OCM-200 Amp - what is it?

[Abe Collins]

Does anyone know of a Canadian company that makes a
power amplifier model OCM-200? Is this a quality
product with good sound from an established company?

Don't ask me what I mean by "good sound". I'm just
curious about the OCM-200 and if anyone has heard one
or read about it.

Thanks! ...Abe

--
Abe Collins | Silicon Graphics, Inc. MS/20L-132 | Ph: 415.390.3026
Channel Dev. | 2011 N Shoreline, Mt.View CA 94043 | Fx: 415.390.6325

[Jlockwood]

>Does anyone know of a Canadian company that makes a
>power amplifier model OCM-200? Is this a quality
>product with good sound from an established company?

I just heard about this amp yesterday while visiting my local dealer.
They're not an official outlet for OCM yet, but had the amp on hand for
audition. They were pretty enthusiastic about it with one salesperson
preferring it to the Aragon 8008 and the new Counterpoint line. I'm going
to try to get my hands on it for a home audition sometime in the next few
weeks. I'll let you know what I think.

Cheers,
John Lockwood
Jloc...@aol.com

[CRGoddard]

I have had one in my system for 3 weeks now driving a pair of
Vandersteen 2Ce's and I like it a lot. Smooth and a deep controlled
bass.

[David Wong]

This is in response to a post asking about OCM amplifiers.

OCM Technologies Inc. is a subsidiary of Magnum Dynalab Corporation.
They both share the same U.S. and Canadian addresses as follows.

U.S.

1237 East Main Street, Bldg.#2
Rochester, NY 14609

Tel: 1-800-448-8490 Fax: (716) 482-8859

Canada

8 Strathearn Ave. Unit #9
Brampton, Ontario L6T 4L9

Tel: (905) 791-5888 Fax: (905) 791-5583

I last dealt with them in 1991. They are advertised in the October
and November issues (1994) of Stereophile. They have not advertised
in Stereophile in 1995. Must have something to do with advertising
cost.

David Belles was the designer credited with the design of the OCM-200
and OCM-500 amplifiers as well as supervision of other designs within
OCM Technologies. That was back in 1991. I do not know the current
status of David Belles with respect to OCM Technologies. Magnum Dynalab
is best known for their (analog) FM tuners. The Magnum Dynalab and
OCM Technologies affiliation still exists as far as the November/94
Stereophile advertising indicates. Give them a call to confirm.

I'm not entirely sure if the amps are actually made in Canada or the
U.S. but my local dealer appealed to me to buy the "Made in Canada"
amps. I liked the OCM-200 and OCM-500 amps but opted for the McCormack
DNA-1 amp instead, due mainly to the cost-effectiveness when compared
to the OCM-500; the OCM-200 was not enough power for my speaker needs.
Oh, we have Canadians buying U.S. amps, Americans buying Canadian amps;
free trade at its best!

[David Wong]

jloc...@aol.com (Jlockwood) writes:
|> >Does anyone know of a Canadian company that makes a
|> >power amplifier model OCM-200? Is this a quality
|> >product with good sound from an established company?

One of my local dealers here in Ottawa, Canada carries the OCM-200 and
OCM-500 power amps. I auditioned the OCM-200 some time back. Very good
sounding amp. Designed by David Belles, hence the units carried were
Belles OCM-200/500. There may have been some changes in designer,
builder, marketing company. I'll see if I can find out some more.

Typical problems with the "smaller" names are:

1. Less well known.
2. If they don't make it to Stereophile reviewed status, they
lose out.

I ultimately purchased the McCormack DNA-1, also carried by the
same local dealer. Yeap, Stereophile status was a factor. For the
power requirements of my speakers, the DNA-1 was still more cost
effective than the OCM-500.

Yes, even hearing rumors of behind the scenes implications regarding
Stereophile reviews and equipment manufacturers, I still took the
bite. They are rumors only, and something which I could never prove,
or even attempt to prove, or have any desire to prove. It is
merely sufficient for me to consider this with a grain of salt.
Regardless of how reviews make it into Stereophile, I do use
the reviews and listings in Stereophile as a starting point.

Funny, my local dealers recognizes the effects of reviews in the
"big" magazines. Making it to The Inner Ear Report (TIER) doesn't
quite qualify as in Stereophile. (Belles OCM-500 was reviewed in
one of the TIER issues.) He has the sales statistics to back up
his claims to manufacturers. He has even gone to some asking
what they are going to do about it ...