Eddie Current's upcoming SS amp called Red Top ?!

[recstar24]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kugino /img/forum/go_quote.gif not quite enough juice to drive the k1000 very well, but better than most, it seems. i'd be happy if he produced a few of these.

One watt into the K1000 load of 120 (?) ohms should be more than plenty, especially at that distortion. You may be thinking one watt into 8 ohms, which would not be sufficient. 1 watt into 8 ohms translates roughly to 250 milliwatts into 120 ohms (very rough measurement), which doesn't cut it. 1 watt though should be plenty of quality sound especialyl at that distortion level.

 

[kugino]

Quote:

Originally Posted by recstar24 /img/forum/go_quote.gif One watt into the K1000 load of 120 (?) ohms should be more than plenty, especially at that distortion. You may be thinking one watt into 8 ohms, which would not be sufficient. 1 watt into 8 ohms translates roughly to 250 milliwatts into 120 ohms (very rough measurement), which doesn't cut it. 1 watt though should be plenty of quality sound especialyl at that distortion level.

you're right...i was thinking into a normal speaker 8 ohm load...1 watt into 120 ohms is a lot of juice.

 

[YZHI]

Looks like Dynaco St-70.

 

[Killercrush]

The Dynaco St-70 is a tube amp...

 

[wakeride74]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jp11801 /img/forum/go_quote.gif KG funny thing is because it is not sexy it did not get a lot of play at the NorCal meet it was at but it remains one of my favorites. Sometimes people are more intrigued by the shiny box then the quality or the circuit and sound

I spent some time with it at the Nor Cal meet and was pretty impressed. As you said, very fast and detailed. I tried it with the GS1000 and did not care for the combo, the GS1000 just sounded too bright with that amp. It sounded much better with the D5000. If he offers it for $600 that will be one of the best bangs for buck in the SS amp world IMO.

 

[jp11801]

Quote:

Originally Posted by recstar24 /img/forum/go_quote.gif One watt into the K1000 load of 120 (?) ohms should be more than plenty, especially at that distortion. You may be thinking one watt into 8 ohms, which would not be sufficient. 1 watt into 8 ohms translates roughly to 250 milliwatts into 120 ohms (very rough measurement), which doesn't cut it. 1 watt though should be plenty of quality sound especialyl at that distortion level.

just to qualify that k1000 compatibility, the amp is good with the k1k amd better than the $600 options out there but not in the league of the red wine audio sig 30, first watt f1 or a well designed 300b amp (or my Eddie Current HD2

) but it is a decent way to go on a budget. Still though if I had spent the cash on a k1000 I would wait and get the amp that the k1000s need. I do stand by my recommendation of this amp as a best option in it's price class. Some did not like it with Grados but I really did, different stroke for different folks, sometimes preference kicks in

 

[kugino]

so how many here have requested this from craig?

 

[Killercrush]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wakeride74 As you said, very fast and detailed. I tried it with the GS1000 and did not care for the combo, the GS1000 just sounded too bright with that amp.

What about low-level details, micro/macro dynamics and PRaT ? Did you spend enough time with it to tell ?! Overall tonality ? The GS100 is pretty bright to begin with, how well did the Red Top handled it's highs ?

Quote:

Originally Posted by kugino so how many here have requested this from craig?

I didn't but I would request for one now but can't afford it right now cause as we speak my money is tied elsewhere (i.e. maybe HP2). There's also that damn source upgrade...

We just have to show him this thread, with about 1550 views, it should help, right ?

 

[jp11801]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoPants /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm still a little confused as to the design of the red top, is craig using opamps to act as current supply? Sorry I'm EE but I have a violent aversion to circuits haha

it is a discrete amp there is one op amp only for the servo, first page of the thread Kevin Gilmore pretty much said it all

 

[kugino]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jp11801 /img/forum/go_quote.gif it is a discrete amp there is one op amp only for the servo, first page of the thread Kevin Gilmore pretty much said it all

except that the red top runs on +/- 28 V rails, according to craig

his balanced amp, the "balancing act," is supposed to debut at the end of nov. perhaps it will be at the san jose meet? maybe you guys can talk craig into producing some of the SE red top...

 

[PhaedrusX]

I've been following this thread since its inception, hoping that there would be enough interest in the single-ended version to warrant a production run.
When I inquired about the possibility in an email to Mr. Uther, he responded in a very informative and thoughful manner.
According to Craig, the single-ended Red Top was initially fully intended for production. Unfortunately, there was a mix up along the way, and the boards could not be fitted into the enclosures.
He has since improved the circuit design and power supply, and with the extra costs and new materials, the price climbed, no longer making it a viable fully discrete entry-level amp. Hence the decision to go balanced.
He did, however, drop the possibility that a future run of the single-ended version might still happen if the balanced version is a success.
Let's hope so.

 

[Killercrush]

I would still want one even if the price is higher, let's say $750 which is the price of the ''standard'' in commercial discrete amps, the GS-1. I think it's time for the market to gain some more choices in discrete amps, both balanced or single ended.

 

[PhaedrusX]

^
I agree in principle, though the $600 figure was one of the more appealing aspects for me.
At a higher dollar figure, it probably would make more sense, giving it more separation from the EC/SS (one of Craig's concerns), but at the risk of losing it's "best value" angle.
I'm still hoping that a fully discrete design, at a lower price tag, will eventually come to fruition.

 

[mrarroyo]

Maybe if he sold the unit (w/ the upgrades mentioned above) in a cheap enclosure and w/ no power cord the price could come down some. I mean, the sound is what matters and most of us have plenty of power cords around, or opt for a fancy one anyways.

 

[Killercrush]

Any new updates since Head-Fi breakdown ?