[ampsandsound]

Randomly went to the A&S website and noticed the new Jinx amp. Looks intriguing. Anyone have any experience with it yet? I only found one mention of it in this thread from a show. I'm curious how it sounds in general and how it compares with the Leeloo/Pendant SE that I currently enjoy.

Similar color pallet, more neutral and good air and space. Will bring to CanJam SocCal.

 

[ampsandsound]

OTL doesn't have proper impedance matching with planars and Kenzie doesn't have enough power to bring ample dynamics for the Stealths and LCD-5s

On paper Id agree but The Kenzie surprises as does the ovation... it can be pushed really fair but its not a 1266 choice for sur e:-0.

 

[bigjako]

Planars need more current and power.
The Mog SE, Forge, Leeloo or Jinx have 4x-10x more power... they control the planar better.
The Kenzie is a Dynamic driver specialist or high efficacy planarrs... Rad-0 or LCD-2s.
The DCA Stealth LOVES good power/drive... Mog SE/Forge can light them up.

I listen to my ZMFs and barely get the volume past 9. I can’t imagine needing any more power (and I’ve even tried attenuators to see if it allowed me to turn it up more - turned out they were unnecessary or didn’t unlock more dynamics, like my estat amps do).

 

[ampsandsound]

I

I listen to my ZMFs and barely get the volume past 9. I can’t imagine needing any more power (and I’ve even tried attenuators for see if it allowed me to turn it up more - turned out they were unnecessary or didn’t unlock more dynamics, like my estat amps do).

You might get a 12AU7/12AX7 to 12ASl7 adapter. You might like rolling tubes from the 9pin family. I love octals for the romantic sound but 9pins are quitter.

 

[bigjako]

You might get a 12AU7/12AX7 to 12ASl7 adapter. You might like rolling tubes from the 9pin family. I love octals for the romantic sound but 9pins are quitter.

Thanks, I will. I have the adapter and a few tubes to roll already. I’m happy with the volume, but like to roll tubes sometimes to compare. Can you confirm which between the 12AX7, 12AT7 and 12AU7 is NOT usable in the Kenzie?

I have a diamond base Telefunken ECC801s that I quite like but prefer the head stage that I get from a Tung-sol 12sl7 and that’s what I’m currently rolling with.

 

[ampsandsound]

Thanks, I will. I have the adapter and a few tubes to roll already. I’m happy with the volume, but like to roll tubes sometimes to compare. Can you confirm which between the 12AX7, 12AT7 and 12AU7 is NOT usable in the Kenzie?

I have a diamond base Telefunken ECC801s that I quite like but prefer the head stage that I get from a Tung-sol 12sl7 and that’s what I’m currently rolling with.

All 3 should be fine.

 

[DenverW]

You might get a 12AU7/12AX7 to 12ASl7 adapter. You might like rolling tubes from the 9pin family. I love octals for the romantic sound but 9pins are quitter.

Just checking the 2nd tube pair in that adapter. 12SL7?

 

[ampsandsound]

Not sure what you mean. Can you be specific.
The adapter is a 12SL7 to any 12AX7/5751/12AU7/12AT7... they are should work without issue.

 

[DenverW]

Not sure what you mean. Can you be specific.
The adapter is a 12SL7 to any 12AX7/5751/12AU7/12AT7... they are should work without issue.

Thank you! I probably just don't know the tube lingo; in your post you mentioned a 12AU7/12AX7 to 12ASl7 adapter and I didn't recognize the 12ASI7.

I have some of the same volume challenges on the bigger ben, with dynamic headphones getting a bit loud for me at 9 pm. I have a 12au7 to 6sn7 adapter (I have a rev 1. BB) which does help a bit. Of course, any other suggestions are always welcome for quieter tubes.

 

[theveterans]

Planars need more current and power.
The Mog SE, Forge, Leeloo or Jinx have 4x-10x more power... they control the planar better.
The Kenzie is a Dynamic driver specialist or high efficacy planarrs... Rad-0 or LCD-2s.
The DCA Stealth LOVES good power/drive... Mog SE/Forge can light them up.

