Head-Direct EF1

[gnostic19]

how's the synergy between this amp and, say, the Grado 60/80 phones?

 

[peanuthead]

Has anyone had a chance to compare 12AU7 RCA clear top vs black plates? Love my EF1 by the way.

 

[Skylab]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gnostic19 /img/forum/go_quote.gif how's the synergy between this amp and, say, the Grado 60/80 phones?

Probably good - it sounded GREAT with Grado 225's.

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

Quote:

Originally Posted by peanuthead /img/forum/go_quote.gif Has anyone had a chance to compare 12AU7 RCA clear top vs black plates? Love my EF1 by the way.

No, but I compared the RCA clear top with an Amperex Bugle Boy 12AU7 and liked the RCA better - the Amperex thickened up the mids too much.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gnostic19 how's the synergy between this amp and, say, the Grado 60/80 phones?

The EF1 has good synergy with Grados (SR-60, MS-1, HF-1, RS1, HP-1000), as well as Denon and Ultrasone - and I liked it with Grado a little more than a Millett Starving Student and a bit more than the DV336i. It is not as good with HD600 as it is with Grados, but it is better with HD600 than Millett starving student. (although in budget amps the DV336i is even better with HD600 but not as good with Grado).

At the 11/1/08 CO head-fi meet the Millett Starving Student was better with Grado PS-1 as it seemed to control the bass better, similar to how the Zana Deux and Melos SHA Gold control the PS-1 bass a little better than the WA6. The PS-1 are picky and this was only the case with PS-1, and it's not like anyone is going to be running $2000+ vintage grados on $100-$400 amps.

 

[MikeW]

I wonder if there is an upgrade Op-amp that is a single chip solution, im not crazy about using adapters and having to raise the top etc. Not to mention how hard the ad743 are to find and expensive. go spending to much money and you'd be better off selling it and getting a wa6.

 

[HippieTom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict /img/forum/go_quote.gif No, but I compared the RCA clear top with an Amperex Bugle Boy 12AU7 and liked the RCA better - the Amperex thickened up the mids too much.

I wonder if there are much different sound in the Bugle Boys. I have one in order from ebay now. dont remember what year it was from but i will find it again soon. What did you use?

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HippieTom /img/forum/go_quote.gif I wonder if there are much different sound in the Bugle Boys. I have one in order from ebay now. dont remember what year it was from but i will find it again soon. What did you use?

I don't know how old mine are - I got 2 on a best offer auction for 80% of the asking price. 2 AMPEREX BUGLE BOY ECC82 12AU7 TUBES - eBay (item 370101675195 end time Oct-27-08 06:51:37 PDT)

 

[HippieTom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict /img/forum/go_quote.gif I don't know how old mine are - I got 2 on a best offer auction for 80% of the asking price. 2 AMPEREX BUGLE BOY ECC82 12AU7 TUBES - eBay (item 370101675195 end time Oct-27-08 06:51:37 PDT)

Hmm. Not good to tell the differences between those you got and mine.
TUBE = Amperex ECC82 / 12AU7 /12AU7A Bugle Boy Test New - eBay (item 370073179543 end time Jan-05-09 11:50:59 PST)

I was looking for a more 3d tube and i hope i got it

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HippieTom /img/forum/go_quote.gif Hmm. Not good to tell the differences between those you got and mine. TUBE = Amperex ECC82 / 12AU7 /12AU7A Bugle Boy Test New - eBay (item 370073179543 end time Jan-05-09 11:50:59 PST) I was looking for a more 3d tube and i hope i got it

I'll try it again later. But maybe like my Stax O2 not getting along with my mini-DAC as well as it does with my Pico DAC, I'll try the EF1 being feed by the Pico when I try the Bugle Boy again. The Apogee is already a little tubey sounding.

 

[yzriver]

What are those devices under the heatsink? They look like transistors with 3 leads.
If EF-1 is Tube+OPAMP(OP275) as it said on Ad., how is its sound compared to SOHA I, if the EF-1 buffer stage is made with discrete transistors, how about to SOHA II or EAHA I?

 

[twylight]

I very much like the 2x ad743 in the EF1. Still messing around with tubes.

 

[tonsosnot]

Quote:

Originally Posted by peanuthead /img/forum/go_quote.gif Has anyone had a chance to compare 12AU7 RCA clear top vs black plates? Love my EF1 by the way.

I had a Slyvania black plate and definitely preferred the RCA clear top. The black plate had a thicker, smoother sound, but the clear top had much better extension in both ends, more impact, and greater detail. I ended up using the clear top 90% of the time.

 

[cripple1]

Just a quick question for you who have all listened to the EF1. I noticed its specs read it outputs 15v @ 32 Ohms. That is the same as the EF5 amp by HiFiMAN. I just got my HE-500 today from Razordog!Audio and need a budget amp for the HE-500. Would the EF1 be a decent enough pairing for the HE-500 and worth the money for around $150-$200 USD?

 

[White Lotus]

  Just a quick question for you who have all listened to the EF1. I noticed its specs read it outputs 15v @ 32 Ohms. That is the same as the EF5 amp by HiFiMAN. I just got my HE-500 today from Razordog!Audio and need a budget amp for the HE-500. Would the EF1 be a decent enough pairing for the HE-500 and worth the money for around $150-$200 USD?

I just got mine yesterday, couldn't be happier.
 
Paid roughly the same.
 

 

[White Lotus]

Double post:
 
More photos.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
LOVING this product. I use it as an output stage to my Aune T1 DAC.