Elektra reference 300 and Aksa Maya200

[WFM]

Just wondering if anyone can comment on the differences  sound and quality wise of the Maya200 and the Elektra hd300 reference  amps. 

Thanks

[andyr]

Very interesting question, @WFM. 

 

I've heard them both - but not compared directly, in the same system.  My money would be on the Maya 200 ... but that's because I know Hugh well and am biased towards AKSA amps, having used various models for 20 years.

 

One point for consideration might be ... are your speakers a difficult load to drive?  IOW - does their impedance drop to 4 ohms or below?

 

If so - if you're contemplating buying a new Maya from Hugh ... you could ask him to down-rate the DC rails slightly, by using a power transformer with slightly lower secondary voltages.  This does lower the power output into 8 ohms, slightly - but it enables the amp to better handle a 4 ohm load.

 

Regards,

Andy

 

[betty boop]

am always a beleiver in matching pre and pwr amps .....and also matching power amps to speakers...

 

to answer question there is no straight answer to this...

 

just depends what pre amp planning to use and what speakers and which suits better to your needs/taste...

[buddyev]

As Andy and Betty say it would be useful to know what speakers you are using. If they’re a benign load then I’d be tempted to go for the Maya. 

[WFM]

Thanks guys. I'm looking to buy some summoners or timberwolves or maybe something better... spending around 2.5k on speakers. 

Cant audition atm due to lockdown but Hugh has offered me a demo of the Maya. I'm definately leaning towards the Maya due to its supposed tube like qualities. The thing is I can get the Elektra reference and pynx pre for around 5k and as im not particularly competent in electronics it would be an easier path. Though the easiest path is not always the right path. 

I do like the idea of tublike warmth as long as it is without sacrificing lowend speed as i enjoy fast heavy drums. I cant tolerate glare or coldness of the midrange yamahas and was slightly worried the Elektra might present a bit thin or cold but that is just heresay from some random forum discussions. Thanks all for your input. Long live the independent manufacturers who put their heart into their work.

[andyr]

2 hours ago, WFM said:

Thanks guys. I'm looking to buy some summoners or timberwolves or maybe something better... spending around 2.5k on speakers. 

 

Re. the spkrs - why don't you ask the mfrs to show you a graph of their impedance responses.

 

2 hours ago, WFM said:

Cant audition atm due to lockdown but Hugh has offered me a demo of the Maya. I'm definately leaning towards the Maya due to its supposed tube like qualities.

 

You might be wondering how can a ss amp have 'tube-like qualities'?  What this refers to is how the designer tweaks the circuit so that it delivers a high 2nd harmonic ('H2') - relative to higher order harmonics.  Hugh is a past master at this.

 

Moreover, he makes sure the 'harmonic profile' of his amps is monotonically decreasing - so each successive higher harmonic is lower than the previous one.

 

2 hours ago, WFM said:

I do like the idea of tube-like warmth as long as it is without sacrificing lowend speed as i enjoy fast heavy drums. I cant tolerate glare or coldness of the midrange yamahas 

 

The Maya will certainly give you 'fast, heavy drums'; and because of the fact that odd harmonics are low ... will not give you 'glare' or harshness.

 

Andy

 

[buddyev]

I had the older Elektra reference combined with the Pnyx.  Don’t know about the newer 300, but the Pnyx is a very good pre. I  certainly wouldnt describe them as thin or cold. If you can get the HD 300 and the Pnyx for $5k I’d grab them - it’s a very good deal. The bags of power on tap with the 300 will open up speaker options. 

[joz]

As an owner of the Elektra combo your looking at.

I can attest that the combo is not bright, the amp I would describe as neutral and the pre possibly a bit dark as opposed to bright.

They deliver amazing grip over the speakers .

Edited June 5, 2021 by joz

[WFM]

1 hour ago, joz said:

As an owner of the Elektra combo your looking at.

I can attest that the combo is not bright, the amp I would describe as neutral and the pre possibly a bit dark as opposed to bright.

They deliver amazing grip over the speakers .

Thanks for your reply. What speakers are you running? 

 

[WFM]

Just after an endgame poweramp wise ( for now lol) .  'I'm confident the Maya would provide this but the Elektra is available now which is tempting me after a long while of deliberation. So long as it gives a bit of midwarmth.

[WFM]

10 hours ago, andyr said:

 

Re. the spkrs - why don't you ask the mfrs to show you a graph of their impedance responses.

Hey Andy. Do you mean for Adelaide speakers? 

Cheers

You might be wondering how can a ss amp have 'tube-like qualities'?  What this refers to is how the designer tweaks the circuit so that it delivers a high 2nd harmonic ('H2') - relative to higher order harmonics.  Hugh is a past master at this.

 

Moreover, he makes sure the 'harmonic profile' of his amps is monotonically decreasing - so each successive higher harmonic is lower than the previous one.

 

 

The Maya will certainly give you 'fast, heavy drums'; and because of the fact that odd harmonics are low ... will not give you 'glare' or harshness.

 

Andy

 

Have you heard the Elektra? I suspect it will have as much grip down low but maybe not the mid warmth or the  presentation of the Maya . 

My hunch is that the Electra may be better at micro details and instrument separation and the Maya will be more musical with a wider presentation and warmer midrange. 

Regards

Wayne

[WFM]

Sorry I added a response within your quote about speaker graph.

