[UntilThen]

I found Yanni !!!

All the oldies coming back..... Taylor Swift and her love letters to me.

Helen Reddy and Uriah Heep in the same sentence doesn’t seem right.

 

[UntilThen]

Selections for today. See what happens when Destiny Child comes. You go through your entire CD catalog.

 

[Yetiman72]

Very nice collection Matt it's great when you go to your old CD chest and get back into your youthful tunes ..

 

[UntilThen]

There not only Shorting plugs as the center pin screws out to make them just a cap..

Yes precisely. I use the pins to pin my sticky notes to the board when they are not so sticky. Multi purpose!!!

 

[UntilThen]

Bad and good news. Destiny is going in for liposuction but I will be getting Swift in the interim.

Can’t say it’s all bad for a day plus I get to sample Eric’s 6L6GC amp that can also use KT88 and EL34. What he doesn’t know is that I may not want to return Swift.

 

[Yetiman72]

Not to be overly nitpicky, but those are shorting plugs, not caps. Fine to plug those into unused RCA input jacks, but don't stick those in an unused output!

(unless you've run out of weed and need smoke from another source )

There not only Shorting plugs as the center pin screws out to make them just a cap..

 

[xtiva]

There not only Shorting plugs as the center pin screws out to make them just a cap..

Hey Yettiman.... Yap precisely but I use different for just cover purpose.. think it looks better? Those on left are just cover... right is short after taking center pin out

 

[bcowen]

There not only Shorting plugs as the center pin screws out to make them just a cap..

Oh, way cool then. I wasn't aware you could remove the center pin. Neat idea, actually!

 

[Dogmatrix]

Just put down my deposit

The amp is as described on eBay :

Eric McChanson 10W 6AS7 Triode Parallel pEar Amp Tube Valve integrated NEW

but with these changes : No speaker outs, Two RCA inputs ( one with attenuation ), No selector, high profile chassis (430mmW, 370mmD), with black front panel ( see picture ) with matching volume knob, with ONE 1/4" headphone Jack out .Double filter chokes, and, A pair of I T ( Interstage Transformer ) to replace the coupling cap, upgrade hardware ( RCA, tube sockets, volume pot ).

I think I am next after @Yetiman72 . I have gone back to 6as7 and a dedicated headphone version with no input selector .

This is the front panel pick .

 

[UntilThen]

Congrats @Dogmatrix . Will be interesting to see you amp. On my way to Eric’s now to swap amps.

Destiny for some fine tuning and I will be bringing home Swift..... for want of a better name.

Bunch of KT88 tubes arrived as well so just in time for Swift.

 

[Zachik]

Why is the headphone jacks on the top instead of the front panel?!
I can see how that could work well if the amp is placed on the floor, but otherwise - front panel is more convenient (IMHO)...

 

[hpamdr]

Why is the headphone jacks on the top instead of the front panel?!
I can see how that could work well if the amp is placed on the floor, but otherwise - front panel is more convenient (IMHO)...

This is old design almost everything is mounted on the top plate and soldered from the bottom. Input Selector/Volume are in the input signal path and can be added by just wiring it to the "amplifier part" at the end.
Moving to front panel need more wiring / drilling / clean cable path and this will not be as short than top plate mount. This can probably be an option

BottleHead headphone amplifier are like this ...

 

[UntilThen]

Why is the headphone jacks on the top instead of the front panel?!
I can see how that could work well if the amp is placed on the floor, but otherwise - front panel is more convenient (IMHO)...

The main reason is because the front plate is much thicker and you need good drills to do that without damaging it. Eric chose not to risk it. Tomas is very good with that as well as some other builders, so it’s up to individual builders how they want to approach the build.

With just the 2 headphones output and the speakers on/off switch on the top chassis, that is acceptable for me. All the connectors are behind so that’s not a problem.

One advantage of Destiny is that the front looks smart and clean. I like that.

 

[UntilThen]

Brought this beast home. It has KT150 power tubes on it now but I have a whole bunch of KT88, KT77, EL34, 6L6 tubes to roll.

Having this amp while Destiny is being tuned to run both direct and indirect heating rectifier.

On a quick listen with He1000se and LCD4, it’s very very impressive !

This is Eric’s personal amp so if you want this special spray painted finish, you’ll have to organise it with a spray painter yourself. Not sure if Eric wants to do the shields for the transformers now. There are no headphone outputs in this amp but it can be done. @xtiva amp is the same as this. Just without the nice covers and special spray painting.

This will be a bit similar to Odyssey but not quite. This one use caps and not Interstage transformers compared to Destiny. There is also a single choke but the amp is quiet with LCD4 and even He1000se.

Sound signature is not all that different from Destiny. Eric told me that the drivers are similar to the 6EM7 drivers used in Destiny but in a 9 pin small tube format. Rectifier is GZ34. Looks like Eric has put his stamp on the sound signature. Clear, dynamic and soothing with wide soundstage.... if that is even possible !

 

[UntilThen]

This is the most incredible sounding tube amp and I thought I had heard the best in Destiny.

Swift is as the name implies is faster in transients than Destiny. Treble is also more extended and pronounced. You do miss the magic of the 300b mids. Still good but without Destiny signature touch. Bass and drums kicks on Swift is just tighter and hits harder with sharper impact.

Feeling rather breathless now listening to several tracks from Phil Colins. The song will move you. ‘Do you remember’ the intro bass notes will leave you wanting for more. I can’t recall this song being so engaging.

One more closer picture of the KT150 before I switch to 6L6.