Myst tma3 - A Bonkers British Eighties Integrated Amplifier Remembered
Вставка
- Опубліковано 17 кві 2022
- In this episode, the guys remember the glorious Myst tma3 - an eighties-tastic 'flat earth' classic integrated that's now reaching cult status.
Boringly, they both agree that it's great!
Each episode of Mike and Dave's Hi-Fi Riff features their unedited, unexpurgated views about all manner of weird and/or wonderful hi-fi designs.
Mike has a huge wealth of knowledge from his hi-fi retail years, and David’s written about hi-fi for thirty years. Now Editor-in-Chief of StereoNET, he's picked up a few tips along the way.
So relax and enjoy some one-take hi-fi riffing - and do leave your comments below.
Don’t forget to hit the Subscribe button, this one goes up to eleven!
The eighties-tastic title tune is called ‘UFO/Mike’s Jumper’, and used with the express permission of our old pal and rights holder Simon Lythe.
To read the full story of this mysterious, melodious masterpiece, click on: zstereo.co.uk/2013/07/24/myst...
I am a huge Hitachi fan and i think the brand deserves more recognition for what they did in Hifi. They did some of the finest fet in the audio world, patented the LC-OFC process for audio cables and Were some of the first to use aluminium cone drivers in loudspeaker design. This is just a small portion of what they did. Their best stuff sadly never left Japan, but some of their amplifiers and speakers reached europe and america. Even today you would have to spend a ton of money just to marginally gain anything on the sound of a HMA-8500 MKII amp.
Absolutely right! Hitachi's mass productionisation of the 'power MOSFET' was a milestone in audio, back in the late 1970s. It was far more successful than Sony's ill-fated V-FET, which sounded good but wasn't reliable.
At its peak, in the early eighties, the company made virtually every single electronic component in its hi-fi separates - even the DAC chips! No buying stuff off the shelf for those guys. It was a sign of their seriousness. Sadly like many Japanese giants they moved into consumer video and left audio behind.
@@Hi-FiRiff My system is now exclusively Hitachi. From the Lo-D HDA-001 digital conversion to the HS-90F speakers and i can tell you that the latest Montreal Hifi show didn't show much to make me questioned my path. I honestly think that the hifi industry is mostly flat lining since the mid 70s. I also think that Hitachi realized that it was not really about sounding but SELLING better that was important.
@Alex Mit the HMA-7500 MKI and 8500 MKII combos sound great :) but the HA-7700, HA-610 and HA-1100 are also VERY good.
@Alex Mit Many Hitachi speakers made in japan from 1969 to 1984 are incredible value and overall really strong performers even by todays standards. Any of these will give you really good results when paired correctly in the right room: HS-350, HS-500, HS-323R, HS-40F, HS-55, HS-55D, HS-400, HS-70F, HS-80F, HS-90F
The Myst Tma3 was underrated by some in the Hi Fi press. It didn't receive the greatest of reviews by some in the press but others loved it. I spoke to Mike Maloney in Nov 1991 over the phone and he said he knew of only one case where a Myst Tma3 had to be repaired . This was at the Cornflake Shop in London. A customer had shorted the output stage of the amp and blown the Mosfets. Otherwise the amp is pretty indestructible but the volume pot can become 'scratchy' with age when you turn it . Once the volume is set it is fine.
Wow it does look better on the inside! I would have liked to have one of those back in the day. I rather like the cosmetics too. My current amp was built on a salvaged chassis from a medical lab instrument. I really like your channel.
Nice to see this featured! I've been using mine since I got it in the late '80's; I also still have several reviews from hi-fi mags of the time.
I owned a G-OHM and a TMA3 when I worked in Sounds Supreme in Hove, Brighton, was seduced by Pink Triangle's pre-amp and "Legend" power amp (also MOSFET) but like many I wish I'd kept the TMA3! Met Mike and Mary, (though I did not know the Guillame/G-OHM derivation) both too nice for the 80's hifi industry, I recall Mike saying that one of his dealers got a NAIM agency and suddenly realised the Myst was out of tune :) mad days, glad to hear to hear they're doing well.
I don't think I've ever seen one of these before, let alone heard one! Looks very distinctive. The HiFi world seemed to have more 'characters' making interesting and quirky gear back in the day than it does now.
Absolutely - the 1970s, 80s and 90s hi-fi industry had some huge characters in it - names withheld to protect the guilty! Hi-fi is generally (although not always) better now, but less characterful and/or mad. For me, probably because of my age, the 1980s was the golden age. A time of huge, rapid technological change and lots of disruptors. Also a lot more UK manufacturing than now, because China wasn't (yet) in the WTO so it wasn't as easy to manufacture there, at far lower prices than Western Europe.
