrade my integrated Arcam SA20. It's nice but as you say, a bit too tubby in the bass, but then again I only had the system for about one month. Still, after watching your review specifically on the Belles Aria, the Willsenton, and of course the Exposure 2510, which would you say is the most different in sonic flavor then the SA20? I know you heard the SA10, but I'm not sure if you heard the SA20, they sound similar. It's nice, I just would like more horizontal width (maybe even vertical height if possible) but I especially want depth. I don't know how I feel about tubes either, especially because the speakers double for music and two channel tv (albeit, I am not getting into the two channel tv thing and my expand on a 5.1/5.2
@@markd4292 I would go for the Exposure 3510 and skip the ones you mentioned 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Thank you Tarun, just to clarify, that's the Exposure 3510 and Not the 2510? Just wanted to be sure since I mentioned about the 2510 and you praised it for its price to performance. Sounds great though. Yeah, Exposure seems like a really nice company compared to the big league chains. I'll wait for your clarification about the 2510 or the 3510. Cheers.
@@markd4292 yes, you will notice more of am improvement with the 3510 coming from the SA20 than the 2510 😊
I intend to pair a Roksan amp either the Attessa, or K3 CD, and vinyl player and will be pairing it all with a pair of Silver 300 7g's. I'm just torn between the two system families. I'm not happy about the 3.5mm over 3 1/4" on the attessa.
The Xerxes turntable was my first higher end table that I bought in the late 80's. I loved the sound and to this day the best I've ever owned. If you can review a new Creek amp that is another product brand that I owned and would like to see if the new Creek amps are good. :)
frankly its a great buy if found discounted, normal price id take v3+ instead
How does Naim Nait 5si compare to the attessa and Audiolab 7000a? They are about the same price.
@@photorolensoman8101 very different presentations. Nait 5Si - fairly, Attessa - warm, 7000A - cool, similar quality 😊
Hi Tarun. First of all i want to thank You for your work. Atessa and 7000a are on my list for upgrade my hifi. I have a pair of Dali Rubicon 2 and not sure what amplifier would be the best choice.
Thank you. I would suggest to audition both is possible 👍
Cambridge CXN v2 is my choice as streamer/DAC/preamp (yes use it as preamp to my CX61. Got a in-line filter to my sub in between) and then Spotify and all internet channels there are with various stream quality. Critical listening is cd,
Thank you 😊
How do you find it vs using the CX61 as a pre? I’ve experimented with my Kandy k3 as I like using the CXN for volume control for convenience but find it sounds better with the pre from the Kandy to my ears.
@@thebingaling1105t’s ok to use the CXN as a preamp and the 61 as amp. The real hefty sound is not really there, because of low signal from the CXN to the 61. The quality are not gone missing. For sure, I can turn up the volume and it gets louder. The volume on the 61 follows the CXN when I use the remote. Great feature. All is easy to use. Swap between the CXC (cd), Spotify, internet radio, optical from tv. But in near time will I buy a power amp and use the preamp out on the 61. A DIY Hypex Nilia. The reason for this way of connections are that I have a InLine filter that removes the first octave (mine cuts 78Hz) of the signal from the CXN to the 61. Relief for the main speakers, that don’t need to play so low and the sub takes care of the low.
Hi Tarun, it is a pity Rega don't let thier products for RUclips review. My eyes is on the rega elex mk4 . It is around £1200, it has a phono input , a 6.35mm headphone plug and seemingly a good DCA, made in Great Britain.
Book a demo with a dealer linked to speakers as close to yours as possible or save up & audition speakers together. Obviously compare with say 2 others in the same price catagory
My impression was quite different as the amp is outstandingly musical, has terrific weight and soundstaging is non fatiguing yet resolving and works superbly with the included DAC streaming directly. I use it with the amazing little NEAT Acoustics IOTA Alphas. Fabulous combination.
Thank you for sharing your experiences 😊
Boss are you there. Some buzz going around about the Peachtree gang. A real eye opener.
