solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Jan 16, 2014 11:42:03 GMT
I think so (having the mod done). The someone was me...  You would have to ask Jeremy as he assembles and sells amps (I do not, just design the schematics and tweak it before production). Sometimes he is very busy with work and doesn't have the ability to answer e-mails so sometimes it takes him a few days to respond. The newer (upcoming) PCB will have that feature (RCA output disabled when a headphone is plugged in) though. It will also be possible to use that PCB as a pre-amp without interupting the RCA out. Due to this feature the output voltage on the RCA will also be (somewhat) dependent on the output R setting and when using a higher output R setting and using the RCA out AND headphone out simultaniously the frequency range of the RCA out as well as the level will alter. This is a trade off for this functionality. It is, however, highly unlikely the pre-out and headphone will be used at the same time though. About tubes... so many people so many preferences... this thread: www.diyah.boards.net/thread/366/ may provide some clues. |
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Post by knxwledge on Jan 18, 2014 0:56:02 GMT
I ended up ordering the Ember and can't wait to compare it against my M-Stage and Vali. Im sure it will sound better though!
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Jan 18, 2014 12:40:10 GMT
I am very attached to mine. I have a heavily modded MF V8, V1, V2 a Neco SS... all kinds of things, but the one I actually use is the Ember nowadays. It's configurability is wonderful plus the absolute ease of changing a tube makes everything else look so clumsy in all honesty.
Frans has done an unbelievably good design job on this.
Plus the fact that you have the best support system around via this site and Jeremey who also appears on here. Two of the most helpful people I've known on the internet.
It has real authority. Sweet treble. Masses of power. Low noise. Runs cool. No problems with it whatsoever - I use it as a real treat to listen to if I'm honest. The only other amp that ever really kept me glued to it like that was my V2 which is also a very good amp but it doesn't have the same amount of power to drive my T40.
The three in the series are all extremely nice. I've heard them all and love them all!!
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Post by yeaster on Jan 19, 2014 2:44:00 GMT
After about a week of usage...... I've sold off my lyr without much struggle  .... I noticed I've being going more and more toward ember even when I'm using it as a pre-amp and have totally stopped using lyr. The ember as a pre-amp is surprisingly solid, it opens up the soundstage of my amp and has tighter bass control. My speakers have a "bright / sharp" characteristic sound. The ember manages to tame the "brightness / sharpness" a fair bit. (amp = belcanto c5i, speakers = usher s520). Seriously loving this with the siemens e88cc tubes. Now if only I can get my hands on a telefunken e88cc tubes to try... |
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Post by knxwledge on Jan 23, 2014 2:05:22 GMT
Finally got my Ember! I love this thing. Although I settle'd on low ouput resistance, Im not sure if I like high or low gain with X1. I find low gain to be more full, forward and high gain airy.
I have a question about the Output Resistance jumpers, Can i switch them while the amp is powered on?
Edit: Found my answer and yes you can!
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Post by knxwledge on Jan 23, 2014 2:46:44 GMT
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Post by razrr1275 on Jan 30, 2014 1:58:25 GMT
Well I just got the HE-6 in. It's handling them pretty well although the real test will come once I get a speaker amp in tomorrow or Friday to put the Ember against.
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Jan 30, 2014 6:17:22 GMT
Any power amp that can provide >12W into 8 Ohm or 25W into 4 Ohm can play it a bit louder.
the Ember can drive the HE6 to 110dB peak (so 100dB SPL on classic and about 105dB SPL on pop music) this is already pretty loud.
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Post by musicman1806 on Feb 19, 2014 1:06:30 GMT
What is it about high watt stereo amps that make people want to plug headphones like the HE-6 in to them ? I imagine they'd have to whisper at the volume pot for fear of blowing up their ears ! i have a Pioneer surround sound receiver with 700 watts but would never think to plug my headphones in the back of it.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2014 5:04:21 GMT
What is it about high watt stereo amps that make people want to plug headphones like the HE-6 in to them ? I imagine they'd have to whisper at the volume pot for fear of blowing up their ears ! i have a Pioneer surround sound receiver with 700 watts but would never think to plug my headphones in the back of it. Someone correct me if I'm wrong here. Please! Because headphones are higher impedance than speakers, the number of watts into the headphones lowers. |
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Feb 19, 2014 7:00:17 GMT
Correct, as power is (output voltage) 2 / (impedance) I would not recommend to use a 700W amp though but there is nothing wrong with attaching a 40W amp directly to an HE-6. a 700W (4 Ohm ?) amp will deliver 53V ! as the HE-6 is 50 Ohms the amp could deliver 56W into the HE-6 which will bring out some smoke (magic or not) for sure. That is, when not playing on the head as the SPL would be deafening and heavily distorted but lying on a desk acting like little speakers. a 40W (4 Ohm) amp can deliver about 13V which equals 3.2W. Very loud but the HE-6 can handle that without any problems. The Ember can produce about 2W into an HE-6 but only 0.1W into 4 Ohm. Most people won't need a lot of power for 'normal listening' at all. See here: www.mediafire.com/view/dzwe1g73q6pbhnx/headphone%20power%20table.pdfinfo about headphones connected to speaker amps: diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com/tutorials/power-amp-adapter/of course in these tables there is no column for perceived SQ  |
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Post by razrr1275 on Feb 19, 2014 7:13:47 GMT
Going more off of the perceived SQ end of that, I have been hooking up my HE-6 and HD650s to a 25WPC speaker amp on occasion with very good results.
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Feb 19, 2014 7:20:45 GMT
Speaker amps in generally will remain in class-A for HD650, even when the amp is class AB for speakers.
Driving headphones is soooo much easier for speaker amps than driving speakers but low impedance headphones may be destroyed easily.
Also a lot of speaker amps have a higher noise level which can be audible sensitive headphones (won't be that audible in speakers).
Not so with HD650 or HE-6 so for these headphones speaker amps connected directly work well.
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Post by razrr1275 on Feb 19, 2014 7:27:08 GMT
Speaker amps in generally will remain in class-A for HD650, even when the amp is class AB for speakers. Driving headphones is soooo much easier for speaker amps than driving speakers but low impedance headphones may be destroyed easily. Also a lot of speaker amps have a higher noise level which can be audible sensitive headphones (won't be that audible in speakers). Not so with HD650 or HE-6 so for these headphones speaker amps connected directly work well. Hmm - I just checked -the one that I have is class D. I'm running the Temple Audio Bantam Gold. I'm noticing a bit more body to drum sounds and maybe a bit more detail retrieval over the Ember with it but I think the Ember has the better overall tone although the Bantam is very musical for a solid state. |
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Feb 19, 2014 8:49:46 GMT
Class D are usually balanced out, meaning one cannot connect the 2 '-' outputs together.
Maybe in this design one can if they made the - a virtual ground, but is unlikely.
When each driver is connected to each amp section it will also be no problem but one cannot use the 3 pin jack.
A well designed class-D (T) amp can sound excellent indeed.
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.... I noticed I've being going more and more toward ember even when I'm using it as a pre-amp and have totally stopped using lyr. The ember as a pre-amp is surprisingly solid, it opens up the soundstage of my amp and has tighter bass control. My speakers have a "bright / sharp" characteristic sound. The ember manages to tame the "brightness / sharpness" a fair bit. (amp = belcanto c5i, speakers = usher s520). Seriously loving this with the siemens e88cc tubes. 
