[RickyV]

We will call the power thing the HPB-1a, Headphone Power Base, so it would be clear that it's current handling capability is limited to headphone systems only.

So the toroidal isolation transformer will internally be more like an R core transformer? What is VA rating of the HPB-1a?

 

[Arathorrn]

We will offer a complete set for $2.5k, CA-1a+TI-1b Set, that makes it plug&play.
This comes in two boxes, one larger, containing the headphones (no cables) and one smaller, containing the TI Set (TI, input and headphone cables)

Anything that isn't a complete set, you can order separately:
CA-1a as a separate item comes without a cable, then you choose which cable you want, if any, and so on.

Very excited as a SR1a lover about the new CA-1a - count me in for an order as soon as it is out!

On another not I plan to replace my HSA-1b with a Riviera AIC 10 and the new TI-1 interface box - any experience/concerns about the combinatio?

Keep up the good work - this industry needs innovative disruptors

 

[Sherwood]

@Aleksandar R. , my hats off to you for your incredible messaging here. I'm a big fan of my original SR-1a, and excited for everything you have in the works. I also think the SR-1a is beautiful, and its built with as much luxury and careful design as I could ever want. You can only dress up a 4" ribbon so much, I can't imagine a version that would go unnoticed on a Zoom call.

 

[jasswolf]

So based on what I'm seeing of the transistor interface, while it supports a single-ended source, the headphone out needs to be - or converted to - 4-pin XLR?

 

[Aleksandar R.]

So the toroidal isolation transformer will internally be more like an R core transformer? What is VA rating of the HPB-1a?

At a first glance, yes, but having a C or R core doesn't mean that prim/sec windings are separated. Most probably, they are not, as that makes the transformer better on paper (much greater bandwidth, impulse response...).
But, interesting things happen when you analyze the whole system, including the Balanced Power Transformer + transformer inside the amp + the rectifiers + smoothing caps, their windings resistances, Diodes forward voltage drop, caps ESR...then you realize that a different approach, where you're slowing things down, allows for longer duration of current charging impulse through the caps, with lower peak current and much more benign harmonic structure (less "noise") of the impulse. You're not shocking the diodes as much, or the smoothing caps, or the amplifier itself, as at the end of the chain, there's the amp that has to use it's own PSRR to cope with the noise coming from the power supply. Most amplifier topologies are inherently capable of doing that, but not effortlessly if the symmetry with the audio GND is disrupted, and it always is with unbalanced power...

The VA rating should be 150VA continuos, but we have some more testing to do before I commit to a number.

 

[Aleksandar R.]

Very excited as a SR1a lover about the new CA-1a - count me in for an order as soon as it is out!

On another not I plan to replace my HSA-1b with a Riviera AIC 10 and the new TI-1 interface box - any experience/concerns about the combinatio?

Keep up the good work - this industry needs innovative disruptors

Thanks!
I see no problems there, whatsoever.
Soon enough, we can expect a review to come out, where one of the setups will be the TI on AIC 10, so we'll see how that goes.

 

[Aleksandar R.]

@Aleksandar R. , my hats off to you for your incredible messaging here. I'm a big fan of my original SR-1a, and excited for everything you have in the works. I also think the SR-1a is beautiful, and its built with as much luxury and careful design as I could ever want. You can only dress up a 4" ribbon so much, I can't imagine a version that would go unnoticed on a Zoom call.

Haha, you're right! And you shouldn't dress it up too much, it won't look the part any more!

Thank you very much for the compliments! Danny and I try to keep our messages factual, explaining stuff in-depth for better understanding, and always keep open ears for what you have to say.

 

[Aleksandar R.]

So based on what I'm seeing of the transistor interface, while it supports a single-ended source, the headphone out needs to be - or converted to - 4-pin XLR?

Yes, with one of these adapters:
https://www.google.com/search?q=trs...cC1MQ_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=2144&bih=1111&dpr=0.9

 

[mimaximax]

We can safely drive the CA1a through the original resistor interface, right? What will happen then?

 

[cAsE sEnSiTiVe]

We can safely drive the CA1a through the original resistor interface, right? What will happen then?

The resistor interface box has the open-baffle compensation needed for the SR1a built into it. The CA1a doesn't need such compensation, so I'd wager the low end response would be overly "ripe" if using it with it.

 

[Aleksandar R.]

The resistor interface box has the open-baffle compensation needed for the SR1a built into it. The CA1a doesn't need such compensation, so I'd wager the low end response would be overly "ripe" if using it with it.

Correct, The CA's won't need the built-in OB Compensation.
The RI box could be modded, though. A switch that bypasses the OB Comp.

 

[eboleyn]

Correct, The CA's won't need the built-in OB Compensation.
The RI box could be modded, though. A switch that bypasses the OB Comp.

The mod I made to mine (for testing against the TI-1a) was pretty straightforward and just took me a few hours to get 2 switches in, then a bit more time since I didn't have a drill bit large enough for the switch hole. It would have been faster yet if I had smaller switches on-hand or just used one switch.

 

[carboncopy]

 

[SageM]

Nice pic!

 

[carboncopy]

Shot in the Hotel I stay for today. I just bought them with the the VM1a. I haven't seen photos of it here, so I thought I make one...