Eddie Current Balancing Act

[bdh]

What are the driver tubes in that 445?

 

[Radio_head]

5842 or 6C45π

 

[Rico613]

  Keep the ZD. The ZDT is kind of a bridge between the ZD and BA, so really no need for it. Keep the ZD for it's euphony / unique presentation. Get the BA...
 
Get the Eddie Current 4-45. It's the same price as the BA, at least for now. The 4-45 destroys the BA in terms of seductiveness, transparency, and resolution. Usually something gives with tube amps between the seductiveness factor and the technicalities. The 4-45 is the only amp I've heard which is able to meld both without losing anything. It's by far the best headamp solid-state or tube that I have heard. Nothing touches it in terms of transparency, resolution, and dynamics; yet it's still tube. The 4-45's presentation is more straight-forward like the BA and less like the ZD with its artificial euphony. Since I've owned the BA, the BA has stopped giving me goosebumps. When I first heard the 4-45, I got chills and teary-eyed. That doesn't happen to me anymore, or at least it's not supposed to. Still, the ZD will still retain its place - I plan on keeping it for what it is.
 
The 4-45 not on Craig's website, but I know he's starting another run soon. You will need to call him.
 

 
LCD2s, HD800, Abyss all sounded great on it. I don't care for LCD-X on any amp. I'm probably going to get the HD800s again. It's amazing how the HD800s keep scaling. BTW, DACs, even similar sounding DACs, become extremely easy to pick out, even using quick A-B.

 
Damn!  Gotta order another amp? . . . 

 

[Mr.Sneis]

Staaaaahp!

 

[chengka7]

Haha, I have also ordered 445, just cannot wait

 

[Rico613]

  Staaaaahp!

lol . . . no chance . . .

 

[Rico613]

Originally Posted by purrin /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
Since I've owned the BA, the BA has stopped giving me goosebumps.

 
Maybe it's time to upgrade those tubes? 
 
But seriously, since the 300b and 45 tubes don't fit my tube tester I'm wondering how does one test them?  I'm not keen on buying some 45s from eBay and sticking them in a brand new amp. 
 
 

 

[bdh]

I have a 45 BA and a couple of other 45-based amps for my speakers, and believe me, don't waste your time on NOS or anything besides EML (Emission Labs) tubes.  They are light-years ahead of any other 45 I've heard. They are expensive though.
 
I'd love to hear the 445 vs. 45-BA to see if what purrin is hearing is due to the new amp design or the fact that it's 45-based.  Because I agree, the 45-based amps I've heard "destroy other amps in terms of seductiveness, transparency" as he put it.

 

[Rico613]

^ My inclination as well.  I wonder why the 5842 or 6C45n?  Better than 6SN7 drivers?

 

[purrin]

Yeah, a lot people don't realize that the BA can be ordered to work with the 2A3/45 which IMO is superior to the 300B version. The 4-45 has some significant differences: power supply, interstage transformers, and a trick output transformer custom designed / made by Cinemag. The 4-45 OPT has more interleaving between the primary and secondary compared to the old BA OPTs; and also has a tertiary winding which is used for a tiny amount of feedback, -3db to be exact, and the feedback loop has no caps. Distortion is supposedly low and the OPT is more forgiving of low Z (from speakers to headphones) because of the extra winding, but I haven't had to chance to measure anything yet. I suspect the doubling up the tubes really helps with current / power output and prevents the 45s from sounding lean which they sometimes can. The 4-45 is on the bassy side IMO, or at least it certainly doesn't lack slam. The downside to the 45 tube of course is lack of selection. The Chinese Sophia pseudo-mesh 45s are horribad.
 
The other EC model with the same topology but using 2A3 and other transformers is the 2A3mk4. The mk4 was some similarities in sound to the famous Levi in that it uses 2A3, but it's a notch below in sound quality because the OPTs are not as nice as the ones in the 4-45. The 2A3 tube is a bit more colored, but in a very nice way. The 45 IMO plays it more straight up.
 
