• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

old Ashly MOSFET amps

Racingh11 said:
Looks like a real performer.
View attachment 2442292 View attachment 2442293
Click to expand...
Reportedly these are very very good amps. I've not used one personally, but have used a lot of Ashly gear over the years, and their gear is some of the best sounding pro-audio gear out there. I've toyed with getting an FET series Ashly amp to drive my woofers in a horizontal passive bi-amp arrangement. Havn't done it yet, but I've thought about it as these amps can be bought for pretty reasonable prices.
 
icenine said:
I got a Crown XLS 1002 DriveCore instead much lighter and it sounds great with my tube preamp.
Click to expand...
Crown makes good amps. The old MacroTech and MicroTech amps are amazing - but VERY heavy. Lots of good comments and reviews of the new "light weight" Crowns. I'm sure they are good, but the old school iron laden clas A/B Macro/Micro's were the bomb.
 
I say just pass on the Ashly amp and let the next guy buy it. You don’t want to carry around that big old heavy thing.
 
I have a FET-1500c... wow what an amp. Great control over the woofers, super clean and warm sound. Every time I'm swing it into the mix I like it. Crazy robust. Yes fan is loud. Fantastic for driving my Magnepans.
 
soundmig said:
Crown makes good amps. The old MacroTech and MicroTech amps are amazing - but VERY heavy. Lots of good comments and reviews of the new "light weight" Crowns. I'm sure they are good, but the old school iron laden clas A/B Macro/Micro's were the bomb.
Click to expand...
I have mine being driven by a Music Angel Tube pre-amp, along with a Jolida JD9 tube phono amp, and the XLS1002 Drive Core just sounds great with vinyl. It is a bit rolled off but I really like it.
I keep returning to it even though I have a few other stereo set ups. I think the way the XLS series sounds may be greatly influenced by the preamp sources. I want to say that my Crown sounds like a very smooth FM radio broadcast but without the "hiss." Sort of dark or dry perhaps but I like it like that.
 
watershed said:
No, it stays at home with the other three Ashley-s.
Click to expand...

I have a few Ashly’s myself. But if we say too many good things about them the prices will go up, then I can’t afford to buy any more. So yeah, they’re heavy and old.

Oh and all pro amps suck for HiFi ;)
 
steelglam said:
Anyone here run an old Ashly MOSFET amp in their home audio setup? If so, tell me about it. I've got a possible line on a FET-500 and am wondering if it's worth pursuing.

I know the Ashly stuff is well thought of in the pro audio world, but not sure about home/hifi. I have/had pro Crown amps and think they're great, so just because it is pro and has a fan does not turn me off (the Crown's fan is pretty quiet anyways).
Click to expand...
I just auditioned a CFT 1800 against a Parasound HCA 800ii and an Adcom GFA 545 and it had noticeably more body and clarity on top and just played bigger on Boston Acoustics A 70sin my B rig than these well-regarded amps. The Adcom just surpassed the Parasound with slightly cleaners highs and more robust upper bass. The Ashley barely edged out a B &K EX442 Sonata driving 2 horizontally stacked per side Boston Acoustics CR 75s in my A rig. The input attenuators on the Ashley were helpful for gain matching in my system. Front end is a Harman Kardon HK 3390 2 channel receiver. I'm using its internal DACS to decode the bitstream out of a Sony Blu-Ray I'm using for CD playback. The HK amp channels are driving 2 Boston Acoustics CR 65s in a Hafler/Dynaquad arrangement, with a Boston Acoustics CR 400 powered for under 60hz foundation. I've owned Monarchy Audio and Golden Tube electronics, Vero Soundwave speakers, and the A rig sounds as good, if not better than anything I've had.
 
I've had a FET-200 for many years, since the 80's. I mainly used it for parties, weddings etc with my Cerwin Vega S-1s, never in my home system. They are bullet proof, literally. One wedding I did, blew a power fuse, no spares, found a .22 case and crushed it to fit. It's still in there. :rflmao:

I should drag it out of the basement, it's been many years since power up.

Thanks for the memories.

Cheers
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom