Astra reviews

[ray1234]

I went to audition the Astra Gold Leaf edition. I am an user of Expert D400. I have to disclaim though that it is hard to conclude from a single audition, especially when it is using a different speakers.

The demo used the Astra to drive Avalon PM 2.2. I have listened to PM 2.2 before. I think from memory, the Astra sounds warmer than Expert Pro series. It is going the warm and musical route. The Expert Pro needs careful system matching, otherwise may sound a bit cold, Astra seems to be quite a bit warmer and probably easier on system matching. However, from my memory, in terms of transparency the Expert Pro seems to be more transparent, the Astra is probably not as transparent. A big plus though to musicality, it seems to go the route of amps like Naim which treasures musicality more than transparency.

[spater]

I went to audition the Astra Gold Leaf edition. I am an user of Expert D400. I have to disclaim though that it is hard to conclude from a single audition, especially when it is using a different speakers.

The demo used the Astra to drive Avalon PM 2.2. I have listened to PM 2.2 before. I think from memory, the Astra sounds warmer than Expert Pro series. It is going the warm and musical route. The Expert Pro needs careful system matching, otherwise may sound a bit cold, Astra seems to be quite a bit warmer and probably easier on system matching. However, from my memory, in terms of transparency the Expert Pro seems to be more transparent, the Astra is probably not as transparent. A big plus though to musicality, it seems to go the route of amps like Naim which treasures musicality more than transparency.

I’m interested in your comments about transparent vs. musical systems.
I hadn’t really thought to look at HiFi brands through those distinct lenses.

If Naim and Astra are musical, what others would you regard as musical?
And which systems would you regard as transparent?