Anyone have experience with one of these?
Nikko Beta 30 Preamp
- Thread starter BroonsBane
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Re:Beta 30 Preamp
I've had one for about 6 months. It's driving a Nikko Alpha 130 with a set of dB Plus 1010 speakers. It seems to do the job but has a few quirks: there is some bleeding between inputs - you can hear the tuner slightly while the aux is selected, and the balance control is not that effective - turning it to one side tends to reduce the low frequencies on the other but it leaves the high end. The selector buttons also feel kinda clunky. It doesn't strike me as being as nice as the Alpha 130 Power Amp. Although the volume control is very satisfying - It's a nice size and it has a quality feel with each position clicking nicely into place.
I got the system from a friend who's wife didn't like it because it was ugly! She said (get this) the speakers were too big! They were going to give it to the Salvation Army Thrift Store. I did them a favor and offered to take it off their hands. My wife let me put it in the living room - God I love her.
Cheers,
Shane
I've had one for about 6 months. It's driving a Nikko Alpha 130 with a set of dB Plus 1010 speakers. It seems to do the job but has a few quirks: there is some bleeding between inputs - you can hear the tuner slightly while the aux is selected, and the balance control is not that effective - turning it to one side tends to reduce the low frequencies on the other but it leaves the high end. The selector buttons also feel kinda clunky. It doesn't strike me as being as nice as the Alpha 130 Power Amp. Although the volume control is very satisfying - It's a nice size and it has a quality feel with each position clicking nicely into place.
I got the system from a friend who's wife didn't like it because it was ugly! She said (get this) the speakers were too big! They were going to give it to the Salvation Army Thrift Store. I did them a favor and offered to take it off their hands. My wife let me put it in the living room - God I love her.
Cheers,
Shane
I had one also, along with one of the Alpha amps and the Gamma tuner that matched. I had none of the problems that stagshan mentions, so I think that his is defective in some way(s). Without such problems, its a pretty good preamp, though not as good as the tuner and especially the amp, which are excellent. I got mine at the Goodwill. Regret selling them, but needed the dough at the time.
I occurs to me I also had the first model Alpha preamp for a while. Did not think it was a good, and later saw some reviews suggesting it had a slower risetime than the later models. It wasn't bad, just blah sounding.
Quite a few posters have suggested that Nikko, especially the seperates, are first rate, though usually overlooked, and that would be my opinion also.
I occurs to me I also had the first model Alpha preamp for a while. Did not think it was a good, and later saw some reviews suggesting it had a slower risetime than the later models. It wasn't bad, just blah sounding.
Quite a few posters have suggested that Nikko, especially the seperates, are first rate, though usually overlooked, and that would be my opinion also.
My first impression of Nikko separates was in 1978 (IIRC, could have been 1979). A friend had returned to our hometown after living in California for a couple of years. I remember that that system really sounded good. At the time I thought my stereo was pretty good, consisting of a JVC JR-S501 TOTL receiver and a pair of CS-99A & CS-88A.
I can still picture his stereo, but for the life of me I cannot remember what speakers he was runniing.
Forward to the present, I have a very nice NR-1015 85 wpc Nikko receiver. I have two pair of speakers connected to it, an Advent Loudspeaker and Marantz DS-900. Most often I am running them both together, and the Nikko hasn't even hiccupped. Strong tuner, too.
I can still picture his stereo, but for the life of me I cannot remember what speakers he was runniing.
Forward to the present, I have a very nice NR-1015 85 wpc Nikko receiver. I have two pair of speakers connected to it, an Advent Loudspeaker and Marantz DS-900. Most often I am running them both together, and the Nikko hasn't even hiccupped. Strong tuner, too.
