ME Amplifiers Owners & Discussion Thread

[Phil G]

Hi Nude

I have removed the quote from your post, as it was part of a deleted post. I hope you don't mind.

[Keith_W]

Thread reopened. Please keep it civil.

[TT!]

I seem to remember Rick telling me he gave my amp to his brother, so I doubt if they are the same. Anyway, FWIW, mine was S/N 850155.

Thank you for the S/N mine is 850279 so it is not the same.

It would appear that these things are not as bullet proof as one would like to believe

The smoke can still get out

Cheers TT

[TT!]

Thread reopened. Please keep it civil.

Thank you for being fair and open minded.

Cheers TT

[Monkeyboi]

Thats quite a long bow you are drawing there Alan. All PS says in that link to his website is that they reportedly sound better than even he expected. The magnitude of said improvement is not quantified.

Any more straws out there for you to clutch at?

Lots actually, but he who draws the longest straw wins.

Perspective correction for a moment or two, okay?

I note your stable of equipment doesn't include any ME850s of any generation, right? Ever owned an ME850 or the hi-cap version? Would I be wrong in guessing your answer will be NO?

I've listened to both models in extended sessions with a variety of musical material and also as part of a high end HT system. Not just a few hours but more like days of serious evaluation as well as some laid back listening enjoyment too. Even with high end sources and very demanding speakers the differences between the ME-850 and the Hi-cap version are minimal. Sure when pushed with some material the hi-cap has the edge, but only just so. For the majority of listening situations I doubt many audiophiles would ever pick the difference in a double blind ABX test. ME don't publish any specifications for the ME850 Hi-cap so this also makes a technical comparison difficult by specifications alone unless electrical testing was conducted on both amplifiers and the measured results compared.

So, if you are so bold as to make wide and sweeping statements about my comments and observations on the ME850 range, you perhaps need to ask yourself these questions -

• Have you ever owned either one or both of the ME850 models?
  
• Have you even conducted evaluation testing on both models to be completely assured there is a difference to be heard?
  
• Have your ever conducted any measurable performance testing on both the standard ME850 and the Hi-cap version to see if there is any improvement by measured test results?

If and when you can answer YES to any of these questions I'd like to read your unbiased and objective opinion. Until then, don't you think it would be prudent to leave the objective comments to those who have actually owned or still own this equipment?

My "straw" is I actually own an ME850 Hi-cap and use it almost every day. What's yours?

Cheers,

Alan

[Monkeyboi]

It would appear that these things are not as bullet proof as one would like to believe

The smoke can still get out :o

Cheers TT

Well TT, now that the PS has been upgraded the likelihood of the same fault occurring is now significantly reduced. As for other faults, well I ain't holding my breath, okay?

In all sincerity, I personally hope you don't have any more issues with your 850. If you do I'll probably have to pack a soldering iron.

Cheers,

Alan

[TT!]

In all sincerity, I personally hope you don't have any more issues with your 850. If you do I'll probably have to pack a soldering iron.

The feeling is mutual I hope your dramas have ended as well. At least you have your errrrrrmmmm........ 5 year warranty to fall back on

Cheers TT

PS Now the cold weather has appeared how about a nice Krell room heater

[Monkeyboi]

The feeling is mutual I hope your dramas have ended as well. At least you have your errrrrrmmmm........ 5 year warranty to fall back on

Cheers TT

PS Now the cold weather has appeared how about a nice Krell room heater

What 5 year warranty? Surely you're being flippant aren't you?

Bugger the Krell. A couple of Patrick Turner's 350W "glow in the dark" tube amplifiers might be the go. And they'll handle a 2 ohm load to boot. :o

Cheers,

Alan

[TT!]

What 5 year warranty? Surely you're being flippant aren't you?

Moi? Flippant?

Ciao TT

[bassett]

Now, Now, but it seems where all alone in the moonlight..

I went round to a mates the other day, he's got a 550, runs it through a Nad pre-amp, but the problem is the noise from the fan, which would seem to run all the time. He just said, "well you tend to get used to it" is there a fix. My stand-buy generator is quieter, compaired to this thing, would it overheat completly IF the fan was disconnected.

