Tentative FS- Night Blues Mini 220V

This is only half-thought through and a bit tentative, so please be gentle.

I have a Night Blues Mini in great condition, with a few weeks of light use on it. Everything works well, and it sounds surprisingly nice (and yes, drives HD650s well, as claimed). It was going to be my affordable tube amp, until I felt like I could financially justify commissioning a scary boutique amp.

However, during the month or two between arranging to buy it, and it turning up, I got a fantastic deal on a used Icon Audio HP8 Mk2 (with Jensen caps!), an amp that I have wanted to hear since seeing it on Tyll's Wall Of Fame. It's actually a really nice-sounding amp, but now my desk is a bit crowded, and I think I need to reluctantly consider selling the NBM.

I'd like to offer it here to Friends first, as it'd be better to keep it in the hands of sensible people who will enjoy it without trying to turn it into a f'ing Christmas tree.

Here's a picture of it looking cool and glowy next to the HP8:




It has no cosmetic or functional issues. It comes with apparently matched tubes, plus some spare freebies that I haven't tried. If you're serious about wanting to buy it, then I can take less wanky pictures, if you need them.

I'd prefer to restrict this to Friends or sensible regulars at my discretion, to avoid Randos flipping. I'd like £400 shipped within the UK- gift or you eat PP fees. London daytime pickup is possible if you prefer. Other bits of the EU are probably OK too- but shipping may be on you. Remember that it's 220V!

I am quite fond of this amp, so reserve the right to panic and cancel the sale for now, even though the money would be handy to help fund a Gungnir Multibit...

 

because of customs i had to pay way more as well....

 

Wow, even at today's terrible exchange rates, that would have been a killer bargain.

(UKers on a budget can also consider £365 for a Valhalla 2- http://schiit.eu.com/amps/valhalla-2 - if OTL suits them)

 

Why do you prefer Icon Audio over NBM?
EU has taxes... and bad currency.

 

Predictably for an amp that costs twice the price new*, I think the HP8 edges it on sound quality. It took me a while going back and forth to be sure though as they have such different sounds. The HP8 is quite laid-back, hits less hard, but has bags of texture and airyness, possibly is a bet wetter too. The NBM is a bit more muscular and straightforward, but possibly also a touch darker. They are surprisingly complimentary. It's easy to lose a whole evening listening to the NBM for the purposes of "comparison".

It's probably a bit of a hard direct comparison, depending on music and transducers used. Either would be a respectable "daily driver" though- owning both was a happy accident.



* Because it ALWAYS works like that. Always.