What happened to Grommes PHI-26???

Dead thread, but I can add something. Grommes seems to have stopped building these a few years ago. They were quite a success in the local audio shop, but at some point - after long delays - the shop was told they would not be putting together any more.

Unfortunately, only a few were built, my wild guess being 25 to 40. I purchased one new and scored another off eBay, used. A friend I recommended it to found one online some time later. My guess is that about thirteen were built for the original thirteen dealers, and that most of the follow up orders were through the local dealer here.

Either I am going deaf, or they are one of the best sounding amps ever designed. They listed for $995. The audiophile market being what it is, they probably would have been a sales success if they had asked $2000 or more for them. The designer, Alan Kimmel, now works for Modwright and his designs are available there. They are no longer low power and do not cost $995. They do use Alan's Mu Stage, which in a preamp typically has 30dB of gain and absolutely no noise; any distortion is not in the audio band.

The entire integrated PHI-26 was completely noise free, dead silent. If you find one, try the old Russian 6P14P-EB power tubes. They are cheap but quieter than any NOS tubes. The 6N1P tubes are all built by Voskhod, no matter how they are labeled, so don't pay more than a few dollars for them. They are superb. I did get a couple of old Orel 6N1Ps from a dealer in France, non military spec, but they seem to be, like Orel, gone, The PHI sounds great because of very clever design; expensive parts are not necessary, or even useful. Alan's vast expertise also informed the physical point to point layout, making it a major contributor to the absence of any noise. He also specs the transformers for each of his designs, not using any off the shelf units. Simple as these are, you could not build one yourself that would sound as good as the factory pieces.

I saw this at a local dealer yesterday.   It's his personal unit, but he's trying to order more from Grommes.  

I listened to it briefly today with HD800s. Sounded very good but seemed to run out of power in low power (triode?) mode when the music got complex. The higher power mode held things together better and still sounded quite good. If they can actually manage to get their hands on them it will be worth a more serious listen. 

I wouldn't hold my breath.

The designer (he also worked on the 260 reissue and 360 mono amps) is long gone, Grommes/Precision Electronics won't work on them, and I couldn't even get them to return e-mails or phone calls to answer a few basic questions about the one I bought as a dealer demo last November.

It is an awesome, flexible little amp though.

Lin
 

Found this on a deep Google search last night, called today and was told it sold last week. :-(

http://www.sweethomeaudio.com/SHA%20Newsletters/June_2010_Newsletter_files/Grommes%20PHI26.htm
 

Yeah, I'd say stick a fork in this one - it's done. 

I'm using a 15wpc tube integrated/headphone amp from Sound Quest, the SQ84 V2.   I'm skeptical the Grommes would have been any better.   And I can call up Steve at Sound Quest and get help or service any time. 

I was just at Arizonia Hi Fi where Jodet saw the Gommes PHI-26.  I was blown away by it.  Listened to it with speakers and with phones and ordered one i was so blown away by the sound.  I'm number 6 on the list so 3-6 months!

I have 2 Grommes phi-26 serial  #17 and a new one serial #41 that I just purchased from Arizona Hi Fi.

Great amp but I don't need both, anyone interested send me an email..Thanks Greg