EC Aficionado (was: The Studio Jr.)

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by AppleheadMay, Nov 10, 2015.

  1. jmcmasterj

    jmcmasterj Friend

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    Nice looking Omegas. I recently got a pair of Alnico Monitors in Cherry. Louis does beautiful work
     
  2. gbeast

    gbeast Mighty Moral Power Ranger

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    Let me play a video to show you how to use the Aficionado!

    1. Turn on the music in your Media player
    2. Turn on your Dac
    3. Unplug your headphones
    4. Turn it up
    5. Ask wifey to two step with you


    This amp if official.

    lol

    No for real though there is a lot to like about the amp for sure. Still haven't really given it a thorough listen as I have been busy, my HD650 needs new drivers, my balanced cable on the Atticus gave out after not much time with the combo, and I want new tubes so I can't say much. The irritation I was getting in the highs have mostly subsided. Very good sense of space and no grain. Getting some better tubes in soon too.
     
    Last edited: Sep 29, 2017
  3. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    Wat

    Ummm lol well I'll see about that on Tuesday. Are you sure you don't have another amp hooked up to your DAC with something hooked up? Like wahhhhhh? There are no transducers in the amp (that I'm aware of).
     
  4. gbeast

    gbeast Mighty Moral Power Ranger

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    I have the pro ican next to it but it is turned off.
     
  5. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    Those are the transformers singing bruh! I used to have a Musical Paradise amp that did the same thing.

    p.s. that's totally the wrong beat for a twostep
     
  6. gbeast

    gbeast Mighty Moral Power Ranger

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    Nah, that a dope song for a two step Mr. Dance instructor(where I'm from). That's modern soul music (underground albeit)

    Never heard that before. Good to know.
     
  7. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    What level did you have the volume set to?
     
  8. Ringingears

    Ringingears Honorary BFF

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    Good to see Hammy!
     
  9. gbeast

    gbeast Mighty Moral Power Ranger

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    during the video from 1-11 it was at 7

    When I heard it it was at 3.5
     
  10. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    It's quite possible what you call twostep regionally is very different from what I consider twostep (which for me has a very distinctly country flavour).

    p.s. for those who don't know, I actually am a dance instructor
     
  11. Ringingears

    Ringingears Honorary BFF

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    . :D
     
  12. gbeast

    gbeast Mighty Moral Power Ranger

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    <-my two step
    I knew that. Good to clarify elsewise they'd think i was being a jerk.

    okay I am off topic. Mods feel free to regulate. Okay something relevant like... umm....the soundstage of the 'singing transformers' is small and lacked resolution and the bass had no extension... there we go.
     
  13. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    Huh, see that is *vastly* different from what I consider twostep...


    (speaking as a guy who once upon a time actually participated in an official/sanctioned/whatever two-step competition :p)
     
  14. Elnrik

    Elnrik Super Friendly

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    The amp is so powerful the chassis can't contain those sweet tunes!
     
  15. MrButchi

    MrButchi Gear Master Europe

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    Update : really love my Utp-Af-Yggdrasil-umt+ combo.
    The Af really brings air to the Utopia and opens its scene as compared with the Bw2. The whole feels defo less warm and more transparent.
    It really keeps the EC house sound and pushes the techni-qualities further.
    Can’t wait to start tinkering with quality tubes (looking at you @frenchbat) to take it even further! Next stop wil be getting over drivers too.
     
  16. doukhobar

    doukhobar New

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    I have an offer for an EC BA. It is the 300B/PX4 model with cinemag trans. and comes with 300B tubes. It is in the mid $2k price range. Has anyone done a real comparison with the Aficionado? One thing i like about the AF is that it is a speaker amp. I also have Omega speakers, the Super Alnico XRS in real wenge finish. @JoshMorr is it possible to tell me a little bit more about how you liked the AF with your Omegas? I have mostly powered them with my Decware Taboo III, Decware Zen and Dennis Had Firebottle. My two pairs of Omegas work great with all of these amps. Would love to hear your thoughts on the AF with them. It seems the BA is only a "pre-amp" pass through - but does nto do volume control. Are there any BA owners here who can confirm this? That the volume control works only on the headphone outputs, and not on the blanced or single ended line outs to a speaker amp?
     
  17. Stapsy

    Stapsy Friend

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    A Balancing Act with Cinemag transformers in mid $2k price range is a killer deal. I doubt there are many people who have heard the Cinemag revision of the BA and the AF. I have heard the older version of the BA and it is really something special. If you haven't heard an Eddie Current amp then I would really recommend trying one before you make a decision. Based on what I have heard about the Decaware stuff it couldn't be more different than the EC sound.
     
  18. doukhobar

    doukhobar New

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    Stapsy - can you be any more specific? Unfortunately I won't be able to hear any EC geat before making a purcahse decision Though if I hate it (which I doub) I can always sell it. Is the Cinemag version of the BA considered superior than the original? I thought the earlier version was more "organic" sounding. Is there a comparison anywhere online? A comparison to Decware Taboo? The Taboo is warm and lush with a moderate soundstage. Has lower input sensitivty so works best with a pre-amp in fron of it like hte CSP3.
     
  19. Stapsy

    Stapsy Friend

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    Warm and lush is not the way I would describe any of the Eddie Current Amps. As far as I know there weren't a ton of the Cinemag BA's produced. The only person I know who has heard both the Cinemag BA and the AF is @Marvey.

    If you want to run speakers it is really a no brainer...only one of the amps will work with full range speakers.
     
  20. Thenewerguy009

    Thenewerguy009 Friend

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    When the price is so close to the AF, I would take my chances with the AF. Craig said this is his best design sans the Studio.
     

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