1101 Audio custom crafted headphone amps

[OctavianH]

Deleted.

 

[raindownthunda]

Heavenly combo

 

[raindownthunda]

Stumbled upon an extraordinary tube roll for the Atrium Closed: 4x Chatham 6AS7G + NU 6J5GT (triple mica / GE branded). This is one worth coming back to.

 

[raindownthunda]

Has anyone heard the ZMF Caldera with their amp?

 

[Xcalibur255]

I was planning to go that route, but after I picked up a mortgage I couldn't swing the cost anymore. I think it would be a glorious pairing with my 1101 audio amp.

That, and something else happened (long story) to dissuade me from making further investments in any of my audio gear recently. Weird power issue with the grid in my new neighborhood that makes literally every piece of audio gear in the house sound bad. I've spent the last 6 months trying to find a solution, but I think to at least some degree I have no choice but to live with it now.

 

[ARCXENOS]

Has anyone heard the ZMF Caldera with their amp?

If the timeline checks out and I don't do a certain headphone upgrade, I will

 

[raindownthunda]

Trying out EL34 as drivers (EL34->6J5 adapter) tonight. These are made by Tesla. Thick and fun in Blue Halo mode. Pictured below in BH+ with GEC 6AS7G.



Swapped for Fivre 6C5G. Compared to EL34, these have much more clarity and sound more cohesive. Also indescribably smooth and liquid. Not as much body/authority as the EL34.



Putting on a show!

 

[raindownthunda]

Loving this classic 6080WB + L63 pair

 

[xtr4]

Loving this classic 6080WB + L63 pair

I have the exact tube combo on my La Figaro 339 lol

 

[Ezumin]

A couple days ago I received my amp. Mischa is an artist and I want to thank him for all the effort he put into building this. Right when I got it, I put in some GE 6BX7's and National Union 6J5's and set it tube anodes to resistor fed. I tried a Melz 1578 by itself, with the 6J5's, and went back to just the 6J5's. Otherwise I haven't really tinkered with it because I'm just enjoying it. Once I get bored, I'll play with the options. It's cool seeing all of the tubes Raindownthunda suggests too. Thanks for giving me ideas for the future!

The front has a clean look because I asked for all of the switches to be mounted on the rear of the unit.

I chose all of the upgrades except for the VU meters.
Khozmo 48 Step Attenuator
Coupling capacitor upgrade Miflex KPCU-01
Output capacitor upgrade Modof MCAP Evo Oil
Added output bypass capacitor Jupiter Copper
Power tube cathode CCS vs resistor bias switch
Power Resistors upgraded to Kiwame
Signal Resistors upgrade to Vishay/Dale
Long life capacitors
Rubber feet
2% silver solder
Transformer coupled XLR Input upgrade using dual Cinemag CMLI-15B
Tube socket upgrade to gold platted brass for all tubes
Power supply ability to use 6336 or 6528 tubes
6SN7 or 6J5 three way switch
Switch to toggle between RCA/XLR inputs
Passive/Active pre-amp RCA output three way switch (passive/off/active for RCA outs)
Noctua Fan

I ordered several of the adapters too, which Mischa will ship later on.
1. Pair of 6922/6DJ8/E88CC/6N23P/6N6P/6N1P/6H30P/6N23P/6BQ7A/6CG7/6BK7/6BZ7/6BS8 to 6J5 adapters (this adapter does a lot of different tubes)
2. Pair of 12AU7/12BH7 to 6J5 adapters
3. Pair of C3G to 6J5 adapters
4. Pair of EL34/KT66/KT77/KT88/6L6/6V6 to 6J5 adapters
5. 4-6x EL34/KT66/KT77/KT88 to 6080
6. Pair of 6C41C to 6080 adapters
7. Pair of 6C33C to 6080 adapters?
8. 6x 12E1 to 6080 adapters (2X 6GW6/6DQ6 tubes per channel or 3X 6BQ6/6CU6)

 

[Zachik]

Mischa is an artist

100% agree!!! Great guy and super smart.

 

[ARCXENOS]

A couple days ago I received my amp. Mischa is an artist and I want to thank him for all the effort he put into building this. Right when I got it, I put in some GE 6BX7's and National Union 6J5's and set it tube anodes to resistor fed. I tried a Melz 1578 by itself, with the 6J5's, and went back to just the 6J5's. Otherwise I haven't really tinkered with it because I'm just enjoying it. Once I get bored, I'll play with the options. It's cool seeing all of the tubes Raindownthunda suggests too. Thanks for giving me ideas for the future!



The front has a clean look because I asked for all of the switches to be mounted on the rear of the unit.



I chose all of the upgrades except for the VU meters.
Khozmo 48 Step Attenuator
Coupling capacitor upgrade Miflex KPCU-01
Output capacitor upgrade Modof MCAP Evo Oil
Added output bypass capacitor Jupiter Copper
Power tube cathode CCS vs resistor bias switch
Power Resistors upgraded to Kiwame
Signal Resistors upgrade to Vishay/Dale
Long life capacitors
Rubber feet
2% silver solder
Transformer coupled XLR Input upgrade using dual Cinemag CMLI-15B
Tube socket upgrade to gold platted brass for all tubes
Power supply ability to use 6336 or 6528 tubes
6SN7 or 6J5 three way switch
Switch to toggle between RCA/XLR inputs
Passive/Active pre-amp RCA output three way switch (passive/off/active for RCA outs)
Noctua Fan

I ordered several of the adapters too, which Mischa will ship later on.
1. Pair of 6922/6DJ8/E88CC/6N23P/6N6P/6N1P/6H30P/6N23P/6BQ7A/6CG7/6BK7/6BZ7/6BS8 to 6J5 adapters (this adapter does a lot of different tubes)
2. Pair of 12AU7/12BH7 to 6J5 adapters
3. Pair of C3G to 6J5 adapters
4. Pair of EL34/KT66/KT77/KT88/6L6/6V6 to 6J5 adapters
5. 4-6x EL34/KT66/KT77/KT88 to 6080
6. Pair of 6C41C to 6080 adapters
7. Pair of 6C33C to 6080 adapters?
8. 6x 12E1 to 6080 adapters (2X 6GW6/6DQ6 tubes per channel or 3X 6BQ6/6CU6)

Much congratulations to you and Mischa on another successful build!

I wish for more 1101 amp owners to post their experience to help pass the time, and I am hoping mine is next

 

[Xcalibur255]

Always great to see a new member of the family. Congrats and enjoy @Ezumin ! These are forever amps and we're lucky to have them.

 

[Xcalibur255]

Much congratulations to you and Mischa on another successful build!

I wish for more 1101 amp owners to post their experience to help pass the time, and I am hoping mine is next

I always meant to write more about my amp, but the funny thing about finally finding "the one" is that I really don't feel the need to to compare it to other things. More recently I also have weird power issues in my home that negatively affect the sound quality of anything I own that makes sound, so the whole hobby is kind of on forced hiatus for me now. I keep telling myself it won't be forever, and that first listening session when things are finally right again is going to be AMAZING. Someday..............

 

[leftside]

I always meant to write more about my amp, but the funny thing about finally finding "the one" is that I really don't feel the need to to compare it to other things.

I hardly even post anymore. If someone has a question about the gear or tubes I'm familiar with, then I might reply. There are a couple of headphones out there I'd like to try, but that's about it. Just enjoying what I have really.

I DO enjoy watching all the progression with all the custom amps both on this thread and elsewhere though. Hopefully it never stops.