Darn spell checker thats the Peachtree GAN1
Cool 😎
I'm a big fan of BluOS but the issue is whether to run a separate Node streamer into an amp, or an all-in-one streaming amp. For the latter you are limited to a few amps: Powernode, this Attessa or a NAD (C368, 389, 399 and above). I just wish Rega would go down the BluOS route. I think a Brio/Elex/Elicit with BluOS module would be a great option.
@@adamhindle9215 convenience vs flexibility to upgrade in the future should help you decide 😊
fantastic looking
Cool 😎
Hello. Could you tell me which of these amps (7000a vs Attessa) has better midrange? Which one has closer midtones and where there is more detail and separation (mainly midrange)? Thanks
It depends on what you are looking for but the 7000A has more resolution than the Attessa 😊
Hi I've got B&W 706 S2 was thinking of getting IOTAVX stack, but that i've seen this review from you a reviewer i trust. Only for good sound quality, which one should I go for Attessa or IOTAVX.
Thank you. The Attessa has a warmer sound but the Iota SA3/PA3 combo will be more dynamic. It is a case of horses for courses 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Thank you Tarun. Much appreciated
Currently running a Rega Brio R with Focal Chora 826s. Wonder if this amp would warm up the sound and how much of that lovely Rega sound I would go amiss...
I am running Blusound Node2i with power upgrades in between the two. Agreed BluOs is better than anything else.
The Attessa will certainly be warmer but, as you say, Regards has it's own specific sound 🙂
@@abritishaudiophile7314 thank you. I’m also considering just going up to the next Rega. They are so musical….
😉Thanks, Tarun. 👍👨🏻Still contemplating what my “best” streaming platform will be.
I use a WiiM and a Schiitt Modi+ on a secondary, less resolving “warm” ~4K$ (amp+ speakers) system, but still haven’t solidified streaming method on my primary listening system.👨🏻
Thank you for sharing 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 It is always “extra” fun to view videos that are related to things for which decisions have to be made on down the road.. I really enjoy your presentations, very informative.😉👨🏻
Hi Tarun, in relation to your comments about the Menuet SE, you say rhey deserve a better amplifier in terms of micro details and subtleties. How much would I have to spend to get such an amplifier that also has a 400vA transformer and 30 amp peak current capability?
@@1jhnpennington yes, but you don’t need 400VA and 30A peak current to drive them 😊
@abritishaudiophile7314 Thanks for getting back to me, but what I meant was what amplifier with approx 400vA transformer and 30 amp current that has more detail would be an improvement over the Attessa? (Not in relation to the Menuets). I currently have an Attessa driving a pair of Harbeth 7es-3, and is really woken them up compared to my previous amps that had less drive, and was wondering how much it would cost me to get a meaningful upgrade.
@ Harbeth’s designer often uses Hegel amps to good effect with his speakers. A Hegel H190v would be a significant step up from the Attessa 😊
@abritishaudiophile7314 Thanks Tarun,, you have confirmed my fears that it would be a costly job to upgrade significantly.
Hi, how does it compare to Hegel h95? Which one do you think would sound better with monitor audio gold 100 5G?
It would be close as far as the amp sections are concerned. The Roksan is a little warmer but the DAC in the H95 is better 😊
Is the DAC chip the same as on my ifi-zen 2? Because if it is then its a 150 pound dac. Not great for something in this price range. Balanced DAC Burr Brown USB XMOS MQA 384kHz DSD256 is what ive got in that. It is better than the audioquest dragonfly red it replaced by a substantial margin. However it seems a bit too budget to go in a streaming amp like this. Great in an under 200 pound award winning DAC paired with a set of 300 pound Adam Audio studio monitors that i'm using. A really good set up for the price. Less so in something over 1000 pounds. Can see why it would let it down. Can you use the streaming bit and stream to an external DAC?
Nice system Paul. There are no digital output on the Attessa so you can’t connect an external DAC 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 that's a bit of a shame that they didn't include a digital output given the onboard DAC isn't that good.
