Eddie Current 2a3 First Impressions Follow by Review

[jp11801]

Last month Craig Uthus of Eddie Current debuted a new amp at a smallish gather of friends in NorCal. I've heard many amps by Craig and I've been impressed by his output with some of his amps like the BA and HD25 hitting it out of the park for me. I've owned a few of Craig's amps notably one of the original Moth 2a3s that was a visual masterpiece and sonically one of my all time favorites. To this day it is the one piece of gear that I regret selling. He's made better sounding amps like the HD 25 and Balancing act since then but the marriage of industrial almost gothic design, old school innards like brass plugs for switching output impedance and wax cloth wires and pluse sound quality earned a special place for me.

Enter the new 2a3, Craig's had multiple iterations of the 2a3 design at Moth from an his first more expensive units, scaled down more entry level and finally his 2a3/45 SI ammo box units. This new amp can switch between 2a3 and 45 tubes with a toggle switch located in the rear. Users that try to run 45s in 2a3 mode will most likely learn quickly that 45 tubes do not like to be run in 2a3 mode (POP goes the NOS tube). So like all things a little care and knowledge goes a long way. The amp is a two box affair with a 5ar4 driven power supply with the amp hosting a pair of 2a3s (Craig supplied Sylvania tubes) but I'll also run my big bottle JJ's in there as well and a 6sn7 for the driver tube. I'll likely try and sub a 6fg8 with adapter in there at some point in the trial. There are three single ended inputs, a set of speaker taps, and both a 4 pin and 1/4 headphone plug out front.

I'll be running the amp with a pair of Alon Lotus SE speakers ( http://www.sonoris.co.kr/review/reviews/tas/lotussemk2.htm ) , a pair of Audeze LCD2s, Audio Technica AD200s and the JH13s. As a source I've got the Metric Halo ULN 8 (badged as a Sonic Studio 305) and an Origin LIve Sovereign turntable with their encounter tonearm with either the ZYX Atmos cart or the Miyajima Shilable cart (still can't make up my mind about which to keep).

I received the amp last night have given it a few listens with the speakers, LCD 2 and JH13s and so far it is very favorable. This is an uber quiet amp with gobs and gobs of detail, glorious tone and drive. It really splits the difference well between pacing, detail/extension and the all elusive musical expression. Some amps do one or two of those but its tough to find an amp that has rhythmic drive, extension gobs of detail and great tone. as of this red hot moment the 2a3 is hitting all three equally well. I'l see over the course of my time with it how it fairs over the longer haul.

Later on I'll have separate thoughts as a speaker amp as well as more detailed views with the headphones listed as well as some picture porn (or at least as much as my meager camera and limited photo skills can muster).

Edited March 4, 2011 by jp11801

[jvlgato]

Nice initial review, looking forward to more impressions, thanks JP!

I heard the original 2a3's at the first headphone meet I ever attended, our local ChiUnifi meet a few years ago (two separate ones owned by Aura Bryan and Recstar Ryan, I believe) and it was the first high end headphone amp I'd ever heard. It really made an impression - I didn't know at the time that it was a historic and rare piece. I'm fortunate to have had the chance.

[blessingx]

Very much looking forward to your review JP. My quick listen with JH13s showed the 2a3 pretty black.

[jp11801]

Nice initial review, looking forward to more impressions, thanks JP!

I heard the original 2a3's at the first headphone meet I ever attended, our local ChiUnifi meet a few years ago (two separate ones owned by Aura Bryan and Recstar Ryan, I believe) and it was the first high end headphone amp I'd ever heard. It really made an impression - I didn't know at the time that it was a historic and rare piece. I'm fortunate to have had the chance.

Ryan owned the one I did but he also owned the later release with the outboard ammp box PS. The one you heard that Bryan also owned was likely the later and not the acid etched thick chassis original. The one you heard was likely better than the original as the PS was improved and outboard. I'd love to see how the new compares with the older ones. I'd wager it is better given Craig's work on the PS but only a face to face will tell.

For those with highish sensitivity speakers this may just be a no brainer as it is a fantastic HP amp with a great flea watt speaker amp. At the meet the new EC 2a3 also kicked ass with the k1000s. In speaking with Craig he said he did a bunch of work to iron out the drive for the k1000s. He also owns a pair of LCD 2s which is why they sound so freaking great with this amp. This does not supplant the BA as the BA is a high end pre amp and balanced drive but is very close in overall HP sound quality IMHO albiet with a different flavor.

