Garage1217 Project Solstice

[Solipsim]

I am either going to get a HE-400 or a 650 to contrast my Q701, any comments on how either of these two pair with the project solstice or if I would benefit more from the ember to justify the cost? I mostly listen to rock and chillout/electronica. 

 

[Stillhart]

  I am either going to get a HE-400 or a 650 to contrast my Q701, any comments on how either of these two pair with the project solstice or if I would benefit more from the ember to justify the cost? I mostly listen to rock and chillout/electronica. 

 
I haven't heard the HE-400, but the HD650 and Q701 sound great with the Solstice (and Ember).  

 

[Solipsim]

   
I haven't heard the HE-400, but the HD650 and Q701 sound great with the Solstice (and Ember).  

Thanks, would you say the Ember would show a definite improvement with the 650 and Q701 over the Solstice aside from just being capable of playing louder?
 
Also does anyone have the black Aluminum variation? I can't desire if I like it or not without seeing some more angles of the thing.

 

[Stillhart]

  Thanks, would you say the Ember would show a definite improvement with the 650 and Q701 over the Solstice aside from just being capable of playing louder?
 
Also does anyone have the black Aluminum variation? I can't desire if I like it or not without seeing some more angles of the thing.

No, I wouldn't say that at all.  The power output of the Ember is overkill for most headphones.  I got it originally for my notoriously hard to drive HE-4.  Now that I have more normal headphones, the Solstice is plenty.  Ember has some other advantages like Line Out and bypassing the output (input?) caps, but if you're just gonna use it like a plain jane amp, the Solstice is plenty.
 
Re the aluminum chassis, not for me.  I soldered my own kit so I like looking at it.  YMMV

 

[CarlitoSyrichta]

  Thanks, would you say the Ember would show a definite improvement with the 650 and Q701 over the Solstice aside from just being capable of playing louder?
 
Also does anyone have the black Aluminum variation? I can't desire if I like it or not without seeing some more angles of the thing.

 
Here's one. I'll take proper pics of it later when I get home and post them here. I personally prefer the acrylic but got this so I wouldn't have to run the amp topless with the 6sn7 adapter.

 

[Phishin Phool]

Yea I think I vastly prefer the acrylic as well.
 
You can't bypass caps on solstice and no line out, huh. Those are features I have on my Sunrise. 

 

[Stillhart]

  Yea I think I vastly prefer the acrylic as well.
 
You can't bypass caps on solstice and no line out, huh. Those are features I have on my Sunrise. 

 
Well in theory you could physically bypass the caps by just removing them.  It just doesn't have jumpers for making it quick and easy.  And yeah, they had to lose some features somewhere to make it cheaper.  For me, I don't use those features so I'm perfectly fine without them.  YMMV as always.

 

[Phishin Phool]

I don't use it either but it is nice to have in case you want to but I certainly like and use the line-outs. I  feed my ht amp from my sunrise and introduce that "tube" sound for 2ch listening.

 

[Solipsim]

Well I'm ordering it, any suggestions as far as tubes go for the HD650 or Q701?

 

[Stillhart]

  Well I'm ordering it, any suggestions as far as tubes go for the HD650 or Q701?

 
I'd ask Jeremy.  I enjoy the 6DJ8 and he recommended a GE one that's been working well for me.

 

[Solipsim]

   
I'd ask Jeremy.  I enjoy the 6DJ8 and he recommended a GE one that's been working well for me.

Alright, I will do just that, thanks.

 

[jarnopp]

I just received my Project Solstice and swapped the 12AU7 for a NOS 50's Amperex 6DJ8 from Brent Jessee. It's not labelled Bugle Boy, but it was made in the same factory adn it sounds great - sweeter and more open, with better soundstage than the stock tube. That's with about 10 hours burn-in only. But, experimenting is all the fun!

 

[CarlitoSyrichta]

So how's everyone using their solstice? Here's my chain PC > Fiio X3 II > solstice (Sylv 6sn7GTB, on low output res) > HD650. I've been wanting to give the 12bh7a a try again but I'm enjoying the sound of the 6sn7 too much. Very punchy but still smooth overall and non-fatiguing. 

 

[Josh-Fi]

I'm using a laptop with Foobar2000 > silver-copper USB cord > O2DAC wired directly into the inputs of the Solstice with one of my newly acquired National Union 6F8G tubes. 
sounds pretty damn good ..except for the constant hum that I've had since I got the amp. Should I email Jeremy about the hum? Isn't the amp supposed to be completely silent without a signal passing through?

 

[Stillhart]

  I'm using a laptop with Foobar2000 > silver-copper USB cord > O2DAC wired directly into the inputs of the Solstice with one of my newly acquired National Union 6F8G tubes. 
sounds pretty damn good ..except for the constant hum that I've had since I got the amp. Should I email Jeremy about the hum? Isn't the amp supposed to be completely silent without a signal passing through?

 
Yes, the amp is supposed to be completely silent.  You should probably email him to try and troubleshoot to see if it's your problem (ground loop) or the amp.