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freeheel

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  1. My thoughts on the QA 100. I had heard about this amp from an audiophile buddy who heard about it word of mouth in much the same way. Because I don't think QLS advertises at all. My friend has been a source of advice and knowledge for a decade or so yet I was skeptical when he told me of an amp he purchased whose sonic quality amazed him. High praise considering his pension for top of the line audio componentry. My system consists of a filtered power via a Furman Elite 15 pfi into a Belcanto 300 series USB integrated amp w DAC. Source is a MacBook Air fed via USB directly into the Belcanto. Speakers are Golden Ear Triton II’s w custom speaker cabling and power cords commensurate with the system all around. I was satisfied with the Belcanto which I’ve been using for the better part of the last ten years. After much discussion I reluctantly purchased the QA 100 $389. and accompanying QA01 USB to SPDIF converter $69. I know what your thinking, I was the same. It arrived promptly from China and Clark at QLS was a pleasure to deal with. Upon arrival the box was so light I thought for a minute that they forgot to ship the amp. It is truly small and quite light. With out any break in I could immediately here that this was going to be a keeper. Sonically compared to the Belcanto several things are apparent. Bass is tighter and in comparison the Belcanto seems muddy. I find that midrange is clearer and the soundstage is more open. I was amazed that this little digital amp was driving the Triton II’s with such ease. I have been a critical listener since the 80’s having the philosophy that anyone can buy sonic quality with enough room on your American Express card but finding a diamond in the rough like the QA 100 is in my opinion akin to finding that $9 bottle of wine that crushes the status brands. It has always been my goal to reach that part of the equipment (or anything else for that matter) purchase curve where you’d have to part with cash geometrically to produce only arithmetic sonic results. I found it and more in this product. My taste in music does lend itself to digital amps. I have over the years owned very high end tube equipment both amps and pre-amps but I prefer the signature of digital and my music is sourced digitally now as well. So skeptical as you may be of a product from a company you’ve not heard of the QA 100 delivers. If you hate it put it in your bedroom or give it to your kid but you wont. Now at 100 hours or so it has come into its own. I cant wait to take it down to my audio store and run it against their multi thousand dollar amps that in my opinion this thing smokes.
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