Edited March 4, 2011 by jp11801

[Mr.Sneis]

I love 2a3's! Got any picts?

[morphsci]

Hmmm ... 2a3 and Moth Cicadas?

[Voltron]

Hmmm ... 2a3 and Moth Cicadas?

To quote JP, there would be no shame in that game!

[jvlgato]

Ryan owned the one I did but he also owned the later release with the outboard ammp box PS. The one you heard that Bryan also owned was likely the later and not the acid etched thick chassis original. The one you heard was likely better than the original as the PS was improved and outboard. I'd love to see how the new compares with the older ones. I'd wager it is better given Craig's work on the PS but only a face to face will tell.

For those with highish sensitivity speakers this may just be a no brainer as it is a fantastic HP amp with a great flea watt speaker amp. At the meet the new EC 2a3 also kicked ass with the k1000s. In speaking with Craig he said he did a bunch of work to iron out the drive for the k1000s. He also owns a pair of LCD 2s which is why they sound so freaking great with this amp. This does not supplant the BA as the BA is a high end pre amp and balanced drive but is very close in overall HP sound quality IMHO albiet with a different flavor.

Great info, thanks.

I've read several reviews of my Meadowlark Shearwater speakers in which they said they were just MADE for a flea watt tube amp. That type of amp was what made magic, as opposed to just really good sound. I'll be following this thread with great interest!

Edited March 5, 2011 by jvlgato

[HeadphoneAddict]

It's too bad there isn't enough love for the EC ZDT. I compared mine to Sherwood's Moth 2a3 amp and thought the two were very similar in sound although the ZDT had more power. I never compared them in detail, or to his Firstwatt F1 later, but the later amp sure did a good job with his Cicadas. I know the ZDT does a very nice job with a pair of Fostex horns - the mids are great although not as transparent as the Cicadas. I thought about buying the Cicadas on Audiogon except for the crinkled driver would drive me nuts, and I have to spend $1000 at the dentist on Tuesday (thank God for tax return).

Anyway, I'd love to see pictures of this new amp, and look forward to more impressions.

Edited March 6, 2011 by HeadphoneAddict

[Voltron]

That's a great idea! Let's start a thread on HF about how the metal base GZ34s take the new Eddie Current amp to a whole new level and Craig won't even be able to keep up with all the lemmings ordering one to see which rectifier makes it sound best!

[recstar24]

The amount of "love", or lack thereof, is commensurate with the amount of love most people give to $2-3000 + amps in general. Design and circuit wise though the BA is without parallel in the Craig Uthus pantheon of amps.

[some1x]

Looking forward to more impressions, and hoping you like it as much as I do mine. Still using stock Sovtek 2A3 and Sino 5AR4. I'd love to hear your experiences with different power and rectifier tubes.

Edited March 5, 2011 by some1x

[jp11801]

This weekend did not see a ton of listening as my folks were in town visting.

I did a bunch of casual listening with speakers, the Audio Technica AS 2ks and the Alon speakers.

The speaker sound was fantastic, very detailed but also very musical but ultimately the Alons do need more power maybe like a 300b or an 845. The EC 2a3 bested the Fi X 2a3 and the Dared 845 both amps are amps that I really like but the EC 2a3 is in another class altogether. At low levels the EC 2a3 shined but did run out of gas with dynamic peaks or recordings with full dynamic range. This is not a knock on the EC 2a3 just a fact of a 3 watt amp powering a three way passive crossover speaker.

I've always loved the AT AD2k and the EC really reenforced my love. The common knock on the ATs are they are airy (what the fuck does that even mean) and lack bass extension and power. This was largely mitigated by the EC 2a3 as the AT's shone like a light on the recordings that I threw at it. I downloaded the new Rolling Stone HD tracks 24/176 of Though The Past Darkly. Man of man it was like being in a studio control room listing to the masters. Little details jumped out. Ruby Tuesdays strings had stunning bow attack and Jagger's voice was so freaking papable. Jumping Jack Flash was a blast, Jagger takes a breath right before singing and I never really noticed it before " I was born in a crossfire hurricane" and it's like he's right there in fornt of you!

Switching to the LCD2s its a totally different perspective instruments are weightier bass is powerful and driving. Details are still there but its like going from a studio monitor to Maggies. Both are awesome but they just portray the music in a very different way.

I played some Beatles from the 24/44.1 usb stick that came out and same great results weighty detailed and musically invovling.

