Available - RSA "The Black Bird" SR-71A, Redesigned, Resized AMP images page 1,28, 33, 34, 39 . Mini review: 40, 41, 45 .

[Dash]

Could it be a revised Predator minus the DAC?

 

[jamato8]

No, this is a revised SR-71a from what I know. It is exciting that there are a number of very enjoyable amps to listen to. Something for everyone.

It is nice to have a community of people that can find some common ground and to be able to share this joy. Too many people take too many things too serious. I see life and death in my work all the time. This is the lighter and uplifting side of life.

 

[penger]

I am interested in how the revised SR-71a will turn out. Thanks for the scoop jamato8!

 

[BigEat]

Any word on when it will be available?

 

[Lil' Knight]

... and price mark?

 

[robojack]

What I'd like to know is how much smaller this amp is, compared to the original. Will it be close to the size of Predator, or closer to a Hornet's size?

 

[PhaedrusX]

i shied away from the SR-71 because it lacked a recharging circuit and the option to run off AC. will this remain the same?

 

[jamato8]

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhaedrusX /img/forum/go_quote.gif i shied away from the SR-71 because it lacked a recharging circuit and the option to run off AC. will this remain the same?

From what I have been able to gather it will still use 2 9 volt batteries and will not have a recharging circuit.

I know it will be smaller than the original but I doubt it will be a great deal smaller because it will still use 2 9 volt batteries and they require a defined amount of space and then you also have the circuit board.

 

[The Monkey]

jamato, how did you find out about the new amp? Do you have one? Thanks.

 

[WaxMan]

When I first heard the rumor of a new SR-71 amp here at headfi, I could not believe it. First of all Ray Samuels has never reworked any of his amps in the past. I'm not talking about all the tweaking he does prior to production. I'm talking after production. I mean I guess you could count the Hornet mod, but that is a small undertaking of swapping out a capacitor. Something this big, and paramount does not seem like it could even be true. Not calling anyone here a liar, i'm just skeptical. It is great news though, I absolutely adore my SR-71, and the thought of it being re-released in some new incarnation is pretty exciting. An adjustable gain switch of four would be fantastic, you could enjoy the SR-71's remarkable sound from just about any pair of headphones. Can't wait to see some pictures, and hear about it from the man himself.

 

[recstar24]

The SR71 was my 1st amp as a headfier and my 1st real foray into hifi headphone sound. What a beautifully built and sounding amp, I still feel the SR71 is the best portable amp I have listened to. A new version with some added features and a slightly smaller footprint is such a fantastic idea.

 

[Cool_Torpedo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by WaxMan /img/forum/go_quote.gif When I first heard the rumor of a new SR-71 amp here at headfi, I could not believe it. First of all Ray Samuels has never reworked any of his amps in the past. I'm not talking about all the tweaking he does prior to production. I'm talking after production. I mean I guess you could count the Hornet mod, but that is a small undertaking of swapping out a capacitor. Something this big, and paramount does not seem like it could even be true. Not calling anyone here a liar, i'm just skeptical. It is great news though, I absolutely adore my SR-71, and the thought of it being re-released in some new incarnation is pretty exciting. An adjustable gain switch of four would be fantastic, you could enjoy the SR-71's remarkable sound from just about any pair of headphones. Can't wait to see some pictures, and hear about it from the man himself.

AFAIK after exchanging some mails with Mr Samuels himself when I was trying to get a SR71, the problem, what caused the SR71's production to stop, was the lack of some parts needed to build the SR71. The SR71 uses some parts that have lead, and to be EU compliant, those parts had to be substituted for lead-free parts.
My guess is that Ray has decided to change the circuit to be able to build again the SR71 using all lead-free parts, since the "old" model couldn't be made completely lead-free.

I don't think Mr Samuels wanted to "improve" or change the SR71's sound, he just wants to keep production and once he has to work on it to use only lead-free parts, he probably decided to add the gain control and maybe some other changes. Will be these sonic improvements? Who knows, we won't know until the SR-71A hits the street.

Rgrds

 

[Rico67]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cool_Torpedo /img/forum/go_quote.gif AFAIK after exchanging some mails with Mr Samuels himself when I was trying to get a SR71, the problem, what caused the SR71's production to stop, was the lack of some parts needed to build the SR71. The SR71 uses some parts that have lead, and to be EU compliant, those parts had to be substituted for lead-free parts. My guess is that Ray has decided to change the circuit to be able to build again the SR71 using all lead-free parts, since the "old" model couldn't be made completely lead-free. I don't think Mr Samuels wanted to "improve" or change the SR71's sound, he just wants to keep production and once he has to work on it to use only lead-free parts, he probably decided to add the gain control and maybe some other changes. Will be these sonic improvements? Who knows, we won't know until the SR-71A hits the street. Rgrds

I think you have Right.
New product with more features with the same QS.

 

[oicdn]

It may just be me, but I don't understand how you can build a lead-free product and have it sound exactly the same as a product that was impossible to design without using lead parts. Seems like those pieces are crucial to the design and the sound signature it emits.

I would think, that even if ever so minutely, it will sound different due to the fact a seemingly large role playing element (lead) is now absent...

 

[decur]

as a current owner of sr71, i wonder if sr71A will use same opamps as original? It would be awesome if ray made sr71a to be able to roll opamps!