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Post by Mr Trev on Nov 5, 2017 21:30:37 GMT
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Rabbit
Administrator
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Post by Rabbit on Nov 5, 2017 22:11:18 GMT
It looks like a time bomb.
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Post by Mr Trev on Nov 6, 2017 1:57:06 GMT
I'd totally expect it to be full of knock-off parts and from the little I've gathered those FU32 tubes are horribly unreliable. The 832 equivalents are pretty easy to find and fairly cheap. Being able to roll opamps could also be a fun way to throw away money (stuff some Bursons in there and it might actually sound good too)
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Rabbit
Administrator
Posts: 7,091
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Post by Rabbit on Nov 6, 2017 7:38:35 GMT
One amp that I will never forget is the Little Dot 2. I really liked its sound and used it for a year or so, but unfortunately it did used to get a little bit hot. One evening I was using it and it seemed to get extra hot and eventually did a lovely little fireworks display on my table. I was horrified. Put some gloves on, unplugged it and ran out the door with it!
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Post by ronzo56 on Nov 6, 2017 16:34:16 GMT
One amp that I will never forget is the Little Dot 2. I really liked its sound and used it for a year or so, but unfortunately it did used to get a little bit hot. One evening I was using it and it seemed to get extra hot and eventually did a lovely little fireworks display on my table. I was horrified. Put some gloves on, unplugged it and ran out the door with it! Oh yes. The Little Dot. That takes me back a few years. RG days IIRC. Wow how many amps and headphones since then? |
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Post by Mr Trev on Nov 6, 2017 16:50:42 GMT
I keep getting tempted by the Little Dot 1+ (?). I'm constantly finding them on sale or used for really good prices. The thing stopping me is the tubes, don't seem to be as many options for rolling as your typical 6dj8 - at least without using adapters. Found a good deal on a MK. 2 that I seriously considered, but I've been informed that planars don't match well with OTL amps, so that'd limit its use.
Half temtped to buy this Nobsound just for the looks alone. I'd need to see the tube in action first. If they have a pretty glow…
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Post by lobalwarming on Nov 8, 2017 9:00:38 GMT
LED-augmented FU32 Tetrode amp (just before the explosion)  Here's a little image of DIY GU-32 twin tetrode amp with magic eye tubes as VU meters.  From the Nobosound description: " Overall all frequency are balanced, with the full tube flavor characteristics, the full sense and intensity of low frequency, IF is warm mellow, and it has a special advantage in high-frequency. The high-frequency structured throughout, with great accuracy, but did not split at very high frequency, sound details, stretch and bright high-frequency controlled well." Good to know they didn't split any very high frequencies, so the tube environmentalists won't be upset. The stretch and bright control is intriguing, but I already have 650s to deal with any errant stretched high frequencies. Slightly bothered by the IF part tho - does that mean a warm mellow explosion or   Mr T. if you want to waste time on some foolish research before making the inevitable impulse buy, there's a thread on head-fi on a Twin FU amp. Looks similar to this crazy expensive $159USD twin FU32 on eBay |
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Rabbit
Administrator
Posts: 7,091
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Post by Rabbit on Nov 8, 2017 9:21:29 GMT
It looks really quaint. Are noise levels low with it? I always worry about the noise floor with tube amps and that was my biggest issue with the Little Dot until it tried to blow me up.
Actually, it looks like a couple of captive daleks.
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Post by lobalwarming on Nov 8, 2017 10:54:49 GMT
I imagine if you brush the anode wires the wrong way, the noise would be horrendous. Not a fan of screaming. Especially when it's in my own voice. ;-)
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Post by Mr Trev on Nov 8, 2017 16:54:56 GMT
LED-augmented FU32 Tetrode amp (just before the explosion) From the Nobosound description: " Overall all frequency are balanced, with the full tube flavor characteristics, the full sense and intensity of low frequency, IF is warm mellow, and it has a special advantage in high-frequency. The high-frequency structured throughout, with great accuracy, but did not split at very high frequency, sound details, stretch and bright high-frequency controlled well." Good to know they didn't split any very high frequencies, so the tube environmentalists won't be upset. The stretch and bright control is intriguing, but I already have 650s to deal with any errant stretched high frequencies. Slightly bothered by the IF part tho - does that mean a warm mellow explosion or Mr T. if you want to waste time on some foolish research before making the inevitable impulse buy, there's a thread on head-fi on a Twin FU amp. Looks similar to this crazy expensive $159USD twin FU32 on eBayBah, research is for eggheads! I scoff at the idea! I did have a skim through that thread before, wasn't sure how much info would be relevant with that amp being OTL. Who knows… 11.11 is coming up soon. Maybe somebody will sweeten the deal (or at least win me over with an irresistable Chinglish description) |
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Post by lobalwarming on Nov 8, 2017 21:28:00 GMT
Good to know you can scoff at will. Or advise. What worries me about this little high voltage festival is what's going on at the rear, or as they say in Chinglish, "the fear side of the unit"  So many places to not put a finger when blindly powering on/off.  This won't be much of a tube rolling gem - few tetrode options available. And while I like the FU acronym in an amplifier, the stock 5532 chips should be connected to the 200V line upon delivery to eliminate the sonic sensibility hazard they represent in the 21st century.  It is claimed to offer RCA inputs....but not seen in the product images - either at the fear or front side. Also has this worrying note about rca inputs: " Note: When using RCA input, please place the RCA audio cable as far away as possible from the transformer, or easily lead to noise. " And this equivocating statement: "... there was not a little hum noise when use the102DB headphones to listen" - does this mean there is a big hum noise instead? As a 40W mood lighting device it could still be fun tho. |
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Post by Mr Trev on Nov 8, 2017 23:23:54 GMT
K… how bout this one then: www.ebay.ca/itm/The-World-Smallest-Vacuum-Tube-Headphone-Amplifier-Stereo-Amp-Audio-Preamp-Black/252638134971Although I don't hold out much hope for this one. After all everybody knows the true measure of a piece of audio gear is the KPI factor. (Knobs per inch for the uninitiated) <edit> after looking closer at the pics of the FU, you can just see the rca jack on top of the amp just in front of the tranny cover. How your supposed to keep the cable away from the transformer with the jacks placed there is beyond me |
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Post by lobalwarming on Nov 8, 2017 23:34:00 GMT
It's a 6V unit...so pretty much a starved plate design, unlike G1217's lean and muscular plate units. Why not get a G1217 unit? At least you know it will work, sound great and probably not kill you.
Or is your uber tube budget sub $100?
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Post by Mr Trev on Nov 9, 2017 0:19:38 GMT
In all honestly, I would probably get a g1217 or Vali 2 before any of these things. I did pass on a used Solstice a while back due to other financial reasons (seriously, why can't the lotto gods see how much of a benefit it'd be if I was crazy-ass rich. I'd be a one man economic stimulus package). My P1 amp is one of those cheapo models - modded of course, and honestly, it does sound pretty good for my standards (which fall into the mid-fi range). The cheap construction is what has me looking at a proper amp. The bigger issue is none of my phones even need to be amped to begin with so it is kinda hard to justify spending big money (or at least what passes for big money at our lousy exchange rates) forgot to add - less money spent on amp means more money for tubes |
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Post by lobalwarming on Nov 9, 2017 0:47:31 GMT
Bummer about missing out on the Solstice. The lottery gods are a fickle bunch. The Solstice is so much fun on the cheap. Such a great variety of awesome sounding tubes in the 12V family - often at a tenth the cost of the more popular 6V tubes. It's the Chameleon of tube amps.
Better to watch for a used deal on Vali 2 or Solstice. What phones are you driving?
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