Other makes have fans, Krell, Sherbourn, are they just as noisy.

[ophool]

Now, Now, but it seems where all alone in the moonlight..

I went round to a mates the other day, he's got a 550, runs it through a Nad pre-amp, but the problem is the noise from the fan, which would seem to run all the time. He just said, "well you tend to get used to it" is there a fix. My stand-buy generator is quieter, compaired to this thing, would it overheat completly IF the fan was disconnected.

Other makes have fans, Krell, Sherbourn, are they just as noisy.

Cannot answer directly, but from PC cooling experience there are plenty of fans available that might prove quieter, some with thermostat control.

If it is a seriously disturbing feature, it might be worth getting some specs on the fan fitted, eg flow rate, diameter, voltage and checking some of the PC cooling specialists for an alternative, they usually publish noise figures.

In general terms, larger diameter slower turning fans are quieter, but you probably knew that.

Just a thought.

[brumby]

Gentlemen, this is becoming peurile.

ME amps did indeed come with a five year warranty, which I am in a position to know was scrupulously honoured. I had the benefit of Reg Mills stereo in Brisbane, sadly no longer a going concern, where any fixes under warranty were quickly and competently carried out.

Tony and Andrew (and Scott) thought highly of ME and sold and stood behind the product for many years. It was a win/win situation, which MANY people took full advantage of.

Since ME have not manufactured ANY of their amplifiers for more than five years now, the "warranty" aspect is moot.

A decade ago, when ME was indeed a going concern, their value for money stood out like a very sore thumb in what was in those days a very expensive market for hi-fi equipment in Australia. Today, the Aussie Dollar is much higher and that fact is reflected in some (but by no means all) imported equipment. Couple that fact with the influx of more and more good gear from China - both SS and valve - and hi fi purchasers are in a very much better position. ME probably couldn't compete. Sadly, Supratek, another very highly regarded local manufacturer of quality equipment - has now found itself in the same boat.

[Tony M]

Cannot answer directly, but from PC cooling experience there are plenty of fans available that might prove quieter, some with thermostat control.

If it is a seriously disturbing feature, it might be worth getting some specs on the fan fitted, eg flow rate, diameter, voltage and checking some of the PC cooling specialists for an alternative, they usually publish noise figures.

In general terms, larger diameter slower turning fans are quieter, but you probably knew that.

Just a thought.

This wasn't a problem with the ME850, which had a speed-controlled fan with quite sophisticated temperature monitoring circuitry. If the fan speed was highish, it usually meant the amp was working quite hard, generally because the music was being played very loud indeed. Under normal circumstances the fan was whisper quiet and never intrusive.

I was always intrigued by the "active cooldown" phase. When the amp was turned off, the fan speeded up to full revs for a few minutes until the amp was cool, then everything turned off. It was fun getting someone to turn off the amp and watch their consternation as it started to sound like it was getting ready for lift-off.

I can even see some similarities with the accepted practice of leaving a turbo car idling for a few minutes before switchoff.

Cheers

Tony

[Jake]

Now, Now, but it seems where all alone in the moonlight..

I went round to a mates the other day, he's got a 550, runs it through a Nad pre-amp, but the problem is the noise from the fan, which would seem to run all the time. He just said, "well you tend to get used to it" is there a fix. My stand-buy generator is quieter, compaired to this thing, would it overheat completly IF the fan was disconnected.

Other makes have fans, Krell, Sherbourn, are they just as noisy.

There is probably a problem with the bearing in the fan.

I have 3 x ME 550IIs all stacked vertically, all running almost all the time, and they are almost silent.

[Davidbigeye]

Wow, just reading this thread as had nothing else to do...I considerd ME amps a few years ago. Glad I went for Krell instead...

[Jake]

...and here they are. I just had to put my ear within 3-4 inches before I could hear the fans.

[ATTACH]2004[/ATTACH]

[brumby]

Yep, my fan is not noticeable within 6 inches of the unit.

Nice little collection you've got there, Jake

[Jake]

Yep, my fan is not noticeable within 6 inches of the unit.

Nice little collection you've got there, Jake

Thanks Brumby. I think Ive got enough now....

