SuperBAF Cheap Tube Amp Guide ~$1200 or less

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by purr1n, Sep 13, 2016.

  1. amill

    amill New

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    Right now I'm not comfortable troubleshooting or soldering so it's not an ideal buy

    I think I will do more research and not pursue this one. I like getting high value in the used market so that's what attracted me to the EC Super 7 after reading the OP.

    Thanks for your help and suggestion
     
  2. dncnexus

    dncnexus Friend

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    Does anyone have any experience with the XDuoo TA-30? Didn't seem much talk of it here. Didn't know if anybody had any experience with it and how it stacked up to the amps listed in this thread
     
  3. AllanMarcus

    AllanMarcus Friend

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    All in ones aren't very popular here.
    Chi-Fi isn't very popular here
    You aren't going to get much from SBAF other then derision talkin' 'bout stuff like that. I recommend you read a little more on these forums to get a fee for what people like to talk about here.
    Here's good head-fi thread you might be interested in. https://www.head-fi.org/threads/xduoo-amplifiers.682282/page-12
     
  4. dncnexus

    dncnexus Friend

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    Thanks for the reply, I usually align with most of what SBAF feels, I have been lurking for a couple years now. I just found the forums for the Shortest Way 51 and Night Blues Mini so I am reading through those now, seems like good options.

    Or maybe I will attempt to build the bottlehead! Thanks for the link though!
     
  5. Ice-man

    Ice-man Friend

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    Just wanted to offer a few words on the EC Super 7 that I recently acquired (many thanks to @sheldaze ).

    This is one of the better amps that I've heard, particularly when paired with an hd6x0, irregardless of cost or design type. When I try to put my finger on the particulars of why I like this amp so much, it comes down to a few things.

    First thing that gets me with the s7 is how effortlessly that it reproduces fine detail. Delicate details and musical nuance seem a hallmark of this amp. I thought that I had a relatively good handle on how good the 650 could sound and it's ability to scale. I'm not sure that I've heard it sound better or enjoyed it more than with the s7.

    And then there's the staging, a known shortcoming of the 6x0. There's clearly more air and spaciousness that the s7 has brought out in the recording. Instruments breath more easily without as much congestion that can be prone when using the 6x0. Notes now have the ability to trail off more naturally than with other amps I've owned.

    Lastly, it's the way this amp renders tone. Voices from some of my favorites are incredibly natural and captivating. Patricia Barber's husky tones come across with all the deep raspiness that I remember when I heard her in person. Overall, without being technical, it's the engagement factor. That's what it comes down to at the end of the day for me. I'm more engaged and enjoying the experience more when I'm using this amp.

    I'm still playing with tube combinations in order to dial the amp in to my personal preferences and I'll get there eventually. Right now I'm just trying to get a baseline with the stock Tung Sol's and enjoy the ride.
     
  6. oh_okay

    oh_okay New

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    Okay...........the time has come to buy a tube HPA.
    And the choice is pretty much down to two (unless I get very strong feedback by your replies in favor of other options):

    DarkVoice 336se
    Bottlehead Crack*.

    Please cast your suggestions in reply. Thx!

    *I am an experienced DIYer so the build nature of the Bottlehead Crack does not bother me (probably complete in 3-4 hours).
     
  7. dncnexus

    dncnexus Friend

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    I would recommend the Crack. But if you wanted the DV, I got one for sale with upgraded tubes on Reddit AVExchange
     
  8. atomicbob

    atomicbob dScope Yoda

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    I've heard both and my preferences led to BH Crack joining my lab inventory. Best with high impedance headphones, particularly nice with HD6x0 types.
     
  9. bixby

    bixby Friend

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    Neither-SW51
     
  10. oh_okay

    oh_okay New

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    Okay....... you've got me curious ... but I could not find any estore (Amazon, etc) offering on a quick search (limited "Mass" run???).
    BUT....... the threads on "SW51" are impressively long. A good sign.
     
  11. dncnexus

    dncnexus Friend

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    SW51 is an amp created by an individual living in Russia for this forums specifically. You would need to DM him to order one.
     
  12. Elnrik

    Elnrik Super Friendly

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    Last edited: Jul 2, 2020
  13. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    Looks like the first post needs a minor update.
     
  14. monacelli

    monacelli Friend

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    Relevant info here. The SW51 project may be nearing the end of its run, but it looks like he's working on a successor. From @Zampotech:

    "Potentially free amplifiers can be 22 pieces. After that, the production of the amplifier in this version will be discontinued. Reason: the company that produces the housing is not able to produce caps for transformers. Their specialized machines are busy making something very important until November 2020."

    https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...sions-simple-set-amp.8042/page-13#post-299735
     
  15. oh_okay

    oh_okay New

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    I don't have enough "Points" on Reddit to do much (not sure how that site works: does one have to rack up a certain no. of posts to view/bid???). Why not try to sell/post it here or H-F?

