Now that I am familiar with and my ears have adjusted to the GAT-S2 preamp with the No. 534 amp, I figured it was time to see again how the 523 preamp fares. While the 523 to 534 combination is ok (the ok being more of a bad ok versus a good ok), it was just too blah, and all the magic in the system disappeared. The GAT-S2 preamp went back into the system and all the magic re-appeared again. Clean & magical are the terms that I am thinking right now to describe the GAT preamp. I am refraining from using the word āvibrantā for the time being, as my system is less vibrant since the borrowed PowerZone left the system.
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See how she feels about the aesthetics of this oneā¦
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Future loans may be arranged for the asking.
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This is the 2nd time Accuphase amps were recommended here. I have never heard the sound from any of their products, but the look is quite nice.
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The Accuphase sound good too. 
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ACCUPHASE< Worth an audition based on what I heard. Their Class A amps are special, AB are just ok to my ears.
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Iām thinking about replacing my Cambridge Edge NQ with a Meitner MA3. With the Meitner MA3i coming onto the market soon, there are good deals on the MA3. It is possible to subsequently upgrade the MA3 to the MA3i. The cost of the upgrade is around ā¬3000. Meitner MA3 are currently available new for under ā¬7,000. Should I dare? Is the step worth it?
Greetings Andreas
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I have often heard Accuphase integrated amplifiers at my dealer and at other demonstrations. In any case, the large integrated amplifier impresses with a decent punch in the low frequency range. Very convincing.
The Accuphase have a golden hue.
Not silver or black.
The Diablo 333 is very seductive in my opinion.
Your ears and your wifeās eyes have to decide.
Greetings Andreas
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- Wait until the day she tells you about her brand new project (being a purchase, trip or whatever āyouāll immediately find out that itās a great idea, my dearā of course)
- Tell her you dreamt for years this amplifier, considered the best one in the world who everyone is desiring bla bla bla - talk about your dream not about the stuff
- Give her all the benefits it would imply: lower rack, less components, less cables around = a living room more neat, spacious, elegant - talk about the feeling of the new room aesthetic not about the gear
- Donāt ask her what she thinks about it, let her know just how much you desire this āchangeā - since how many years you were struggling with that ādreamā in your āretirementā age
Good luck!
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Good suggestions, a few tricks in you lists I have tried in the past so itās old to her.
Accuphase amps do not get universal approval, and a few didnāt like them even. I found no negative reviews on either BHK 600s or Gryphon D333. Also, I am not sure Accuphase will be able to drive FR30 comfortably as the above two. Their amps maybe more suitable for FR5, 10 or 20 I imagine.
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Luca, you win ābest audiophile post of the yearā with this
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If youāre happy with the 1200s donāt let anyone tell you that youāre wrong. Theyāre excellent.
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For those who have read Frank Herbertās āDuneā (the book is better than Villeneuveās movie), Iāve often told my wife that she is a āBene Gesseritā. She reads me like a book and knows the conclusion before I get to it 
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Lucky for you there is plenty of hifi in Japan! At least thatās what Iāve heard. Lol
There is an Audiounion in Shinjuku area within walking distance from our hotel, and they sell Accuphase. It seems the prices there are 50% less than here. I doubt Iāll be able to visit to hear them though. After all weāre on vacation which includes away from my audio addiction 
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Iāve heard there are fantastic places to buy music over there also. Iām jealous Iād love to go to Japan and my wife would not be surprised if I found a bunch of music stores! You being a big SACD fan I figured youād come home with a suit case full of them!
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There is a Tower Records in Shinjuku too. Iāll visit if we have time. Although I do most of shopping online from CDjapan nowadays
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a few tricks (euphemism) our wives have tried for years should be old to us, too. But you know, they still work all the times.
Donāt think that these are ātricksā, simply a different languageā¦ in which we know very well who has the last word!
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Right! Iāll make sure the boss enjoys this vacation
Iām starting measuring and dreaming about my new rack layout already.
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Iām already visualizing it and it looks so beautiful in your room.
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