#5611
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As memory serves, that sounds like a HO unit D made a few of way back when. Asymmetrical layout? Maybe an 1 1/2” lam stack on the opts? Did Florida Boy have/had one from the same run? What you say FB? Sound familiar? |
#5612
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I haven't seen him advertise one for a long time. Probably not his favorite design. Mine was built in May, 2016. I purchased it in July, 2016. From his old ad on eBay: "FIRE-BOTTLE" NEW HIGHER POWER 17 WATT PER CHANNEL SINGLE-ENDED STEREO AMPLIFIER KT-88/6550 TUBE SINGLE-ENDED CLASS A SPECIAL EDITION "LATEST HO EDITION" INSPIRE TUBE AMPLIFIER by DENNIS HAD FEATURING THE KT-88/6550 BEAM POWER VACCUM TUBE AMPLIFIER IN A SINGLE-ENDED CLASS A 17 WATT DESIGN CUSTOM DESIGNED AIR-GAP 20 WATT OUTPUT TRANSFORMERS TO MATCH KT-88 TUBES AT FULL BANDWIDTH I have designed and built in just about every special part but the kitchen sink in this new high output SE amplifier Last edited by Bombadil; 04-07-2020 at 09:34 PM. |
#5613
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I very much like my HO amp. It sounds great and drives my 91dB speakers to loud levels with strong, solid bass, while still retaining much of the tube "goodness." From what I've read about it, I suspect I would like the PSE amp even better, where the tubes are not driven quite so hard and with the new voltage regulation. That said, the HO does make me happy.
I believe that different types of tubes are affected by the HO design in ways which make the listening experience different with this amp as opposed to triode-design 8 to 10 watt models. The high output tubes, KT88/120/150, sound very natural and powerful. Not surprising given that the amp was optimized for these tubes. While some of the low output tubes sound more stressed, and can be outright unenjoyable. |
#5614
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Nope, mine is triode strapped and built with the larger transformers.
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#5615
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#5616
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Methinks your Sophia Blues are still settling in. Did you try the Sophia 274B with the Haltrons? |
#5617
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Sometimes I wish my amp could run just two or three types of output tubes.
Presently in my tube box lie EL84 - 6 pair 6V6 - 4 pair 5881 - 2 pair 6P3S-e - 2 pair 6L6GC - 2 pair KT66 - 1 pair EL34 - 1 pair 6CA7 - 4 pair KT77 - 2 pair KT88 - 3 pair KT120 - 1 pair KT150 - 1 pair And I still find myself perusing ads for some different 6L6s, EL34s, and KT90s. I do have two other EL34/KT77 amps and two EL84 amps. But most of the above tubes take rotations in my Inspire. I'm not even going to mention my boxes of 6SN7s and various rectifiers. |
#5618
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Do tell more about the Blue Sophia 6SN7's. Do they do anything that the good NOS tubes don't do? Just saw these when I came across the Blue KT88's.
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#5619
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I tried one in my LP27a and found the reviews to be spot on. It performed better in my rig than any of the old production tubes I have. It did take a good while to settle in. YMMV.
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#5620
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I owned their 274b mesh rectifier, worst rectifier I've ever tried (and if anybody owns one here, it's just a imo ymmv) I also tried their "premium" 6sn7 (gold base, their cheaper 6sn7 versus the blue glass y'all are talking about). Again, one of the worst 6sn7 I've tried. Reviews for their 300b/2a3 mesh always come in as bottom tier, much worse than cheaper JJ 2a3/300b. With that said, I've read rave reviews about their extremely expensive Royal Princess 300b. I might have to pick up the blue 6sn7 to try, you guys really seem to like it. I just never touched Sophia again after my earlier experiences with them. |
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