Inca Tech Claymore
Hello all, first post on here so thought I'd file it under say hello but will mainly talk about the Inca Tech Claymore. I recently had new life breathed into mine by Colin Wonfor. My conclusion is, it was a very good idea to have it upgraded and my advice to anyone who has one, do the same.
I loved this amp, having bought it in 2009, until I blew a FET somehow in 2012. Anyway I went through a series of other amps, Cyrus One, Pioneer A400 keeping hold of the Claymore in the hope of getting it fixed one day. Fast forward to 2025 I still had it and was considering giving it away after a failed FET fix and I happened across Colin in Pink Fish Media. Needless to say I was delighted that he accepted the repair and upgrade job.
I have never been a big spender in audio gear, wanting what we all want, big sound for little money which the second hand Clamore certainly delivered back in 2009.
My sources are a Marantz CD 60 special edition from the 90's, an Ariston Q deck, not upgraded and a chromecast music outputting into Infinity reference 21i.
All sources sound good through the improved Claymore. The seperation is the first thing I noticed, clear and warm. The phono stage is great with the bass in Can's Tagao Mago sounding like it is in the room, you can hear the bouncing of the strings. The full energetic chaos og the Solar Fire Trio comes alive, the full layering of Bjørk's all is full of love is open and clear, vocals prominent but not shrill.
The Claymore is once again my primary system amp demoting my Quad 405 to the workshop. The Quad is partnered up with a Tisbury audio passive pre and an Audio Engine B1 and has really come alive in its new surroundings, probably because it has more space, I'm further from the speakers.
For my next serious audio upgrade I need to buy a bigger house to give the Claymore a bit more territory.
I loved this amp, having bought it in 2009, until I blew a FET somehow in 2012. Anyway I went through a series of other amps, Cyrus One, Pioneer A400 keeping hold of the Claymore in the hope of getting it fixed one day. Fast forward to 2025 I still had it and was considering giving it away after a failed FET fix and I happened across Colin in Pink Fish Media. Needless to say I was delighted that he accepted the repair and upgrade job.
I have never been a big spender in audio gear, wanting what we all want, big sound for little money which the second hand Clamore certainly delivered back in 2009.
My sources are a Marantz CD 60 special edition from the 90's, an Ariston Q deck, not upgraded and a chromecast music outputting into Infinity reference 21i.
All sources sound good through the improved Claymore. The seperation is the first thing I noticed, clear and warm. The phono stage is great with the bass in Can's Tagao Mago sounding like it is in the room, you can hear the bouncing of the strings. The full energetic chaos og the Solar Fire Trio comes alive, the full layering of Bjørk's all is full of love is open and clear, vocals prominent but not shrill.
The Claymore is once again my primary system amp demoting my Quad 405 to the workshop. The Quad is partnered up with a Tisbury audio passive pre and an Audio Engine B1 and has really come alive in its new surroundings, probably because it has more space, I'm further from the speakers.
For my next serious audio upgrade I need to buy a bigger house to give the Claymore a bit more territory.
Comments
I have a confession to make. I don't own a Claymore
Upgrades: you could try a man cave. I haven't got one of those either
I hope you'll stick around and enjoy some of the madness.
Thank you for a nice write up, the odd thing is I have another coming from Norway and 2 from Holland just sent 2 back to Australia.
I am supposed to be retiring hey I love making things shame about my bad eyes and hand shaking.