McChanson amps appreciation thread

[UntilThen]

For the first time, Ultimate's status as the top dog is threatened. One of my amps will have to go to be replaced by this KT170 Silke amp. Probably not Ultimate. I've not been using Susvara as much in the last few months because HD800 just sound so much better with Ultimate. So much more clarity and soundstage.

However now Susvara with this KT170 amp has all the clarity in the world, awesome bass and wide soundstage. I found my love with Susvara again. This headphone when properly amped is scary.

Eric said that this KT170 amp could be made using 2 x 6S3P or 6S45P as drivers instead of 6EM7. That means the ability to use 2 x 6J5. It will be less powerful but still plenty. However given how well 6EM7 as drivers drives Susvara, 6EM7 is the way to go and I've yet to test it with speakers. Will wait for sunrise before I do that.

 

[UntilThen]

Further listening with Tung Sol 6550. Bias set to 60mA. The sound is unreal. This is how TS 6550 should sound. Gutsy, impact, slam and astounding bass.

 

[UntilThen]

Now for the good news and remember I am in no way trying to push this amp to the market. It is strictly for me and only me. However if it moves you to believe my impressions, this amp is actually very moderately priced compared to a fully spec Ultimate. Remember it's completely quiet with HD800 and Susvara with no music playing and volume move all the way to max.

All dollars are in Australian dollars.

KT150 amp - $3000 (with upgrades: Standard Silk. Hardware - CMC ceramic tube socket, etc. For those who wish the following upgrades:

KT170 tubes - add $200 (only if you order this amp) Where can you get a pair of KT170 for AUD$200 ?
Teflon sockets - $50
XLR balanced input - $250 (I seriously don't think you need this because this amp is already supercharged and super dynamic)
XLR and 1/4" headphone outputs on front panel or at the top, including speaker silent switch - $80
Preamp out at the back - $40

One big gold chassis left, otherwise can use the current standard chassis as the Super Ultimate in silver, black or gold.

For existing McChanson clients, Eric can waive the freight cost (within Australia) or deduct $100 from the total price.

I've just one word for Eric. Shut up and take my money, just give me the amp.

 

[UntilThen]

Now listening to the TS 6550 amp (it will be called whatever power tubes are in it) driving my Axis Voicebox S speaker - very inefficient speakers at 5 ohms and 83dB (similar to Susvara's inefficiency) but the amp is only at 11am for room filling sound. I'm impressed ! And this is only in triode mode. I haven't even switch to UL mode. With KT170 tube, it will be even more thunderous.

I don't see you needing to preamp this out to another amp.

 

[svmusa]

Now for the good news and remember I am in no way trying to push this amp to the market. It is strictly for me and only me. However if it moves you to believe my impressions, this amp is actually very moderately priced compared to a fully spec Ultimate. Remember it's completely quiet with HD800 and Susvara with no music playing and volume move all the way to max.

All dollars are in Australian dollars.

KT150 amp - $3000 (with upgrades: Standard Silk. Hardware - CMC ceramic tube socket, etc. For those who wish the following upgrades:

KT170 tubes - add $200 (only if you order this amp) Where can you get a pair of KT170 for AUD$200 ?
Teflon sockets - $50
XLR balanced input - $250 (I seriously don't think you need this because this amp is already supercharged and super dynamic)
XLR and 1/4" headphone outputs on front panel or at the top, including speaker silent switch - $80
Preamp out at the back - $40

One big gold chassis left, otherwise can use the current standard chassis as the Super Ultimate in silver, black or gold.

For existing McChanson clients, Eric can waive the freight cost (within Australia) or deduct $100 from the total price.

I've just one word for Eric. Shut up and take my money, just give me the amp.

Thx for listing the pricing options, nice amp and I like the fact that it needs a pair for driver and power tubes, making it easier to reuse existing collection.

Could you please list which family of tubes are generally compatible here in both driver and power mode overall?

 

[UntilThen]

Thx for listing the pricing options, nice amp and I like the fact that it needs a pair for driver and power tubes, making it easier to reuse existing collection.

Could you please list which family of tubes are generally compatible here in both driver and power mode overall?

Hi there, thanks for enquiring.

For drivers:-
6EM7 / 6FD7 / 6DR7

For power tubes:-
KT170, KT150, KT88, EL34, 6550, 6L6GC, 807......... I'm further testing EL39, EL38, 5b/254m, EL12 spez, etc... So looks like lots of choices here.

For rectifier:-
5 volt - GZ34, GZ32, U52, 53KU...

 

[UntilThen]

However with GE 6EM7 and Tung Sol KT170 and Miniwatt GZ34 in there now, I don't feel like changing. Susvara has finally met it's match. KT170 in this amp will move your bowels.

