Earmax Anniversary - Page 4

Congratulations on your new EMP AE, edisonwu!

I can see you got the same tubes than mine, bought just a week ago. The same siemens-philips-siemens.

However I'm a bit confused as I remember RobN said that the tubes were unbranded, and I think the ones from Nik were different too. I was expecting to see all of them with the same tubes, but it seems like that's not the case.

Maybe I should start a thread in order to ask for the tubes people got with the EMP AE... Strange...

They could have changed tubes after they got the amplifier, I am pretty shure they have.

Nope. Mine came with Telefunken - Philips - Telefunken.

Maybe it is a distributor thing - my EA was purchased in the UK.

Col

Grrr... Mine are Siemens instead of Telefunkens and I bought them in UK too. I always thought what Anders said. Somebody is swapping tubes out there

I'd like to ask to the designer what were the original tubes.

That wouldn't be that big deal on the regular EMP, but I think that on a limited (and even somewhat overpriced?) edition like this, the configuration should be more standard.

I'm so happy with my EMP AE that I'm not really upset, but I can't say that I like this.

Cheers

Telefunken NOS are generally the most expensive of the tubes names. But are very good.

Those are great pics. I've always thought the Earmax one of the prettiest of all headamps. That case is pretty awesome too!

if you like them both for different reasons, and can afford to keep them both - then keep em both and enjoy!

Again, I implore you to make the comparison using the same tubes in both amps...the tubes will impart their character to the amp, so it won't be apples to apples.

My theory is that the AE has the same circuitry as the EMP, except an improved power supply, nicer piano finish, and high end NOS tubes. Of course they go with the 4 pin Lemo plug on the AE instead of the 3 pin on the EMP power supply so you won't be able to do a perfect head to head. However, with the same tubes at least we'll eliminate a large variable.

I agree with Jahn. I would keep both if they are providing different and enjoyable sound signatures. If you can afford to keep them both, that is. You might discover later on that with the right tubes the EMP AE can sound like the EMP, then you can sell it if you want. Still, the small footprint of the EMP makes it the perfect amp for a secundary setup (work, bedroom...)

edisonwu, I think you got to contact the designer, isn't it? If that's the case would you mind to ask him for the original tubes intended to be used with the EMP AE? I'm really curious about this.

It's hard to compare such a different setups. First of all take my impressions with a grain of salt. I don't have a 600 with me right now but I'm quite familiar with it. From my memories with the 600 and the way the 580 and 595 sounds with the EMP AE I would say that the Baby Orpheus is in another level. However you will need around 3-5 hours (playing music, not only having it switched on) in order to appreciate it. During the first two hours the 600-EMP AE will be better. And right from the start, no matter the EMP would need 30 mins to warm up.

But still... it's like to compare apples and oranges. It really depends on your tastes:
Baby Orpheus is fast(hyperfast actually), bright, detailed and airy(although not as the HE90).
HD600-EMP AE would be (a bit)slow, fuzzy, warm and thick (all this in a good way. Don't get me wrong. Very enjoyable and addictive too).
I was saying that the HE60 is in another level as it really sounds more "refined" but I can see some people preferring the 600-EMP AE over the Baby Orpheus.

Oski. You are wrong. Wrong. Wrong! I did pay twice the price for the EMP AE. It has to be better. Twice better. Not only the power supply. It HAS TO BE better! I paid for it!!!

Now, jokes aside, you might be right. It's hard to understand why the designer is not selling a new, better design, if that was the case. On the same way he did when he went from the Earmax to the Earmax Pro. I still like to think that the amp is better (apart from the obvious power supply improvement) due to the better quality of some components although keeping the schematics, but this is just a wishful guess, I suppose.

Maybe is not that wishful thinking after all as I know of people with experience on tuberrolling the EMP saying that the EMP AE was still better. It might be just the power supply though...

Still, being the power supply the main difference (and tubes, but it seems like the difference is there even with the same tubes on the EMP) I would agree with Oski that the squematics remain the same. I'd like to keep the wishful theory that some components (caps...) might have a better quality on the EMP AE. But it's just that: my wishful thinking!

LoL...actually it's my own wishful thinking as I won't be dropping the coins like you guys on an AE, but am very much considering getting the EMP, so I'd like to think maybe I'll be getting a relative bargain?

Actually I believe people are fairly familiar with the orginal Earmax circuit design as there was a clone called Morgan Jones around here and Headwize. But the EMP was clearly redesigned and is MUCH better. I only speculate that the AE is the same as the EMP because no one has yet stepped forward to suggest a different circuit design like the previous case.

Actually while the circuitry may be the same, the choice of parts may in fact be better in the AE. I know the US version of the AE has upgraded RCAs according to Hart, the US distributor. Also these NOS tubes you guys have are not cheap, for a nicely matched pair they do run at least $300 for the set, especially the Telefunkens (so even the EMP would run around $1100 with the same tubes). The power supply does seem to be much nicer, being almost twice the size.

Digging through the older posts, people have reported that the AE is an improvement over the EMP...that is without a doubt in my mind, but I was hoping to maybe gauge the difference from Edison, given he has the benefit of both amps in front of him.

I also prefer that gorgeous piano finish of the AE much more than the EMP. I would certainly go with the AE if funds allowed.