I have the Forge 32/300 ohm. It certainly drives my Aeon Open X with lots of headroom for movie watching. It puts every other 400 dollar headphone to shame when driven by the Forge. Did you base the Stealth's performance on the 8/100 version?

 

[ampsandsound]

Ive used the BB with the DCA @ 16ohm... I think both the 8ohm forge and the 32ohm sound really really good. Maybe splitting hairs with this performance differences.

 

[WillieB]

@ampsandsound , is it possible to use 807 power tubes(with proper adapters) in the BB? I came across a set and read about some cases where people used them instead of 6L6 or EL-34 without issue in other amps.

 

[ampsandsound]

Tue MIL spec 807s can be used... but I won't be guaranteeing it. Some are less good and will start to red plate. You need Mil spec and would need to monitor for red plating... this said, if they don't red plate... then they can be used. (Again.... an unofficial report ) .

 

[DJJEZ]

4 months on from owning the red october and experimenting with different tubes, dacs and headphones, I thought I would talk a bit about it.

Gear:

1266TC
Susvara
Utopia
Arya
Red october
WA33 JPS elite
Holo may KTE
Chord Dave and M-scaler
AQ niagara 5000

This is hands down my favourite amp and the most impressive amp I've ever heard. It's honestly very hard to put into words how this thing sounds and even finding any negatives of it. I'm not a reviewer and describing audio gear in great detail doesnt come easy to me but i will try talk about my experience. Even 4 months after owning it now, everytime I sit down with this thing I'm totally blown away and in awe of it.

First of all. My absolute favorite headphone to pair with the red october is the abyss 1266TC. This headphone pairs so damn well on tubes and truly is the best way to hear the 1266TC and I use it the most on the red october. One of the main complaints of the 1266TC is the recessed midrange. With this amp, you won't have that problem

I also own susvara and utopia and rotate them regularly and both also sound very impressive on the red october. Some other headphones I've tried on this amp are the lcd4, lcd5, diana phi and diana TC. I have yet to find a headphone that doesn't synergize well with this amp.

Regarding dacs to pair with the red october, I own a chord dave and m-scaler along with a holo may KTE. The reason why I have these 2 dacs is they sound so different to each other. The May leans to sounding more analogue, is slightly laid back, really smooth with amazing tonal density and overall just more natural. The dave is more vibrant and in your face with more resolution but also more fatiguing so careful matching is needed. After trying both dacs back and forth for months on end my personal preference is the holo may KTE. The combination with the red October just sounds ridiculously analogue and extremely smooth with great tonal density and weight and is overall more natural.

The red october sounds absolutely huge as long as your pair it with the right gear. The holo may has a massive soundstage as well as the 1266tc so when you pair all 3 together the end result is a absolutely massive soundtage in width and depth.

Regarding tubes. The Red october comes with gold lion 300B's, a JJ 5571 and new production mullard GZ34 rectifiers. All of this combined, It's very clear to me why Justin chose these tubes, it is the smoothest and least fatiguing I've heard the red october.

If the smoothness is too much you can roll the 12ax7 tube which honestly makes a much bigger difference than I would of ever imagined. Something like a telefunken 12ax7 or a sylvania 12ax7 black plate will make the amp lean towards being a bit more neutral with slightly less smoothness but you gain a more punchy sound.

I also own elrog 300Bs which I switch in every so often. The elrogs add absolutely crazy dynamics to the Red October along with some serious bass and imaging and speed. It is definitely a more analytical sound compared to the gold lion's and you lose some richness and smooothness for sure.

I also own a WA33 JPS elite tube amp which is a seriously impressive amp but in my opinion the red october is pretty much better at nearly everything and is 2/3 of the cost. When you listen to a wa33 it sounds like a hybrid tube amp to me. It has the speed and imaging of a solid state amp but also the rounded off edges and tube spaciousness and smoothness. In my opinion the wa33 has more pinpoint accurate sharper imaging along with speed and transients but the red october beats it in every single other aspect. The Red october sounds way more tubier, much more open sounding, better midrange, richer, bigger soundstage (both depth and width), better tonal density, better timbre, more natural and alot more smoother and just overall more analogue than the wa33.