 

[svmusa]

Hi there, thanks for enquiring.

For drivers:-
6EM7 / 6FD7 / 6DR7

For power tubes:-
KT170, KT150, KT88, EL34, 6550, 6L6GC, 807......... I'm further testing EL39, EL38, 5b/254m, EL12 spez, etc... So looks like lots of choices here.

For rectifier:-
5 volt - GZ34, GZ32, U52, 53KU...

Thats a good list, curious would 6CA7 be compatible?

On the driver side any chance we could do 6SN7 or 12SN7 tubes?

 

[UntilThen]

Thats a good list, curious would 6CA7 be compatible?

On the driver side any chance we could do 6SN7 or 12SN7 tubes?

The quick answer to the difference between EL34 vs 6CA7 or EL34 vs KT77 is simple. EL34, 6CA7, and KT77 are all drop-in replacements for each other. You can use 6CA7 or KT77 in place of EL34. Electrically, they are the same.

Since this amp can use EL34, you can use 6CA7. EL34 is the European designation while 6CA7 is USA designation.

6EM7 are very powerful drivers. For powerful power tubes like KT170, you are best served using a powerful driver like 6EM7.

Eric can use 6SN7 or 12SN7 for you but it will not be as powerful. If you're driving efficient headphones, that is not a problem but for speakers and inefficient headphones like Susvara, it's best to use 6EM7. The power section of 6EM7 is 2/3 that of a 2A3 tube.

The next best alternative is to use higher gain 6SL7 or 12SL7 (70 mu). 6SN7 is only 20 mu.

So depends on your usage.

Essentially this KT170 amp with manually set bias can be configured to use drivers similar to Ultimate - ie 2 x 6J5 and 6SN7 / 6SL7 / 12a*7 but there will be less power than the 6EM7 version.

Remember with 6EM7 and KT170 tubes in this design, we're talking about a greater than 10 watts tube amp fully capable to drive speakers and is still quiet with HD800 and Susvara. That is keeping me awake all of last night. I'm on steroids.

 

[UntilThen]

I won't deny that the Super Ultimate next to it with Siemens c3g and ITT 5b/254a and Tesla EZ81 tubes with HD800 sounds just as exciting as the KT170 amp with Susvara.

Eric has my respect now. It's the sound that captivates me. Looks are secondary but he knows how to produce great sounding tube amps.

 

[svmusa]

This amp should be a good option, as I am comparing Cayin HA-6A and even the ZMF Ageis. The ability to reuse some of the common tubes collected over the time and driving speakers is a good dual function.

Personally, having a low power is fine for me as I only have dynamic headphones that are on the higher sensitivity and medium impedance, the flexibility to use different type of power and driver tubes is tremendous value.

 

[UntilThen]

This amp should be a good option, as I am comparing Cayin HA-6A and even the ZMF Ageis. The ability to reuse some of the common tubes collected over the time and driving speakers is a good dual function.

Personally, having a low power is fine for me as I only have dynamic headphones that are on the higher sensitivity and medium impedance, the flexibility to use different type of power and driver tubes is tremendous value.

That being the case, I would recommend you the Super Ultimate. The current price is ~ AUD$3500 plus another $300 shipping overseas. This includes dual drivers option, xlr input, Silk transformers, dual caps.

The Super Ultimate is well ... super and the ultimate. The amount of tubes it can use will dazzle you. Almost anything other than a light bulb will work in it.

The sound? Don't take my word for it. Ask the other Ultimate owners here and in the other tube rolling thread.
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/mcchanson-amps-tube-rolling-thread.972576/

 

[UntilThen]

This is the Super Ultimate and posting once again. I would give up my breakfast, lunch and dinner for it. I won't give up supper though. Success story are sometimes accidental and this is one of them. To this date, it is only owned by a small circle of clients and that is ok. Eric is a one man shop and it wouldn't do him good to go mass production.

 

[svmusa]

Thx for the picture, what is the middle tube between the GEC tubes? the pair behind are power tubes and on the side is a rectifier would be my assumption?

 

[UntilThen]

Thx for the picture, what is the middle tube between the GEC tubes? the pair behind are power tubes and on the side is a rectifier would be my assumption?

The tubes in that Super Ultimate picture are:-

GEC KT88 as power tubes behind.
GEC L63 as drivers in the 6J5 slots in front on the left and right. In the middle in front is Mullard ECC34. When the amp is powered off, I can switch to use either GEC L63 or Mullard ECC34. Other drivers can be substituted here.
On the side is the Tesla EZ81 rectifier