[forestitalia]

So Pathfinder, how is it 10 months on? Is it still truly exceptional?

Still speechless?

 

[ISOLordByron]

I've had a wonderful experience with this little amp. With only some mild modifications, I got it to handle 6336A and 6528 tubes and produce massively more power than advertised. I use it as my day-to-day amp for my K1000's, and I think it performs wonderfully. Stock, it did just fine with things like HD424X, DT-1990, HD540RG, MDR-F1. Input stage is decently well designed, will handle higher than 2V without any major clipping or artefacting in the FR or damping.

All in all, recommend this for anything under $700, it's quite good

 

[Shane D]

Is there anybody out there running this amp as a headphone amp?

I had a Little Dot MKIII several months ago and was really impressed with the way it handled the Grado's. I am looking for a tube amp for efficient headphones.

 

[st939]

Is there anybody out there running this amp as a headphone amp?

I had a Little Dot MKIII several months ago and was really impressed with the way it handled the Grado's. I am looking for a tube amp for efficient headphones.

Very happy with it both on Grados and on the original Beyer T1.

 

[Shane D]

Very happy with it both on Grados and on the original Beyer T1.

Do you have to change the gain for the different headphones?

 

[st939]

Do you have to change the gain for the different headphones?

There's a switch inside if I remember correctly, mine was set to high from the start.

 

[Shane D]

There's a switch inside if I remember correctly, mine was set to high from the start.

So you leave it on high, even with the Grado's?

 

[st939]

There's a switch inside if I remember correctly, mine was set to high from the start.

Yes although I use the Grados less. You only need to lower the volume with them.

 

[Shane D]

I ordered this amp last night. I have been looking at tube amps for two months. Every thing has either been too expensive for me or it was like pulling teeth to get info from small mom and pop shops.

The tubes and their equivalents seem to be pretty easy to get.

I liked the Little Dot MKIII and especially how it handled my Grado's. I have been looking for a tube amp for low impedance headphones. There is not much info on this amp, but the feedback I saw was good and my history with company was good. I got it for $489.00US from Shenzhen Audio. They price matched Little Dot US. I read enough bad stories about the US outfit to give them a wide berth. In the past, my transactions with Shenzhen Audio have gone very smoothly (SMSL SU-8 & SMSL SP200).
The amp has to be built and tested, which is 3-5 days. And figure about two weeks for shipping. I am hoping for a mid April delivery, but we'll see.

 

[st939]

Mine is serial n°62, I wonder what yours might be....

 

[Shane D]

Very happy with it both on Grados and on the original Beyer T1.

What tubes are you running in your MK9?

 

[st939]

I managed to get two matched Tung-Sol 5998 (some say the same as the graal Western Electric 412A) along with an RCA 5691. Sounds fantastic but even the tubes it comes with are providing very good results.

 

[Shane D]

I managed to get two matched Tung-Sol 5998 (some say the same as the graal Western Electric 412A) along with an RCA 5691. Sounds fantastic but even the tubes it comes with are providing very good results.

Just doing a quick search and 6AS7 and 6SL7's seem to be a good match, right off the bat.

 

[st939]

Check this out:
https://forum.bottlehead.com/index....ssruouh7ug3iaduc3&topic=663.msg30393#msg30393

 

[Shane D]

Check this out:
https://forum.bottlehead.com/index....ssruouh7ug3iaduc3&topic=663.msg30393#msg30393

Great link! Thanks.