philodox

I'm always loosing my crunchiness. ...shit, there it goes again *whistle* *whistle* Here boy!

I am surprised that the RWA Sig 30 gets so much praise given what it is inside it...

Here are some pictures of the 'finished' amp. There are still some aesthetic changed that I will be making - namely the faceplate. ...like I said, that faceplate just must go. ...I love the look of this tube. ...lights out. I can't wait to get a tripod so that I can take a more detailed picture of this type.

Nate - It is funny, but when I went to the tube store yesterday the guy there suggested the same thing when I mentioned that the 6BZ7's seem to be microphonic. He suggested just taking one of the tubes to home hardware or canadian tire and testing it out for the right size there. Combine that with the Jenga blocks tip that I got at the audio store the other day and it is looking to be 'budget upgrade week'.

Thanks Nate, that is exactly what I was thinking... found some dampers at the place I am going to this afternoon [thetubestore], but they are crazy expensive.

No time for pics yet, but it sounds great. Seems to be more bass. Front panel is still as ugly as sin, but hopefully swt61 can help me out with that. I still get a slight ~sort of ringing sound~ in either earcup on occasion... but only noticeable when nothing is playing. I'm thinking it might be tube microphonics but am not positive. The sound is very textured and the imaging/soundstage is just like I remember. I can't wait to hear it with my zapfilter modded CD-E5 [just waiting on a new transport] as I expect that will add the needed detail in the bass and overall speed.

The Tube Store is here in Hamilton... I am thinking about swinging by today if they will have me.

It was definitely a great time. I loved his comment after 'Group Four' finished... he said, "Why can't I walk into a room at an audio show and hear someone playing that instead of Norah Jones?" PS. The amp is back and in working order. Not to downplay the fun I had with those speakers, but Massive Attack is most definitely not ruined for me.

Good movie, that creepy Baldwin is always listening to Massive Attack in his little room.

Yes, that is what I meant when I said it has ruined Massive Attack for me. I suspect, though I can't confirm without my amp, that everything will sound second best for the next little while after hearing that amazing setup.

It's true. I heard Massive Attacks Group Four on a pair of $12k speakers in an absolutely insane setup... Audio Aero CDP [i think], EAR preamp and Gamut power amps. With all sorts of power/RFI tweaks of course, not to mention the room treatments. I am not sure which brand the speakers were, but I am sure that Eaphan knows. I got a little taste of vinyl, which was great and think I will be buying a Debut off of the dealer at some point. I happen to have 4 6H30's that are not in use at the moment and am presently looking for DIY phono stage designs. I will be getting my Amp back tomorrow night and am hopeing that I haven't really been ruined by that hi-fi rig I heard. Peter got it fixed up incidentally. Apparently some sort of grounding issue or something... all I know is he said it had something to do with the LED, the faceplate and the input stage. Figure that one out. Anyways, he listened to it for 3 hours last night after he got it fixed up and said to me, "You know, these headphones of yours are really good." I had a great time at the shop. I still can't believe the time warp we stepped into. I swear we were in the place for an hour or so, but it was 5pm when we entered and 10pm when we left. - Jay

oooooooooo The evil in me sort of wishes that he doesn't send it to you.

Well, mine is a dynamic amp... but I think it is safe to say I will not be buying another amp from him. The only saving grace is that it sounds great and was *very* cheap. After all the time it has taken the deal seems a bit less attractive though.

I just want my amp to work. Fuck, it sounded great before when the 6H30's were not even hooked up! That said... If I get it back and he throws me any lies about the design and when we open up I see those lies, that will be the time for slander. I am not going to ruin him for being a procrastinating ass. But I will not be lied to.

Yeah, Kevin knows what he is talking about... the 6H30's were not hooked up originally. This is primarily what needed to be 'finished'. My guess is that these 6BZ7's are on the input or used as a CCS or something like that. But, all that aside [no point in figuring it out before Kevin takes a look at some updated pics and draws it out] I got the amp last night... and the right channel was fucked. Swapped all the tubes and it was still pooched. Called Peter and he picked it up from Renato today and will [apparently be dropping it off tomorrow afternoon... or was that thursday?] weeeeeeee KG - "Similar in design to another tube amplifier well liked around these parts." Which one? And Earl, any recommendations for 6BZ7's? Are 6BQ7A's equivalent? From what Kevin told me, the 6BZ7's are a higher gain version of the 6922. Is this a bad tube if it is used on the input or somewhere else? Am I correct that you only thought it was bad since you thought it was used on the output?

Hey all, Just heard from my friend Renato [looser101] and Peter has finally dropped my amp off to him, so I will be getting it back tonight. I'll be sure to take pics and let you know how it is and if there are any improvements. Apparently the faceplate still looks pretty ghetto, but I will be having a nice wood one made by Steve [swt61] anyways. Now on to the tube question: He has removed the 4 6H30's from the amp and installed 4 6BZ7's. I haven't talked to him about this, so I don't know the reason, but I am sure he will explain it to me tonight... though I doubt it will make any sense. Anyways, what do you know about hte 6BZ7? What brands would you recommend? Any other tubes that are equivalent to it? Thanks in advance, Jay

You must listen very quietly if you don't require any amplification... But seriously... if you aren't using an external amplifier woudln't a 1/8" jack make more sense?

They would be easy enough to make... interesting proposition. Well, I already said no to aerius about the Audio Circle Meet since I had plans with the Wife. [ikea, getting some furniture] However, it looks like her parents are going with her, so I might be able to get out of it. And Mark offered me a drive... so I'm lazy, sue me. Not sure if my amp will be able to make it though as Peter has yet to deliver it. He is apparently dropping it off this morning to Renato [who can then give it to me tonight or tomorrow]... but I'm not holding my breath.

If you go Matt, let me know... maybe we can go together.

Sounds like fun... worried that my cats might make a home inside them though.

How ginormous are we talking here?

Oh, I'm sure he was sent something as well. I don't think that he works for them and gets regular kickbacks or anything of that nature though. Earl - I understand how you are reading that, but you have to understand that the person writing it has a pretty basic grasp of English. You also have to understand that Snowy, a salesman, is trying to say that Art is their tech support over here to facilitate making a sale with a customer that is perhaps worried about a lack of warranty.

Art doesn't work for Cattylink... he helps them by repairing faulty units. I fail to see how that makes him a member of the trade.

I agree pabbi... I've never had a problem with Art's fanboy-ism. What bothers me about him is how he is so rigid in his beliefs. Like when the SA5000 was the best headphone ever, and now the K701 is... and how you NEED to have a solid state pre amp and a tubed power amp for ultimate fidelity. Stuff like that.

Sounds like a plan... I think I will wait a bit until I have some cash. Just bought the wife an iMac and am a little broke at the moment.