pabbi1

Well, you've convinced me - D2000 inbound. These are for work, and I would rather see them go than my RP-21 (see? Dual FOTM). Actually, I needed something closed and balanced, and opportunity came knocking.

Well, Nate, I did go HA-2 / HD600 to HE60 / Blue Hawaii... think balanced HA-2, but faster, with the same overall sound signature, kinda. So, this path has been tread before. BTW, I paid $1450 shipped from Eurpoe for my HE60 / HEV70 with new earpads a year ago. NO intentions whatsoever of selling, even with the Lambda Nova in reserve.

Four for me as well, though I only have sk389 / 109 for two... or three. Gotta check parts again...

Being the uber substance over form guy makes this a silly thread to me, but the L3000G is it, IMHO.

To be fair, I didn't care how it looked, really, but using a RK27 for volume, and NOT for balance? Cheaping out on parts simoply infuriates me, especially for a 'flagship' product. On my builds, I will way overspend on parts, because that simply matters at the level of refinement we are seeking here. I _thought_ that was what Peter was after, but, it just did not work out for me. Now, I'll spend my effort on recasing the BH, in a proper custom machined case. Sorry to thread crap, Jay, and I am so happy yours turned out so well... maybe my misadventure can make yours all the sweeter. After all, one outta two ain't bad.

Oh, and if you live in the states, Peter, customs, and shipping companies are a lethal combination.

Well, I am using HE-60, but also listened with OII the first go round. I have listened to the HE-60 with my Blue Hawaii, ES-1, and Stax 717, where all sounded good to outstanding, but the EA-6 blew root on 'busy music'. Should be fine on syrup - and I didn't notice any 'Holy Fuck, these are great' comments from the Ontario meet from a few weeks back. Granted, Peter uses Gammas to test with, and doesn't have HE-anything, nor even OII to test with, so, IHHO, to his ears, on his equiptment, yada, yada, yada... I had Alex (AKZip) listen as well the first time... I was embarrassed / ashamed to trouble him the second. Oh, finally, feast your eyes on this steaming pile of shit - finest hand crafted swill you're likely ever to see posted... yep, I funded this. MY builds put this under - by a wide margin. http://home.swbell.net/pabbi/100_1987.JPG Jay was furtunate - Renaldo worked on his after the fact - mayhaps I should have done the same.

This is the glorious EA-6, that you can see here on pic 10 (with my HE-60 connector)... I say experimernt as it was reworked twice, as the final straw was the lack of voltage swing on Tool. The first pass was a nasty band of distortion with any electric guitar parts, that several different experienced listeners confirmed. It was simply unlistenable. Now, for well behaved classical / acoustic music, it was wonderful. Saturated, compressed signal sucked the root. The worst part about dealing with Peter are the interminable waits - but, for the right person, with the right tastes, maybe this amp would be great. I SO wanted to love this bitch, but she just wouldn't do right.

Well, Peter hand wiring trannies explains why he _still_ has not refunded me a dime on the aborted EA-6 experiment. Now, allegedly, the check is in the mail for part, and I guess the balance once he sells the POS, but he's had the amp back since at least early May. Glad yours turned out well, Jay... mine just turned my stomach, asthetics aside.

From wire clippings or evaporators?

Just as soon as Kevin sends me the form cnc files, and the concrete mix recipe... Actually, I do have a curly koa faceplate, and am waiting for it to erupt at any time. Jay congrats - too bad Peter has no concept of asthetics.

Damnit, I hate you... but, I am giving Steve a nice box of exotic wood next weekend. Too bad the Blue Hawaii would scortch a wood case.

Peanut butter & 'nanner sammich.

If I had known what you were gonna do with those AH-D5000... ) BTW, what was your estimated parts cost, including the backplane boards, and which attenuators?

