[DeeJayBump]

Alright to set this up, I am one of the folks who has commissioned Tangent to build me one of these amps. I'm a couple of weeks away from it arriving.

In the meantime, I have some questions directed to those who've built these amps and to anyone who's heard the different parts configs I'll mention.

First up is burn-in. How long does it take to get the META42 to stabilize and sound as well as it will?

Next, I keep reading from PPL but also by a few others in these forums the benefits of stacking buffers and (by PPL) of the lower frequency benefits that the Elantec EL2008 has over the 2002 and 2001 respectively both in extension and power in stacked-buffer configurations.

If you had an amp built with the 2001 or 2001 as the buffers and with a BB OPA627, how much work would it involve to replace the 2001/2002 with 2008(s)? From PPL's descriptions, these draw more current, so would this demand a re-design/reconfig of other parts (values, etc) in the chain, or would it simply be a drop-in replacement that dramatically lowers battery life (in portable META42(s))?

 

[ppl]

I installed a Pair of EL2008's in an IC socket and this makes a plugin Replacement for the EL-2001's If you have Room since I put mine Parr to the Board or Rebend the Leeds at right angles. This is with My layout Yours may vary. Night and day Difference To bad the 2008's are discontinued. so if you can get some Go for it and Make them Fit.

 

[DeeJayBump]

PPL--

Thanks. How many 2008(s) do you use per channel to see the benefit?

 

[puppyslugg]

FYI:

geom-tol is selling el2008/9. Check out 'Gears for sale/trade'

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/showth...threadid=17539

 

[geom_tol]

Quote:

Originally posted by DeeJayBump PPL-- Thanks. How many 2008(s) do you use per channel to see the benefit?

The el2008 can output 1800mA.

One per channel is all you're ever going to need for headphones. And I'm sure ppl only uses one per channel.

 

[eric343]

I believe he once said he uses two EL2008/9 per channel in one of his amps...

 

[puppyslugg]

Quote:

Originally posted by eric343 I believe he once said he uses two EL2008/9 per channel in one of his amps...

That is really scary!! The el2009 puts out a helleva lot of heat! I guess it would great for those cold winter days.

 

[DeeJayBump]

So one (1) 2008 or 2009 per channel would replace multiple 2001(s) or 2002(s), then?

There have to be some stock of these out there with parts places, but how long would you folks guess these existing stocks will last?

 

[puppyslugg]

If you hurry, you can get 'em from geom-tol:

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/showth...threadid=17539

Reasonable, too.

All you need is one per channel.

 

[geom_tol]

Quote:

Originally posted by eric343 I believe he once said he uses two EL2008/9 per channel in one of his amps...

Maybe that was a speaker amp?

 

[JMS]

I already have 3x2 EL2002's on the META42 board.

* If I were to replace those with single 2008/2009's, would I see a huge improvement?

* Do I need to replace the 2 EL2002's used as VGD with a 2008/2009?

* What do I do about heat? If I plug in 2009's would there be a problem?

 

[geom_tol]

If you're going to use el2009's you won't want to use batteries. And in that case you should remove the entire ps section from the meta42 (you can keep the ps caps if you want).
My meta42 uses el2008's, I removed the vgd components, less current draw and theoretically the best ps. Drawbacks are uneven discharging which could potentially lead to damage your ic's and/or headphones.

What is the current draw on 3 el2002's per channel + 2 el2002 as vgd? Maybe you're on the practical limit of batteries already...

El2008 is cool. El2009 will cause heat problems, you'll need heatsinks.

I have no idea if there will be an improvement vs. your el2002.

 

[puppyslugg]

Based on my limited exprerience with the el2008/9, in a Corda, going from the el2008 to el2009 was an improvement. I would assume the same would apply going from a el2001/2 to the el2008/9 due lower output impedence of the 08/09's. As ppl said: (going from the el2008 to the el2009), 'you get the last 15% in clarity and depth', and I think the bass is tighter, too.

The el2008/9 are TO220, so it wouldn't just drop onto a meta board without some sort of an adaptor. Not that difficult though. If you want an all out meta, I'd use the el2008/9, if you have a psu up to the task. And it will test your psu, particularly in case of the el2009.