A weird thing happened to my Red Wine Audio 30.2..


I love my RWA signature 30.2 amp and in my system it works perfectly. In fact I like it so much that I thought I would take it to my local high-end store and show it off, since I was sure it would impress. However, when I hooked it up in the store it just did not bring the sound I am used to hearing from it. My friends who run the store justifiably shrugged it off and proceeded to swap three different, comparably priced amps, in to the same system, and one after another they wiped the floor with my pride and joy Red Wine Audio signature 30.2. The fundamental difference was in the much greater dynamics of these other amps to my 30.2. Is it possible that in moving it around or placing it in my very cold car for the drive over something might have happened to it? I'm basically wondering if others have had inconsistent results with their red wine amps. I am so confused and feel quite embarassed for having talked it up so much. My confidence in my amp is quite shaken.
128x128jamiek
The speakers I have in my system are Focal Profile 918s. I can't be sure but I would guess that they are not hugely unlike the Triangles that were in my friends store and that we hooked up to my amp. I was sure to do the test on speakers that were efficient enough to work with my amp, and as it turns out the Triangles had a very similar impedance to my Focals. While I am pretty sure my Focals are more to my liking than the Triangles, I can't attribute the outcome of the test to this discrepancy. I typically use an arcam cd36 or a project turntable as a source. In the store we used an esoteric cd player (I don't recall the model, but it was current). Also I use Cardas Golden Reference interconnects and Acoustic Zen Hollograph speaker cables in my system, as well as Shunyata power cables and a Shunyata Hydra for my cd player. Finally, the drive over was about 15 min and since I live in Canada and park outside my car was really cold, about -5 or -10 for most of the ride.

While there were many variables I could associate with what happened, we did our best to interchange many cables as well as sources and in total I ran the unit for nearly two hours in the store, all of which which did help to level the playing field a little. I should note that while the Signature 30.2 did produce a much better sound over the two hours period, it was still disappointing. When I first hooked it up it sounded worse than I care to talk about. I was truly stunned.

Anyway, with my tail between my legs I returned home and hooked it back up to my system and, bingo, it was great sounding again. I really do like my amp, but I can't explain what happened during the test at the store. The outcome led one store employee to refer to my Red Wine as an amp "for kids". Exactly what that means, I don't know, but, well, ya.

In the end I am siding with the positive comments left by you all since I know what my amp can do when things align and it's damn great sound.
Salesmen want you to purchase something.With enough doubt bestowed upon a customer,many will take the bait.An early Jolida I heard at the store I worked at(some time ago) was hooked to some small Mordant-Short speakers-wonderful sound,couldn't believe.The owner changed to a different speaker,awful.The 'right combo" may shine,wrong and you go running.Which was the culprit??
"I returned home and hooked it back up to my system and, bingo, it was great sounding again."

THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS!

Dude- you had a bad dream. Don't eat a big bowl of chili before bedtime. Enjoy your system and don't obsess. :-)

(and another thing, what's wrong with being a "kid"?)
Actually I have noticed that eating cheese before I go to bed makes me have weird dreams. It was probaby the cheese that made doubt my amp in my dreams. Also, since I'm 30 and feel lucky that I could afford a $2500 amp, I'm wondering what "kids" this guy knows with that much money and an interest in battery powered 30 watt amps. I guess rich kids are weird as hell these days. Most kids I see have iPods and low-fi, but still massive, headphones. Actually, I've been meaning to buy myself an iPod...
Your gear will sound best in your home. When you move it to another set up even if it gels you will not be as relaxed or at ease as you are at home. Since your not at ease or relaxed kit will have a different often edgy sound.