Alchemist anyone?

A friend is clearing out his premises and has unearthed a bunch of 'Alchemist' gear he acquired a while ago. There's quite a lot - a number of pre-amps, integrateds, a couple of CD players and a DAC. I'm not familiar with the manufacturer though a quick bit of googling suggests they were British, and went out of business around 2001. Anyone know anything about it/have any opinions about sound/possible demand second hand. We're going to work our way through and see what's working, what it sounds like etc.

 

yes they were a british company, i should know,
nando.

 

Great products from a great British company. Started to make serious headway in the market and then the three partners fell out. One of the great shames of this industry.

 

i know, i launch them, x-m.f. staff, long story,
i still see GARFIEL,
nando.

 

No, these were no good & need to be disposed of!
If you send your address I will take care of it for free

 

Thanks guys - sounds like they'll be worth a listen. Look forward to doing so at the weekend.

 

They made some great products IMHO! Big shame they went!

I had a Kraken, 50 watts of class A lovelyness! Marmite looks, like all the Alchemist gear. Very well built & sounded wonderful.

I've still got a Forseti APD15 early one. Sounds lovely too, not in use but can't bear to part with it!

Check this link for info
http://www.alchemisthifi.info/ranges/forseti/alchemist_forseti_apd20a_power_amplifier.htm

 

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what,no bragi, genesis monos, freya pre? odins? mind you the kraken int. was a super amp, ask alan circum what the fins were for, stoking cd's with out sleaves,
nando.

 

Thats all the really early stuff nando did you have or hear these?
Be worth a few bob if these are in the haul of Hamilton.s mate!

 

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i work on the process of all of them, i also done the xport and uk, i just sold about 2 years ago my kit, i would not mind to have a kraken for keep sake,
nando.

 

None of the early stuff I'm afraid, but there are a couple of Kraken Mk. II integrateds. The power supplies are absent though so I won't be able to try them out straight away. From the pics on the Alchemist info website it looks like they're pretty much a toroidal transformer in a box, 2 x 27V, so I thought I'd have a go at putting one together. Nando, any idea of the specs for the transformer - VA rating? I think I have a 2 x 25V, 225VA around somewhere.

 

Audiophile Feb 1993 Kraken Review, perhaps of some interest.



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