Eddie Current Balancing Act

[vcoheda]

some good info here. thanks.

 

[grandenigma1]

That new case design looks rather vintage Moth.

 

[Sherwood]

Yeah, looks rather like the original Zana

 

[krmathis]

What looks like another nice amplifier from Craig. Great!
Heard and really enjoyed the Zana Deux, and expect this one to be on par and most probably ahead in sound quality.

 

[Icarium]

Quote:

Originally Posted by grandenigma1 /img/forum/go_quote.gif That new case design looks rather vintage Moth.

Yeah I think he tapped his original Moth design buddy for the look.

I think the idea is it should resemble this:

Moth Audio [Product: si300B HI Res]

 

[ironbut]

I seem to recall that the BA prototype that Craig had at CanJam 08 was switchable from 300b to type 45 output tubes. Maybe that was just for demo purposes though since if you had the 300b's installed and switched to 45's it would fry the circuit (or maybe it was the other way around?).
Anyway, I'm sure that the different output tubes will be better with different cans and it's up to you guys in the first run to tell us all what you find out.(the ones with HD800's on order are on a mission from god btw!)

 

[foo_me]

The circuit allows for the different output tubes so I think he's just offering it as an option.
I'm on the fence with the AD1s...will make the decision once I get to hear them.
Supposedly, it's not hard to change the type of tubes...Craig just needs to change the tube sockets for the appropriate one so people can change it in the future if they want to.
Dang...end of week and no pics...hopefully, just a few more days.
I did hear a prototype and it did sound sweet

You could hear another level of detail/texture from the RS1s that I had brought at the time and that still was not the final version of the amp.

 

[fkclo]

I am waiting for mine. ETA March 2009. I took the 300B tube option.

I also like Craig's idea of excluding the tube in the base price. But folks should be mindful of the additional costs of tubes when considering getting the amp.

F. Lo

 

[Icarium]

Yup AD1s arent cheap :/ Emission Labs Tubes <- 699 for matched pair

 

[fkclo]

Looks like Emission Labs are the only current manufacture of AD1 tubes.

I struggled hard between AD1 and 300B, but finally opted for 300B mainly for the wider choice of 300Bs for tube rolling.

Vintage AD1 are hard to find.

F. Lo

 

[vcoheda]

doesn't look like there are many 307A choices for tubes.

 

[Icarium]

Just talked to the man. Looks like he has all the parts and the chassis bits now (Ferrite beads, power supply circuit board and the plates have been etched/anodized etc). He is going to put together his reference power supply probably this weekend and check out his already put together amp with it and then pass it along to the assembly guys.

The only question left is he kinda wants to strip and redo the chassis top plate because he is not satisfied with how it is looking (This will add a two week lead time) and he will not pass along the cost to his customers. It will take 2 weeks for the power supply to be built anyways so.. I think he is leaning towards that direction since in his own words this is supposed to be the best headphone amplifier he has/will ever build and it is limited to these 10 so he wants everything to be perfect.

Newer versions of this amp will have a different look and be sold as the Aficionado headphone amp/balanced pre amp to be paired with the Aficionado monoblocks that are in development. (It will also be 500 dollars more).

Not long now it seems!

 

[Icarium]

Oh yeah he sent me a picture just now and said it's growing on him:

 

[fkclo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Icarium /img/forum/go_quote.gif Just talked to the man. Looks like he has all the parts and the chassis bits now (Ferrite beads, power supply circuit board and the plates have been etched/anodized etc). He is going to put together his reference power supply probably this weekend and check out his already put together amp with it and then pass it along to the assembly guys. The only question left is he kinda wants to strip and redo the chassis top plate because he is not satisfied with how it is looking (This will add a two week lead time) and he will not pass along the cost to his customers. It will take 2 weeks for the power supply to be built anyways so.. I think he is leaning towards that direction since in his own words this is supposed to be the best headphone amplifier he has/will ever build and it is limited to these 10 so he wants everything to be perfect. Newer versions of this amp will have a different look and be sold as the Aficionado headphone amp/balanced pre amp to be paired with the Aficionado monoblocks that are in development. (It will also be 500 dollars more). Not long now it seems!

Thanks for the great update. I won't mind waiting for another 2 - 4 weeks to make things perfect. Actually, my dialogue with Craig on this amp dated back to Oct 2007 so another month is entirely acceptable.

Craig did said the BA will be the best headphone amp of him and I am pretty sure this is going to be a collectible item.

F. Lo

 

[Icarium]

Yeah he also just told me he has the back top plate reversed so he is going to take another picture with it properly placed with it screwed together and tubes.