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Counterpoint Solid One Power Amplifier

74.185.76.55
Posted on February 12, 2011 at 19:30:25
Sidney F.
Audiophile

Posts: 7
Joined: September 26, 2010
 A few questions to throw out.

I purchased a Counterpoint Solid One power amp for very cheap. It had been messed with by someone in the past. Simple things to fix, basically putting the casework back together correctly and straighten out the wire routing. But there are a couple of things that seem out of place.

There is a ceramic disc capacitor in line to the central ground from the input ground on only one channel. Would there be a reason for this?

After reassembly and hookup, I noticed that the transformer buzzes a little. What would cause this? The amp sounds fine, no problems.

I've read some here about Michael Elliott's tube amps but there is not much available about his solid state work. Through email he very nicely provided me with fuse values and which switch to use from Digi-Key, they had also been replaced with the wrong values.

This is a nicely built amp. Makes me wonder why there isn't more information about them.

 

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RE: Counterpoint Solid One Power Amplifier, posted on February 13, 2011 at 05:12:23
tonyjack
Audiophile

Posts: 87
Location: new jersey
Joined: April 9, 2007
 I have had a Solid 1A for 15 years or so, along with the SA-1000 preamp. The preamp is in use with Snell E-III speakers and Quicksilver V4 amps. Great sounding pre.

The Solid 1A is a very nice sounding amp with a somewhat laid back presentation. I've used it with a variety of speakers and most recently with Vandersteen 3A Sigs. It's nice but a little too laid back for my tastes with those speakers. I remember years ago there was an article in Bound For Sound where the reviewer was raving about how tube like the Counterpoint Amp was. It does have some tube qualities but not as refined in the treble areas.The only problem I ever encountered was removing the speaker cables right after you power down, if you try and power up a few minutes later it would stay shut down. Took a whole day for it to be turned on again. Never quite understood that and it made it impossible to immediately compare cables, components, etc.

I'd say with the right speakers,etc, it's a great amp for perhaps a second or third system. Enjoy the amp.

 

RE: Counterpoint Solid One Power Amplifier, posted on February 13, 2011 at 07:41:01
AlanPre
 Mike Elliott repairs and upgrades Counterpoint equipment at Alta Vista Audio. The page linked below has a "hum and buzzes" link that describes the causes of and fixes for transformer hums.

 

RE: Counterpoint Solid One Power Amplifier, posted on February 13, 2011 at 15:53:30
Sidney F.
Audiophile

Posts: 7
Joined: September 26, 2010
 Thanks AlanPre, I've been exchanging emails with Mr. Elliott for the last week and he has been most helpful. When funds allow I'll be sending the amp to him for the upgrades.

Hey tonyjack. Good to hear from a user. The Solid One A is the follow up to the Solid One according to Mr. Elliott. It does have a "tube-like" sound, it reminds me of the early 1960's Fisher tube amp I had as a kid. Works very well with the Conrad-Johnson PF2 solid-state preamp I use. My speakers are the Vienna Acoustic Mozarts. Sweet sounds!!

 

RE: Counterpoint Solid One Power Amplifier, posted on February 14, 2011 at 14:43:30
tonyjack
Audiophile

Posts: 87
Location: new jersey
Joined: April 9, 2007
 Yes, that tube like quality worked well with the Snells and Definitive Technology Bp-20's. Preamps were Mac C-28, Pioneer Spec 1 and the Counterpoint SA-1000. Again, it was not to my liking with the Vandies, which are the hardest speakers I've owned to get "right". I'm still trying and hopefully will find the right combo.Maybe your Mozarts are not as difficult to drive. In my case the Bryston 3Bst was better at driving the Vandies even though the power is rated the same,120wpc.The Vandy sound is nice but the Counterpoint was to much of the same for my tastes. The Bryston seems to add some snap. I'm using an ARC SP16 preamp at the moment with an SCE Harmonic Recovery System to help with impedance issues. Work in progress.

 

RE: Counterpoint Solid One Power Amplifier, posted on February 24, 2017 at 11:42:38
jimmycj
Audiophile

Posts: 1507
Joined: December 6, 2004
 Ive had Counterpoint 1 E for 10 years give or take, love it. Used with Coda Windows 4 pre amp. Could be perceived as slightly weak bass. But the deal is when there is decent bass in the first place,the 1 e pumps it out. You could say the exact opposite of class d amps where every little bit of bass is pumped out so heavy and in your face,i find it impossible to listen to class d for that reason along with plenty other reasons.

 

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