Cheers

[betty boop]

id also look at speakers ... if chasing mid warmth speakers like focal and B&W for instance do this well. PMC also good for this as is monitor audio...no idea on the adelaide sound speakers considering will do that, best to listen to get a handle on. its always worth listening to combo considering speakers and amps otherwise results can be hit miss

 

amps like musical fidelity and elektra I own have for instance heard with both B&W and focal and they keep their mid warmth trait of the speakers ... it doesnt suddenly disappear if wanting a touch more mid warmth the musical fidelity in amps have a bit more in that. i use the musical fidelity m8500s thats end game for me/my setup ....also own elektra theatre amp which have for years, have heard joz setup over the years too.

 

elektra are astounding bargains being local made and without all the middle men and marketing and shipping from overseas import costs etc to pay for.  the aksa fall in same place for this reason  

Edited June 5, 2021 by betty boop

[WFM]

10 hours ago, buddyev said:

I had the older Elektra reference combined with the Pnyx.  Don’t know about the newer 300, but the Pnyx is a very good pre. I  certainly wouldnt describe them as thin or cold. If you can get the HD 300 and the Pnyx for $5k I’d grab them - it’s a very good deal. The bags of power on tap with the 300 will open up speaker options. 

Thanks mate. Just wondering what you upgraded to? And what made you sell your Elektra combo?

[WFM]

2 minutes ago, betty boop said:

id also look at speakers ... if chasing mid warmth speakers like focal and B&W for instance do this well. PMC also good for this as is monitor audio...no idea on the adelaide sound speakers considering will do that, best to listen to get a handle on. its always worth listening to combo considering speakers and amps otherwise results can be hit miss

 

amps like musical fidelity and elektra I own have for instance heard with both B&W and focal and they keep their mid warmth trait of the speakers ... it doesnt suddenly disappear if wanting a touch more mid warmth the musical fidelity in amps have a bit more in that. i use the musical fidelity m8500s thats end game for me ....also own elektra theatre amp which have for years, have heard joz setup over the years too.

 

elektra are astounding bargains being local made and without all the middle men and marketing and shipping from overseas import costs etc to pay for.  the aksa fall in same place for this reason  

Thanks for your input and advice. Much appreciated

[BATMAQN]

Maya would be my pick I had the Saksa 85 for a fair while, (Harbeth, Spendor's Linn's all sounded great with the Saksa) only reason I sold it was a momentary lapse of reason clean out of amps it was a poofteenth behind my Sansui Alpha sound wise which I still use today very close though, Hugh's gear is pretty damn good.

 

I won't comment on the Elektra amp as I have never heard one however I did use the previous Elektra pre to the Pnyx I found it to be sexy looking engaging musical and just a really nice piece of gear with a full compliment of connections very handy pre nice sound.

 

[buddyev]

43 minutes ago, WFM said:

Thanks mate. Just wondering what you upgraded to? And what made you sell your Elektra combo?

 I had the old Elektra power - its still a very good amp but I was looking for the newer HD300 power amp. They rarely come up used. I ended up buying a  Sanders Magtech. 

[andyr]

1 hour ago, WFM said:

Sorry I added a response within your quote about speaker graph.

Cheers

 

Yes, I meant get hold of the impedance graph for whatever spkrs you are thinking of buying (you mentioned "summoners" and "timberwolves" - I have no idea who makes them).

 

Andy

 

[WFM]

New Exposure 3010 was also my non aussie integrated choice. Not sure how if it would be on the same level sound quality wise though. Obviously lower power and reflected by the price. (3.5k)

[buddyev]

I doubt very much the exposure is in same league as the Elektra or the Maya.

If you can get the Pnyx and the HD 300 for $5k I would grab them and not think about amplification again for a long time. Even new these are a bargain compared to imported gear.

[betty boop]

21 minutes ago, WFM said:

New Exposure 3010 was also my non aussie integrated choice

id also in that case consider the musical fidelity m6 integrated or pre-power... these have a touch of warmth and certainly not shy in the power stakes... the beauty with going these you can go as far back as A5 integrated or A5cr pre power. absolute power houses and very clean detailed huge sound stage. make for amazing bargains on the used market when come up...

 

but again no idea how would be going with your speakers....

[muon*]

2 hours ago, andyr said:

 

Yes, I meant get hold of the impedance graph for whatever spkrs you are thinking of buying (you mentioned "summoners" and "timberwolves" - I have no idea who makes them).

 

Andy

 

https://adelaidespeakers.com/summoner-floorstanders.html

 

https://www.adelaidespeakers.com/timberwolf-floorstanders.html

 

He doesn't have graphs on his site, and doesn't state minimum impedance's, so would have to email him.

Edited June 6, 2021 by muon*

[betty boop]

these are also excellent for the money if happy with 2nd hand ... 

 

 

and would drive the ascensions in question without even breaking a sweat in my opinion.... 

 

[joz]

13 hours ago, WFM said:

Thanks for your reply. What speakers are you running? 

 

Hmmm,

well I run SGR Illuminators, they are powered by 8 channels of Elektra.

Edited June 6, 2021 by joz

[WFM]

Holy hell! Total insanity. Your brickwork must need constant rebuild. I'm just running little old IMF super compacts and luxman 1050r  atm..... and for last 20 years. Way overdue for an upgrade.

Edited June 7, 2021 by WFM