6C45Pi was chosen for gain because the 4-45 was also intended to drive speakers. Originally the 5842 was selected for good availability and good sound quality. A lot of remaining obtainable 6SN7s aren't all that great or if they are good, rather insanely priced. The current production 6C45P Sovteks suck, but the older Reflekors are rather nice. I prefer the 6C45 for the Abyss headphones and the 5842 for the HD800. 

 

[Sko0byDoo]

  I have a 45 BA and a couple of other 45-based amps for my speakers, and believe me, don't waste your time on NOS or anything besides EML (Emission Labs) tubes.  They are light-years ahead of any other 45 I've heard. They are expensive though.
 
I'd love to hear the 445 vs. 45-BA to see if what purrin is hearing is due to the new amp design or the fact that it's 45-based.  Because I agree, the 45-based amps I've heard "destroy other amps in terms of seductiveness, transparency" as he put it.

 
EML is kinda tall...barely fits under my shelf
 
Didn't know that Craig still offers 45/2A3 BA, it seems all BAs are 300b/PX4 variant.  True, 45 tubes sound amazing, especially with female voices.  I use D7K so lack of bass never seems to be a problem.  45 tubes with D7K is actually kinda nice since the tubes bring out more mid range that the D7K is notoriously known for lacking.      

 

[chengka7]

i am just wondering how many options are there for 6c45pi

 

[Stapsy]

  Yeah, a lot people don't realize that the BA can be ordered to work with the 2A3/45 which IMO is superior to the 300B version. The 4-45 has some significant differences: power supply, interstage transformers, and a trick output transformer custom designed / made by Cinemag. The 4-45 OPT has more interleaving between the primary and secondary compared to the old BA OPTs; and also has a tertiary winding which is used for a tiny amount of feedback, -3db to be exact, and the feedback loop has no caps. Distortion is supposedly low and the OPT is more forgiving of low Z (from speakers to headphones) because of the extra winding, but I haven't had to chance to measure anything yet. I suspect the doubling up the tubes really helps with current / power output and prevents the 45s from sounding lean which they sometimes can. The 4-45 is on the bassy side IMO, or at least it certainly doesn't lack slam. The downside to the 45 tube of course is lack of selection. The Chinese Sophia pseudo-mesh 45s are horribad.
 
The other EC model with the same topology but using 2A3 and other transformers is the 2A3mk4. The mk4 was some similarities in sound to the famous Levi in that it uses 2A3, but it's a notch below in sound quality because the OPTs are not as nice as the ones in the 4-45. The 2A3 tube is a bit more colored, but in a very nice way. The 45 IMO plays it more straight up.
 
6C45Pi was chosen for gain because the 4-45 was also intended to drive speakers. Originally the 5842 was selected for good availability and good sound quality. A lot of remaining obtainable 6SN7s aren't all that great or if they are good, rather insanely priced. The current production 6C45P Sovteks suck, but the older Reflekors are rather nice. I prefer the 6C45 for the Abyss headphones and the 5842 for the HD800. 

Thanks Purrin.  Is the 445 interstage Cinemag as well?  Still thinking about trying to find some Tango IT's but they look absolutely massive.
 
As for 6SN7 I say good riddance.  5842s are readily available as NOS, relatively cheap, and sound fantastic.  2A3s are turning into a bit of a nightmare though.
 
 
 
 
Would be really neat to see a 45 BA compared with the 445.  As far as I know there weren't very many made, is in maybe only a handful.  The 307a BA is pretty damn nice as well.  Not sure how that one compares with the 300b version.

 

[Rico613]

Has anyone heard back on their 4-45 order yet?

 

[chengka7]

  Has anyone heard back on their 4-45 order yet?

I placed my order like six weeks ago and paid the deposit, I was told there was 8 weeks waiting time at that time.