Eddie Current Balancing Act

[dannie01]

Quote:

 
Tung-Sol 6SN7 ( Round-plate ) is the best of the ones I tried. Brimar 6SN7GTY is also very good.
 

I owned TS 6SN7 GT (Round-plate, black glass) and Brimar CV-1988 (Black glass) for my WA5LE and I agreed with your ststement that the TS sounds better.

 

[KingStyles]

If you really like highs or your system is too dark, the b65 runs with tipped up highs. The ts rp with the px4 is a pretty good combo so far.

 

[rosgr63]

Quote:

Do we have a tube rolling thread for the BA yet?  I have a pretty good collection for the ZD but am way behind on the BA.  Any thoughts on candidates will be much appreciated.

 
http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/497049/balancing-act-tube-rolling

There you are!

 

[KingStyles]

Does anybody know if we can use the mullard ecc32 in the ba without damaging it?

 

[Varma]

 
I asked Craig about using ECC 32 and ECC 33 tubes and here was his reply
 
Quote:

[size=x-small]Was not designed for those tubes. The first BA's the one you have uses a resistor to drop the voltage to run the 6SN7 heater. If you increase the heater current the voltage will drop to below recommended levels. You can change the resistor, but then the heater voltage for the 6SN7 will run too high.[/size]

 
[size=x-small]My BA is from the first run. I don[/size]'t know whether there are any changes in the design for the second run.

 

[markmaxx]

 
 
 
I have been selling some of my extra headphones and amps, interconnects etc.. to free up some capital.. I have been thinking of down grading my source too. (Meridian 808.2i)..
 
It is my understanding the the Balancing Act doesn't need a balanced source to run in balanced mode.. as the amp inverts the signal internally so it can then amplify and run the headphones in balanced mode...
 
Am I correct in thinking this?

 

[twestby]

Will get a couple of those.  Tried the Shuguang "Treasure" stuff?  They've been hitting me up lately.  Pricey.  I'm OK with that if the performance is there.  Ran the BA against the ZD again tonight with analog sources (the recent "audiophile" 45 RPM 180+ vinyl of Cat Stevens' "Tea for the Tillerman", "Layla, etc.", and "Rough Mix"; all excellent vinyl productions), and, frankly, at the moment I prefer the ZD even with the HD800 cans.  The BA is def tidier but the ZD is more fun.  So:  I need 1) new valves in the BA and 2) more time with the BA.  'cuz I KNOW it has the stuff.  I also need to tweak my phonostage out for the BA.  The ZD has twice the gain the BA has driving my phonostage.

 

[twestby]

gracias, mon frere!

 

[eaglejo]

Hey,  Is anyone using their BA also as a preamp?  I finally got around to hooking up the BA to some active monitors (ATC SCM16a's) via xlr connections.  The monitors are still burning in but I'll keep everyone posted on the BA's preamp capabilities.

 

[twestby]

Yes, running it from balanced analog sources into pre-in on NAD M3 driving Gallo Reference non-headphones.  You'll like it.  There's no remote, obviously, so you'll have to pick your butt up off the chair from time o time, but that's just a good thing all 'round, really.
 
-Tim

 

[rosgr63]

I am going to try BA=>Signature 30.2=>K1000

 

[Icarium]

I would strongly suggest using a better amplifier than the 30.2 if you are going to do that. Honestly do not know why you would pair an amazing transformer coupled tube amp with anything less then fabulously designed solid state or another tube amp of the same quality. The 30.2 is just another tripath amp, a middling budget solution at best and I've never found it bring out any of the real potential in a k1000 and I don't see how the BA is going to change that.
 
Yes, yes I am a total snob, but you could ask Craig what he thinks of the combo and what he'd suggest as well ;p Maybe I'm an idiot and Craig will be like oh crap yeah that's the bee's knee's ;p

 

[mrarroyo]

Quote:

I would strongly suggest using a better amplifier than the 30.2 if you are going to do that. Honestly do not know why you would pair an amazing transformer coupled tube amp with anything less then fabulously designed solid state or another tube amp of the same quality. The 30.2 is just another tripath amp, a middling budget solution at best and I've never found it bring out any of the real potential in a k1000 and I don't see how the BA is going to change that.
 
Yes, yes I am a total snob, but you could ask Craig what he thinks of the combo and what he'd suggest as well ;p Maybe I'm an idiot and Craig will be like oh crap yeah that's the bee's knee's ;p

Well it is your opinion of the 30.2 and you are entitled to it, of course it does not make your opinion any more valid that his or mine.

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

Quote:

I would strongly suggest using a better amplifier than the 30.2 if you are going to do that. Honestly do not know why you would pair an amazing transformer coupled tube amp with anything less then fabulously designed solid state or another tube amp of the same quality. The 30.2 is just another tripath amp, a middling budget solution at best and I've never found it bring out any of the real potential in a k1000 and I don't see how the BA is going to change that.
 
Yes, yes I am a total snob, but you could ask Craig what he thinks of the combo and what he'd suggest as well ;p Maybe I'm an idiot and Craig will be like oh crap yeah that's the bee's knee's ;p

Craig thought a 300B amp is a better choice for K1000 than my ZDT.  But several people drive the K1000 with a 30.2 and are very happy with it (HiFlight, Mrarroyo, Krmathis).  Others have suggested a FirstWatt F1.  I thought a Beta 22 did a good job with Namaanf's K1000, and my ZDT never sounded as good with the K1000.
 
Quote:

Well it is your opinion of the 30.2 and you are entitled to it, of course it does not make your opinion any more valid that his or mine.

Is it just another Tripath Amp like the Teac that RWA used to mod?  I don't know that I would say that makes it bad, if done right, but many people do sneer down at them.

 

[rosgr63]

Well so far the 30.2 drive the K1000 better than the BA.