Audiophiles, generally don't like class D amps!

[tuga]

So are those prices on the Mola Mola Kaluga for real? @tuga

Will they deliver to the USA?

You could contact them. Brexit has damaged exports badly so they may actually agree to deliver to the US. Not sure if it's worth the cost, would you have to pay import duty?

 

[Blumlein 88]

You could contact them. Brexit has damaged exports badly so they may actually agree to deliver to the US. Not sure if it's worth the cost, would you have to pay import duty?

Don't think so. I've purchased bike components without it, but that was prior to Brexit.

I'm wondering how something is priced at less than one tenth the price.

This review from last year says the price is $17,200 per pair.

THE MOLA MOLA KALUGA MONO-BLOCK AMPLIFIERS - REVIEW — AUDIOKEY REVIEWS

The Mola Mola Kaluga mono block amplifiers, at approximately 17 grand, deliver far more sonic goodness than their price indicates. Yes, 17 grand is a lot of money, but within the context of a market that gives us power amplifiers of all designs that are priced at many multiples of the Kalugas, these

www.audiokeyreviews.com

 

[ahofer]

Generalisations usually struggle to reflect reality.

True, it’s a stereotype, but one with many evidentiary samples. I don’t really like the term “audiophools”, which I could have used to limit the population.

 

[tuga]

Don't think so. I've purchased bike components without it, but that was prior to Brexit.

I'm wondering how something is priced at one tenth the price.

Could they have missed a '0'?

Mola Mola - Trade in Available

Mola Mola | On Demonstration | Trade in + Interest Free Credit Available | Nationwide Installation Available | Authorised Mola Mola Dealer + Stockist

nintronics.co.uk

 

[tuga]

Don't think so. I've purchased bike components without it, but that was prior to Brexit.

I'm wondering how something is priced at less than one tenth the price.

This review from last year says the price is $17,200 per pair.

THE MOLA MOLA KALUGA MONO-BLOCK AMPLIFIERS - REVIEW — AUDIOKEY REVIEWS

The Mola Mola Kaluga mono block amplifiers, at approximately 17 grand, deliver far more sonic goodness than their price indicates. Yes, 17 grand is a lot of money, but within the context of a market that gives us power amplifiers of all designs that are priced at many multiples of the Kalugas, these

www.audiokeyreviews.com

They have messed up the pricing...

https://www.audioemotion.co.uk/mola-mola-kaluga-monoblock-amplifier-25610-p.asp

 

[Bob from Florida]

Could they have missed a '0'?

Mola Mola - Trade in Available

Mola Mola | On Demonstration | Trade in + Interest Free Credit Available | Nationwide Installation Available | Authorised Mola Mola Dealer + Stockist

nintronics.co.uk

Given that everything else on that site is much much higher priced - yes, I think they missed a zero! Might be interesting for someone to discover if they would honor that price.

ABH2 looks more bargain like if the "zero" is restored.

 

[Blumlein 88]

They have

Mola Mola Kaluga Monoblock Amplifier | Audio Emotion

CLASS-D HAS NEVER BEEN SO GOOD. COME TO THINK OF IT, NEITHER HAS CLASS-A...Kaluga is based on world's most sought after class-D technology Ncore

www.audioemotion.co.uk

Well with their 10% of the price difference price matching guarantee I can buy them for $59.90 each. An even better deal. Oh how I wish it would work that way. Does the Uk have laws about advertised pricing that companies have to honor? At that price, I'll buy 11 for an Atmos layout.

 

[tuga]

Well with their 10% of the price difference price matching guarantee I can buy them for $59.90 each. An even better deal. Oh how I wish it would work that way. Does the Uk have laws about advertised pricing that companies have to honor? At that price, I'll buy 11 for an Atmos layout.

If something is advertised at the wrong price

Your rights and options if something is wrongly priced on a label, advertisement or listing.

www.citizensadvice.org.uk

 

[Multicore]

To address a subject like like that I first have two questions.

1. Where did you get the idea that audiophiles' preferences are that well defined?
2. Why do audiophiles' preferences (assuming such a thing exists) interest you?

 

[computer-audiophile]

I have the impression that the term "audiophile" is often used in ASR as a pejorative term for a person who has this serious interest in music, with everything that goes with it.

 

[Mtbf]

BTW, one problem with Class D is that there are no ultra expensive amplifiers. High-end audiophiles like to buy expensive showcase products and none of those are class D (my own Mark Levinson amps being an exception).

These would qualify, I suppose, AFAIK Hypex NCore based (NC1200).

Or, if that’s just a bit too much, take this integrated:

True audiojewelry, build from a single block of aluminium.

 

[tuga]

I have the impression that the term "audiophile" is often used in ASR as a pejorative term for a person who has this serious interest in music, with everything that goes with it.

