[icebear]

This is so silly, it not funny anymore ... just don't feed the ...

.

 

[eric65]

Reception, test, comparison of the Luminare amp to now follow on the forum HCFR.

 

[eric65]

I keep full confidence in the productions of the Dr. Becker (RKV - Verto - Luminare)
 
If you don't believe me, then just listen to any of its products out of your biases or misleading representations of these products as some would have well us believe.
As Saint ... , only believe what you hear; I cannot give you better advice.
 
Eric
 
 
PS: for critics of the AudioValve Products: two questions: have you listen them? ; think you fully understand how they operate?
 
I, who has listened to these products, I find them very good, original (I like), innovative, outside beaten path, and as I am curious, I try to understand (at my level) the mode of operation; but I'm an amateur in electronic ...

 

[kevin gilmore]

 
 
PS: for critics of the AudioValve Products: two questions: have you listen them? ; think you fully understand how they operate?
 

Answer, YES and Absolutely
you are the one that refuses to spend the time to learn what the true capabilities of this amplifier are
 
20 years ago, rkv was not bad, today, eclipsed by $100 amplifiers
 
clone circuit boards available, work fine with the current FOTM opamp

 

[eric65]

  Answer, YES and Absolutely
you are the one that refuses to spend the time to learn what the true capabilities of this amplifier are
 
20 years ago, rkv was not bad, today, eclipsed by $100 amplifiers
 
clone circuit boards available, work fine with the current FOTM opamp

 
RKV-I (20 years ago), maybe, but the RKV-II; RKV-III and Luminare amp (now)?
(Nb: amazing auditory memory you have, Kevin ; able to remember the sound of an amplifier, 20 years after. 
Otherwise, if it is still operational; Your RKV-I amp it's not defective? it's just a guess)
 
Otherwise, were you able to compare the listening of the RKV-II + Verto combo + Stax SR-009 (or Luminare amp + Stax SR-009) versus Stax SRM-007 t2 (not an amplifier 100 dollars) + SR-009?

 

[eric65]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevin gilmore /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
so I spent new years eve trying to make sense of this...
6 shots of vodka later, still did not make sense.
 

 
Quote:

Originally Posted by kevin gilmore /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 

 
 
PS: for critics of the AudioValve Products: two questions: have you listen them? ; think you fully understand how they operate?
 

Answer, YES and Absolutely
 

 
I doubt !

 

[kevin gilmore]

the design is 20 years old and has not changed.
my clone is the latest parts and latest schematics
and is less than 6 months old

you are the one who is blind to the understanding on how
this amplifier works

and verto, you gotta be kidding. its alreay obsolete and
i would never use something like that on my headphones

 

[eric65]

If Dr. Becker (the designer of the AudioValve products) is not bored too much to read this thread, maybe, it will bring some missing informations to our understanding of the product (Luminare amp) on its information website.
 
To be continued .. 

 

[kevin gilmore]

since another of the things you seem concerned about is price, build one yourself
http://gilmore.chem.northwestern.edu/rkvboard.jpg
 
for about $500 total in parts you get a balanced rkv3
 
then spend how much you feel like on a pair of cinemag or lundhall custom
transformers to do the stax part.
 
since you are an educated man, and should have learned much of this in undergrad physics, go get a copy of ltspice
and I will spoon feed you a bit.
 
Here is the hard part, the pcl805 output pentode as a tetrode spice model
 

.SUBCKT PCL805 A S G K
*
* Calculate contribution to cathode current
*
Eat at 0 VALUE={0.636*ATAN(V(A,K)/20)}
Eme me 0 VALUE={PWR(LIMIT{V(A,K),0,10000},1.5)/17}
Emu mu 0 VALUE={PWRS(V(G,K),1-(LIMIT{-V(G,K),5,9999}-5)/1150)}
Egs gs 0 VALUE={LIMIT{V(S,K)/19+V(mu)/4.3+V(A,K)/800,0,1E6}}
Egs2 gs2 0 VALUE={PWRS(V(gs),1.5)}
Ecath  cc    0 VALUE={LIMIT{V(gs2)*V(at),0,V(me)}}
Elim el 0 VALUE={LIMIT{V(gs2)*V(at)-V(cc),0,99999}}
*
* Calculate anode current
*
Ga     A     K     VALUE={6E-2*V(cc)}
*
* Calculate screen current
*
Escrn sc 0 VALUE={V(gs2)*(1.1-V(at))+1.2*V(el)}
Gs     S     K VALUE={1.2E-2*V(sc)*LIMIT{V(S,K),0,10}/10}
*
* Grid current (approximation - does not model low va/vs)
*
Gg G K VALUE={PWR(LIMIT{V(G,K)+1,0,1E6},1.5)*50E-6}
*
* Capacitances
* NOTE: Change Cg1 from 37p to 25p for Svetlana EL509
*
Cg1 G K 37p
Cak A K 18.5p
Cg1a G A 2.5p

.ENDS
 
you can go and find the 12ax7 model for the triode on your own.
 
schematic here
http://gilmore.chem.northwestern.edu/rkv2scheme.pdf
 
 
I'm always up for a technical challenge...
 

 

[eric65]

 
product page says damping factor is 600
Really, how and into what load?
 

 
Answer at your question (by the Dr Becker) here: http://www.audiovalve.info/to/luminare.php (middle-end of the page)

 

[kevin gilmore]

This is a completely meaningless measurement and does not represent the actual performance of the amp
into a real load.Same as the output impedance of a WCF at no signal. Marketing bs.
Now if he would measure the real performance of the amp via standard EIA
methods the numbers would mean something. All the other specifications published are now called into
question.

 

[eric65]

http://www.headamp.com/electrostat_amps/bhse/
Really complete information ? I like, but I prefer those of Dr. Becker on its web site, just over supplied.
 
Has each his thing

 

[kevin gilmore]

so lets look at the absurdity of measurements designed to defraud and confuse the consumer

krell master reference amplifier
300 kilo's (each channel)
1000 watts rms into 8 ohms
$160k per pair

By the insane version of measurements, the Ri of this amplifier is 50 milliohms, 5 times
the Ri of the Luminare. Now if you actually believe any of this, you should sell your MRA's
and hook your luminare up to your wilsons. Now this is also the only amplifier that can direct
drive stax headphones. Every one on the planet at the same time.
(stable to .5 ohm)

Even more insane measurement. The nwavguy O2. By my calculations the Ri of this
amplifier is 17 microohms. So quick, sell that luminare and buy the O2.

There are reasons that standard measurements exist.

justin wilson has published real specifications and tests every single amplifier before shipping.

 

[eric65]

Hello,
 
What future do you think about the new Eddie Current Electra MK2 amplifier with 300 B SE tubes?

What is the ratio of step-up transformer (for a balanced signal output) used with this new Eddie Current electrostatic amp : ratio 1:2 ? (like those of Luminare amp in Mode 1 (red) ?)

 

[eric65]

   
Happy New Year, same old crap
 
edit: name of eddie current amp

 
Not more comments more constructive, respectful and fair play to give us about the latest productions (innovative) in amplification electrostatic (with the use of a low ratio step-up galvanic balanced transformer) who are the Electra mk2 300 SE from Craig Uthus and the Luminare amp from Helmut Becker ?