Micro Mini Meet at Eddie Current 7/18/2008

[jp11801]

Well I was down in the LA area on business and to check out a few hotels with David (909) so a stop by Craig's (Eddie Current) house was in order.

So on my way home I stopped by with David (909) for a listen.

Craig has been cooking up a new balanced amp since the Mayberry on Acid meet. The Balancing Act and the Nautilus have been in various states for prototyping for a while now. So we were able to hear the Nautilus which debuted at the recent NorCal meet in San Mateo and the latest version of the balacing act. The BA first appeared at the Maberry on Acid meet with smaller tubes that were enclosed in the amp. While we all liked the amp Craig scrapped that one and present V2 at Can Jam this time with 300bs in it. Once again it seemed to be well received but was scrapped in favor of the Nautilus. Now the Nautilus was at the meet we held about a month ago and was a hit a the meet and fared well against the HD2 (my amp).

Well yesterday we heard the Balancing Act with a new tube set the 307a tube. Now my first reaction was ok this is going to sound like the millet 307a amp we jsut had at the last Norcal meet. I could not have been more wrong. This amp was some of the most beautifull tone I have heard from an amp in a long time. The two amps come from very different sonic places, both great but may appeal to different users depending on their preference.

Ok on to the two amps, we listened with both Senn 600s and L3000s.

The Nautilus was as good as I remembered it to be. Wide open sound stage with a presentation that was slightly set back like maybe 3-5th row style sound. Very nuetral across the spectrum but with an ever so slight wooliness in the bass. This is only in comparsion with my amp or the new BA if you did not have either as a point of refernce you would not notice it.

The Balancing Act just blew me away! It represented a clear step up from the Nautilus with a more wet tone with a closer presentation. With vocals they are right smack dab in the middle with all the detail from great recording like the wet mouth lip smack and every breath the vocalist takes is present on good recordings. Ever instrument seemed to have more body with guitars really standing out on this amp.

The differences were more apparent with David's L3000s than with the 600s.

We listened to the Mudcrutch cd, Neil Young Harvest, Black Sabbath Paraniod and Pink Floyd DSOTM. A reall wow moment was War PIgs from Parniod the guitars really shined out of the BA over the Nautilus.

At the end of the meet I was joking with Craig and asked if I could have the BA for a month to get a feel for it against my amp the HD2 and he suprisngly agreed. So I'll be checking this out with the HD2 for the next month. I'll probably post a comparision in the high end room at some point using the balanced 650s, Audio Technica AD2ks and Grado RS1's (old school version).

[tyrion]

Jp, get that beast out to the DC meet. Post some pics when you get a chance. I've liked both the previous versions of this amp and if this one is better, then it is quite an amp. Have fun with it. Let me know when you sell the HD2.

[boomana]

Jp, get that beast out to the DC meet. Post some pics when you get a chance. I've liked both the previous versions of this amp and if this one is better, then it is quite an amp. Have fun with it. Let me know when you sell the HD2.

Ditto every word.

[blessingx]

... or at least have a few of us over for a Bay Area Balancing Act Meet. BABAM!

[jp11801]

well I've got it for the month so all we have to do is set a time and place to fire it up. only bad weekend is the first in August. No way this is traveling to the east coast unless Craig ships it, sorry. It's not too heavy bit it is a bit much for carry on.

[jp11801]

here are a few pics with the HD2 for reference. I am told the finished amp will have the transformers inside the amp and will have a better finished metal work of course. Keep in mind this amp is the working proto that was shown at CanJam. It will obviously look better if produced as a production run.

I'm using the Audio Technica AD2ks with it now and it is even up with the HD2 with this can. They have a slightly different presentation with the BA having a more intimate feel with slightly more body and the HD2 presenting a wider stage.

[909]

i've heard nearly every, if not all, incarnation of Craig's balancing act and to be blunt as good as they all have sounded to my ears and improved with each tweak and modification they never truly captured me. i still longed and lusted after John's HD-2 as that has been the gold standard and to find something at least close to it as i believe i have never heard my L3000s sound better. The Nautilus has really perked my interest given the fact that it not only drives headphones, but low impedance speakers like my Moth Cicadas and the inputs and flip of a switch easy of going between the two. Plus the rave reviews it had received up in Northern California -- I thought that might be it. But yesterday, however, the 307A balancing act was a revelation. Now I haven't done a direct comparison with the HD-2, but I walked away from the 307 BA thinking this is likely the best or extremely close to the best I have ever heard the L3000s sound.

