shellylh Posted September 25, 2013 Report Share Posted September 25, 2013 (edited) http://www.head-fi.org/t/683115/the-apex-high-fi-audio-teton http://www.ttvjaudio.com/Apex_High_Fi_Audio_Teton_Preamp_and_Headphone_amp_p/aaa0000020.htm The Apex Teton - NEW from Apex High Fi Audio and TTVJAudio! Come to RMAF CanJam and be one of the first to hear it!!! The Apex Teton is a single-ended output-transformer-less (OTL) vacuum tube preamplifier and headphone amp. Its roots lie in the Wheatfield Audio HA-2 from nearly 15 years ago. While similar, it is far superior to the original design. Retaining the same tube compliment and amplifier topology, it has been greatly improved through the use of a better power supply and higher quality components throughout. The all-tube Teton uses a single voltage amplification stage followed by a current amplification stage. There are no transformers in the direct signal path, and only one coupling capacitor*. To provide low noise and solid bass response, the Teton uses a vacuum-tube rectifier and a multi-stage LC filter. Like other Apex tube headphone amps, the input stage uses the venerable 6SN7 tube, often regarded as the best tube ever made for audio voltage amplification. The power stage uses a 6080 dual triode, which can optionally be replaced with a number of other power tubes like the 7236, 5998, or 6528, tailoring the sound to the owner’s headphones and musical preferences. This combination, along with massive polypropylene output capacitors, gives the Teton a powerful sound along with the musicality that only a single-ended tube amp can give. The Teton is a fully unbalanced, single-ended amplifier. The input and output selections are made via a front panel switches, which activate relays that are strategically located to keep the signal path direct and pure. Like other Apex products, the Teton is designed and hand-built in the USA, using high quality components sourced largely from the US and Japan. Specifications Tube complement: Input - 6SN7. Output - 6080 standard (optionally 6AS7, 7236, 5998, or 6528). Rectifier - 5U4GB standard (many options possible, including GZ34/5AR4, GZ37, etc.) Inputs: Three unbalanced RCA connectors Line output: One unbalanced RCA connector Volume control: High quality TKD potentiometer Headphone output: 1/4" TRS unbalanced. Can drive loads from 16 ohms and up Dimensions: 17" wide x 7" tall x 11" deep Power: 120V or 240V, 50/60Hz * Regardless of what some people may have you think, the power supply circuitry as well as any bypass capacitors are actually also in the AC signal path. Even though they are not as critical as components like coupling capacitors, because of this, only high-quality capacitors Edited September 25, 2013 by shellylh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blessingx Posted September 25, 2013 Report Share Posted September 25, 2013 Interesting. For those curious...Our Price: $5,000.00 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shellylh Posted September 25, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2013 I bet the fact that it is "fully unbalanced" will keep people from buying it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnwmclean Posted September 25, 2013 Report Share Posted September 25, 2013 Unbalanced is a turn off, especially if your already all balanced up. But that's one heck of nice looking amplifier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shellylh Posted September 25, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2013 Evidently I cannot spell Millett correctly. Could a mod change the title to the correct spelling? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n_maher Posted September 25, 2013 Report Share Posted September 25, 2013 Evidently I cannot spell Millett correctly. Could a mod change the title to the correct spelling? Done. Also, based on recent discussions surrounding the HD800 I'd wager that this stands a good chance of being an excellent amp for those cans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusty Chalk Posted September 25, 2013 Report Share Posted September 25, 2013 I bet the fact that it is "fully unbalanced" will keep people from buying it. One could always buy two... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knuckledragger Posted September 25, 2013 Report Share Posted September 25, 2013 Evidently I cannot spell Millett correctly. I have a HeadRoom product I should show some time... