Eddie Current Balancing Act

[markmaxx]

Quote:

The mains transformer on my BA does have some hum.Is yours quiet?

Mine has some hum..

 

[alcyst]

I have some hum also. And the thing runs hot, or nearly hot. Don't notice the hum at the start of a listening session or during it, only when I finish up and go to turn things off.

 

[KingStyles]

Hum here also. Only notice it if I get close to the power supply. Do all the hummers have the ps transformer upgrade?

 

[Varma]

 
Mine too.

 

[markmaxx]

 ps transformer upgrade,,Yes sir.
 
Quote:

Hum here also. Only notice it if I get close to the power supply. Do all the hummers have the ps transformer upgrade?

 

[audiosceptic]

Quote:

so PX4 is better than any 300B?

I'm not sure better than ANY 300B. I've never tried a WE 300B and almost everyone raves about that tube. The KR 300B is very nice and I'd say very close to what I like about the PX4. I'm still using a Sophia Princess PX4 because I'm still waiting for my KR PX4. That reminds me to bug Craig.
 
Also no hum in my transformer.  

 

[jrisles]

Quote:

so PX4 is better than any 300B?

Craig mentioned this tube to me recently. Another BA owner was taking his amp with this tube for Craig to listen.
 
http://www.newsensor.com/ProductHighLight.aspx?ProId=1355
 
Anyone know about this tube?
 
cheers
Jeff

 

[blubliss]

Yes, that was me. I like this tube, but realize it is the same as an EH 300B. They say the difference is that it has been culled. It does sound better than the EH to both Craig and I but not sure it is worth the mark-up.

I may actually prefer it to the PX4 with my R10s. Need more listening time. I had to return the KR PX4 i got (not from Craig) since one tube had a slight hum. My suspicion is that I will be rolling the tubes for specific headphones, we'll see?

The BA is a really great amp and I am happy to have it. I have been really busy since I got it so not much listening time. IMO, i would never spend $300-$400 on a 6SN7, I tthink that is way too much and money better spent on the 300B or PX4, source, or most important, headphones. I've got a TS Round plate in my amp right now. I am going to try the NU soon, since I really like that in my SDS-XLR.

 

[Rob N]

Quote:

I have some hum also. And the thing runs hot, or nearly hot. Don't notice the hum at the start of a listening session or during it, only when I finish up and go to turn things off.

Mine runs warm I wouldn't say hot though

 

[jrisles]

Even after having kept this thing running for the last 30hrs .. mine is only warm to touch (not hot) and absolutely no hum to talk of. Very quiet!!

 

[KingStyles]

How safe is it to run when you arent home. I have ran mine for 12 hours and nothing around it gets barly even warm so I am not worried about a fire. More or less concerned if a tube was to go bad, will it hurt the amp if I didnt catch it right away?

 

[rosgr63]

I would never run any of my amps unattended.
It's not worth the risk IMHO.

 

[leberserkfury]

complete agree with the above post. i think you should enjoy the entire burn-in process.. it only happens once..

 

[jrisles]

I guess it all depends. I left mine running for a whole week whilst i was out of town. Received the unit on the weekend ... went away for business for a week ... so that by the time i got back it would be well and truly burnt in. So the amp was running 24/7 for 6 days .. churning through all of my itunes library. Was working flawlessly when i got back. I am a bit time poor at the moment and besides i was demo'ing the unit the following weekend after i received it at a Head-Fi meet so i wanted it to sound as good as it could be for that meet.

Quote:

I would never run any of my amps unattended.
It's not worth the risk IMHO.

 
Quote:

complete agree with the above post. i think you should enjoy the entire burn-in process.. it only happens once..

 

[rosgr63]

For burn in a friend recommended is best to use the JJ300B tubes (or other cheap tubes) until the capacitors are burnt in.