Ok, it isn't all hype... and, I _partially_ sold the Denon 5000 because I already had the RP-21. Actually my disclaimer was that I wanted plane cans that I didn't as much care IFF TSA (or some other quasi security org) happened to hold them at an airport, and something that didn't need an amp. So, for ~$120 for the phones and pads, I'm all in. They do team up well with the Zen Vision. Now, how will they sound with my Millett Max (wip)? Probably not good enough to keep me from revisiting the Denons (probably the 2000, with an Alex recable), but we'll see. Since this will be primarily for the office, again, first and foremost is that I wouldn't miss them if someone snatches / borrows / pukes on them. NOT in the HD600 category, but solid closed phones, though they won't get any time at home for damn sure.

Well, IFF you are singing along, I think we have a pretty good clue.

Thanks, Nate - how are you digging the HA-2?

Can i have access to 'The Casino', por favor? Ditto - if kg says the circuits are identical, no other sources are required.

I am returning the EA-6 to Peter for refund - so, in the end, he is backing up his work. I am disappointed only in that the design isn't quite there, though the experience has been, uh, enlightening.

Yeah, too late - does the same thing on Jett and Rolling Stones: Sticky Fingers... except for the clipping, SF has NEVER sounded better. Quite maddening that some things can be so spectacular (yes - POSSIBLY better than the Blue Hawaii (ok, with not the best tubes)), and yet, the clipping just kills the entire mood. But a day without Tool is like a day without sunshine... to me.

Ooh, ooh, I know... but, as usual, just won't say... it would cost me too much down the line, cause I wanna build another amp, and know EXACTLY where to get those tranny's... Let's just say I'm sending my 'I'm returning the asmp, and want a refund' email today (I've been in London all week, and wanted one last sounding before I send it). It is great for everything except Tool, where it simply clips, whether it be from lack of voltage swing or whatever... if he balks, AT ALL, I will roast him here and on Head-fi. And, dump the EA-6, with full disclosure as to why.

http://www.pmillett.com/ecc99_srpp_headphone_amp.htm This is something Pete designed for his K1000 - while this isn't my thing, it did make the K1000 sound very nice, and was designed for them exclusively.

May well just be poor design - but, I have never heard any clipping on the BH...

Would this make sense, as it seems spot on: Originally Posted by derekbmn If i'm not mistaken(and I very well could be) the McAlister amps have very low maximum output voltage.As in not a whole lot of voltage swing. Are you sure it's not simply clipping on complex passages ? Running out of steam so to speak on temporary but sustained peaks.(ie: guitar) Personally I think that may be what it is.

This is the 'new' McAlister EA-6, freshly returned from Peter, with a better than new rework of the circuit... tube compliment is: 1x 12BQ6 1x 6BQ6 2x 12AU7 4x 6CG7 4x 17GW6 This is with the Eastsound E5 and the HE60. Good news: This amp is great, if not spectacular when playing acoustic (Allison Krauss), classical, and some rock (Jane's Addiction, Who Ultimate Collection, and Hoobastank). Just superb. Bad news: On saturated and distorted rock (Tool '10k Days' and 'Lateralus', Jett 'Get Born' and 'Shine On', and even Velvet Revolver), I catch a raft of fuzzy distortion (almost static) in the upper guitar band and the top of percussion (cymbals)... BUT, ONLY on certain CDs / bands (/producers???). WTF? Vocals and any acoustic instruments are universally outstanding. The only thing I can come up with is the 'Even order harmonics' (good albums) vs 'odd order harmonics' (bad albums ?) that Peter says he is after - can exploring that single minded signal processing objective be causing this bizarre behavior? Honestly, I have never had any amp behavior quite like this. Even some heavily distorted guitar is great (Neli Young - 'Down by the River, Cowgirl in the Sand, Cinnamon Girl)... just bizarre. This is NOT a function of volume - noticeable cranked up, and down low. It is not crappy CDs - they sound GREAT on the Blue Hawaii. For the moment, let's put aside the 'ugly innards' part - it still does a LOT of things in spectacular fashion... regardless of it's price.