Melos Audio Restoration - kill the Melos SHA-1?

[Nick Dangerous]

Concerning the Melos SHA-1, I sent Will a four-paragraph explanation of our findings a few weeks ago. I praised the unit, called for its ressurection in a smaller form as a dedicated headphone preamp, and basically begged not to let the circuit design fade into oblivion... or at least share any information with others if Melos Audio Restoration didn't want to take on the project.

No reply. Either this is under consideration or they simply intend to let it die.

NOT good. As the premiere gathering of hi-fi headphone enthusiasts, what a wonderful state we are in. We're responsible for getting a lot of people into this hobby and we can't even keep The Greatest Headphone Amp In The World alive. What the hell is going on?

(pounds desk in frustration)

Even if a production unit is out of the question, as a DIY kit a "Melos II" would be a killer way to keep it alive. Look what this approach has done for Doc Bottlehead's Foreplay preamp.

Maybe we should get one to Joe Lau and see if he can reverse-engineer it?

 

[RickG]

deja vu.......

 

[DanG]

I had a brief exchange with the owner of Melos Audio Restoration regarding the possible tune-up of my Melos. One of the capacitors in the pre-amp stage broke off in shipping and I never got around to fixing it myself (or rather, never worked up the nerve to make my first use of the soldering iron the repair of my beloved headhone amp). So I looked up his site and e-mailed him regarding repair. He said he'd love to have my business and described the repairs, billing me a whopping cost of $350 plus parts. I asked him if he could use one of two replacement capacitors I had so he asked for a description. I sent him a digital photo of one of the capacitors and a description of its markings. I never got a reply.

I think he's just a little strange -- maybe he is far past retirement age and doesn't feel like giving himself extra work? I'm not sure. But I don't detect any zeal...

 

[Nick Dangerous]

If anyone cares, I posted a similar thread to:

The Bottlehead Forum

Just for fun I'm calling it the "Bottlehead Pillowtalk" since all of their products have a sexual sort of connotation. Sweet Whispers, Para S.E.X., Anticipation, etc. Weird but true.

Tons of DIY'ers there. Although Doc isn't offering a headphone amplifier, he has expressed interest in doing so eventually. Will anyone there pry open the Melos and clone it? Who knows.

I'm gonna go down fighting on this one.

If the Melos ever reaches a status similar to the Foreplay, everyone will have access to a killer product... not just the lucky ones who keep their fingers crossed, hoping it won't break.

Melos Audio Restoration won't be around forever. DIY'ers will.

 

[markl]

I've been corresponding with Will myself, and I think the reason he was unavailable recently was due to health issues.

markl

 

[pigmode]

I get the impression that MAR is a tiny repair shop, so I don't think you can expect anything too ambitious from that quater.

 

[MirandaX]

Plus the experience of starting a hi-fi company once and then watching it go under is probably enough for him in this lifetime

Nick, the Bottlehead discussion seems to get muddled up with intellectual property issues. If someone could send the schematics to Joe Lau, he would probably be able to use them. Intellectual property laws are so much weaker in China.

 

[pigmode]

Seems like that would be a slap in the face wouldn't it? You want to send a designer someone elses design, for him to decypher and put into production?

 

[MirandaX]

I'm sure Joe could improve on it, but it would be a great starting point.

 

[Nick Dangerous]

I do not have the schematics, unfortunately. I wonder who *does* own the master schematic? Why were they selling copies of them during the final days of Melos (so I have heard)?

I don't believe in ripping anybody off... I simply don't want to let the Melos sink into oblivion if the original owner no longer cares about it! That wouldn't be right!

 

[dngl]

Man... a better Melos some day... drool...

 

[kelly]

It does seem to me that a good engineer could reverse engineer it AND improve upon the design. But I never understand, in general, why in audio the wheel is so often re-invented. In other electronics, people learn from each other's mistakes and successes. In audio, it almost seems like coiincidence when two designers find themselves on the same path.

Anyway, if someone did take it over, it's not like they'd sell the thing cheaply. I'm guessing that the $1100 or so it originally went for would quickly inflate to a price greater than Headroom's current offerings.

Kelly

 

[pigmode]

Could this be another RA-1 (with tubes)? Would pictures help?

 

[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.

 

[dngl]

I don't think it is another RA-1 because people I've talked to who have the schematics (random people online, the guy who runs MAR) all say that it is deceptively complex. It is elegant, making it seem simple, but there are a few "tricks" of good engineering.