spritzer

I believe Kevin tested some 300B's at Stax voltages and they were really, really unhappy. Fang naturally claims they are some special snowflake tubes but who in their right mind would believe that? They are most likely the bone stock Psvane garbage rebranded. This is a 400V tube max and since it is a DHT, there are some major issues to contend with. The earliest datasheet I found is this one and it states it is a 450V max tube but the later ones all state 400V. That means the tubes probably weren't happy at 450V. I'd be interested to see the 700V one though I'm sure it is a typo. The modern tubes certainly aren't built to take that level of abuse. If there are no output transformers then this is probably similar to the WES setup, hell it might even use chokes as the output load (as that should in theory boost the voltage swing but brings in a fuck-ton of issues) but simply a quad of single ended amps which all drift like mad. Now you could drive the tubes with resistor loads off a 600V supply but yeah...it will be pretty fucking bad. No heatsinks large enough to take the current of the 300B's to be seen. Ohh and I would never get in a fistfight with anybody for the sheer fear of being able to kill them with a single blow. It's not easy being a giant...

That is just pure win. Can the powerful amps damage the headphones? Yup but we account for that. Cavalli, Woo Audio and others don't give a shit about this so yeah...people should take care with those. This is pretty much the same BS as when I was laughing at the Jade crackling new out of the box. Fang claimed that the film was supposed to do that as it was coated with nanoparticles (read dust) which was somehow supposed to make it better. The Shangri-La has the same BS so again, nobody with any clue has been involved with the design. The King Sound sets also squeal like there is no tomorrow but they don't charge 50K$ for them either... Seriously, I might setup a Patreon account or something like that for people to donate so I can buy this shit and rip it apart for the world to see.

If it is anything like the 009's/L700/L500 then I might give them a miss. So tired of that fake sound.

I think Stax clearly need a 50K$ amp/headphones combo not to be left out!!

Well I don't know where to start really. It's not that there is profit to be made, it's how they go about doing it. Now not all makers are bad, some sell good quality cables at good prices which will last for a long time. This is usually accomplished by using pro type parts so instrument cables and pro connectors that have been made for decades. Then we have the other lot, often selling stuff at insane prices with more BS claims than Cavalli or MSB. I mean seriously...how can a cable cost 5k$? How could it possibly cost more to make than a complex amplifier with hundreds of parts? This is just fraud, plain and simple. MIT selling "impedance networks" which are just resistors from ground to hot in a molded plastic case. The whole point here is that through the sheer profit involved in peddling cables, they have created something which might seem to the casual buyer an actual legitimate part of the system. Something which should not be skimped on for best performance. Sure, it's better to have cables than not have any but will they make or break the system? Fuck no!! For me it is equally retarded as is tube rolling. They play on the highly subjective nature of audio and the sheer ignorance/arrogance of the buyers. There will be differences, if you switch a highly capacitive cable for one which isn't, there will be a difference. Same with tubes, you switch out a fresh set with a "NOS" one with very little life left and even compromised vacuum and it will ofcourse be different. Better though, that's more doubtful. This is the same as tubes vs. transistors, analog vs. digital or what ever people want to compare. To even think things can be generalized like that shows an utter lack of understanding of the underlying mechanics at play. Throw up something simple and then marvel at the differences, not really wanting know if one is an improvement or not.

I need to prototype this one soon. Just what I needed...more stuff to prototype...

It was something along those lines...

The great thing about this amp is its simplicity and that it can be used with the affordable off the shelf Antek transformers.

They are going to Kevin to play with but yeah, a DAC will be built at some point.

If I'll answer it will be something along the lines of that cat pic and "buy a clue". I loved the part of "affording to blow up ten 009's" as if that was some mark of greatness. Also, all electrostatics post 1985 use ribbon cables...maybe that is a clue?

Got this gem today... I mean we all know the cable makers are idiots but this is just priceless:

...and it will have a 211/845 based output stage using the new anode follower.

Looks good. The new layout is pretty much ready but might be a while until we release it.

No I have not as I'm not retarded enough to think that this could be good. DHT's as output tubes in a DAC? Since when was 10% THD in the source a good idea? I could also pose a question to you, have you heard anything that is properly designed and doesn't sound like ass?

I would recommend the Soekris dac as an upgrade to the Golden Gate. It is much better on its own than that pile of fail.

It's 8°C here today so you are welcome for a visit.

Ahh Lessloss...kings of snake oil. Best be avoided like the plague....

We all need that!!! My own version of the GRLV is slowly being assembled on my bench and when they come out ok I'll convert the design over to SMD for some future projects. Now I just need a pick and place machine...and solder paste applier...and an oven...

I tie everything together and even in sensitive circuits like the Carbon this is a non issue.

...and the real problem is that this shit doesn't actually sound good. They just don't have the experience to discern quality from the shitty stuff.

I'm just 150kg now so it is slightly more feasible...

Happy Birthday Tom!!

This stuff has just way too many similarities to Single Power for me to be comfortable. As for the mafia dac, Kevin and I were inspired by the Lampi crap so we are going to do just that. Hell why not use 845's for the tube output? Throw some caps on them and it will be alright!!!

I just attached these as the world has to see this garbage. The list price is 19000$ plus the dac's which are 2000$. Yup...2k$ for two ~200$ modules. A few highlights for me are the mains transformer glued upside down into the wood with exposed mains wiring. Other parts glued into the bottom plate and almost no connectors used anywhere. I really think that is the best sign of a hack, shit is just tacked together with no care and they hope for the best. I think we have a new Single Power on our hands or Mikhail moved to Poland.

I know...this is bad. Also no soda, coffee or anything like that. Just water...