Ornec wish list

[I love my records]

Hi,

Having drooled over some of the contents of the ORNEC website, I would be grateful for any advice at all as to which products are the best to get?

If you had a budget of up to £1000, what would you choose?

I am aware of the postage, VAT and duty issues surrounding importing stuff.

Is the fact they are 220v a problem or can I ignore it?

If you were in the market for a KT88 based integrated amp, which one would yo choose from the site?

Once again, please ignore my ignorance in these matters.

"The GYRO is singing like a canary, but the Exposure amp sounds like a tranny!"

Regards,

Dave.

[Black Stuart]

Dave be aware,
that Ornec are not recognised by the product companies. if you have any problems, you are on your own.

Black Stuart

[I love my records]

Ah! So it is probably is too good to be true!! I suspected something a bit fishy!

Thanks for the reply..

The reason I'm asking is that I heard the ICON AUDIO Stereo 40i classic (KT88) the other month at the Northern hifi show and I thought it sounded really great...It has some good reviews too with good measured specs..I was considering getting one.

I know DIY would give better results, but I'll stick to my speakers which I've ordered from this site! I'm better with glue than solder!!

Have you heard/Do you have an opinion on the ICON amp? I've yet to find anybody who has heard one out there.

Thanks a million,

Dave.

[Global]

If you buy from Ornec you must do so with 'eyes open'. There is nothing per se wrong with buying cheaply.

I bought a Yarland 845 amp in the full knowledge that it might be a) made of cheap components, b) badly designed, c) liable to VAT and duty and d) not really suited to UK mains.

In the end I got a bargain 'cos it is well made with reasonable components, I did not get billed for duty and the design left something to be desired but could be made better.

The mains issue is a concern at this sort of power level as the mains TXs run HOT but a variac fixes that.

I have a reasonable amp at a very low cost even if you factor in the upgrade costs BUT you have to know and accept this before you start.

So, YPYM!

Cheers

Mark

[John T]

A friend bought a headphone amp from them. Ordered on Monday - delivered the following Thursday!! Beautifully built, excellent components and superb performance. No duty paid. What more could one ask?!

[Black Stuart]

Quite so John,
but no company can make every product 100% it's when you get a dud that the problem starts. Don't forget there are people out there buying who have no ability at all, to fix anything, these are the ones who will suffer.

Black Stuart

[Max N]

John, which model headphone amp did your friend get?
Is it possible to know in advance which items are stocked in the UK, which ones will not attract duty etc? Or is it pot luck?
Cheers
Max

[John T]

Hi Max,
This is the one:-

http://www.ornec.com/products/GB/100015/0/Bada/Brand

With postage I think it cost him under £100. I think, like most things imported, duty is, as you say, a case of pot luck. Ornec are a UK Company based in Oxford so I should think they should be able to answer any queries you may have.

John.

[Ianm2]

hmm well I was pleased with the service they delivered with my, now Paul's 845 amp, but I have now had a bill from dhl for £23 tax, not too bad, they have only asked for £2 for handling it, whereas parcel farce charge you at least £10-13.

But I emailed them for a schematic recently, and haven't heard since.

yarland afaik, are the cheapest of the chinese brands, I am really impressed, the only issue afaik, is the underrating of the rectifiers and resevoir caps.

Attention may be needed as alluded to on redesign of a stage, but I have found circuit design of chinese amps fairly good on the whole.

[NickG]

the only issue afaik, is the underrating of the rectifiers and resevoir caps

Which did lead to the failure of one amp, and the near fire from another...