When do you consider an amp "high end"

[Salt Peanuts]

I believe that this what they refer to as the trump card. Voodoochile can put just about any manufacturer to shame.

Thanks for adding the comment, Nate. I just realized that I forgot to credit Voodoochile with the amp, but you'd already done the work for me.

[n_maher]

yeah, that amp looks awesome.

You should hear it, it sounds every bit as good as it looks.

[jp11801]

well she ain't gonna win first prize in the beauty contest but sonically she's a beauty

[holland]

You should hear it, it sounds every bit as good as it looks.

It does look awesome. What is it, btw?

[n_maher]

It does look awesome. What is it, btw?

It's a custom Mapletree Audio Design Ear+ HD. Mark took the basic component set, tweaked it, threw out the whole power supply section and designed his own tube rectified supply and then designed the chassis. The chassis, a friggen work of art, is all him, the wood work, the trafos potted in polished old film containers, etc. I guess he had the plate fabricated but he did the cad layout drawings for it. And you should see the wiring, it's just unbelievable. Mark (Voodoo) is one of those people that sets the bar so high for the rest of us all we can do is look at it and go, "man, my stuff looks like crap."

[MaloS]

i draw the line at speakers. below speakers is shit. speakers is good stuff.

Aaaah, this brings us to a great 'compromise' point. At this rate cans are compromise out of question, and thus not high end =]

Yes, my rig is also made of big noise-making devices

[Knuckledragger]

well she ain't gonna win first prize in the beauty contest but sonically she's a beauty

What is this that has an XLR4 output? I googled Eddie Current HD2, but most links are on a site that uh, happens to be down at the moment.

[granodemostasa]

my bad.

what is it? it's something you'll have to do a search for.

[jp11801]

What is this that has an XLR4 output? I googled Eddie Current HD2, but most links are on a site that uh, happens to be down at the moment.

it is a 4 pin balanced output, originally it was for k1000s but damn grados sound great though it

[Nanoha]

What are the details regarding the HD-2? (Specs, goal, comparison with ZD)

[Upstateguy]

complete with keef-encrusted RCA contact plates to enhance midrange euphony.

Can't remember the last time I heard that word......

[jp11801]

What are the details regarding the HD-2? (Specs, goal, comparison with ZD)

check out the NorCal meet impressions

[Nanoha]

check out the NorCal meet impressions

Got it. Thanks!

[slwiser]

I nominate this one:

The one with the "Pilot Lump" if you look closely enough. Hand built by a very well know Japanese builder, the Yamamoto HA-02 which uses a unique WE408a pentode single-ended tube design normally called SEP as opposed to a SET design.

[Icarium]

I own one and I don't consider it high end. It's upper-mid for me. Personal opinion only of course.

[slwiser]

I own one and I don't consider it high end. It's upper-mid for me. Personal opinion only of course.

So I take it that this is not a "second." Why would you have such a piece of equipment anyway?

[slwiser]

why wouldn't he?

It is sooo not high end. He is a "high roller" after all, touching such...it would seem to be benighted him.

[spritzer]

Why can't he have a bunch of amps at different price levels? I do and I have more electrostatic adapters then I can count. The HA-02 is pretty far from being high end though it is a cute little amp like all the Yamamoto's are.

[yuujin]

then would you put High Roller in my nick so i can look cool?

[slwiser]

Why can't he have a bunch of amps at different price levels?

I agree completely....and...

EdipisReks is completely right I don't know what "high-roller" means around here. I just thought that I would play-along and dump on this as it seems like everyone else does around here. My quick take on what I have read is that civility is at a minimum here and this was an appropriate behavior. If I am wrong I apologize. I think EdipisReks demonstrates in his last post a bit of what I was saying.

[slwiser]

OK, getting back on track..High-end is high-end. What is the bottom of high-end? Can I ask that question? or does this get me shot verbally by a drunken sailor?

[slwiser]

the bottom of high-end is somewhere above whatever you own. doesn't matter what you own. that's usually how hobbies work.

Now I better understand why everyone disses even their own very/ultra high-end stuff around here. This is a common anxiety around here. Being satisfied with equipment is not what is appropriate. I learn for myself a long time ago that this can become a personal "death spiral" where no matter what the circumstances whether in a hobbie or something in my personal life can lead to a crash. Life if full of compromises and learning to be satisfied is one of those little compromises; otherwise, watch out below. I guess this is one of the reasons for the forum title "Head-Case."

[postjack]

Now I better understand why everyone disses even their own very/ultra high-end stuff around here. This is a common anxiety around here. Being satisfied with equipment is not what is appropriate. I learn for myself a long time ago that this can become a personal "death spiral" where no matter what the circumstances whether in a hobbie or something in my personal life can lead to a crash. Life if full of compromises and learning to be satisfied is one of those little compromises; otherwise, watch out below. I guess this is one of the reasons for the forum title "Head-Case."

You don't have to take it as a personal insult when we say your amp isn't "high end". You are not your gear.

Newbies to the HC culture tend to feel very threatened by the rather frank discussion, and as a result they lash out. This lashing out is unnecessary, we can skip this step. Or you can leave.

[yuujin]

edit: ok i felt stupid saying that.

anyway i feel that the yamamoto ha-02 has it place in my top few amps.

high mid end or high end.

doesnt make too much of a difference as long as you enjoy the MUSIC no?

[n_maher]

doesnt make too much of a difference as long as you enjoy the MUSIC no?

Doesn't matter a bit to me what your gear is, I can tell you that.