Right now I'm using an RCA 5ar4 instead of the Chinese rectifier that was provided. I pulled the Sylvania 2a3s and popped in the JJs I had on hand and both are really good. The JJs have more bass and are overall thicker sounding where the Sylvania tubes are cleaner but have less bass weight and extension. I've got a few 6sn7 variants here but for now have stuck with the United Electronics that Craig sent. I do plan on popping in a 6fg8 and maybe a 7n7 as well for kicks. I also plan on playing with the Bendix 6106 (?) and 5y3 I have here too.

While likely not the TOTL experience that the BA is and the only comparision I did was in NorCal the 2a3 does not give up much if anything. It's not balanced like the BA and the PS in the BA is arguably better but the 2a3 is dead nuts silent.

Next up is more HD tracks stuff and tube rolling, I wish I still had the Zu's to get a better feel for the speaker taps but I was on the last days of the trail on those. Also some more impressions using some fucked out tunes that we all know and here at audio shows.

Pics to follow as well as my camera is among the missing and my iphone is not going to do the EC justice.

Edited March 7, 2011 by jp11801

[bhjazz]

Thanks for the ongoing reviews. I swear when I get through my diy builds I'm gonna cough up the long green for an EC. Can't wait.

[faust3d]

The speaker sound was fantastic, very detailed but also very musical but ultimately the Alons do need more power maybe like a 300b or an 845. The EC 2a3 bested the Fi X 2a3 and the Dared 845 both amps are amps that I really like but the EC 2a3 is in another class altogether. At low levels the EC 2a3 shined but did run out of gas with dynamic peaks or recordings with full dynamic range. This is not a knock on the EC 2a3 just a fact of a 3 watt amp powering a three way passive crossover speaker.

How does it compare to Fi amp? I heard some 2A3 Fi monos some time ago and they were very nice.

Edited March 7, 2011 by faust3d

[penger]

Thanks for the impressions. I like that it works with speakers as well. How different is this amp from the ZDT?

Slightly off topic, but how many amps does Craig have that are not listed on the website? There was the Equilibrato(?) but I seem to recall it didn't work out from a cost/production standpoint.

[zippy2001]

Thanks for the impressions. I like that it works with speakers as well. How different is this amp from the ZDT?

Slightly off topic, but how many amps does Craig have that are not listed on the website? There was the Equilibrato(?) but I seem to recall it didn't work out from a cost/production standpoint.

I have the one and only standard Equilibrato, unforunately Craigs supplier of the transformer he used had retired and was not going to build any more. Craig did build another Equilibrato SE with 300B tubes, but told me that he wasn't going to build any more Equilibratos. I think between the ZD, ZDT and BA, he has enough tube amps to keep most customers happy. But Craig is continually working to improve things.

[Solude]

Necro res for some DIY advice. I'm talking to Craig about getting a 2A3 but with pre-amp functionality. Which road would be best to get there? I don't know how custom the panels are or if they're all cut and silkscreen already so... I'm thinking grounding input 3 on the switch and using its RCA pair for the pre-out. Or if the panels are made to order change the input to a 2 position switch and either tie the RCA pair to the speaker or headphone tap. Not sure if they are different. Thoughts?

[Dusty Chalk]

It sounds like you haven't talked to him yet. Have you talked to him? If so, I would follow whatever he suggests.

[Jon L]

I pulled the Sylvania 2a3s and popped in the JJs I had on hand and both are really good.

EC 2A3 is a superb amp, which I always loved every time I tried it. But if you get a chance, EML 2A3 solid plates are going to be in a different league from Sylvanias.

[Solude]

If so, I would follow whatever he suggests.

So far no "suggestions" but also no rejections either. Everything I toss up he's said we can do. But I don't have internal shots to see where it could fit best

[Dusty Chalk]

What do you want to do? Personally, I wouldn't try to drive both at the same time -- there's a road to problems.

Also -- again, me personally -- I wouldn't have a problem with having a custom mod not show up on the front panel, and have to flip something unlabelled on the back. I think it's much more important that the front panel not look modded.

[Solude]

That makes sense. Guessing very few people have gotten to hear both the EC and DNA 2A3s?

[jp11801]

prefer Eddie Current sound by a far margin of the amps from DNA I have heard. I have not heard the 2a3 but the others did not impress me not crap by any means but the EC was head and shoulders better.

[Solude]

My main concern on the EC gear is past assembly levels and part quality. Seem to need repair fairly often due to low part quality. I love eating to and from shipping as much as the next guy but would rather see a better part used in the first place My other concern is purrin pretty much described the sound of a 2A3 as something not inline with where I would go from the B22.