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Reviews 81
A.Ashby
May 31,2020Superb service and support, in every respect from Les at Avondale. I have had the NCC220 Qudos boards and HCR200 regulators running in my NAP250 for a couple of weeks now and, well, where do I start?.... Beautifully hand-made and effortless to install, after more than 30 years of owning Naim equipment, I am frankly stunned by the magnitude of this upgrade. Their ability to effortlessly unravel complex music is nothing short of majestic and beautiful music now seems to be pouring effortlessly into my home :) I already had the Avondale TPR4 regulator in my HiCap and that was a great upgrade in it's own right, but the Qudos boards are in a league of their own. Thank you Les, you are a master of your craft.
Graham Cole
Apr 18,2020I've purchased many components from Avondale Audio over the years and have never been disappointed. The products are built to the highest standard and always perform as described. These are virtually bespoke products, hand assembled using high quality components and the quality control is exemplary. The after sales support, warranty and advice is second to none. In terms of Value for money, Rolls Royce products for the price of a BMW. Highly recommended.
Evan
Apr 14,2020I'm a 100% Avondale fanboy, having upgraded my Naim NAP200 to Avondale M130 monoblocks, and then later upgrading the standard amplifier NCC200 modules in the M130s to the latest NCC220s. The difference from the NAP200 to the M130s was ASTOUNDING, at least to my ears. And then the difference from the NCC200s to the NCC220s was ASTOUNDING again. Les also looked into a problem I had and fixed it for an extremely low price. It was one of those situations in which I could have been charged double or even triple and I would have had no way of knowing whether or not it was reasonable. I was very grateful as I'd had to fork out over £300 to have the drawer mechanism in my CDX2 fixed. Ouch. I have every intention of upgrading to the NCC300s when I get the money and look forward to other products that Avondale have in the pipeline. I can't recommend Avondale highly enough.
Jon Dennis
Mar 30,2020It's been almost a month now since I had the pleasure of spending a couple of hours with Les as he installed a full set of Avondale boards into my Naim NAP250. I take real pleasure from observing a person working at their métier and so it was great to watch Les working calmly and professionally through the upgrade. I hope some of that rubbed off on me so that my next bit of audio diy can be as successful. Although I can now probably consider my amp to be fully burned in I am not sure that a burn in period was really necessary as it sounded bang-on right from the off. Although it's a long time since I first acquired the NAP250, and the memory has faded somewhat of the joy I felt at that time, it seems to me now that my hifi system has never made a better job of putting my heart in touch with my music collection. My wife even remarked the other day how lovely it was for her to see me falling in love with my music all over again. That, basically, is the happy result of the Avondale mods. In the circumstances how could I not recommend it highly ? Thanks Les.
Rich Lewis
Mar 01,2020Firstly I’d like to thank Les at Avondale Audio very much for my new Avondale NCC 300 amp (NAP 250 chrome bumper shell). It’s superb in every way, well suited in my system. It drives the Linn Sara speakers, which everybody knows present a difficult load for any amp, with powerful authority and a firm grip across the full frequency range. The highs are sweet, not jangly at all, the bass is very well controlled - tight, extended, not at all flabby. I’ve had it over a week now and had a chance to listened for a whole evening, when the wife did a night-shift, at fairly high volume levels without any listening fatigue, very musical - I’m re-discovering my music collection. Albert Colins - Too Many Dirt Dishes, Joe Cocker - Ruby Lee, George Benson - Give Me The Night, Donald Fagan - The Nightfly, to name but a few tracks which now really shine. At the end of the evening, I put my hand on the top and it was pleasantly warm, not at all hot. The Soft Start Module fitted is a joy, gone is the thump - at last! It complements the NAC 102 perfectly, which Les transformed into a ‘NAC 52 beater’ a couple of years ago, along with its bespoke power supply also built by Les. I’ve owned my old NAC 250 since 1982 so I know the ‘Naim sound’ very well, the NCC 300 replacement retains those characteristics but is now transformed with power and grace. I went to the Bristol HiFi show last Sunday and for the first time ever - I didn’t go into a single demo room and think ‘wow, I wish my system sounded this good’, because they almost all sounded lacking by comparison, some sounded nice but nothing sounded better IMHO. The 300 is a Master Piece from the Master himself. Avondale : makes the world a better place to hear music.
