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

Page 21 of 63
  1. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    Lol thanks. These aren't exactly play around and find a good pair with how much they cost so I'll try and manage for the time being.
     
    cskippy, Oct 13, 2017
    #401
  2. JK47

    JK47 Guest

    My tubes scream or shimmer as the manual says, every startup for a few seconds, length and pitch vary by tube.
    77F7C64E-1011-4A24-92CE-7E586BDEF5CB.jpeg
     
    JK47, Oct 13, 2017
    #402
  3. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    Even though I'm a guy, I'm also a nerd so I read the manual!
     
    cskippy, Oct 13, 2017
    #403
  4. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    indeed, RCA NOS 2A3 tubes make a similar shimmer warble upon power up from cold state (this morning).
    love the sound actually, as if Af is breathing. alive.

    yah the red power light actually glows lowly, noticeable in a dark room. welcomed over a brighter LED for sure.
    not opening up to try an align a bulb...

    back to the tunes...
     
    jexby, Oct 14, 2017
    #404
  5. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I forgot to follow up on this. It's not a LED. It's an old-school tungsten filament bulb that is under-volted, like the one in the old BA. The bulbs can move around a little during shipping. If you are super anal, then drop the bottom plate of the power supply chassis to realign. Make sure caps have had time to discharge, like a few hours or a day, or just be extra careful or discharge with a resistor.

    I believe the bulb is run off the rails for the heaters. The lack of brightness is a feature. When you turn off the lights to listen, you are not blinded by a bright LED. This bulb is special and limited to the first 25 amps. After that, we are replacing with a LED.
     
    purr1n, Oct 17, 2017
    #405
  6. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    The other new is that the standard tube set will no longer ship with the Russian driver tube. Generic US vintage tubes will used instead going forward.
     
    purr1n, Oct 17, 2017
    #406
  7. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    I for one appreciate the power bulb being very directional and not bright as f**k. I use the silver light dims on my Schiit gear in my bedroom otherwise I can't sleep.
     
    cskippy, Oct 17, 2017
    #407
  8. doukhobar

    doukhobar New

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    Questions about preamp functionality:

    1. Can I run balanced XLR signal into the Af, and run single ended output? This would in effect be using the Af as a Balanced->Unbalanced converter. Would I have volume control while running like this setup? If so, how does the signal attenuation happen?

    2. As an integrated amp, can I have both balanced and SE sources plugged in simultaneously?

    Thanks!
     
    doukhobar, Oct 17, 2017
    #408
  9. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    1. Yes. This is how I use it balanced from Gungnir Multibit and single ended to Vidar.

    2. Yes. There is a toggle switch in the back to select single ended input or balanced input. Both single ended and balanced outputs are active at all times and are volume controlled.
     
    cskippy, Oct 17, 2017
    #409
  10. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    You can run balanced or SE into Af. As the Af is a single-ended amp, balanced inputs are converted into SE using transformers.

    The output can either be SE or balanced. The SE outputs are only intended to drive line level. The balanced outs can drive speakers, headphones, or gear with balanced line inputs.

    You can use all outputs simultaneously.
     
    purr1n, Oct 17, 2017
    #410
  11. doukhobar

    doukhobar New

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    Thanks Marv. When you say the SE outputs are inteded to drive line level - what does that mean exactly? For example, I have a Dennis Had LP2 preamp and matching 6V6 amp. I am wondering if I could replace my old pre-amp with this one for example. Sorry I am not sure any of the specs of this gear, but what voltage do you anticipate the Af putting out in SE config and/or how much gain? Could this replace a stand alone preamp that feeds into an amp without volume control?
     
    doukhobar, Oct 17, 2017
    #411
  12. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    The SE can drive amplifiers, tape decks, etc. The SE RCA outs cannot drive headphones or speakers. Gain is about 18db? (x6-7) Kind of a lot of gain. Gain is the same at all outputs.
     
    purr1n, Oct 17, 2017
    #412
  13. Jozurr

    Jozurr Facebook Friend

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    Does anyone have an AF in San Francisco or somewhere near? Would love to listen to it and compare it against the Liquid Glass.
     
    Jozurr, Oct 17, 2017
    #413
  14. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Inputs / Outputs Diagram fro Af. Hopefully this should help:
    IMG_20171018_113055 (1).jpg
     
    purr1n, Oct 18, 2017
    #414
  15. kirayamato

    kirayamato Friend

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    any tube recommendations that would be best for pop music rofl i like good highs but a good low end is a must
     
    kirayamato, Oct 20, 2017
    #415
  16. ogodei

    ogodei MOT: Austin AudioWorks

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    I am getting the high-pitch whine intermittently. Presuming its the 2A3s for the moment, will be swapping them out to test.

    Yes, I read the manual. No, its not the normal warm-up noises.
     
    ogodei, Oct 23, 2017
    #416
  17. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    What tubes?
     
    purr1n, Oct 23, 2017
    #417
  18. Xecuter

    Xecuter Brush and floss your amp twice a day

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    If they are real NOS 2a3s you might need to put 20+ hours for them to settle down. Could also be a leak or problem with the tubes though.
     
    Xecuter, Oct 23, 2017
    #418
  19. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I vaguely remember a similar issue I had with a prior amp. One thing to try is to tap on the tube when this happens. Sometimes this makes it go away. I spoke to Craig and we surmise it might be the high frequency heater (44-46kHz) beating against inherent microphonics with certain tubes.
     
    purr1n, Oct 23, 2017
    #419
  20. kirayamato

    kirayamato Friend

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    @Marvey happened to me as well that after a while I would high pitched consistent audible sounds coming from the amp with the Psvane 2a3-tll tube and craig confirmed it is supposedly a tube problem and I ordered new tubes
     
    kirayamato, Oct 23, 2017
    #420
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