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

[cladane]

Part of it included swapping the cable for a copper Mogami microphone cable . I know that sounds dumb, but I prefer the sound of good ol' regular copper.

True that copper softens the sound and increasing warmth can change amp signature. But what else is modded if it could be relevant in the case.

 

[knowhatimean]

I'm curious about the "Universal" plugin !
 
Is this included ? This appears to be more of a "Desktop Amp" than the Cavalli Liquid Carbon appears to be so this looks very interesting to me !
 
Does it also have Balanced Inputs ? (A photo of the back of the unit would be greatly appreciated or is the overall design still "In the
works")
 
Thanks

 

[zerodeefex]

I will be reviewing the Black Widow plus optional PS in May after the May 2 SF Bay meet.

At the meet I'll try to compare the unit (sans power supply) to the Liquid Carbon. Afterwards, I'll compare it with power supply to the Ragnarok.

@CEE TEE will be reviewing it using his PWD MK2 and my Yggdrasil as sources.

 

[CEE TEE]

Big time thanks, ZD. Killer test to be able to A/B in my own set-up over a couple of weeks.  That's as good as it gets.  BATTLE!  Yggy vs. PWD (now that I put FW 2.02 back in).  
 
And I need a smaller, no-fuss amp that I can keep on my desk on all the time during the week.  Black Widow sounds like it is going to fit the bill.  (And the BW bill will fit the pocketbook...)

 

[Sorrodje]

Subscribed.
 
I'm in for one BW + PSU.  My unmodded and me are eager to receive it.  

 . 

 

[CEE TEE]

I have the prototype loaner.  And I am buying one for sure.  Very dynamic amp from top to bottom with a slightly full/sweet increased headstage, this amp has qualities of tube amps with the convenience (temperature/size/no tubes to buy) of solid state.
 
This will be on my desk and on all the time.  Pleasing with slam, definitely shows source through but also makes things just a touch less fatiguing and sharp than something like a Magni2...which I compared against (and I did spend time with Magni2U vs. Magni2 together).
 
Love the amp with my modded HD800 (both Creatology and shelf-liner installed).  Not as good with my UERM, I will keep a Magni2 or Magni2U on my desk for UERM duty.
 
I just heard the new Zana Deux Super version and the new EC Studio amp over the weekend at the Wikia mini-meet as well.  All fantastic amps with control through the range (my old ZD could be a bit peaky and my BA was a little loose in the bass).  I can see this Black Widow as an actual endgame amp for many people.  Finally a really nice EC SS amp that I think will make a lot of people happy.  Priced below the big tube amp offerings but giving a lot of their sound.  Solid state "done right", I think. 

 

[Sorrodje]

@CEE TEE : The loaner BW has the upgraded PSU ? 

 

[CEE TEE]

Yes, but I believe it is a prototype PS so the production may be slightly different.  At least a different case, from what I understand.  The PS should match the amp chassis pretty closely.  The current PS case looks like a Zana Deux PS enclosure.

 

[Sorrodje]

I already cleared the place where I'll put the amp and the PSU  on my desk . 

 

[jacal01]

Both you and CT are now included in the first run?

 

[Sorrodje]

I hope so but I'm not really confident ... 

 

[jacal01]

Okay.  I just thought that there might have been a change in status of the production run or subscribers that we could discuss.

 

[Sorrodje]

No more news I'm aware of  

 

[jacal01]

No gnus is good news...    Just so's everyone understands that whatever 12 Vdc linear power supply they have lying around (Paul Hynes or no) won't make a lick of difference compared to using the supplied wall wort.  And this is from Craig way back when, when I asked the question.
 
It's because the 12 Vdc still runs through the internal charge pump converting it into +24 Vdc and -24 Vdc to supply the 2 voltage rails, as purrin explained on the other board.  If you want to bypass the limiting power charge pump circuitry, you have to come up with a ±24 Vdc power supply.  So you might as well pop for the EC option provided.

 

[Sorrodje]

  So you might as well pop for the EC option provided.

 
I'll take the EC PSU indeed