MattR
Nov 14,2019I didn’t think that it would be possible to buy affordable upgrades for my Naim Hi Fi separates but I’m glad to say I was wrong. Over the last 6 months I’ve bought upgraded regulator boards and amplifier boards for my Naim olive NAP250 with really excellent results from both - improved 3D soundstage, more detail and more bass. I was so impressed I went on to upgrade an olive HiCap and nonDR Supercap with improved regulator boards, again with impressive results. Les obviously really knows his stuff. I would highly recommend Avondale Audio products!
Steve Powell
Nov 06,2019So many have said it all before, but to repeat, Les is one of those who value customer service and satisfaction no matter how much effort it takes. I've just upgraded my amp with a pair of Qudos amp boards having never even opened up an amp before. It took almost as long to open the box and wrapping as it did to get them in and working. One hears that they take a while to come on song, but within the first few minutes I could already hear a big improvement over the old boards, which themselves were a huge upgrade over the Naim 250 boards. Les answered the few questions I had so that I felt guided and like I knew what I was doing. Not something that often happens! Totally recommended for both excellent products and the best customer service.
David Roberts
Oct 26,2019Avondale Qudos boards initial and ongoing impressions The boards have been in now for just under week, and I thought I would get a few early observations out there on the sound of these amazing boards. The general view is they take time to run in, but there have been some clear improvements already. A noticeably bigger and better stereo sound stage already. Vocals sound very realistic, especially female vocals. Cara Dillon - The Wanderer album sounded absolutely devine, the piano on the album sounded amazing, it is one of the hardest instruments to get to sound right. Bass is noticeably deeper, but very well controlled and balanced overall, with the mid range and treble. Bass guitars and synthersisers on Pink Floyds, The Wall really are impressive in their depth and timbre. Very welcome as my Linn Keleidhs are a little bass light regarding overall depth, this seems to have sorted this area out. The Keleidhs do have the Hiquphon OW92 tweeters which really lift them to another level, even more so now. Acoustic guitars sound as though the players are actually in the room, you can actually here the strings vibrating. An Acoustic Evening With Foreigner sounded fantastic. Just finished listening to Eva Cassidy, Live At Blues Alley recording, absolutely blown away by how it sounded, it always sounded good with NCC200, but it really is in another league with the Qudos boards, these are definitely keepers. Listening to it really transported you there, it wasn't just how the music sounded, it somehow managed to convey the atmosphere of the venue, hard to put into words really. An update, after an accident where some little fingers destroyed the drivers in my Keleidhs, I have purchased a pair of ATC scm19v2 speakers, these speakers sound amazing on the end of the Avondale modified amp, the transparency, the natural sound and improved soundstage has to be heard to be believed. If you are looking for speakers to compliment Avondale amps then give these a go.
James Speirs
Jul 25,2019Installed a TPR4 in my SNAPS. After a few weeks, I honestly didn't hear any real difference, so I contacted Les. He was kind enough to send me a new capacitor and rectifier for no charge - that's customer SERVICE! Got them installed a noticed a distinct difference in soundstage and presence. It's only been powered up for 12 hours now, so I'm looking forward to how it sounds after a few days.... Thanks, Les!
Thomas Perling
Jul 03,2019Did yesterday the recapping of my Highcap with installing a TPR4, and what should I say - it is unimaginable how good it is now. I played Eric Clapton 24 nights this morning. Old love - Eric plays so focused, so clearly it's unbelievable. Every single note is heard as precisely as it slides over the strings, it pulls. It was like playing in my living room. Now the quality of this recording is only really bearing on how fantastic the sound engineer has worked. I could not hear enough and read the disc, next comes Wonderful tonight and what can I say, it's wonderful. The band is clearly positioned the bass is deep and clean, the drums, the ride cymbal sounds soft and clean in the background and Eric's Strat sings like never before !! THANK YOU Avondale !!
Mike Turner
Jun 26,2019Avondale Audio is a great company to deal with. I have brought a number of items from les over the years, mainly for my naim 72 pre amp and hi cap. I'll just say here that when I had problem with one of my ASR regulator I phoned to ask what I should do les said no worries and just popped a replacement one in the post, at no charge to me, which I thought was pretty good as I live in Adelaide, Australia. Anyway back to the reason for this post. I was coming over to the UK on holiday and I got les to get two pairs of his HCR 200 and NCC 220, for my two Naim 250's delivered to my holiday address, at no extra cost. I've now installed them, all very easy with all information on a cd, and have been enjoying my "new" system. The Naim 250 amps I've been using for over thirty year's, now, in an active system with my sbl's and I thought it can't get much better than this but I have now discovered it can. Improvement's all round so money well spent. Anyone thinking of doing this upgrade go for it you won't be disappointed.