[riceboy]

i've always really liked the names Craig chooses. Balancing Act is great, as is Zana Deux (Xanadu).

X2. Those are great names for sure

Thanks JP and 909 for the pics and impressions. I've always been quite interested in Craig's work for some time. I have yet to hear a tube amp from Craig, but I'm sure I will one day.

[guzziguy]

Craig's amps sound great to me. I preferred his Nautilus prototype to the Millett 307A at the NorCal meet. Of course, I seemed to be in the minority. Everybody did agree that the Nautilus is a really nice sounding amp.

[guzziguy]

just buy a ZD. i don't think you'll be disappointed

Or wait for the finished balanced amp product. That's what I would do if I was in the market for a new home dynamic amp. Of course I love tubes, which means that I probably wouldn't seriously consider the great ss dynamic amps currently out there.

[jp11801]

We did not mention it but there was an entry level balanced amp there as well. I may get this wrong but, it has one gain stage runs off WE437s or the russian tube that is the equivilent (forget the number). Sounded good just tough to go from the BA to the smaller amp in the listening session. Smaller form factor with the tubes inside the amp.

As much as a I like the Zana the BA and Nautilus had it beat to my ears but I like transformer coupled amps. . I think we'll see the BA get made and probably not the Nautilus based on what Craig was saying and what we were hearing.

[Augsburger]

Two questions guys-

1) What cdp was used

2) What brand transformers were used in the BA?

I may need to email Craig on the second question but having been to Craig's before for a mini meet, I know he shares a lot of information regarding the build and parts for his amps.

Nice work, I would love to see your impressions.

[909]

Two questions guys-

1) What cdp was used

2) What brand transformers were used in the BA?

he was using the Moth Hyper DAC, which you've heard. Anyone who hasn't, it is best described as having a similar sound like the 508.24, but with slightly better top end clarity and extension. the transformers are custom made to Craig's specs i believe -- sorry don't know the brand as i don't think it's a name brand either.

[riceboy]

just buy a ZD. i don't think you'll be disappointed

I'm sure I won't be disappointed as well . It is definitely in the cards one day for sure. Hope the dinner went well.

[Iron_Dreamer]

After discussing with Craig the merit of using the 307a in such a way at that last Bay Area meet, I can really see the potential there for this new BA. If it's in that ballpark with the HD2, it's a helluvan amp. And 909 isn't easily impressed

[ojnihs]

i loved the lunchbox...have always wanted to hear the ZD

[Icarium]

Hrm yes John you might have to make this puppy available so I can see if it crushes the Nautilus. I'm hoping not.

[jp11801]

No it does not 'crush' the Nautilus but is a clear step up from it. Yes and other than the first weekend in August I'm around. We'll probably have a mini meet soon.

[Icarium]

Crushed is of course my usual hyperbole... just talked to Craig. Trying to get him to make his DAC available for the mini meet as well. Mmm all discrete DAC with switchable dac circuits.

He said probably can do depending on when meet is. Just need to set up a date. I don't mind hosting it but I'm quite a bit south of you guys. I have a fair amount of table space though (I have a gigantor table).

[jp11801]

Dude just set it up and announce it and I'll be over. I am sure the dac will be great if it is as good as the moth dac he uses.

[tyrion]

Dude just set it up and announce it and I'll be over. I am sure the dac will be great if it is as good as the moth dac he uses.

dac, amps, phono pre's, I'm looking forward to all this stuff going into production. It looks like he will have a kick ass lineup.

[Icarium]

Alrite let's say August 9th then my place.

I'll write a better post later. So far I have you and Filburt.

[PFKMan23]

If you'll have me I'd like to take part as well.

[Icarium]

Sure. Hopefully foo_me as well. Debating whether or not to post about in on head-fi or not.

[PFKMan23]

Honestly, that depends on how you want to keep it. If you're trying to keep it micro/mini and get some useful listening impressions on the gear, then I'd say no.