Dennis Had Inspire Amps

[FloridaBoy]

Originally Posted by SteveSem

Thanks guys, I really appreciate your input on the tubes. Having a selection of tubes supplied by Dennis specifically for the amp was a big attraction in buying this amp because I have very little experience with tubes (and all of that with guitar amps).

Any thoughts on using the Dared preamp with this power amp vs. seeking a purpose built one from Dennis? Obviously, the latter would be preferred. But how well have you all found your Inspire amps to pair with non-Had preamps?

The Dared will be O.K. but a matching pre from Dennis would be the way to go when you can swing it. You won't regret it.

[pstrisik]

I'm not familiar with the Dared, so can't comment on that match.

I will say, as I have posted earlier in the thread, I replaced a Cary SLP-05 with the Inspire LP-2. I had both for a time and went back and forth with a high quality (Decware) switch. I kept going back and forth as I couldn't believe that the simple LP-2 at less than $1000 was sounding preferable to the Cary at six times the price. I finally sold the Cary (still a "Had" pre-amp, but says something about the quality of the LP-2 and/or how well it matches with this amp).

I also like having the matched pair. You can certainly get one of Dennis' preamps in the matching copper color as that is one of his main color choices (probably copper and harley black are the two most common colors he is producing). The matched pair together make an inspiring presentation (pun intended)! And, these are collectors items: very low production volume, signed and dated on the bottom.

One downside is the lack of a remote for volume control on the LP-2. I'm controlling volume at my source, so it's less of an issue, but worth noting.

I found some nice machined aluminum knobs, with red rubber grip rings, that I replaced the plastic chicken head knobs with. I pointed them out to Dennis and he ordered some. So it may be that his preamps will come with them. Here's a photo of my Inspire pair with the new knobs on the pre (note that my pieces really are red, not copper):

Rectifier in LP-2 is Sophia mesh plate 274B (current production). In the amp (all vintage): British 5Z4G, Russian Voskhod "Rocket" 6N23P, 1950's RCA 6K6GT.

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[jdandy]

Peter.......Very nice photo.

[pstrisik]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Peter.......Very nice photo.

Thanks Dan. I finally replaced my 10 year old 4MP Kodak with a nice Panasonic Lumix that does great low light shots (still a point and shoot). I was too lazy to pull out the tripod though, which really would have sharpened it up more.

[Aercool]

Cool picture. Why do you need socket adapters for the 274B and 6n23p? Aren't those standard?

[pstrisik]

Originally Posted by Aercool

Cool picture. Why do you need socket adapters for the 274B and 6n23p? Aren't those standard?

Thanks..... they aren't socket adaptors - they're socket savers. I got nervous with all the tube rolling. The savers keep from wearing out the main sockets. I hope to settle down enough with chosen tubes to remove them eventually. We'll see!

[Aercool]

Originally Posted by pstrisik

Thanks..... they aren't socket adaptors - they're socket savers. I got nervous with all the tube rolling. The savers keep from wearing out the main sockets. I hope to settle down enough with chosen tubes to remove them eventually. We'll see!

Ah-so. I had a similar concern back when I had the Inspire that I was tube-swapping with a different combo every time I flipped the switch on.

[SteveSem]

Peter,
Good points about the desirability of the matched set. Didn't you have that 274B in your amp for awhile? Why did you decide to put it in the Pre?

My amp has arrived and I've taken some pictures of the guts. I will post them when I get to my home computer. One cosmetic difference is the feet. Mine are flat and hold the amp less than a 1/2" off the shelf. Yours appear to look more like little stands.

Steve

[pstrisik]

Originally Posted by SteveSem

Peter,
Good points about the desirability of the matched set. Didn't you have that 274B in your amp for awhile? Why did you decide to put it in the Pre?

My amp has arrived and I've taken some pictures of the guts. I will post them when I get to my home computer. One cosmetic difference is the feet. Mine are flat and hold the amp less than a 1/2" off the shelf. Yours appear to look more like little stands.

Steve

Hi Steve,

Yes, I'm a bit (to put it mildly) obsessive about the tubes. I've tried all sorts and in all sorts of combinations. Bottom line is that the pre is where it ended up sounding the best to me and, so far, the best rectifier for the pre.

The feet are little stands, sort of. Again, a China bargain. They are machined aluminum feet in two pieces. There is a little ball bearing and a grommet. It supposedly helps with damping vibration both vertically and horizontally. Made by Vintage Audio Lab (VALAB), one of the apparently reputable manufacturers in China. Only $14 per set of four! Ebay - seller is alnico6688.




The original feet are still there, just can't see them.

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[SteveSem]

So here are the picture of the guts of my Inspire Firebottle "no name" but unofficially 6L6.
Overall - http://www.middleagerocker.com/wp-co...2-1024x768.jpg
Detail 1
Detail 2
Detail 3
Detail 4