David Noon
Jun 23,2019I have just had my nap 250 (olive) and 2 old Hi-caps (one is CB the other olive) updated with new caps and Avondale regulator boards in the Hi-caps; and new 220 qudos boards and Avodale regulator boards plus Schotky recifier unit and main capacitors in the 250. The improvement in the system is an order of magnitude to say the least. I can hear vibrato on a Dire straits album the I had never realised was present previously, and on most albums instruments in the back of the mix that I had not heard before. When I last had my linn upgraded about 2 years ago (Keel for ARO Tangerine audio top plate and TP tranquility) I was demme'd my deck against against a full klimax ARO linn using the SRV track Tin Pan Ally (45rpm) via a stagline, 282 and an old non DR nap 500. When I got my updated Linn home I listened to my 33rpm sample; there was no comparison, so thought it must be mostly the Klimax that was responsible. Now there is a definate comparison to be made. It seems to me that the cheapest way to get a realy good amp is to buy an old Nap and fit Les's boards. Many thanks Les.
Roger Atkins
Mar 15,2019I have taking Les's hi-fi advice for many years and have a complete Avondale system. I recently sought his opinion on a power amp upgrade and he recommended his new Qudos boards as a cost effective upgrade. He was right, the Qudos boards are a significant improvement in all areas of the sound, clarity, definition and imageing, on top of the improvements already achieved over my original Naim set-up. In my system, I rate these boards highly and thanks Les for the recommendation.
Iain
Mar 09,2019I have been a customer for over 30 years. Les is an artist. His products are worth waiting for. Fabulous performance, service and value. My system is almost entirely Avondale. The competition costs a lot more and still is not as good. Avondale equipment plays music and the Grad 1 preamp and Qudos and Nc300 amp modules are in a different league to other well known Uk manufacturers. Les has left the competition behind. Hus amps genuinely have the best of solid state dynamics and amazing bass control with an open and flowing sound that is more akin to valves. The magnetic tonearm is a game changer and re writes the rules of vinyl replay. Tight extended bass, a fluid even tonality and scary low levels of surface noise. Les is also a rare person in business. Generous, caring and a total gent.
Lance
Mar 08,2019Had my ageing 42.5 110 rebuilt, serviced and upgraded , the result beyond my expectation. The whole experience educational and informative , Les is generous with his time ,a true pioneer ,his work impeccable , rarely do you meet people like this .
Joakmi Juhl
Feb 15,2019Wonderful products and extremely helpful service. Avondale is a real pleasure to do business with. I highly recommend Avondale to anyone who wants to build their own amplifiers and power supplies. Les service and skills are second to none.
Adrian Cowderoy
Oct 12,2018I recently received a new Grad One. From cold, the sound quality was far ahead of the preamp in my Naim 272. It has absence of errors, extraordinary detail, vivid dynamics and musical joy – whatever it plays. And now the Grad One is settled, the sound is even better. For that quality at that price, I accept the wait.
James Pinto-Pearson
Oct 11,2018I had HCR200 and QUDOS NCC220 fitted to a NAP250 and am extremely happy with my purchase. Three weeks or so have passed now so the amp has had some run-in time and is sounding truly excellent, a lot better than the standard 250.
Neal Stephens
Sep 27,2018I have just installed the TPR4 power supply upgrade in my Naim snaps. The improvement is remarkable and hard to beat for value for money. Customer service from Avondale was faultless
2 Avondale Road Newbold, S40 4TF, Chesterfield, GB
http://avondaleaudio.com
Alan Butt
Jun 12,2020New to Avondale. Met Les yesterday and enjoyed chatting whilst he fitted the TPR4 mod ino my HiCap. Very impressive set up and loved seeing the new momoblocks with their tops off...the wiring is a work of art and makes me want to save up for a pair ASAP. However, my review is for the HiCap mod used to power my CD5x...listening today has been a revelation..seems to have more air and space between the guitars of Kenny Wayne Shepherd. Bass also has a sharpness to it. Steve Earle's vocals were up front in the mix. Impressive mod and so nice to meet Les, a veritable font of knowledge and a gentleman to boot. Looking forward to my next visit..highly recommended..