Eddie Current Studio 300B... The Thread.

[bobmysterious]

That's why I was curious, MSB is the big leagues. Sounds like the May competed favorably though, which puts a smile on my face.

 

[bobmysterious]

Random question for everyone... Which headphone out are y'all using? I'm using the 4 pin XLR balanced for the Utopias. Really just because that's the cable I have. The amp is single ended though, and my understanding is that there is an additional transformer the signal goes through with the balanced out. I've wondered before whether or not there was any noticeable/audible difference between the two. Anybody have any thoughts on that?

 

[LarsMan]

Random question for everyone... Which headphone out are y'all using? I'm using the 4 pin XLR balanced for the Utopias. Really just because that's the cable I have. The amp is single ended though, and my understanding is that there is an additional transformer the signal goes through with the balanced out. I've wondered before whether or not there was any noticeable/audible difference between the two. Anybody have any thoughts on that?

I use the 4-pin XLR as well. Did you ask Craig about going through the additional transformer??

 

[bobmysterious]

Nope, never thought to ask. I try and not bother him too much.

 

[LarsMan]

Nope, never thought to ask. I try and not bother him too much.

Me neither, though I did have to email him and ask if there was a good solution to a tube socket issue - while this doesn't happen with the JJ or Gold Lion 300B's,

The rightmost socket doesn't fit QUITE tight for the WE ones - I tried both of the pair in that one socket - it will work, but sometimes if you even touch it ever so slightly, it will loosen just enough that no sound will come from that channel, and I have to put on a white cotton glove and jiggle it around until it makes the connection.

He had some suggestions but I think they involved taking the bottom off and doing something but I don't want to do that, so I'll continue to jiggle it if need be - the contact is just as good as the other one when it's happening.

But I know it's the world of tubes and they can be finicky and you sometimes just have to put up with these kinds of things!

 

[bobmysterious]

I just shot off an email to him. I’ll let y’all know if he has any advice on which output to use or if it even matters.

 

[karangovil]

Just received my Studio B and couldn’t be happier to join the club

I’m running Elrog 300B Mo, JAN 5670 that Craig sent and Mullard GZ34 metal base NOS from 1957. Any suggestions for the input tube rolling? I see a couple of NOS tubes at Brent Jesse’s website so was going to contact him for suggestions. The black square plate RCA seems like a popular choice?

 

[karangovil]

Btw @bobmysterious, I tested my newly acquired Abyss 1266 TC with the Studio B and although I was able to get a decent volume, it sounded fairly anemic so perhaps not the best match.

The ZMFs on the other hand sound amazing

 

[bobmysterious]

That's interesting about the Abyss cans, figured the'd have run a little better. I've experienced ZMF on this amp and, brother, it's good. I didn't really notice too great of a difference changing the driver tube on mine. I'm using a Western Electric JW 2c51/396a and have also tried the one that came with the amp. Maybe I'm missing it, let us know if you hear a pronounced difference when you try rolling them. The power tubes made a noticeable improvement though.

 

[paradoxper]

Btw @bobmysterious, I tested my newly acquired Abyss 1266 TC with the Studio B and although I was able to get a decent volume, it sounded fairly anemic so perhaps not the best match.

The ZMFs on the other hand sound amazing

This will remain the case, you can squeeze the best life with a pre but it's just not the best optimization. TC needs more.

 

[karangovil]

This will remain the case, you can squeeze the best life with a pre but it's just not the best optimization. TC needs more.

Right, I had suspected as much so got caught up on the CFA3 thread and should be getting one from dukei in 4-6 weeks and then see how Studio B’s line outs work as pre with CFA3 to drive the TC.

 

[paradoxper]

Right, I had suspected as much so got caught up on the CFA3 thread and should be getting one from dukei in 4-6 weeks and then see how Studio B’s line outs work as pre with CFA3 to drive the TC.

Ah, that works well, I think. Let us know how it works out!

 

[wasupdog]

The highest end input options would be Western Electric 396A and Bendix 2C51. The Western Electrics are easier to find, especially since dudes here were using them a few years ago in their Mojlnir 2 amps, and are warmer sounding.

I didn't initially think the amp was that warm sounding. Output tubes I'm using are WE300B and Elrog ER. It definitely is on the warm side now that I rolled in a regular Mullard GZ34 rectifier which is way warmer than the stock Sovtek. I get the impression all Mullards are warm since the CV2492/6922 are on the super warm side. Overly so for my taste.

ZMF are a great match as everyone mentioned. It works great too on my LCD-4Z. It sounds normal and not underpowered or like there's not enough current to the phones.

 

[karangovil]

Looks like I’m going to track down some WE396A and Bendix 2C51. So far very happy with Elrogs and NOS Mullard GZ34 as I do prefer a slightly warmer sound.

 

[bobmysterious]

The Bendix tubes can be kind of hard to find. I've been looking for a Red Bank since before I got the amp.