The noisiest thing in this room is the Maxtor NAS purring away, but of course once the music's on...

Cheers,

Jake

[cheekyboy]

Thanks Brumby. I think Ive got enough now....

The noisiest thing in this room is the Maxtor NAS purring away, but of course once the music's on...

Cheers,

Jake

Well the old ME amps have been coping a bit of a hiding here but I still have three ME amps and the youngest I bought back in 2003 so I've blown my warranty period on them all anyway. I've got to get down on my knees [not such an easy thing these days either] to hear the fan in my 550 II Hi Cap. BTW, apart from a switching issue in my 240 which was repaired locally in Melbourne [and not by the recommended ME repairer] I've not had any issue with these amps...........they have done everything I expected from them and more.

I'm sorry to hear the tales of woe in this post but I dealt with Peter Stein not only for amps but for many Audax drivers and crossover components and I always found the service to be absolutely A1 and the man himself a very honest and genuine bloke! It was sad to see his business go as it did but hell that's business and I personally hope he gets back someday to do what he was very good at, despite some aspersions made by some here, making excellent aussie amplifiers.

Cheers,

Keith

[Catostylus]

Wow, just reading this thread as had nothing else to do...I considerd ME amps a few years ago. Glad I went for Krell instead...

And I'm desperately sorry I didn't buy them when I had the chance.

I'm totally at a loss to know what to get instead.

[brumby]

David, if you're not averse to ebay, they come up fairly regularly. Alternatively, make your interest official here. You never know.

Yamaha man is selling a 550II Hi Cap as we speak, for example.

[Jake]

I'm sorry to hear the tales of woe in this post but I dealt with Peter Stein not only for amps but for many Audax drivers and crossover components and I always found the service to be absolutely A1 and the man himself a very honest and genuine bloke!

Keith, they are Audax drivers in my DIY centre you can see in the pic, sourced from one Peter Stein himself during the big fire sale auction 2003.

Cheers,

Jake

[cheekyboy]

Keith, they are Audax drivers in my DIY centre you can see in the pic, sourced from one Peter Stein himself during the big fire sale auction 2003.

Cheers,

Jake

Don't worry that didn't go unnoticed Jake..............I built around 7 or 8 sets of speakers over about a two year period using purely Audax drivers [all before Peter went bust and mainly aerogel - fantastic speakers] but unfortunately they stopped supplying to the DIY market. I didn't make the fire sale at Dyers Crossing but the ironic thing for me is that I lived for years at Belbora, about 15 mins from Dyers Crossing and didn't buy anything from Peter till I moved to Melbourne.........go figure! I knew he was there too but I had so many other things happening at that time that the speaker building and hi-fi in general was taking a back seat.

Cheers,

Keith

[Jake]

Don't worry that didn't go unnoticed Jake..............I built around 7 or 8 sets of speakers over about a two year period using purely Audax drivers [all before Peter went bust and mainly aerogel - fantastic speakers] but unfortunately they stopped supplying to the DIY market. I didn't make the fire sale at Dyers Crossing but the ironic thing for me is that I lived for years at Belbora, about 15 mins from Dyers Crossing and didn't buy anything from Peter till I moved to Melbourne.........go figure! I knew he was there too but I had so many other things happening at that time that the speaker building and hi-fi in general was taking a back seat.

Cheers,

Keith

Thats IS irony!

I bet those speakers sounded great Keith. My DIYs sounds awesome I reckon, and those Audax tweeters are amazingly sweet, but the tone of them is far different to my Audiovectors. Hence I will be making new HT speakers with Peerless drivers probably in due course.

[cheekyboy]

Keith, they are Audax drivers in my DIY centre you can see in the pic, sourced from one Peter Stein himself during the big fire sale auction 2003.

Cheers,

Jake

I just had another look at your pic and tell me, is the driver the HM13OCO [13cm cone] and also if you've used a TWO25A16 tweeter [Titanium dome]? I made a couple of pairs of small stand mounts using this combo and daughter # 2 is still using one set and they sound great........I made a single powered 8" sub to go with them to lift the bottom end but the mids and highs are to die for!

Cheers,

Keith