[mulveling]

Really beautiful setup mem; you've got some killer sources going there!! Damn, the Omega II's look sweet in black. Wish black was an option for 009.

In regards to the 6S4As, there was at least a mild-to-moderate difference in sound between the GE and RCA quads I used with my old KGST. I ended up preferring the RCA, but the GE was good too. Andy at VTS is pretty good about recommending good sounding tubes, and screening/matching them.

 

[mem916]

Thanks! Yes I like the way they look in black too. The other thing I forgot to mention is how light they are. Very comfortable to wear for long listening sessions. I tried several pairs of Audeze headphones at a dealer and I could tell right away they were not going to work for me.

Andy is a treasure. I don’t like to promote him too much because I don’t want to have to compete with all you guys for tubes

 

[JimL11]

Sorry but just because a tube is old stock or new old stock means nothing if they aren't matched. A mismatched quad of NOS 6S4As is never going to sound as good as a matched quad. And yes I do know they are TV tubes.

I would have expected Woo to match the output tubes, but maybe not.

 

[JimL11]

I was going to add a kgss hv carbon to my listening position but I read about the new Ifi audio pro iesl and I have some doubts about it. Listening with a Viva Egoista and Burmester Rondò.

The Ifi iesl is a transformer and bias supply, conceptually similar to a Stax SRD-7 or Woo WEE, which needs to be driven by an amplifier. Now, why this needs a battery supply is unclear to me, unless it is for the bias supply - but in fact the bias needs voltage but little or no current, so a voltage multiplier such as Stax uses is more than adequate. In fact, a large capacitance/battery in this situation is a positive risk to the diaphragm, and Stax uses a 5 megohm resistor precisely to limit current going to the diaphragm.

The question is, which is best for driving electrostatic headphones, a dynamic headphone or speaker amplifier into a transformer, or a dedicated electrostatic amplifier. The majority opinion seems to be the latter - for example, Stax, who have been the most consistent supporters and developers of electrostatic headphones, and who began by supplying transformers to drive their headphones, stopped selling transformer units over 20 years ago in favor of dedicated amplifiers. Sennheiser's original flagship Orpheus HE90 headphones came with matching HEV90 amplifier. They didn't even offer a transformer box option. It's hard to argue that a transformer is superior in any way other than cost, and in fact the cheapest Stax amp is cheaper than either a Woo WEE or the iFi iESL, so even that is in question.

 

[mem916]

I would have expected Woo to match the output tubes, but maybe not.

They might. But what tester do they use, has it been calibrated properly, etc? I know I can trust VTS. Plus, he cleans the pins. Corroded pins drive me nuts.

 

[mem916]

In regards to the 6S4As, there was at least a mild-to-moderate difference in sound between the GE and RCA quads I used with my old KGST. I ended up preferring the RCA, but the GE was good too. Andy at VTS is pretty good about recommending good sounding tubes, and screening/matching them.

The quad I got from him are Tung-Sol. I use a lot of Tung-Sol 6550s in my home system’s amplifiers

 

[JimL11]

Ooohhh, TungSols! Good tubes!

 

[biscottino]

The Ifi iesl is a transformer and bias supply, conceptually similar to a Stax SRD-7 or Woo WEE, which needs to be driven by an amplifier. Now, why this needs a battery supply is unclear to me, unless it is for the bias supply - but in fact the bias needs voltage but little or no current, so a voltage multiplier such as Stax uses is more than adequate. In fact, a large capacitance/battery in this situation is a positive risk to the diaphragm, and Stax uses a 5 megohm resistor precisely to limit current going to the diaphragm.

The question is, which is best for driving electrostatic headphones, a dynamic headphone or speaker amplifier into a transformer, or a dedicated electrostatic amplifier. The majority opinion seems to be the latter - for example, Stax, who have been the most consistent supporters and developers of electrostatic headphones, and who began by supplying transformers to drive their headphones, stopped selling transformer units over 20 years ago in favor of dedicated amplifiers. Sennheiser's original flagship Orpheus HE90 headphones came with matching HEV90 amplifier. They didn't even offer a transformer box option. It's hard to argue that a transformer is superior in any way other than cost, and in fact the cheapest Stax amp is cheaper than either a Woo WEE or the iFi iESL, so even that is in question.

you've been clear as the water, I do not think I'll be back on my decision and soon a kgss hv carbon will drive my Stax. I had the Wee and this has been the subject of measurements, its transformer has a nonlinear pattern.

 

[arnaud]

I've now put the EL34 quads up for sale, this is the beginning of the end

 

[Rossliew]

You will regret it, Arnaud

 

[thinker]

I was wondering what's inside the best electrostatic amp and opened the case of QA Transdyn

 

[JimL11]

I was wondering what's inside the best electrostatic amp and opened the case of QA Transdyn

Is this the amp for the new Jecklin Float?

 

[bearFNF]

looks like someone was drunk when they put hose caps on the board.

 

[mem916]

I was thinking the same thing. Also, how can it be "the best" without vacuum tubes?

looks like someone was drunk when they put hose caps on the board.

 

[thinker]

Is this the amp for the new Jecklin Float?

Yes and you can drive Staxes to another level with 800V output.... of course with your own risk