I cant no decide … for my dali Rubicon 5 loudspeakers…. The marantz model 40 n Roksan atessa or lyngdorf 1120 ? Can you help me out? Thanks anföd greetings from germany
Certainly, you may want to check out my Patreon 😊
www.patreon.com/abritishaudiophile
Hello Tarun.I have the non streaming version of Attessa amp paired with Elac Carina bs243.4. Just to say that the relative weak points of Attessa you mentioned in your review could be improved by adding an after market power cable. In my case supra 2.5 spc provided significantly better depiction of details and air and further tightened the bass. I am using the integrated dac and a wiim mini streamer which I also feed with an ifi ipower x. However, in your opinion what external dac under 500 pounds would you recommend to get an appreciable sonic improvement?
Thank you for sharing Nikos. I would go for the SMSL VMV D1SE when it is on sale 😊
Thank you!
I don't think you're missing in a power-down option with the amp. The Blusound app doesn't allow you to pwer down the NAD m10, and since it's explicit, it's not an oversight
Thank you 😊
Thank you very much for your detailed review, Tarun. Now, would you match this product with Sonus Faber Lumina III or V? And what would be the comparison of Attessa with Rotel RA 1572 MK II?
Let me finish, I stream with a raspberry pi 3 running valumio sofrware and have a Hifiberry Digi2 Pro 2.2 hat. This is toslinked into a denafrips ares ii with upgraded software. That feeds a Naim Naim 5Si integrated amp that drives Zu DW mark 2 speakers. I am very happy with the sound for jazz, acoustic and rock music. I have yet to be convinced that I need to upgrade my steamer. I’m more of an audio enthusiast than a audiophile.
Thank you for sharing 😊
Hello,
First of all thank-you for this video.
I have a ROKSAN ATTESSA amp, I would like to use the IR minijack socket because the device is poorly oriented for the remote control. Could you advise me on the equipment needed.
A big thank-you. (Sorry for my English, I speak French). Best regards, Marcel RICHARD.
@@mrrichard1849 unfortunately, I haven’t investigated that kind of product Marcel 😊
Hi I’ve got the dali oberon 5 paired with a powernode. I’m finding the sound too dark for my liking was wondering if you could suggest this amp or any other streaming amplifier to pair with my speakers
Audiolab 6000A Play 😊
After much testing at Sevenoaks I paired my Roksan with a pair of B&W 706 S2 it was a toss up between them and the Kef R3 but the BW won with 3 of us listening to varied music. I did also test concept 30s silver 50s Lintons and Metas but other than the Wharfs they were all a bit meh with the Roksan. I’ve also after some time popped in a spare REL 150 sub as it was getting dusty in the shed and then add yet another level to the low end
Also have Kef R3. Will Attessa drive them well?
@@siamxiii yes very well out of everything I tested it was between these and the B & W not much in them to be fair both sounded amazing crisp with nice Bass when compared to the other. The lintons were nice but too warm old school sounding for me
Thank you for sharing 😊
I also like the BluOS streaming app but I find myself using Roon mostly now. Any chance you might be reviewing the Holo Red streamer at some point? Thanks for another excellent review Tarun.
Thank you Bryan. I may go for the May DAC first but it is on my radar 👍
Hi Tarun, I have technical question for you :) Generally I'm using android tv box as streamer and connected to dac with optical cable. You can change volume with android tv box, but how this process is happening technically? Is digital signal firstly converted to analog with build in dac and then digital again? Is it possible changing volume level with digital audio signal? If so, this means I screw up digital signal and it is useless how good dac I have. Thanks for your great reviews always :)
Thank you. The likelihood is that the Android TV box will be using a digital volume control of poor quality 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Thanks for your reply :)
Hi Tarun,
Is the internal dac a huch downgrade on the Attessa?
Wondering if the volumio primo hifi dac streamer will better with the Attessa?
I would have to try to find out 😊
Keeping things within the same kind of budget line, would it be better to get the non streaming attessa and adding a blue sound node? You’d get a slightly better DAC, HDMI and the BluOS streaming app. Thoughts?
