recstar24

Tool...laconic schill...who knows.

Thanks xand, but I opted not to go with the adaptors, going for a true balanced active preamp. I appreciate it!

The 6c33c-b's glow like christmas trees - coolest thing about them:p

Gotta love the Chinese:p (JK I have no idea but that would be my guess)

Thank you for your valuable input, in this situation I think it does matter because I know you are familiar with the circuit and builder. I will shoot you a PM and we can talk further about the subject. Normally, I would agree. But reading the feedback about Tim Rawson and his particular builds, it appears that he is keeping it pretty close to the source on execution. Rawson's clones also seem to go within days from being posted up for sale as well.

Yeah, I read that too...to be honest, a part of me cares, a part of me does not...I guess that is where the issue of ethics lie. Quick aside - I am currently working on my master's in educational administration and leadership. Basically, I will get the type 75 certification to become a principal or other administrative position if I so desire. A big part of my previous class was regarding ethical behavior, put into the connotation of an administrator making ethical decisions putting the community of students, parents, and school stakeholders first. The clone is going to be about $300 - there is also an pass aleph p on audiogon currently for $1400, which I have a line on as well, and am awaiting for his previous committment to fall through. I will personally need to evaluate the value of that $1100 of savings, balancing the personal, selfish aspect or the idea of putting the community first.

Actually, I was able to find that out after some searching. Thanks for the confirmation. I am getting an aleph p1.0 clone commissioned from Tim Rawson, should be decent. The price is right, that is for sure. Aerius, I did think about that, and was probably near the top of simple, elegant solutions. I think I just won't bother anymore, and the active option will give me some flexibility for the future if I ever decide to expand or change the system. The aleph is fully balanced, and while I won't be taking full advantage of its performance in my current setup, with the balanced in from the meridian, and the unbalanced out from the aleph into the moth, I do think it will more than get the job done. luvdunhill, Can you clarify one thing for me on the aleph p for the unbalanced out? I believe it just takes the balanced signal and connects only the out+, leaving the out- unconnected, correct?

Thanks Nate - those are my thoughts as well. One idea is a used adcom gfp-750, its a nelson pass design that the circuit is basically identical to the aleph p that was released in the late 90's. Knowing pass it should sound great and be technically sound. Doesn't hurt to have a remote either.

That solves it, its a moot point as I don't get the voltage gain benefit of the balanced. Active preamplification it is...unless I can get that balanced IC line receiver built.

That is the point - I need the extra voltage. That should be plenty for my integrated and my listening needs.

http://www.thatcorp.com/datashts/1200data.pdf page 8 - pretty simple enough. bypass caps for the + and - power supply rails. a cap between Cm in to Cm out, pin 5 to 8. Who wants to be a pal:)?

Just checked them - sounds like a great idea. Unfortunately, I have no idea who could build the box for me:palm: It sounds easy enough, it's just an IC that takes in the balanced input and sums it to single ended output, I mean that is what opamps are supposed to do. All it would need is the feedback resistor and a DC source to make it work, with the necessary xlr input and rca output. If you have any more details I am missing, feel free to shoot them over. If anyone wants to take pity on my, and build me a simple opamp, resistor, and DC source in a small hammond box with an xlr input and rca output, I sure would appreciate it:)

I think what Billy is specifically referring to is this fabled tall skinny asian kid that allegedly had the time to stop by your place 3.4 times to personally hand you an uninvite. Billy and I have absolutely no idea who you are talking about. The meet was an open invite and if you genuinely wanted to come, there would not have been an issue with that whatsoever. If someone truly did not want you there, we did not know about it, that is for sure. If you wanted to come, and complained to us, I believe Billy would have backed you up and told the person that didn't want you there to f*** off. I know I would have backed you up, or personally I wouldn't have bothered supporting such an event.

Nate, http://www.head-case.org/forums/audio-accessories/4835-xlr-rca-balanced-single-ended-adaptors-help-needed.html#post174827 Is this what you are referring to? Feel free to chime in and others as well, appreciate it.

