I put a q on this ng a while ago about a Roksan Kandy III I bought recently.
Generally pleased with it - good punchy sound and goes loud. Had a couple of
issues though, and Roksan replied:

Phono stage: Really poor! Muffled, no 'sparkle' or bass. The best way I can
describe it is out of phase. Of course IMHO, and compared to other stuff - a
MF XLPS and Audiolab 8000a and 8000c. Roksan said: we had to compromise on
the phono stage because we put such a big power supply in. Sorry, but there
it is. Oh well ...

Remote: takes about 3 stabs of the button from time to time. Roksan say:
change the batteries (er, they're new), and point it at a particular
direction, they're not sure which, but one way works better than the other.
Changed the batteries, tried it at every angle, still the same.

In fact, this info was relayed by Sevenoaks, who I bought it off. They
kindly took up the case and have a contact at Roksan. Roksan told them they
had replied to me - 3 emails, no reply. Sevenoaks suggested the phono stage
goes with the territory - I can't have everything, and would be better off
using a separate phono stage, and the XLPS was in their opinion superior. I
wouldn't mind except that I spent some time explaining that records were
important, I didn't want more plugs and boxes, and they happily sold me the
Kandy over the Caspian for the phono stage. The remote - no explanation.

FYI, although any opinions/advice welcome.

Rob

On Sat, 6 Sep 2003 20:23:28 +0100, "RJH"
wrote:

I put a q on this ng a while ago about a Roksan Kandy III I bought recently.
Generally pleased with it - good punchy sound and goes loud. Had a couple of
issues though, and Roksan replied:

Phono stage: Really poor! Muffled, no 'sparkle' or bass. The best way I can
describe it is out of phase. Of course IMHO, and compared to other stuff - a
MF XLPS and Audiolab 8000a and 8000c. Roksan said: we had to compromise on
the phono stage because we put such a big power supply in. Sorry, but there
it is. Oh well ...

I have the same amplifier and the phono stage in mine sounds fine. Why
should a large power supply make any difference to the phono stage?

Remote: takes about 3 stabs of the button from time to time. Roksan say:
change the batteries (er, they're new), and point it at a particular
direction, they're not sure which, but one way works better than the other.
Changed the batteries, tried it at every angle, still the same.

Again, I have no problems with this.

It does sound like you have a faulty unit. If there were a disturbance
on the low voltage power supply it could affect both the phono stage
and the remote since both of these are unlikely to be fed directly
from the higher voltage rails driving the power amplifier. Have you
tried another unit to see if it manifests the same problems?


--
Chris Isbell
Southampton
UK

Thanks for the reply Chris, and:

"Chris Isbell" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 6 Sep 2003 20:23:28 +0100, "RJH"
wrote:

I put a q on this ng a while ago about a Roksan Kandy III I bought
recently.
Generally pleased with it - good punchy sound and goes loud. Had a couple
of
issues though, and Roksan replied:

Phono stage: Really poor! Muffled, no 'sparkle' or bass. The best way I
can
describe it is out of phase. Of course IMHO, and compared to other
stuff - a
MF XLPS and Audiolab 8000a and 8000c. Roksan said: we had to compromise
on
the phono stage because we put such a big power supply in. Sorry, but
there
it is. Oh well ...

I have the same amplifier and the phono stage in mine sounds fine. Why
should a large power supply make any difference to the phono stage?


Sorry, they said because they spent so much on the enormous power supply,
they had to cut costs on the phono. I'm not sure what to make of that
remark. Of course I agree a line has to be drawn but surely they can design
in a decent phono stage at £550? And you're not the first to have said that
the phono input is fine ...


Remote: takes about 3 stabs of the button from time to time. Roksan say:
change the batteries (er, they're new), and point it at a particular
direction, they're not sure which, but one way works better than the
other.
Changed the batteries, tried it at every angle, still the same.

Again, I have no problems with this.

It does sound like you have a faulty unit. If there were a disturbance
on the low voltage power supply it could affect both the phono stage
and the remote since both of these are unlikely to be fed directly
from the higher voltage rails driving the power amplifier. Have you
tried another unit to see if it manifests the same problems?

Perhaps it is faulty. I'll take it for an A-B check. It is pretty heavy thou
gh!

Rob

RJH wrote:
I put a q on this ng a while ago about a Roksan Kandy III I bought
recently. Generally pleased with it - good punchy sound and goes
loud. Had a couple of issues though, and Roksan replied:

Phono stage: Really poor! Muffled, no 'sparkle' or bass. The best way
I can describe it is out of phase. Of course IMHO, and compared to
other stuff - a MF XLPS and Audiolab 8000a and 8000c. Roksan said: we
had to compromise on the phono stage because we put such a big power
supply in. Sorry, but there it is. Oh well ...

I have the same amp and I am very surprised at the quality of the phono.
Very nice bass output and nice treble.

Remote: takes about 3 stabs of the button from time to time. Roksan
say: change the batteries (er, they're new), and point it at a
particular direction, they're not sure which, but one way works
better than the other. Changed the batteries, tried it at every
angle, still the same.

Same problem with me. unless I get the remote in EXACTLY the right spot, it
will not work. I have to stretch my arm out to the left, raise it 12.5
degrees and ppoint it about 2 inches to the left of the fireplace!!

I don't give a damm though because the amp is so good.

MrBitsy.

"MrBitsy" wrote in message
...
RJH wrote:
I put a q on this ng a while ago about a Roksan Kandy III I bought
recently. Generally pleased with it - good punchy sound and goes
loud. Had a couple of issues though, and Roksan replied:

Phono stage: Really poor! Muffled, no 'sparkle' or bass. The best way
I can describe it is out of phase. Of course IMHO, and compared to
other stuff - a MF XLPS and Audiolab 8000a and 8000c. Roksan said: we
had to compromise on the phono stage because we put such a big power
supply in. Sorry, but there it is. Oh well ...

I have the same amp and I am very surprised at the quality of the phono.
Very nice bass output and nice treble.

Remote: takes about 3 stabs of the button from time to time. Roksan
say: change the batteries (er, they're new), and point it at a
particular direction, they're not sure which, but one way works
better than the other. Changed the batteries, tried it at every
angle, still the same.

Same problem with me. unless I get the remote in EXACTLY the right spot,
it
will not work. I have to stretch my arm out to the left, raise it 12.5
degrees and ppoint it about 2 inches to the left of the fireplace!!

I don't give a damm though because the amp is so good.

MrBitsy.

Thanks for the reply Mr. B. I think, when I get time and I can be bothered
to haul it across London, I'll take it to the shop for a comparison/check. I
think it's probably as it should be, so perhaps, Kandy owners (across the
world etc.) try another phono amp if you play much vinyl!

Rob