That would be an interesting comparison. I am not sure the DAC in the Node will be better 🤔
Good point, I thought it might give you a bit more detail than the BB for the money.
I should also add, I really appreciate the reviews you do. They are entertaining and always balanced. I always get a good sense of your ‘reference point’ which you communicate extremely competently and apply consistently. 👍👍
should be great with Monitor Audio Silver 100 7g?
It would be worth trying, both are for the same company 😊
Hi Tarun,
Thanks for a great review again
Do you think the Attessa will match good with either Triangle genese trio or Triangle comete 40th
Thank you. On paper, yes but there is only one way to find out 😊
Have been hearing all kind of music genre the last 1,5 months or so with the Attessa non stream version connect with volumio primo hifi edition dac streamer on a pair comete 40th. Took a little time to find the sweat spot placing 40th , the Attessa is a perfect match.
Small amount of cash and you got hifi sound for years to come ✌️
Tarun please can you confirm? - as it's a Roksan, you don't have to put on the red lights - true or false?
@@whiteboxvolume best to email the manufacturer, I can’t recall if they can be turned off 😊
Hi Tarun ,Naim nait 5si or Roksan Attessa integrated amp ??
Horses for courses 😊
Tarun? Do you think that the inclusion of tone controls in many of these amps would allow the listener to tailor the experience to their own likes and compensate when it comes to differing recording levels? If so, why do you think many marques like audiolab just aren't doing it?
I believe tone controls are critical if you live in an apartment which I do.
It a useful feature to have on all but the purist designs 😊
Very good sounding amplifier! For me it has 2 bad things: Optical SPDIF (max. 96kHz/24bit) and No PC USB connection
@@tessie4204 thx for watching 😊
Back in the late 80s, or maybe it was the early 90s, I purchased a Caspian cd player from my local Radford hifi store. It was being heavily promoted. I think a ex member of Roksan’s staff had just joined the Radford sales team. The unit was built like a proverbial brick sh1t house with aesthetics that could only be described as striking.
I was pleased with it’s functionality and musical reproduction, until, a couple of years later, a friend bought me a Tesco dvd player. This unit was more sturdily constructed than my. Caspian and it’s design was rugged and industrial, it cost 1 10th the price of my Caspian.
I plumbed the Tesco dvd player into my system and spun 2 ident disks, simultaneously. The end result was laughable. Yes, the musical reproduction on the Caspian was very slightly fuller, had more body, but the Tesco was extremely close.
I still have that Caspian unit in my rack. It is still fully functional, but is not plumbed in, it is there because it still looks striking, classy! It has been replaced by a cd transport connected to my Denafrips Venus.
Enjoy the music.
Great comment. I used to read What Hifi as a cash strapped student and imagined that CD players that were two or three times more expensive than my JVC xlz464 for £200 must sound truly amazing and so much better. Having heard some much more expensive cd players since I realised they were only a touch better than my JVC cd player. Even Chord Mojo only sounds a fraction better. Not sure it’s worth the price. I have kept my JVC and enjoy the build quality and looks. The mid 1990s to late 1990s might have been the best time for CD players and value as so much competition. So much subjectivity with CD players.
@@ShotGunCyril I think ultimately, it boils down to the laws of diminishing returns. If you purchase a component for say £500, likely you’ve bought a decent performing unit. If you pay £2500 for a component higher up in the range, likely it will out perform your £500 unit. Will that component costing 5 times as much offer 5 times the performance? No. You might etch out another 10% performance. So the big question is are you happy to pay 5 times the price for an increase of 10% in performance? The answer must be dictated by the amount of disposable income you have to play with. Me, I’m all for a high ratio of performance to value, bang for your buck.
Most of all, enjoy the music.
Hi Tarun have you had a chance to play with the Wiim Mini streamer?
Not yet 😊
I have an audiolab and whilst I love the clear detailed sound, the lack of bass weight unfortunately is whilst I’ll be upgrading.
