NAD: Apparently… solid state amps DON’T suck? Airis 51 Filthy

[JerEvil]

So this amp has been in development for some time. Airis released a preamp pedal that is based on a 5150 with some gain and tonestack tweaks.

Richard (owner) did a few small 1/2 rack prototypes and sold them while he was refining the design. They were all just plain metal housings with hand written labels.

He ended up trying a 2-up rack design which I fell in love with. He didn’t like how he had to do the graphics so he switched to 3-up 1/2 rack format as that works better for his printer/engraver.

He put the two full size racks up for sale and I grabbed one.

Holy shit balls! I only got like 20 minutes with it today just making sure Canada post didn’t take their hate for DJT out on it while shipping. Fucking thing is nuts!

300 watts, solid state, has a built in boost based on his HM808 drive pedal, effects loop and 2x 9v tapes for pedals.

I had to haul it and get on a train to Miami but tomorrow when I get back I’ll get to fuck with it more. There are a lot of interesting controls for the mods on preamp and the power section. Definitely glad I grabbed it.

EDIT:
Here my usual “did it arrive alive” vid. Not a demo, just a quick’ish run through to make sure nothing got fucked during shipping. I’ll get a more comprehensive playthrough done this weekend though for sure.

 

[BABMusic]

Sorry to be stupid, but what does NAD mean?

 

[Simon Dorn]

Sorry to be stupid, but what does NAD mean?

New Amp Day

 

[thegame]

Sorry to be stupid, but what does NAD mean?

Left or right testicle

 

[tallcoolone]

Just looking at that bass knob so high makes me twitch

 

[harddriver]

Can't wait for clips...........so far anything 300Watt Class D just don't seem to hit like the old Mosfet power sections with big iron like the Randall RG100ES's.

Maybe a good designer will hit on something class D that hits like the old Randall power sections.....If so I'd be all in on one.

 

[glpg80]

Holding out for clips. I love my RH200

 

[romanianreaper]

I love tube amps but did my Orange Super Crush 100 for gigging and would love to see and hear what this thing is like.

 

[Simon Dorn]

Left or right testicle

 

[311boogieman]

So this amp has been in development for some time. Airis released a preamp pedal that is based on a 5150 with some gain and tonestack tweaks.

Richard (owner) did a few small 1/2 rack prototypes and sold them while he was refining the design. They were all just plain metal housings with hand written labels.

He ended up trying a 2-up rack design which I fell in love with. He didn’t like how he had to do the graphics so he switched to 3-up 1/2 rack format as that works better for his printer/engraver.

He put the two full size racks up for sale and I grabbed one.

Holy shit balls! I only got like 20 minutes with it today just making sure Canada post didn’t take their hate for DJT out on it while shipping. Fucking thing is nuts!

300 watts, solid state, has a built in boost based on his HM808 drive pedal, effects loop and 2x 9v tapes for pedals.

I had to haul it and get on a train to Miami but tomorrow when I get back I’ll get to fuck with it more. There are a lot of interesting controls for the mods on preamp and the power section. Definitely glad I grabbed it.

View attachment 409774

Interesting for sure bro. Looking forward to your clips but honestly, you could make a tin can and string sound good

 

[JerEvil]

Vid added to the OP

 

[romanianreaper]

Man that things sound brutal!!

 

[Mike Oxhuge]

Yeah sounds great! A little monster! How is the low end? Sounds punchy and fun to play.

 

[JerEvil]

Man that things sound brutal!!

Yeah sounds great! A little monster! How is the low end? Sounds punchy and fun to play.

Low end is solid. Not tubby at all. The amp fucks pretty hard. You se a few spots where I just laugh because it’s so damn fun to play.

See… no one gives me free shit so I’m not obligated to say nice things! Lol.

 

[chumbucket]

Can't wait for clips...........so far anything 300Watt Class D just don't seem to hit like the old Mosfet power sections with big iron like the Randall RG100ES's.

Maybe a good designer will hit on something class D that hits like the old Randall power sections.....If so I'd be all in on one.

There's some class D amp tech in the audiophile stereo world that people are gushing over, but I don't know that it has trickled down to the musical instrument market yet. I like class D at low volumes most of the time, but they can sound weird cranked up.

 

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

Honestly yes.

I have an older TS9 reissue now retired. Tried a lot of stuff even the new TS9 but nothing came close like the Maxon OD808.

Having said that the Johnny Chimpo could do as much or more too but I like running them side by side for that "Double Trouble" and stacked TS tone. The Chimpo is based on a Bad Monkey but the Bad Monkey is based on a TS.

View attachment 457405

I am just going to assume this was not the thread you meant to post in

 

[The~Kid]

I am just going to assume this was not the thread you meant to post in

Yeah meant to post in TechDeaths thread

 

[anomaly]

Can't wait for clips...........so far anything 300Watt Class D just don't seem to hit like the old Mosfet power sections with big iron like the Randall RG100ES's.

Maybe a good designer will hit on something class D that hits like the old Randall power sections.....If so I'd be all in on one.

If Randall amplifiers ever gets their act together I hope they reissue the RG100ES, and do it right. That's the only SS amp I really love the tone of. It really does move air like a good tube amplifier does.