    Anyway .... about the tube HPA in my future ... yup: familiar with all the accolades of tubes + HD600/600/6xx.
    But I'm more interested in resurrecting interest in cans I've mostly neglected .... like K-701s, various IEMs, etc.
     
  16. dncnexus

    dncnexus Friend

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    I haven't posted here because I am pretty sure nobody here is interested in it, and haven't sold on headfi cause I don't use headfi. If you wanna sell I can throw up a FS listing here though
     
  17. oh_okay

    oh_okay New

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    I did end up ordering a new DV 336se from Amazon.
    Very, very nice with 1997 HD-600s. Decent with HD-650. Good with Grado's (SR-225e).
    Sucks with AKG K-701 (your experience with amping this can????). Decent with Beyer dt-880-250.
    I have other cans and will get to them (the 336 is only a few hours old).

    Curious about modding the 336, incl. tube rolling and the various mods suggested on Drop thread, etc.
     
  18. roshambo123

    roshambo123 Friend

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    336SE arrived yesterday. Stock tubes were muffled trash, unlistenable even neglecting the pre 6N8P had a dead channel (seller agreed to a minor refund). GE 5998A and Tung Sol 6SN7GT saw a big improvement on all fronts and corrected the channel issue. Maybe the stock power tube was just terrible but surprised how significantly the 5998A impacted the sound.

    Initial impression of DV is it seems like a decent value, although probably not the ideal dance partner for the HD800+SDR. I'll have to post more after my HD6XX's arrive, but on the brighter Senn it's enjoyable with upgraded tubes but lacks in technicalities that make me ultra excited. Overall, I was looking for a mellower experience as a break from the MJ2 blitzkrieg, and that is what I got, but I do think DV is a beginner amp fundamentally, although a good one with the right tubes.

    I'd put it above Vali 2 (non+), from memory it's a step up in clarity, maybe half a step in slam and staging. There's some tubey magic there, and with the TS it's maybe not as laidback as Vali but leans that direction, with some better microdynamics, and more body. The brighter psvane 6sn7 I briefly rolled showed there was more clarity potential there with a modern tube, although I can't say for certain if that tube would be the ticket, as it wasn't broken in, the bottom end hadn't matured, and the famous DV hum reared its head.

    Generally, I think DV is in the same league as Valhalla 2 stock, with a different presentation. DV is warmer than I recall Valhalla 2 being, and turning it up the distortion is major. Given, the older Tung Sol has more distortion than modern tubes, so might try a re-issue 6SN7GTB, assuming the psvane doesn't improve after burn-in. Then again, the listening experience with the old TS is enjoyable. DV is I think decisively below Lyr 3 due to lower clarity, staging, resolve and cohesion. DV is not a detail monster, but it ain't bad. With the Tung Sol the highs roll off a bit, it's equally dark as I remember Vali2 being. The psvane had dry highs, but again, fresh tube that shouldn't be judged.

    Comparing to MJ2, not in the same tier. Staging, separation and holographics are non-competitive on the DV, and it seems an unfair comparison. MJ2 even on mild tubes demands attention while DV sinks into the background. Again, I bought DV because I wanted something chill without fatigue, which it is.

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Jan 9, 2021
  19. Melvillian

    Melvillian Friend

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    @roshambo123 The domino plate 5998 and 421a are excellent tubes. They’re a bit pricey though. Might want to try those out on the dark voice.

    This is based on my experience with the BH Crack
     
  20. evonimos

    evonimos New

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    Any of the two, but since you are a DIYer, I'd might go with the Crack.

    I just finished a project actually, that is very close to both these schematics.
    Didn't want to go all out with point to point soldering and ended up using a PCB that found online and adapted it to my schematic.

    So, my experience with this topology.
    This very basic, no-frills design with 6922 signal tube and the 6080 cathode follower (or equivalent) at the output and zero feedback made me very happy. I have another DIY tube amp with somewhat similar design but has an SRPP for the signal stage. I have to say, simplicity wins over and I prefer the solo 6922 tube there.

    If you need any more info, I'd be elaborating a bit more.
    Otherwise, go with either of the two and you can implement mods as you go.
    Most important points are the capacitor bank in series to the output and of course the power supply (filaments and anode power).

    Only problem with mods is fitting them in a tight space when you have a certain enclosure.
     
    Last edited: Jan 28, 2021

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