Maverick Audio TubeMagic A1 (Hybrid Amp) - Discussion and Review Thread - Page 7

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustVisit 

Why don't you just send me an email and we can discuss this possibility

Mailed you!
 

I, D1 I like very much. Then, A1 also did not disappoint. Tubes, Mullard CV4010 is used. Please tell me your favorite tube. we403, the great or what?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ultrainferno 

 

Mailed you!
 

Didn't get your email. Please notice we have lost our original domain name. I've just sent you a message of my new email.
 

Have you guys seen the post on the Raytheon matched tubes on Ryans blog?

http://www.mav-audio.com/base/archives/521

cool.

I've been meaning to order an A1.  I wonder how long it will take for the "future upgrade option" to be on it

Quote:

Originally Posted by s0126471 

cool.

 

I've been meaning to order an A1.  I wonder how long it will take for the "future upgrade option" to be on it

 

what is the "future upgrade option" according to you then? The Raytheons? I think they're already shipping those
 

From the site, yes, but not yet on eBay

I finally finished my review of the A1. Here it is:

http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/513019/review-maverick-audio-tubemagic-a1-integrated-amp-pre-amp-headphone-amp

I really enjoy this amp, and I think it is a great value.

Wow, ncie review project86.

I ordered the A1 earlier this week. I'm sure it works great with the D1 I already have.

Can't wait for it to get here!

Edit: My unit is finished but it can't ship out because of the yearly Moon Festival.

Hey guys,

I have an update to my posts #54 & #73.  Regarding the hum issue, I had reported that with the original tubes there was a faint hum after 12 o'clock.  It was very faint but nonetheless present. After trying to roll tubes on my own I found out that after two different pairs of 6AK5s the humming was even worse with those new tubes.  The fact is that those new tubes were not matched.  During that time, I have had the A1 for close to two months now, I also discovered that there was crosstalk between the two inputs of the A1.  This last thing was just by chance, I wanted to check the sound of two different sources playing the same program, to my chagrin y noticed that around 1 o'clock I could hear the other channel if I paused the one I was listening to.  At that point I submitted a ticket to Ryan, who as usual was very prompt in responding and taking charge of the issue.  For starters, he offered to send me a matched pair of Tung-Sol 6AK5s to see if those tubes will not hum on my unit.  The issue of the crosstalk was something unexpected and he had his engineer check on it, it was suspected it was coming from a ground connection in one of the resistors in the input switch, if that was the case new resistor values would need to be found to attenuate the XT.  We left it at that with Ryan's assurance that as soon as the engineers found the problem he will let me know how to fix it.

Then Ryan's Tung-Sol 6AK5s arrived, I put them in and, what do you know, ALL ISSUES WERE FIXED.  With these new tubes there is no hum even at 4 o'clock, my speakers are 90db, and through my Optimus LV-20 headphones (made by Koss, actually very good) I could not hear hum either, maybe a hint of ripple noise at insane volumes with no program playing.

Ryan told me that the A1 is very picky in its acceptance of tubes, they definitely need to be closely matched.  I suspect the problems I was hearing arose from the stock tubes and not from the circuit itself, I am far from an expert, but my careful observations point to that direction.  My advice is that if anyone wants to roll tubes, make sure they are matched.

Once again I want to commend Ryan for his outstanding commitment to his product and his uncompromising willingness to resolve issues as they arise. 

My A1 is waiting for me at home. Dhl just delivered it, but I won't be home till tomorrowevening

The A1 sounds good! Even just out of the box with the Raytheon tubes

No hum or sounds whatsoever, deadsilent!!!

Case is still a bit wobly, screw alignment isn't the best but thats not so important.

Will post a big review & pictures later after burn in (with the D1 & DT990~600)

Happy happy joy

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ultrainferno 

The A1 sounds good! Even just out of the box with the Raytheon tubes

No hum or sounds whatsoever, deadsilent!!!

 

Case is still a bit wobly, screw alignment isn't the best but thats not so important.

Will post a big review & pictures later after burn in (with the D1 & DT990~600)

 

Happy happy joy

Awesome, that's good to hear. I'll trade a perfect case for great sound any day. The sad thing is, I bet some people will sleep on this thing just because it has a full size (non headphone) amp section. If I had paid what I paid for strictly a headphone amp, I would still be impressed. The other part is just a bonus.

The A1 is still nicely burning in, so I'm not doing my review just yet.

I have to say that after all the fuzz that was being made about the Schiit Valhalla, there are hardly any reviews on here.

Does that mean that it's no good or does the search function just don't work? (I consider the A1 a direct competitor of the Valhalla)

I'd like to see a comparison between the 2 but mostly I'm just surprised that no one is talking about the Schiit anymore ...

Then again, there was alot more talk about the D1 as well as the A1. What's wrong on here