If you’re reading an audio forum you’re definitely an audiophile (someone who values sound quality).

 

[computer-audiophile]

View attachment 265532

These would qualify, I suppose, AFAIK Hypex NCore based (NC1200).

Or, if that’s just a bit too much, take this integrated:
View attachment 265541
True audiojewelry, build from a single block of aluminium.

Such material excesses are a result of CAD/CAM techniques, which have led to arbitrary shapes that are designed with ease on the computer. In my opinion, this has little to do with really good design. I didn't want it as a gift.

Edit:

P.S. From a designer's perspective, I would say. If something is decidedly overdimensioned, it is not correctly dimensioned.

 

[No one you know]

I go by my experience on other forums. At one in particular which is a very long-standing forum, (shall I name it?), a very high proportion of members are against class D -- even though many have actually recently owned or tried class D in their systems.

The typical remark is that the "tone" of class D isn't right; it doesn't sound "natural" like live performance, especially the treble. In fact the "tone" deficit they refer to is easily explained by the lack of 2nd/3rd order distortion they are getting from their tube equipment or S/S such as Pass Labs. Some of them will admit this explanation, some will not.

But there are a few audiophiles whose tastes have evolved. I can think of one who was a stalwart of tubes for decades but is now loving his Benchmark preamp and power amp. Kudos to our member, @atmasphere, who was and is a maker of highly regarding tube equipment, who is now also making a class D amp of his own design and is, happily, selling lots of them.

And yet, if you go to a live performance almost anywhere the amplification will be Class D.

 

[MrOtto]

What they don't like is the price is to low for the given specs, also the size and weight is to low. They also don't like you can't pay for increased perfomance up to infinity. Some people thinks better performance always follows increasment of the price.

 

[Galliardist]

They have messed up the pricing...

https://www.audioemotion.co.uk/mola-mola-kaluga-monoblock-amplifier-25610-p.asp

Canadian vs US dollar prices by any chance?

 

[JRS]

What they don't like is the price is to low for the given specs, also the size and weight is to low. They also don't like you can't pay for increased perfomance up to infinity. Some people thinks better performance always follows increasment of the price.

It's (audiophoolery) a perfect paradigm for trading some sacrifice to achieve a gain in performance--in this case a financial sacrifice vs say the time or effort required to play the piano or swing a golf club with great ability. It also affords exclusivity and all the joyous snobbery one can indulge. With this sort of mindset, one will always suffer a degradation of aesthetic satisfaction when a heretofore unavailable level of performance is achieved at a significangly lower price point, anc perhaps just as importantly without the effort of reading countless reviews, hours of auditioning and more hours discussing and debating the attributes of a particular approach or piece of kit.

I truly wonder if self flaggelation were shown to improve the sound of a component, how many would might try it.

 

[ahofer]

It's (audiophoolery) a perfect paradigm for trading some sacrifice to achieve a gain in performance--in this case a financial sacrifice vs say the time or effort required to play the piano or swing a golf club with great ability. It also affords exclusivity and all the joyous snobbery one can indulge. With this sort of mindset, one will always suffer a degradation of aesthetic satisfaction when a heretofore unavailable level of performance is achieved at a significangly lower price point, anc perhaps just as importantly without the effort of reading countless reviews, hours of auditioning and more hours discussing and debating the attributes of a particular approach or piece of kit.

I truly wonder if self flaggelation were shown to improve the sound of a component, how many would might try it.

Well, if handing over sums that could pay for college tuition or a small home for nothing is self-flagellation...

 

[tuga]

It's (audiophoolery) a perfect paradigm for trading some sacrifice to achieve a gain in performance--in this case a financial sacrifice vs say the time or effort required to play the piano or swing a golf club with great ability. It also affords exclusivity and all the joyous snobbery one can indulge. With this sort of mindset, one will always suffer a degradation of aesthetic satisfaction when a heretofore unavailable level of performance is achieved at a significangly lower price point, anc perhaps just as importantly without the effort of reading countless reviews, hours of auditioning and more hours discussing and debating the attributes of a particular approach or piece of kit.

I truly wonder if self flaggelation were shown to improve the sound of a component, how many would might try it.

I also see a lot of people here wanting to trade their 'audibly' transparent perfectly 'adequate' gear for the latest better-measuring model even after they've claimed that everything sounds the same...

Besides many audiophiles get their gratification from the journey, not the destination; this means experimenting new gear and reading reviews.
It's not my thing but there are many ways to pratice the hobby, different strokes for different folks and all that.
Live and let live.

This may very well be my corniest post to date.

 

[JRS]

Well, if handing over sums that could pay for college tuition or a small home for nothing is self-flagellation...

Especially if it meant saccing your child's college education. No Princeton for you kiddo, I have to score me some Moolah-Moolah amps for the front channels. Heck nothing wrong with
Central State College....