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin gilmore Posted September 25, 2013 Report Share Posted September 25, 2013 (edited) unlike some other product we have been discussing recently, sure looks built really nice with premium grade parts. especially the output caps. and since this is basically a singlepower extreme done to the extreme, its going to kick ass for high impedance headphones. cathode resistors are visible and are bolted to the heatsinks. betcha no ground loops inside this thing. sure looks to be leaning a bit to the left however. I wonder why that is. Edited September 25, 2013 by kevin gilmore Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n3rdling Posted September 25, 2013 Report Share Posted September 25, 2013 Done. Also, based on recent discussions surrounding the HD800 I'd wager that this stands a good chance of being an excellent amp for those cans. I think so too. This looks pretty similar to the Menace (half the tubes) and that's one of maybe 3 amps I've ever enjoyed the HD800 on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nikongod Posted September 25, 2013 Report Share Posted September 25, 2013 [joke] Its a shame its not balanced, I have a hard time believing Pete would stoop so low as to build something that looks really pretty, and knowing what it is based on probably sounds realllllly nice with the HD800 without conforming to non-tech-peoples' preconceived notions. [/joke] sure looks to be leaning a bit to the left however. I wonder why that is. Photographer was not perfectly squared up with the amp and we have perspective distortion. The reason the ""45* view" shot works so well for so many things is that it works from about 30-60*. Just get in that general area and fire. perfectly straight shots of things with hard lines need to be perfectly straight, like within a few degrees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusty Chalk Posted September 26, 2013 Report Share Posted September 26, 2013 sure looks to be leaning a bit to the left however. I wonder why that is. Politically, or otherwise? Aye keed, aye keed... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin gilmore Posted September 26, 2013 Report Share Posted September 26, 2013 I was making a joke about the weight distribution Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarlSeibert Posted September 26, 2013 Report Share Posted September 26, 2013 [joke] Its a shame its not balanced, I have a hard time believing Pete would stoop so low as to build something that looks really pretty, and knowing what it is based on probably sounds realllllly nice with the HD800 without conforming to non-tech-peoples' preconceived notions. [/joke]. Oh! "Fully unbalanced" refers to the AMP! I thought maybe it meant, well, us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
complin Posted September 26, 2013 Report Share Posted September 26, 2013 I was making a joke about the weight distribution All the heavy stuff on the left. Might prove a little unstable depending on its centre of gravity? Personally I prefer a more symmetrical layout Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n_maher Posted September 26, 2013 Report Share Posted September 26, 2013 Personally I prefer a layout that favors function over form, which this does. I think Innerfidelity needs to review this amp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pars Posted September 26, 2013 Report Share Posted September 26, 2013 (edited) ^ don't you mean function over form? EDIT: or form follows function? not sure how you say this in a PC manner Edited September 26, 2013 by Pars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n_maher Posted September 26, 2013 Report Share Posted September 26, 2013 Yes, of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tkam Posted September 26, 2013 Report Share Posted September 26, 2013 Finally a good reason to pull my 6528 collection out of storage! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
complin Posted September 26, 2013 Report Share Posted September 26, 2013 Personally I prefer a layout that favors function over form, which this does. I think Innerfidelity needs to review this amp. Agree; but that should not mean you have sacrifice this for aesthetics. Good "industrial" design can be very attractive indeed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n_maher Posted September 26, 2013 Report Share Posted September 26, 2013 I'd argue that the amp in question is attractive. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
complin Posted September 26, 2013 Report Share Posted September 26, 2013 (edited) I'd argue that the amp in question is attractive. Well as they say "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" Personally I thinks its butt ugly given it costs $5,000. Would not get SWMBO approval in most houses Perhaps a perforated metal cage over the top to cover it up like a power amp might be an improvement? Edited September 26, 2013 by complin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpelg Posted September 26, 2013 Report Share Posted September 26, 2013 Classic Wheatfield HA-2: Layout seem to be the mirror opposite: What is that heat sink dissipating? I love that the headphone jack label explictly says "UNBAL OUT" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvdunhill Posted September 26, 2013 Report Share Posted September 26, 2013 Look at the PCB photo and compare. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grawk Posted September 26, 2013 Report Share Posted September 26, 2013 I think it looks great. Certainly better than most of the current alternatives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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