Oh how I loved my Myst tma3. As you guys said, it just never put a foot wrong, and it was my amp for many years with multiple front end and speaker upgrades but the tma was always there, why change it? From a Systemdek IIx with a pair of slightly aneamic Gale GS210's through a range of different decks/spkrs to a Linn LP12 Lingo, Ittok, ATF5, the Myst comfortably driving a pair of Epos ES14"s. It was eventually replaced with a Naim NAC 42.5/NAP140 which was kind of like a tma3 'plus' amp combo, but the tma3 could snap at the Naim's heels! That 42.5 was replaced by a Hi-Cap/serviced NAC32.5 which was a significant upgrade (just need an olive NAP 250 now!) with the same LP12 (Cirkus/Ekos/rebuilt Karma). What I should mention is that the diminutive Myst revealed EVERY upgrade, it never stifled any upgraded sources.
Unfortunately my Myst did develop a faulty toroidal transformer so I dropped it into the factory in Herefordshire and spent time chatting with Mike. If I recall correctly, he said it was capable of driving difficult loads because he had engineered a lot of headroom into the design that was then kept spare so to speak, so even when the volume was on full whack, the actual amp was barely out of third gear, just coasting and cruising along unflustered.
What a delightful amplifier. The chap who I eventually sold it to didn't even want to check if it worked and said to me "I know it will work". He already had another tma3 with Quad ESL63's and was going to buy a second pair of Quads and add my tma3 to his current rig to create some kind of monobloc set up which was news to me.
Fabulous amplifier and yes 10/10. Unflappable!
You guys are making me remember my hi-fi Answers/New hi fi sound days, Alvin Gold Jimmy Hughes ln the days when acrylic was popular, DNM and all that stuff.
Further to my comment below that a made a couple of months ago, I've been using the Myst as my amp in my system instead of my Cyrus. It sounds so fantastic I've decided to keep it. It's the best sounding amp I've heard.
Had a tma3, pink triangle PT2(?) turntable and Tanny DC speakers back in the 80's..sounded fabulous
I bet it did!
Well Guys have just discovered your channel with the Rega Plennar 3 review, I'm pleased to see this retro look back at the Myst Tma 3.
My Tma dates back to about 1984 ish & Its Simply Outstanding, Brilliant Musical Sounds about it, powering the difficult to drive Celestion SL6s speaker.
An overlooked item from your review is the really well thought out Cd input, it's excellent.
But for me trading my Pink Triangle (PT1) turntable purchased at the same time as the Myst to a new Red Rega Plennar 3/RB330/Exact/Neo Rega wall Platform has given this fantastic amp a whole new lease of life.
The shape of this amp reminds me of the Musical Fidelity Synthesis which was the first UK made amp I owned.
Such a entertaining, informative and humorous channel surely deserves a lot more viewers!
Fascinating video and such distinctive looks. Don't recall reading them about them back in the mid/late late 80s when I started to get into Hi-Fi but long time ago now. Keep 'em coming!
Myst was known but under the radar in Brighton when I was in the market for this type of thing. I bought the Onix OA21 instead. This too was cottage industry like Incatech and so on. One of the Onix co-founders, Craig Hill had a hi fi shop in Brighton. You could pop in and talk with the horse's mouth, so to speak. I bet you chaps are familiar with the Onix OA21. This is going back to the days of Flat Response and Chris Frankland. You were reviewing around then, David, or soon after, as I recall.
I was an avid Flat Response reader, and Mike and I used to read his stuff before even that in Popular Hi-Fi - which we both enjoyed a lot.
As you may know I worked with Noel Keywood from the early nineties on Hi-Fi World. NK played a major part in Chris's Hi-Fi Review magazine - which Mike and I also loved.
I'm a big fan of Onix too, more to come on that front later...
What a wonderful video! I was searching online for anything about this amp, because I have one lurking in my garage that I'm going to put on eBay. I tried it out today and it does sound very lovely. I didn't know anything about it, and stumbled across this video, and your channel. Very entertaining and interesting, so I've subscribed.
You talked about peak current ability.This reminded me of another British integrated: Audio Innovations Series 300. I auditioned and bought one for £500 having heard the audiolab 8000 at £400 and a Lecson integrated at £600. The A series 300 let through infinitely more emotion and timbre than either of those. A review a couple of years earlier said the peak current was so low that it could not be measured (presumably over and above the average current). It sounded great with B&W 110 and Impulse H6 speakers.
