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I asked about the amps last night when I ordered another adapter. He is working on 14. I think the Platinum delay is getting in some high voltage diodes that are on backorder; not sure. The standard Extremes should start shipping next week .... if the snow ever stops so they can get to work.

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How would you compare the extreme to the HR-2 & Cordia PreheadII? I already have a Bada12 & like the tube sound..But the extreme has sparked interest, & SS wise, the above I mentioned are on my radar. I'm willing to spend 1,200 or less for my 'last' amp purchase.. Cause I will not spend more on a amp..

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Sounds promising.

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Another Florida meet you guys are going to ruin your livers!

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Thanks panyncor. I understood you meant that Mikhail was kind of thinking out loud and that it should not be considered as a quote. Nevertheless, it was interesting to get a hint of in what direction Mikhail thought.

The order of the unofficial models in the list is also unofficial. It is simply mine , based on price and technical complexity and perhaps quality of components used. I feel an inventory of models is more important than the order, since it, obviously, by no means can offer a guarantee to higher SQ, the further down the list you listen. That can only be judged by the listener him/her self. However, to list the models in no particular order, would be boring too. After all, I think people appreciate a rough indication of where a particular model fits in the official SP model program. The official SP models are in bold typeface.

"Mikhail indicated that my amp was perhaps on a par with the Extreme Platinum. Two different flavors -- more impact in the Extreme but more refinement in the MPX. All very subjective, of course (and he was basically just thinking outloud)."

That is interesting. Makes me think that I should consider the MPX3 (SLAM) as well. I just asked Mikhail what he thought the respective characteristics were of the Extreme and MPX3 and whether one model was more suited to classical music, which is mostly, if not exclsuvely, what I listen to. Very curious to hear his response.

I have been listening all day to the Extreme and the "Beast".

I have been using the new 2c51 for gain in the Extreme and this tube is a great match if you want to make your senn 580/600/650's come alive. I have a very high gain source so I switched the higher gain 5998's out and substituted the low gain 6080's. With the my highest sensitivity headphones I could hear a little hum break through from excessive gain. Switching to the 580's cured this even with the 5998's in the amp. But I wanted to try the senn 595's .... so I put the 6080's in. The 595's sound very alive and quick but the difference vs the 580 doesnt seem as pronounced as before with the 2c51 doing gain duty. Both of these headphones sound clear, detailed, open and airy .... and in the case of the 580 .... much faster and better controlled than I am normally used to.

When I switched the power tubes the "Beast" got the 5998's. This worked out much better. The higher gain 5998's work much better with the lower gain tubes this amp was originally designed to use. So the " Beast" has a sylvania 6gu7 driving 5998 x2. This combo gives as rarified a sound quality as I have ever heard. I am again surprised these SP amps continue to scale far beyond what I ever expected. This amp has a wonderful deeeeep growling bass, with warm smooth mids and very refined and resolving highs. But, the amp has exceptional detail resolution and retains a referance level of clarity and openess.

I used the senn 580/ oehlbach, senn 595-120 ohm version and the Alessandro MRSi with yellow 19545 senn pads .... listening to anything from Hendrix, Neil Young, Steve Earle, Unplugged's, my Power Classical CD, Blues CD-R's and solo acoustic artists. All of these headphones sounded incredibly good no matter what music I played. I will say it again, he has underpriced this amp even after the intro pricing comes off. I might mention I had $22 total in tubes in the Extreme .... and $56 total in tubes in the "Beast". I hope everyone starts getting their amps soon so they can chime in too. Because I bet you will be stunned at the sound quality just like me.

Earl,have you tried the 2c51 in any other SP amps?

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Not yet .... probably the SLAM SE with 6bl7gta's or the PPX3 SLAM next. I have one Bendix and several Tung Sol 2c51's .... plus several miscellaneous 5670's to try out.

Ok, I don't know the lineage here. How does the SP fit in and what did/does it cost? What is different about it? Thanks.

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=212731

should answer a lot of your questions. It's a new circuit design that uses a 6sn7 for gain and 5998/6080s/etc.. for outputs

I am sorry, I should have been clearer. I meant the "Beast".

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i think that sacd said that the beast was a predecessor to the extreme. i could be wrong, but it was a 1-off job.

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Earl will chime in here, but the Beast is Earls Supra with the output stage changed (Makhail built a new curcit which is the cadalist for the Extream) to accommodate the high output tubes.

Cost is:.. I recall not yet finalised as Makhail is still working on the circuit. (On the Supras)

But Earl has two Beasts, with one more of a beast than the other. My partner calls me the Beast. Now her girlfriend calls me that. Kind of strange in a way.