If I had to sum up the red october in one word it would be 'euphoric'. This amp has the best midrange i've heard from any amp, it really is a midrange monster and has such an incredible musicality to it, it makes you feel the music with more emotion more than any other piece of gear I've come across. When you listen to this amp you forget about listening to your gear and analysing music and just end up compleley absorbed in the music.

I really hope more people can experience this amp and I'm hoping it gets alot more exposure at canjam this weekend.

 

[Ciggavelli]

4 months on from owning the red october and experimenting with different tubes, dacs and headphones, I thought I would talk a bit about it.

Gear:

1266TC
Susvara
Utopia
Arya
Red october
WA33 JPS elite
Holo may KTE
Chord Dave and M-scaler
AQ niagara 5000

This is hands down my favourite amp and the most impressive amp I've ever heard. It's honestly very hard to put into words how this thing sounds and even finding any negatives of it. I'm not a reviewer and describing audio gear in great detail doesnt come easy to me but i will try talk about my experience. Even 4 months after owning it now, everytime I sit down with this thing I'm totally blown away and in awe of it.

First of all. My absolute favorite heapdhone to pair with the red october is the abyss 1266TC. This headphone pairs so damn well on tubes and truly is the best way to hear the 1266TC and I use it the most on the red october. I also own susvara and utopia and rotate them regularly and both also sound insane on the red october.

Regarding dacs to pair with the red october, I own a chord dave and m-scaler along with a holo may KTE. The reason why I have these 2 dacs is they sound so different to each other. The May leans to sounding more analogue, is slightly laid back, really smooth with amazing tonal density and overall just more natural. The dave is more vibrant and in your face with more resolution but also more fatiguing so careful matching is needed. After trying both dacs back and forth for months on end my personal preference is the holo may KTE. The combination with the red October just sounds ridiculously analogue and extremely smooth with great tonal density and weight.

The red october sounds absolutely huge as long as your pair it with the right gear. The holo may has a massive soundstage as well as the 1266tc so when you pair all 3 together the end result is a absolutely massive soundtage in width and depth.

Regarding tubes. The Red october comes with gold lion 300B's, a JJ 5571 and new production mullard GZ34's. All of this combined, It's very clear to me why Justin chose these tubes, it is the smoothest and least fatiguing I've heard the red october.

If the smoothness is too much you can roll the 12ax7 tube which honestly makes a much bigger difference than I would of ever imagined. Something like a telefunken 12ax7 or A sylvania 12ax7 black plate will make the amp lean towards being a bit more neutral with slightly less smoothness but you gain a more punchy sound.

I also own elrog 300Bs which I switch in every so often. The elrogs add absolutely crazy dynamics to the Red October along with some serious bass and imaging and speed. It is definitely a more analytical sound compared to the gold lion's and you lose some richness and smooothness for sure.

I also own a WA33 JPS elite tube amp which is a seriously impressive amp but in my opinion the red october is pretty much better at nearly everything and is 2/3 of the cost. When you listen to a wa33 it sounds like a hybrid tube amp to me. It has the speed and imaging of a solid state amp but also the rounded off edges and tube spaciousness and smoothness. In my opinion the wa33 has more pinpoint accurate sharper imaging along with speed and transients but the red october beats it in every single other aspect. The Red october sounds way more tubier, much more open sounding, better midrange, richer, bigger soundstage (both depth and width), better tonal density, better timbre, more natural and alot more smoother and just overall more analogue than the wa33.

If I had to sum up the red october in one word it would be 'euphoric'. This amp has the best midrange i've heard from any amp, it really is a midrange monster and has such an incredible musicality to it, it makes you feel the music with more emotion more than any other piece of gear I've come across. When you listen to this amp you forget about listening to your gear and analysing music and just end up compleley absorbed in the music.

My only complaint is I wish more people could experience this amp and I'm hoping it gets alot more exposure at canjam this weekend.

Thanks for that great write-up

As somebody who absolutely loves my WA33 EE JPS with my 1266 TCs, the Red October now really interests me. The fact that the TCs may sound even better on the Red October vs the WA33 really appeals to me. I'd love to hear this amp. I shoulda flown to Cali for this CanJam...