I get that 😊
I also have an Audiolab, but my approach to bass weight is 2 x old Eclipse subs. Job done.
@@mike_lowndes totally get that, I don’t really use subs to be honest as it’s more of an aesthetic / space thing.
Hi Tarun,
Wont a good streamer do any good with the Attessa? Or is the dac really that "bad" quality.
I am a little confused here as other reviews there non about the build in dac is not on point with rest of the amplification 😊
Cheers
I am not sure I understand the question 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314I meant is the dac really a let down when comparing with the other components in the Attessa?
As i read in other reviews on the Roksan Attessa they do not mention that Attessa onboard dac aint that good.
Can it be when using the blu ios on Attessa stream version that the sound gets narrow?
Have you tried with external streamer
@@zoranjovancic9816 the DAC on the Attessa is mediocre . I would get the non streaming version of this amp and get an external DAC and streamer 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 the Attessa dac in my opinion on the non stream version with external streamer is a little dry but still good imaging, Attessa with volumio primo dac streamer connect to a pair Triangle comete 40th anniversary speakers makes the music in all genres fun.
But thats the fun with hifi we all have our own personal taste.
Thanks again for your good reviews 😊
Great looking component, just a shame that internal components aren't at similar levels. Dare I say they cd use a switching supply and upgrade the DAC and achieve better sound perhaps
BluOs is decent but once you try Roon, there's no going back. Except perhaps some esoteric ultra hi-end offerings (like Taiko), it's the best out there.
I like Roon 😊
Right side humming and buzzing
T, "bastard child here". I use RUclips music only, it always sounds beautiful and dynamic. And that's just as true running, ifi Zen Blue. Best, D.
I dont like streamers; I bought 2000 CDs during my youth. So I bought Roksan K3 amplifier, analog. Terrific sound!
Cool 😎
I like to see inside
Cool 😎
Original Volumio Primo here, into 6000A. The Primo DAC sounds a little better than the Audiolab. The Primo is a great sounding streamer, but the music 'library' function is terrible / non existant. I gave up and use Roon, which works very well with the Primo. I'd recommend those looking for a transport only look to the new Rivo (why not review it?).
Thank you. I wonder who distributes the Primo in the U.K. 🤔
@@abritishaudiophile7314 it’s direct sales only I think.
Hey Tarun , I wasn’t expecting you to do this one it was in my radar before I bought Audiolab 6000a , as you have explained I have few burbrown dacs and a cd player from Arcam .. you’re spot on the sound stage is between the speaker but at some point the Sound of it is just so relaxing and there is a good detail not as good as my mojo or Arche but just love the sound .. one more question what sort of speakers you suggest for audiolab 6000a I have celestion Ditton 22 , Arcam Alto and Focal chorus 706
Th am you for sharing your experiences Atri. I agree Burr Brown DAC do tend to have a warm relaxing sound. Wharfedale speakers always sound good with Audiolab gear 👍
I still use Sonos, purely because of the App!
What's really missing is a digital output for the streamer. That should not be hard and expensive and you could use an external DAC. Now you are limited forever unless using both an external DAC AND streamer (or a streamer with a much better DAC) which seems a waste of resources. This gives me the feeling Roksan hasn't really caught up with today's hi-fi landscape yet.
Nice feature but I am not sure that many people would use this as only a streamer 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 I meant streamer to external DAC and back to analog in ;)
@@D1N02 ah, that makes sense 😊
Personally not that thrilled with the Auralic G1.1 software. Seems a bit obtuse to me. The cd ripping controls are limited and you have no choices on level of error reaction so if you rip a CD that is not perfect it may reject 70 % of the songs but does not give you the option to go ahead and rip even though not perfect. The screen and writing is small. Hard for me to read easily. I cant help but notice the big screen on the new Everglow A6. No idea about sound comparisons.
Sound like the CD ripping software could be improved. Great sounding streaming transport though 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 After some experimentation I have a good CD ripping agenda using DB power amp app. The Lokius Eq should allow me to reel in any really sonic outliers.