spritzer

Nothing so quickly, this more of a long term issue.

Since we've had some more talk about garbage like Lampi dacs...there is something else we have to discuss - the ifi iesl. Long story short, I was asked to look into this for a mafia member and well... I wouldn't connect my phones into this. So let's start at the beginning, the transformers have either a 1:16 ratio or 1:32 depending on the impedance switch. The former is certainly on the low side so you need some power to push this. Their claims for the transformer construction is all fine and dandy for output transformers but they never touch on the stuff that actually matters for electrostatic step up operation. The transformer capacitance is paramount and so is to keep the inductance in check. Let's just focus on the shit that doesn't matter instead... Now onto the bias supply and their capacitor "battery" claims are just so full of shit that it isn't even funny. First of though, how is the high voltage for the batteries generated? I can't see any transformer that could do that from the low voltage DC input. There are some chokes but nothing substantial enough. Also, how are they switching the bias? Those cheap arse switches? Sure fucking hope not and no normal relay can handle these voltages. Now for the really bad news, see the first picture, the string of resistors in front of the 5 pin connectors? Those pretty much have to be the ballast resistors run in series to increase the voltage handling. They are also high value resistors but I can't quite make out the value of them. Now follow the trace on left and see the cap that is there? Yup it is 10nf/1kV so it sure looks like the fucktards put a cap after the ballast resistor. Never, ever do that if you like the coating on the diaphragms... As for the whole capacitor based supply claims, if they run them in parallel then they have 3uf roughly of charge which is quite a bit and I for one wouldn't want to have that sitting on the bias supply should anything go wrong. I also wonder if their dielectric claims extended to the rest of the circuit? The PCB's leak at these voltages as do the switches and connectors.

I've got more, just love this pic: This is supposed to be one of the new and improved ones, the Amber Balanced... Looks all clean but that's just one reason for that...it's missing all the fucking wires. I also love just the sheer number of fuckups that are on the board and I sure as shit can't see any HV regulation. Then there is this oldie but a goody... http://www.tirnahifi.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=2966&start=10 This is worse than single power and that says quite a bit.

No...just no. Show me a picture of the inside of the "well done" boxes with "quality PCB's". Also explain how exactly the tube PSU is regulated and what the fuck that tube stage does with the R2R modules? I'm waiting... Ohhh and what quality components? Compare it to the 600$ Denafrips Ares... In short, this is garbage for gullible people who don't know any better. The classic audiophool who thinks "toobz" make shit better when in fact they have no role here let alone idiotic DHT tubes. How is that good for low level signals? Let's just post this gem... So...this is supposed to be high end but to me it looks just like a random PCB's sourced from China, shoddily crammed into a cheap chassis with some sucky ass tube output. It can't even meet CE specs so by definition, this is illegal for sale in the EU.

Gutsy sound...is that code for distortion and not driving the phones properly? Seriously though, pop the hood off it and post some detailed internal pics and I'll whip up a clone amp in a few hours. There are things about the "design" that I truly don't get, why would anybody use single triodes for the input when a dual triode will be better matched and due to being in the same envelope, drift the same. It's similar to using single fets but a far worse example... I used to build amps very similar to these back in the day and people loved them, they even had a volume knob but then again...only cost 1200$...

True but nothing novel has ever come out of this. The Megatron was kinda born out of the RSA A-10 but not really, more that is sparked an idea on how to do SRPP properly or rather...not call it SRPP when it isn't...

Yeah, that is always a concern based on the other Chinese Stax amps. I'm tempted to pick one up but I'm just tired of buying this stuff and then fixing all the fuckups...

That's the older amp, not the same as this one. This one looks to be similar to the KGDT I did years back...

Hmmm never seen this one before but I knew about their other amp. One crappy internal pic but clearly the cascoded CCS... two output tubes... maybe a T1 clone?

Yup, it is still here. I took one for the team as the T8000 is not popular at all.

IF you use a deputy service then there are fees on top of that.

I can also sell you a T-8000 if you'd like it...

Funny but they are using the boards which don't really work. It was the first draft I did off the multi amp and way too many issues with that one. I also love the small shit that just cracks me up, see the XLR/RCA switch...how they extended the solder terminals to make it a PCB switch? Also the XLR sockets aren't pcb mount but who cares, just bridge it all with solder... My biggest issue would be the unshielded transformer but for this price...sheesh.

Nope, those are his pics. It's a fake listing...

I got mine from Trendsetter so I don't know what is going on...

You could always swap for the Fairchild fets even if they aren't as good or just the new LSK/LSJ versions. Speaking of the F5, did anything come of the electrostatic version somebody was working on?

Hmmm not sure why anyone would cram an opamp in the F5... You could use the SSM2212/2220 combo.

No, that's an opamp.

Digital, high res, DSD with quantum particles and string theory added for better plankton retrieval.

I very much prefer a layered and deep soundstage over a bloated one. I also wouldn't call the Stax sets the colored ones as well...I could hear the big far imprint of the amp all over. Mosfets sound like shit basically...think Cavalli and you know what I mean.

LSK489/LSJ689 work great. I've also used the MAT02/MAT03.

It isn't but one can make silly expensive adapters.

I love the upgrades...this sure as hell is not meant for normal users.

I recognize that view...

It was my pleasure. I did have a lot of fun with it and would want nothing more than to get just the headphones to play with.