NKOTB - TTVJ/Millett 307A Headphone Amp

[n_maher]

Mercury vapour rectifiers. Let's just say dropping one would not be a good thing.

Yeah, I can't imagine someone using them in a commercial application. And I wish Frank the very best of luck if he brings his amp to market.

[ojnihs]

Mercury vapour rectifiers. Let's just say dropping one would not be a good thing.

they sure look pretty, but i agree, mercury isn't something to be toyed with

[tkam]

That's about as impractical as it gets for headphone amps and again if your going to spend that much just get a speaker rig .

As to the TTVJ/Millett amp, I'm ok with the industrial look as long as it sounds good. But really the idea of a $5k headphone amp just doesn't make much sense to me.

[n_maher]

But really the idea of a $5k headphone amp just doesn't make much sense to me.

Given the hand-crafted nature I don't think it's aimed at making sense to very many people.

[Voltron]

I didn't know Todd was announcing it yet! I dig the look for the most part, and think it is well thought-out. I really want to hear this thing! Very curious and looking forward to CanJam to do that.

[Dusty Chalk]

... if your going to spend that much just get a speaker rig .

As to the TTVJ/Millett amp, I'm ok with the industrial look as long as it sounds good. But really the idea of a $5k headphone amp just doesn't make much sense to me.

It's not that one is better than the other, headphone listening is just different from speaker listening. If I had that kind of money, I'd definitely be spending it on the best headphone amp (probably commission another Dragon) I could.

[aardvark baguette]

mercury isn't something to be toyed with

Breaking Bad Spoilers

reminds me of the season finale of Breaking Bad. "Heisenberg" smashes a piece of fulminated mercury on the ground and blows out all the windows of the room he is in.

[Spiug31]

Wow, that looks heavy. I'm going to stick with a beta22 as I'm fairly confident I could lift it if I need to (my wallet is happily nodding ).

p.s. It was breathing the mercury vapour that caused many of the "Mad Hatters" to be mad.

http://www.hgtech.com/Information/Mad%20Hatter.htm

[Smeggy]

Now that's an amp just crying out for a nice black perforated metal cage cover on it. I think that, and a black faceplate would negate most of the 'looks' complaints. As to sound, I'd love to hear it with my K1ks. Sadly, along with the rest, it's way too expensive to ever afford. Anyway, it's nice stuff like this is still viable and being made even if only for a select lucky few.

I like

[guzziguy]

Yeah, I can't imagine someone using them in a commercial application. And I wish Frank the very best of luck if he brings his amp to market.

I would also assume that any commercial version would have non-mercury tube rectification, not that I know anything though.

[Beefy]

I would also assume that any commercial version would have non-mercury tube rectification, not that I know anything though.

I don't think that it would be that much of an issue anyway. Most fluorescent tubes still contain a fair amount of mercury, and nobody seems too concerned about that.

PS..... bloody hell, this forum has the most bizarre selection of smilies I've ever seen!

[postjack]

I don't think that it would be that much of an issue anyway. Most fluorescent tubes still contain a fair amount of mercury, and nobody seems too concerned about that.

PS..... bloody hell, this forum has the most bizarre selection of smilies I've ever seen!

Welcome to head-case!

[ojnihs]

welcome to head-case mate

[n_maher]

Update - post CanJam - this amp is much better looking in person than the original pictures would lead you to believe. Of course my taste is skewed but I didn't hear many complaints about the look after folks put the headphones on. A little visual evidence:

[jinp6301]

It kinda looks like a blinged out Menace

[Jon L]

I think it looks nice in that Air Tight amplifier type of way.

But...$6000?! That's like Blue Hawaii SE + Stax Omega II

[Voltron]

I think it looks nice in that Air Tight amplifier type of way.

But...$6000?! That's like Blue Hawaii SE + Stax Omega II

Nate is right that the amp is better in person than the pics, but his are much closer than the original promo shots.

As for the cost, it is a low-production, hand-built designs and the transformers alone cost a shitload of money.

[n_maher]

But...$6000?! That's like Blue Hawaii SE + Stax Omega II

I think that given the chance to hear it you might think a bit differently about it.

[thrice]

Single or dual chassis?

[n_maher]

Single or dual chassis?

[thrice]

Is it a single chassis amp or dual?.... is it all in one box or is the PS in a separate chassis? I know the pic only shows one chassis, but sometimes at meets a PS can get tucked under the table for space reasons and so forth..... I was just wondering.

[PFKMan23]

From the information given and the fact that theres an IEC inlet, I think it''s just a single chassis. On the TTVJ page, you can see the rectifier in one of the other pics.

[boomana]

I don't like the looks at all, but I loved the way it sounded. It was my first WOW moment of CanJam (with 650s) and one that has stayed with me. Wonderful amp, but also had a pretty intense source. I'm not trying to take anything away from the amp, but when you're hearing an amp for the first time along with a source for the first time, I'm hesitant to say what where etc. The rig was one of my favorites there, that's for sure.

[n_maher]

Is it a single chassis amp or dual?....

Single chassis.

[recstar24]

Yeah I never thought it looked bad per se, just really practical and utilitarian. It appears that the tubes and transformers are located not by looks but by where they would sound and perform best located. I would love to hear it as I love the sound of a solid tube amp with killer iron. I bet it's heavy, those trannies look menacing.