spritzer

We might have measured it at some time but this was 5 years ago.

The two on the left are one-off's so more won't be made. Simply not happy with the chassis... I will make a few of the smaller one when I have time. Parts have been ordered and boards assembled for some of them but it will take a while to source the parts. Nobody will ever make a T2 so that's out and the Megatron is way too complex.

Things might have changed but back in the day they were run to simply break even, no profit at all. Some rich benefactor who didn't care about making money on his investment. Those servicing prices are insane though. Who would spend 8 hours swapping out caps in a DAC? 1 hour max...

Yup, the small one is at 9mA and the smaller one on the left runs at 11mA. Well it will once I get more transformers...

Mouser has some nice filament transformers too. Dirt cheap...

...goes off to start on the third one...

Prototype nr. 2 of the tiny HV up and running. Different output devices, pcb's mounted closer to the sinks, different assembly technique, new chassis feet plus a lot of holes drilled into the bottom plate to see how much cooler inside is. It isn't SRM-T2 hot but then again the T2 didn't have electrolytic caps inside the amp section. I'll send the first prototype to the US next week to see how it plays in a warmer climate and for some measurements. These small amps seem to be multiplying like rabbits though... It is Easter after all. Speaking of Easter, it marks the anniversary of me giving up on making new offboard PCB's for the HV so to celebrate I've started work on them again. Glutton for punishment here...

You are right, it changes fuck all. I guess it does mean I have to start building more amps so that Justin and I will cover the entire market. It must me nice for them in the short bus...

Didn't know about that and as usual they are too cowardly to discuss anything with me. Doesn't surprise me the least though but can anybody explain to me how I can be an MOT when I don't make any money on what I sell? Sure seems profit should be a factor in this with me more adopting the Spectral Audio business model. Looks like I'll have to send the half-wits a PM today and demand an explanation. I don't mind the label though as it means I can now have posts by others about my stuff removed. I don't think they thought this one through... That's exactly my problem with him and his ilk. Clueless idiots that can't draw meaningful conclusions at any cost. They seek acceptance like an addict seeks his fix but they are never going to find it.

Many tubes have claimed to equal the XF2's over the years but it's never even close to being true. Large part of why the XF2's are so good is the build quality, very thick plates which are welded by hand. Nobody can match that...

Yup and add to that the amps simply don't sell on the used market. Last I heard the LL1 is closing in on 1k$...

The BHSE hits the last bastion of good audio press: There is a good article in there too about headband resonance in headphones.

Well Mercer takes being stupid to new levels so none of this is surprising. It's typical Cavalli though, the product is crap that doesn't sell so have some idiots shill it for you.

Happy Birthday Jeff!!

The whole goal of the KGSSHV was never the high voltage, that was just a side product of the parts available. The main focus was the new PSU design and indeed the CCS for the third stage where the old KGSS had resistors as current sources. Given that we could push to +/-500V we did it but there is nothing wrong with +/-400V. The higher the voltage swing, the further away from the limits of the circuit is the "normal" listening volume and the circuit is thus more linear. Now if 4686A's were still in production then it wouldn't be a problem to run at +/-450V but they are already in short supply so we need to look ahead. The fets do work but very high input and output capacitance makes them a less than ideal choice for this role. The new Moto part is promising and I'm looking everywhere for high voltage BJT's and might have some news on that front soon. It will cost me more than a BHSE to secure them (f it is even possible) but it will also mean a lot of new KGSSHV's can be built. I'm a pragmatic man though so with parts like the Fairchild F5027 in current production it makes sense to extend down to +/-400V with no performance hit.

The offboard one? It was a special version done just for my uses so no need for the IXYS parts. It's also a 400V version so it can use BJT's that are in current production.

I doubt you upgraded the power transformer. The Keen Ocean transformers Craig uses are pretty nice once you force them to build it not "china style" i.e. I'm willing to pay more than next to nothing.

No conditioners actually work unless you are completely regenerating the AC. Better stick with a good isolation transformer. Ahh the evils of background noise, well if the amp has any then it should be fixed and properly at that.

I wonder why people never upgrade the transformers in the components instead of the cables. They are a crucial part and all that. Well I guess that would take some resemblance of brain activity to do so why bother with something like that...

Most of our designs are finalized. There are some offshoots which are discarded but the general idea is finished and then either improved with a later version or put aside. Most have PCB's that go with them, either rough drafts or finished boards which is great when we revisit the designs.

Hand painted sinks... that would be a neat idea... Having some very mild hum issues in the amp so time for some trouble shooting. I'm guessing the input wiring from the pot to the PCB's as it's unshielded.

Yup, trackpads are a no, no for delicate PCB work.

There are quite a few that haven't been released....

Yeah, always better to do that. Though with a KGSSHV psu it is almost impossible to overload the input...

Can't go wrong with Antek. Dirt cheap and very well made.