EC Aficionado (was: The Studio Jr.)

Not sure if this has been mentioned, but what is Aficionados HP output impedance?

Also, is the monoblock idea still a possibility? I was hoping that this was a cryptic message...

... but I presume it is more likely to be shit stirring!

 

Ok, you called it. M-22 is yours if I sell. Acupwr step down is arriving tomorrow to test it, but if my M-22 is anything like the way it looks, it will sing.

The thing I like about Chang and SBAF, is that you guys always give/gave solid recommendations to the price point in question. Some people here make tons of $$$ and some don't, but there is always something that can fit the budget. You guys have given me a few paths and I have followed, not always to my taste, but it was an easy sell to dump, if I didn't like the gear.

I like deals and exceptional value, whether it be used, DIY, or on sale. I feel Eddie Current's bare bone, no frills model fits the meat and potatoes ideal to a "T". Some of the Moth Audio gear was a little too gaudy for my taste, like the remake of the Edgar horn Sub enclosure that looked like the Empire State building, WTF, that made me want to puke. I'm glad I couldn't find a readily available photo of it to tarnish this thread, lol.

Excuse me while I retire to my Panasonic massage chair and listen to Dire Straits "Brothers in Arms"... Not quite @Torq's vessel. but anyway, it helps relax.



Thanks CS/SBAF community for the guidance, there are quite a few of you that literally helped me build my system/s...

 

@Peti - mine came with a normal 3-prong US power cable.

 

That'd be dope if it could run KT150s

 

So the greatest day in my life has finally come (sorry kids and wife) - Aficionado has arrived.

Running some new production EH's, WE 398A's while I listen to Miles Davis and wire up some SpeakOn terminated cables. Excuse the sloppy nature of everything, I just wanted to get this up and running.



What I really like about this amp is its versatility - I was able to remove my pre amp, head amp, and power amp and still have 2 inputs (1 analog, 1 digital). I wanted this amp to simplify, not complicate things. Rugged good looks that we come to expect from Eddie Current, everything is well laid out in the back.



Moving on from BW2 like a couple of others and I agree with their remarks. While I expect these new production tubes to need a bit of burn in, what I am finding is just how natural all of this is sounding, while remaining very detailed. Micro detail that used to be far back in the back ground is more accurately placed, making you feel more immersed in the live performances and to connect better with the musicians. The best tube amp I've heard (which isn't saying a lot, but...) and could not be more satisfied. Expect more detailed impressions after initial rush of emotion and newness of the amp start to settle down.

Looking forward to what people are using for tubes with this, as well as speakers.

 

Quick follow up post

When Criag says in the manual that Chinese after market Speak on connectors dont work - hes right. Even though the metal release says Neutrik on it, I have some connectors that dont fit. Best way I can tell them apart if the end, the one that works has some cut outs on the center plug, ones that with full cylinder dont (sorry pic isnt better):


Now that this has been discovered, got a quick chance to try out the rated 4 watts at 8ohm. Sounds very nice on my 98/db per W (probably over rated). Normal relaxed listening is 50% on the pot (12 o'clock), loud is 60-75% (2-3 o'clock).

 

Wait wait wait... are you dudes trying to shove a 4-pole Speakon plug into a 2-pole jack? C'mon guys... yeah sometimes the Chinese knockoffs have poor fit tolerances, but you could at least make sure you ordered the right part in the first place.

 

nice pics, if I ever go omega speakers I'm definitely getting his macassar ebony veneer heh

 

Warning, useless post:
Boy these stock tubes shipped with the Aficionado must suck(Rectifier and 6n3p tubes). At the price they tagged on I wouldn't expect more though. I need to get rid of them ASAP. opinions def reserved until I swap em.

 

I'm just wondering of how much of an effect of the rectifier tube will have on sound quality (and possibly rolling it) if I already have a pair of matched RCAs and a WE396A?

 

My amp has a similar clclc power supply and the effect of rectifier is quite significant there, as much as any of the signal path tubes.

 

• 2a3s: I am running these Sophia electric Mesh plates
• driver tube: 6n3p-E cheapy Look exactly like this
• Rectifier: 5AR4 Sovtek

 

Ya, bigger difference if you switch to different class of rectifiers. However, there are still significant differences between different brands of the same class of rectifier. A Mullard gz34, for example, sounds quite different from a BEL gz34.

 

Congratulations @gbeast on the amp. I only wish that you still lived in Portland so I could hear it. I hope you'll review it. I'm curious about how you hear it.

I've heard the Balancing Act (the setup that KingStyles from Head-Fi has using 300B tubes) and I love that sound. If the Aficionado is a more transparent version of the Balancing Act then oh my. I've been on the hunt for a second amp to pair with my Liquid Fire in a yin-yang sort of way. The Liquid Fire being the yin and the second amp being the yang. A more transparent Balancing Act would be that yang I've been searching for. But it's out of budget for me right now, so for now I'll have to experience the Aficionado vicariously.

 

What's up Hammy!

Good to see ya around. Never heard the BA. Once I get everything situated I'll post.

 

I've always been around lurking here and CS. I consider myself a closet pirate, but don't post much here out of respect for the S/N ratio.

Are you still using the Pavane? I would have to think the Pavane and Aficionado or BA would be magical together. The Pavane had such a wonderful midrange that allowed vocals to bloom (the Gungnir Multibit or Yggdrasil don't do that quite like that). That combined with what I remember of the BA sound would be the perfect yang to my Liquid Fire yin.