Melos Audio Restoration - kill the Melos SHA-1?

[MirandaX]

Quote:

Originally posted by Nick Dangerous Good news... I received a comprehensive email from Will. I'll post the details in a new thread as soon as I can get my hands off the MG Head OTL I just got.

Evil Nick! Making us wait

 

[markl]

Paging Nick Dangerous....

 

[Nick Dangerous]

I'm waiting for his approval to post what he wrote. There's some tasty stuff in there... potentially enough to make waves.

 

[markl]

Oh, now that's just wrong.

markl

 

[kelly]

Times like this call for speculation and rumor mongering.

I heard the guy from Melos Audio Restoration tried to strike a deal with Headroom but the guy at Headroom said that no one would buy that crappy tube amp over a Max and that those monkeys in Dallas must have been stoned. He said if someone wants a tube amp, they should stop listening to Stereophile and order a fine Wheatfield.

And then...

Kelly

 

[dhwilkin]

Come on, Nick, surely you can give us an un-official summary...

 

[Nick Dangerous]

FACT #1: The Melos SHA-1 (and all of its variants) is a hybrid SS/tube design... BUT, the original design was 100% tube. The master prototype uses three 6922's. The technicians and engineers did not want to go with a hybrid design, but financial factors and partner disputes forced the issue.

FACT #2: A SHA-2 is a definite possibility. Let's just say that if it were to be created, it would uphold the original intent of the master prototype... with upgraded... eh... ah... um...

..."everything".

More to come.

 

[tanfenton]

Please, oh please, let it be affordable. That's not asking too much now, is it? What the hell, I'd buy it regardless of price!

-NGF

 

[kelly]

Affprdable? There is just no way in hell this thing is going to be remotely affordable. This will be something to compete with the Blockhead or whatever. Their customers gladly forked out upward of $2500 for their amps and upgrades. The question isn't whether it'll be expensive but whether it'll be worth it.

Nick, you know--I know this sorta thing isn't done much in these parts, but if you feel like doing an old fashioned interview with the guy, I'm sure we'd all love to read that. Just a thought.

Kelly

 

[pigmode]

Well, they have a hook, now all they need is the bait. Sounds like limited run high end esoterica to me. In my archive journeys, I haven't seen that high a regard for the SHA-1 as a line stage.

 

[Nick Dangerous]

In my most recent email, I mentioned that although super high-end models are great, the specialty market that purchases such things is finicky and small.

I suggested three avenues:

1) Release the original prototype in a cost-no-object "Super SHA" model for wealthy nutheads.

2) Develop a $600-range Melos headphone amp. No preamp inputs, remote control, etc... just headphones. I mentioned that since used SHA-1's have opened a new range of expectations in the $450-$600 market, it should be exploited.

3) Go DIY like Doc Bottlehead and Transcendent Sound did with their preamp, amp, and speaker kits.

I hope they decide to do all three. All would work simultaneously.

 

[tanfenton]

That was before—this is now. It would barely be worth his effort to produce something in such small quantities for so few people. I must concede, it's been done before in high-end audio, and finding it priced as you've said would come as no surprise to me.

At least we'd have something new to ogle.

-NGF

 

[tanfenton]

Nick,
What do you say to drawing up a SHA-2 petition? All those interested here and at HeadWize could sign, just as a show of hands.

It would most certainly make a killing (relative to other higher-end 'phone amps, of course) as a kit or $600 pre-assembled unit.

-NGF

 

[Nick Dangerous]

Poll added to Member's Forum (General Discussion).

 

[Flumpus]

Personally, I wouldn't buy a $600 headphone only Melos. I would however buy a "super" Melos, all tube, cost no object type thing... And it better act as a preamp too, just like the SHA-1 and Gold.