Bravo V2 d - Is this any good?

There's already a thread here discussing the Bravo amps (link below). I've had this for a couple months and I've been satisfied w/ it's performance after upgrading the tube. It drives my HD580's and 600ohm AKG K240's very well. Somewhat has a cheap feel to it's build quality, but for it's price it's a great beginner amp. It'll def hold me over til' I have extra $ saved up for a better amp.

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f5/bra...e-amps-444400/

Which would be  better to drive a pair of AKG K601, PV2V2 or Bravo V2? 

Thats not even a fair comparison.

The PV2V2 is a portable CMoy type amp and

the Bravo is a class A tube amp with a

solid state buffer output.

The Bravo is NOT portable.

Needless to say the Bravo is quite a bit

more powerful than a CMoy.

If I tell you one sounds better than the other

it will just start an argument and I couldn't tell

you anyway as I don't have both amps to

compare to one another.

 

Do you want a portable amp or a

desk top amp?
 

   As long as it is cheap (below 100 $) and synergizes well with my AKG K601 I don't mind whether portable or not. I'm going to use it at home, so portability is not a plus, aside from the fact that battery power is cleaner, isn't it? Practically at this price point most amps are portable . Do tube amps sound better than solid state for the same price? I am totally newcomer to the amp business.

For under $100 the Bravo is a decent amp...but it suffers from some poor quality

parts. One of my friends just picked one up for $13 plus shipping.

I told him thats like buying a tube and getting the amp for free!

If you don't mind playing around with it, it can become quite musical.

May people prefer the sound of tubes over solid state and of course, many

people prefer solid state over tubes. I have both types of amps myself.

There is a difference in sound, I would not say better or worse, just different.

You have to decide for yourself which one you like best for yourself.

The amp I'm most enjoying right now is the Szekeres VE3 I built myself.

 

If you are able to solder and assemble a kit, the AMB Mini^3 is a great

little portable amp...and it's rechargeable too!

 

In the end, you have to decide for yourself what are the most

important features for you.

 

Oh yes, I think it is a bit of a myth that battery power is cleaner...

some batteries do not put out consistent current or voltage and

of course, the voltage drops over time. A well designed linear supply

is better than a battery.

 

 

   Can I ask where your friend bought the bravo so cheap? On ebay there is only seller and it costs 69$:

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Valve-Class-Tube-Headphone-Amplifier-pre-Bravo-V2-/260603056743?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cad271267

 

 

 

 

 

IMHO the Bravo's are flimsy little toys that are interesting as curiosities or conversations pieces.

 

AS soon as you get it , it requires an upgraded  tube and power supply, which will cost more than the whole amp.

 

And it's too flimsy for every day use.  The M^3 suggestion is a good one.

 

After a tube and power supply upgrade, it can be carefully used like this

 

 

or this

 

 

 but unless you are into DIYing, you will most probably just keep it in a draw as a conversation piece like I do.....  

 

Upstateguy...

 

That is one very old curiosity...an original version one Bravo.

No wonder you are so critical of it.

The later version has better components and the 12AU7

is a totally different version.

It's not the design of this amp that is the problem, just

the component choices and build quality...what do you

expect for the price though? Remember, it was made

in China by someone who makes about a dollar a week.

pterodactilo...

 

You have to watch the auctions...ignore the "buy it now".

There aren't very many for sale right now, wait until a

new batch come online. He seems to sell them in "waves"

as he gets them.

 

Yes, it is an original version one.   

 

Good eyes. 

 

Still, I would never recommend it for use as an every day amp, because, even the most recent versions are incredibly fragile.  

 

IMHO, its best use is as a conversation piece or something for DIYers to mod.

 

USG

 

Edit to say that for $15 why not? 

 

But once you replace the tube and power supply,  remember not to plug things in or out too much or the RCAs and 1/8 will lift off the board  and have to be re-soldered.   If you turn it on and off too much, you will have to replace the switch.

Edited by upstateguy - 5/29/10 at 7:09pm

I guess I must be doing something right then...after a year of heavy use and modifying, non

of the original parts has ever broken. Of course, by now, there aren't many of the original parts left...
 

What is left?

 

USG

The tube socket and board are still original...