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In Reply to: RE: Speaking of Line Magnetic... posted by Gerry E. on April 04, 2017 at 17:04:00
I don't seem to be able to find the Line Magnetic website. But when it was available - they had a list of companies they had a warning about and cattylink among several others were listed.
You will also find that a lot of Chinese makers make two lines - one for the Western world market and an inferior product for the domestic market.
My dealer in Hong Kong noted this because he repaired them and upgraded them - and apparently the ones he sold and the ones the west get use better parts and perhaps higher level safety standards.
Of course there will be dealer mark-ups and the shipping of an LM 219IA at 120lbs in a massive box and crate costs a fair bit to ship.
The easy check on these website is to see if they are selling a brand you know well at prices you know well. I checked aliexpress for example and see them selling cables that sell for well over $1k from a company that NEVER has a sale or lower prices going for $120. It's a fake.
Follow Ups:
"You will also find that a lot of Chinese makers make two lines - one for the Western world market and an inferior product for the domestic market."
This has been true for the entire 20 years that I've been visiting China. It applies to everything from t-shirts to refrigerators.
--------------------------
Buy Chinese. Bury freedom.
It's also true for Japanese made gear in the 80s and 90s and likely to this day. Pioneer amplifier - you see the exact same amplifier in SEARS with a SEARS logo on the front.
Sony VHS players that were all made by Hitachi.
People always get on my ass buying Audio Note but the fact is on a world stage people want hand made (including most of the parts) in a country that pays livable wages and in pollution control countries.
I just sold My AN J/Spe speakers for 17% more than I paid for them back in 2003/4. And my speakers are the toughest of sells being black ash.
I can sell my OTO Phono SE for at least 20% more than I paid back in 2003.
My Line Magnetic - as great as it is - has a lot of Chinese stereotype to overcome - it can't. So I will get less than 50% of what I paid for it.
So when people say AN is expensive - I don't know - I made money on my J and my TT2 and would also on my OTO. (sure I lose inflation but that is true of everything). But in the end AN costs LESS than any of the Chinese amps I have purchased in the long run.
I may be selling my 219IA for Audio Note Empress Silver monoblocks.
My dealer (ex LM dealer) tells me that my particular 219IA is the best one they made due to the quality of the metal casework, the German silver caps, etc. So the guy who may be buying mine is getting maybe the best one they made - and even then I will sell it for less than half what I paid!
There is a LM 219 for sale here in the U.S., was purchased in Hong Kong. It appears to have the same Caps. It is reported to have had then factory installed, and to be 110v already. You mentioned yours would have different transformers that would not work west. Trying to hedge my bets before purchasing unit second hand without audition. Any help would be great key appreciated.
Tim
Hi RGA,
From all reliable sources I'm aware of the LM 219ia is said to be an eceptionally good sounding amplifier. How better is the AN Empress Silver mono blocks in your opinion?
Charles
The 219ia is an integrated amp. It's too big for my space and heavy. It does not have universal transformers so if I move back to the west I'm stuck. The AN uses the 2a3 which is currently my favorite sounding output tube. AN uses universal transformers so they will work anywhere. And less bulky. Separates allow me more flexibility. I'm happy with the 219 sound wise. I was not planning to sell it but someone enquired and so.
The AN M6 preamp is the plan right now with the Empress. A really nice combo.
Briefly, can you describe the similarities and differences?
Cheers,
91
"Confusion of goals and perfection of means seems to characterise our age." Albert Einstein
I will be able to get into the meat of the difference when I get the M6 preamp on both the Empress and the PM as power amp in the same room. The Empress however has been more tactile open with big impact in the bass. Which considering it offers less than half the power is a surprise.
The problem.with all reviews is they can't always be summed into mere words on a page like frequency response or the usual verbiage. Sometimes it is simply a hear it and feel it thing. Like seeing the cleanest clearest sunset on the world's finest television and then standing on the deck and seeing it in person. The M6 Empress gives me that sensation or breath of life that I have not quite gotten with Line Magnetic...or Shindo for that matter. I don't actually get it with all AN either. It depends on the pairings.
All this stuff is good. It really boils down to what does it for you. The 219ia does it for me which is why I bought it. Involving, toe tapping, moving etc. It's just moving up the chain. And as I point out. The 219Ia is $7500 and to get me off it I'd be moving to over $30k. That's how good the 219ia is IMO. And with stock tubes no less.
.
"Confusion of goals and perfection of means seems to characterise our age." Albert Einstein
Thanks for the reply and I can understand your rationale for the amplifier switch is for reasons besides sound quality.
Charles
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