I bought one having owned the first version of the Nait previously (which wasn't as good). The other competition in 1982/3 was of course the Audiolab 8000A which I thought was grossly overrated and, perhaps for slightly less, the Arcam A60. I was always intrigued as to what was the best 200-250 pound amp was at the time & my conclusion (having bought one since) was the Marantz Pm4 with it's Class A switch. IncaTech & Exposure hadn't really appeared by then. Colin Wonfor's designs for Magnum appeared in maybe 1984 but I'd still say the best sounding option if you could've found one then was the Marantz.
Another amp which I think is under rated is the Sonneteer Alabaster.Perhaps,you can get hold of it and do a quick review,please.
I would love to see a retro review of the onix oa21 and or Albarry M408.
Always fancied one of these but seemed to dodge it, going for the A&R A60 and then Onix at the time.
I'd say it was a fair way better than the A&R A60, but the Onix OA21 was a very nice thing. What a great time to have all those cool, (fairly) affordable amps on sale!
Interesting review...wondering if this would partner well with a pair of quad esl57`s? thankyou in advance for any replies
Yes, it was actually designed to drive the ESL-57s and 63s, so would be a fine match!
@@MrVinylista thankyou for reply
I used to frequent btn hi fi but they couldnt get the naim franchise. Jefferies hi fi hated them. Craig Hill left Btn and set up down Portsmouth way. Anyone know what happened to Craig. The onix oa21 was a great little amp
😊
On to other things. Is record cleaning a topic you might cover at some stage? There is a bewildering array of machines available, designed in accordance with a confusing array of principles. Never mind cleaning as an attempt to improve sound quality. The main issue is that clicks and pops can be a curse and a reliable way of getting rid of them would be most welcome.
We're looking to do a Keith Monks machine soon, plus a bit of general record care advice if you don't have the cash to buy anything fancy.
Hey I got one. Chose it over the Audiolab 8000 and the A&R A60.
It's still running but the volume pot is a bit noisy. Perhaps a new ALPS pot and new caps will rejuvenate it?
Comments?
I can see why you chose it over those two!
I had the same issue with my tma3, it's likely that it's just lack of use that's made it scratchy. Give it a twiddle ("ooh matron") a lot - with the power off, obviously. You may well find this sorts the problem.
The DIN inputs are a headache in terms of finding quality cables with DIN plugs
@@richnbel1 The Chord Company (not Chord Electronics) do some excellent ones.
Just been listening to my Tma3..still sounds fabulous after all these years!
If I wanted to upgrade my myst what amp/price would I be looking at to make noticable improvements?
Can any of the internal components be upgraded to make improved sound. Or best leave alone?
David / Michael,
How would this amplifier compare to the Ion Obelisk 3X / XPAC1 another amplifier of similar standards to Nait etc at the time.
I had an Ion Obelisk 2 at the time I bought new £245 which replaced a NAD 3130 based on a HiFi Review raving at the time. I used it through university with a Rega Planar 3 and Mordaunt Short MS100s until I was able to 'upgrade' to S/H Naim pre-powers. I no longer have Naim amps (Arcam SR250) but do have the 3X-XPac1 still in second systems and Naim IBLs / LS50s.
I also have 2 Musical Fidelity A1s which are also quite special as music makers and room heaters depending on the season.
Just bought one of these, partly based on your review! However I plugged it into my Townsend Rock with Goldring 1042 mm and discovered a problem, sound was low muffled and woolly.... Via the line input it sounds great so I was disappointed there might be a fault. However took the back off and all looks very good inside, nothing loose burnt or missing that I could see. The helpful lady I bought it off suggested she may have made a mistake and that it was an mc not mm board that was fitted, would that account for the muffled sound? Really would like to keep it and maybe swap the board if anyone fancies a mc one?
Hi, yes you will get a muffled sound if you are connecting an MM to an MC stage, maybe buy a Rega Fono MM
Thanks for the advice, yes I have the moving coil board on the amp, currently using it in my other system and it sounds great. @jdekong3945
@@cob1965 quirkiest little amp I`ve ever seen, ebay search saved 😸
where can we find it?
UK eBay is your best bet.
Did you ever try any Alchemist products?
I had a Kraken for a while. That was crazy, and I loved it, but my particular example wasn't very reliable. Where are they all now?
I had a Kraken too David. I thought it was very good for the money. Their bigger amplifiers are very thin on the ground. Shame. Definitely an interesting brand.
@@leegoodwin3466 Absolutely, those guys were bonkers - or so it seemed. Real hardcore Brit-fi! A good, unmessed-with Kraken is on my 'must buy' list.
Back in the day, I did consider the Myst tma3, but its rather basic and home-made looks put me off