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SR-71 First Impressions w/pics(dial-up warning)  

post #1 of 100
6/25/04 at 3:40am
Thread Starter 
I usually don't have much to say about new gear until I have time to spend with it and form some solid impressions but I have been so impressed a few times that I felt the need to spill the beans. This is one of those times.

Despite the fact that Ray Samuels is a good buddy of mine and the SR-71 has been available for me to audition for some time,for various reasons I have never really had a chance to really listen to it. My ears were in bad shape at the Chicago meet where the SR-71 was first previewed and I was really feeling terrible at the NYC meet and barely listened to anything. Ray offered to loan me a pre-production sample while I was in the hospital and during my recovery but I declined because I had no idea how long that all might take. You have'nt heard me saying anything about the SR-71 simply because I had'nt listened to it and I never comment on stuff I've never heard.

Well ,Ray was kind enough to offer up one of the first production units(Reyman gets unit number 001) to me as repayment for driving him to NYC and putting up with all his complaining about my driving. I still don't know if I'll ever take a 26 hour car drive with Ray again but the SR-71 is a good enough amp that I might consider it.

This little gem was certainly worth the wait and it is amazing me with what it is capable of. It does not sound it's size and it most definitely does'nt sound it's price. Using My Sony D-25S and Sangean FM radio as sources I was really impressed with the big bass,wide and complete midrange and terrific treble extension and detail. I can't believe this thing sounds this good and it's not even broken in yet. As Impressed as I am with most of Ray's gear,like the fantastic XR-2 phono stage,the SR-71 may be his Masterpiece.

I offer my strongest recommendation for the SR-71 and give it unconditional "Budget Componet Alert" status.

More complete impressions to follow with more listening time,2 days just ain't enough.

Note: This amp belongs to me,is my personal property and all pics were taken and published by myself. Feel free to use them as you wish.




Anyway feast on my pics:













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post #2 of 100
6/25/04 at 3:44am
Tuberoller:

Them's mighty powerful words! When you have more time / energy, I think I can speak for all of us who want to know more about the SR-71! Thanks for the ****. I luv ****.
post #3 of 100
6/25/04 at 3:48am
Wow, thanks for the very positive words about this amp. I may have found the replacement portable for my supermini.....

My wallet is getting thinner by the second, and I LOVE IT!
post #4 of 100
6/25/04 at 4:47am
Tuberoller, I think you just helped lighten my wallet... I've been toying with the idea of getting one of these and you may just have pushed me over the edge...thanks!
post #5 of 100
6/25/04 at 5:08am
Judging by your positive response, I might guess that the SR-71 will kill the PPA and PIMETA?
post #6 of 100
6/25/04 at 5:41am
Quote:
Originally Posted by davidmiya
Judging by your positive response, I might guess that the SR-71 will kill the PPA and PIMETA?
PPA's vary a lot depending on builder and components. I would think that it is at a higher level of performance than the PPA and more importantly, it is a different flavor from a PPA, but everyone will have their own feelings about the flavor. What works for some folks will not for others, I could see some folks preferring a PPA over the HR-2, the XP-7 or the SR-71. This depends on how much you like the Ray Samuels house sound. What I heard was very close in sound and performance to the HR-2 and XP-7, in fact virtually indistinguishable, so if you're familiar with them you can make the judgement based on your feelings for either of them. From the comparisons I have heard, I don't think the same can be said for the PIMETA, it's just nowhere close...

Nice first impressions Tubes, I was equally impressed with this amp.
post #7 of 100
6/25/04 at 8:44am
Wow, what a great looking little amp! Tuberoller - thanks for providing this preview for us. I can't wait for this thing to arrive on my doorstep, but it is killing because this will arrive next week while I am traveling!
post #8 of 100
6/25/04 at 8:52am
awww the production ver compared to the silver one i seen looks soo cute.


looks like a baby xp-7...awwwww ray......lol

thats cool reynman and you got the first couple made, i like that
post #9 of 100
6/25/04 at 9:10am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tuberoller
...
Anyway feast on my pics:
...
Thanks for the impressions, and the terrific pictures, Tuberoller. The 71 seems exactly what I would expect from Ray - another great design executed with precision, resulting in a truly superior product.

I see one in my future.
post #10 of 100
6/25/04 at 10:25am
thanks tuberoller , very nice shots and impressions too
my wallet thanks you too for helping him in the severe diet he is doing
post #11 of 100
6/25/04 at 12:11pm
Question: is there a reason that Ray doesn't like to have his faceplates flush with the bodies of his amps... I imagine it's an aesthetic preference
post #12 of 100
6/25/04 at 12:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by boodi
thanks tuberoller , very nice shots and impressions too
my wallet thanks you too for helping him in the severe diet he is doing
LOL! My wallet is now just a shadow of it's former self...
post #13 of 100
6/25/04 at 12:14pm
Very nice design. Let's try some reverse engineering. The below guesses maybe incorrect.



C1 to C4 and C9 to C12 are tantalum cap.
C5 to C8 and C13 to C16 are maybe film cap or a not so possible ceramic cap.
IC1 to IC4 are most likely AD8610 chip. Red paint was cover to hide them, see IC2 lead. IC1 and IC3 are a pair for each channel.
Input signal goes into pot then to R1. R1 and R3 forms a voltage devider.
IC1 and IC2 are non-inverting amplifier.
IC3 and IC4 are buffer. Further proof by the bigger tantalum cap C13 to C16.

A similiar design to A47 or Pimeta.
post #14 of 100
6/25/04 at 1:47pm
Tuberoller,
Thank-you for the inspiring impressions on the SR-71, I've been waiting patiently for this amp a long time. Untill mine arrives next week, my chin will remain damp from your feast of photo's!
post #15 of 100
6/25/04 at 2:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by HiWire
Question: is there a reason that Ray doesn't like to have his faceplates flush with the bodies of his amps... I imagine it's an aesthetic preference

I just wish he would tone down the graphics and writing on his amps. Beautiful on the insides, nice cases but way too much writing for my taste. I wonder how it will look after two or three years of being carried around when all that writing starts to wear off.
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