Developing from the last thread I was on, a simpler and cheaper solution for my speaker rig to get some extra voltage gain I need would be to use xlr-rca adaptors from the balanced output. I understand I don't necessarily get the benefit of the dual differential output from the dacs and output stage of the meridian, therefore lose the common mode noise rejection, but technically, I still get the 2x voltage, correct? Impedance issues should not be a concern, as my moth integrated input impedance is 100kohm and my IC's are very low capacitance. If that all makes sense and you guys are on board, what differentiates a well made adaptor and a poor one? They sure come in a variety of price points, that is for sure. What constitutes a well made adaptor, or are they all the same?

As far as I know, the properly designed stuff like the pass preamps would not have such phase issues, or that they would be of such insignificance to not be heard. Another easier/cheaper solution would be to just use balanced to single ended xlr-rca adaptors. I do not want to muddy this thread, so if anyone has any comments regarding this, please post in the thread I will start in the appropriate section. EDIT: http://www.head-case.org/forums/audio-accessories/4835-xlr-rca-balanced-single-ended-adaptors-help-needed.html#post174827 I'm with David on the transformer input and output for balanced as well. Seems the transformer at least for the balanced input is a better idea for balanced as it isolates the ground. Jacob, you make a great point as well, using a transformer to balance the input is much easier and probably gives a similar level of performance if not better than trying to electrically balance and match both sections.

Damn, not what I wanted to hear, as the BA is somewhat "reasonable" and within grasp, that Millet is near unobtanium. I am actually looking for a balanced preamp. I've got this truly balanced dual differential source in the meridian 508.24 with its pretty balanced outs, might as well put it to good use. Specifically, balanced in, then balanced out to the moth which is single ended. The moth is integrated, with a passive volume control, but I could use a bit more gain to really rock the room. The volume pot when maxxed is basically invisible to the signal. I am thinking the older pass aleph preamp possibly.

Got the chance to hear the Millet this past weekend at the Chicago meet. Fucking amazing. Good lordy, balanced gs1000's and balanced hp2's. Sweet jeebus. What a great experience. Absolutely zero transformer resonance/coloration that I could detect. My ears aint perfect but the sound was dead on accurate. The clarity and detail retrieval was stellar, but never etched or edgy. Huge open soundstage, top end was great. Similar to the Zana, but outperforms the Zana on the low end, especially with the grados, but being balanced, I understand it can be a different ball park. I wonder how Craig's balancing act compares at about half the price.

Update - speakers rock. Barely listen to cans anymore, the speakers move the air like no other. For single drivers, the horns are incredibly full sounding, especially in the lower midrange regions and upper mid bass. Inarguably the best bass, quantity and quality wise, I have heard from a single driver. Moth drives them beautifully. Happy happy joy joy.

The Forte's will have more bass, but need to be close to the back wall due to the rear passive radiator if you want maximum bass performance. The heresy's need 3 level reinforcement, ground and corner walls, if you want decent bass performance. Of course this is coming from someone with cornwalls so maybe I am not the best person to ask:p

Rice rockets? At least that is what us asians call them:p

Gotta love the chinese;D

For sure - still doesn't undermine how beautiful it sounded, looked, and the extra things that I saw inside which Craig confirmed he put there himself, and were never to appear on another 2a3 variant thereof, which JP #'s can confirm as well;)

You know it, in fact, it was the very 1st one (sort of), or should I say, the 1st one ever made by Craig, that was used at the Stereophile show that got Moth Audio on the map, and was used as the review item for stereophile, absolute sound, enjoy the music, etc. This was early 90's I believe. Absolute beautiful inside and outside too. Brass plaques on the transformers that showed you how to wind the custom transformer taps. Fracken genius.

AudiogoN ForSale: Moth 2A3 That's the 1st version. Most beautiful chassis you'll ever see. It's painted and laquered almost like something you would see on a lexus or mercedes. The logo is laser etched on and beautiful. Gotta love the ruby lamp and old school AC cloth power cord that is attached. I almost want to make an offer myself on the military crate:D