ECP Torpedo III [indexed in first post]

Yes, I include a letter with each assembled T3 that states parts and labor from defects for one year.

Keep in mind that different people have different tolerances for power transformer mechanical noise. I am at a loss to explain a few of the complaints I've received regarding that.

 

Thanks Tom I couldn't find this on the website.

 

I've had some amps and or dacs that had low level transformer hum that I would consider tolerable but the T3 is silent to me.

 

Thanks!

Yes, let me emphasize that I was referring to mechanical noise, not through the headphones.

I have had only one complaint about noise through the headphones, but it was from one that I repaired/re-built from a DIY-build. There were some strange circumstances cited and I could not reproduce the noise with that amp on my setup.

 

Just got my black plate triple mica GE 6072's in, and I'm really digging them so far. They don't sound too far off from the stock tubes, but took some edge off the treble and the tightened up the bass a bit. I'd say they're pretty much ideal for me without getting crazy with tube rolling.

 

I've been pretty happy with my ge 6072's. I have a set of HD800S incoming (hd650 now), so I could be looking for a slightly different flavor soon. Open to suggestions. Source is amb gamma 3 (wm8741 inside).

 

I should have a Shaffer-esque post about tubes ready just for this thread in a couple weeks

 

I just got some of those new Kemet film caps to try rolling as a bypass. Any of you guys here ever tried that?

 

Hey Doug - just checking in. Making any progress on the CCS board rework?

 

@Effusion had some impressions on the TIII from a recent Denver meet:

Modified Torpedo III

I cannot speak of the modifications made to the Torpedo and I believe I only heard it with the first set of tubes, I can't remember if they were RCAs or Mullards however, and not the Brimars that were later rolled in. Right away it came off very nice, natural, and a bit polite. Very nice soundstage and the imaging was also quite good. Overall the representation was very natural, sweet, and also a bit more intimate than others that day, with only the Crack being close in this regard. However I felt like it was missing some of the impact and a bit of depth that I was able to get out of the Studio, the Elekit, and the Super 7, but it would be a great choice to tame a brighter headphone. At times when I shut my eyes, I felt like I was in a smaller jazz lounge, relaxing to the grooves and floating away due to the intimate feel it imparted.

 

One thing at a time.

But the next batch of transformers is ready. I'll be shipping them down to Tom tomorrow.

 

My houses stable just changed to 650s and thx00. T3 OR BW?

 

I would take the Torpedo III with stock tubes over a BW for those headphones, having compared the two out of my Yggdrasil side by side. If you ever intend to add inefficient planars like the old Hifiman cans I would get the BW for versatility.

 

I bought my torpedo after hearing it with the hd650 and th-x00. I haven't heard the hd650s sound better. And, I still cant get over how resolving the torpedo is. That said, the bw gives you more flexibility. The torpedo can be a little picky especially when it comes to planars.

 

Torpedo III kits (and a couple assembled) are back in stock at beezar.com with Cinemag output transformers!

 

Wanted to share some tube impressions, the white print 6072 and straight glass 7062's were on temporary loan. Today I ordered up the cheapest pinched waist D getter 7062's I could find. FWIW this HD800 pair are bone stock, as are the HD600's I had on hand. The T3 has cinemags and the CCS boards.

Another small thought, I felt that the HD800 on the T3 while great, did not seem to scale upwards in SQ near as much as my HD600's did.

White/Silver print GE triple mica 5 star black plate 6072 - These are my favorite with the HD800 but with the HD600 seemed to add back the infamous "veil". These played to the HD800's strengths with the best separation and soundstage of any tubes I've tried with the t3. I say these tubes are very refined sounding but don't even think about them if going for the HD6x0 series.

Red print GE triple mica 5 star black plate 6072 - These have a slight structure difference to the white print in the getter (O getter) and top mica (Round mica). Compared to the white print they are more up-front and exciting (less refined) but not to the degree of the 7062's. These are a little bassier but with great definition. They are also a little more closed in sounding than the white print 6072's BUT fare equally well with the HD800 and HD600 which I found to be odd.

The 5 star triple mica 6072 is a highly regarded tube when researched on the web but I do not see any mention of red print vs white/silver print anywhere. Both sets had the 6072 designation etched near the top.

Straight glass Orange Print Amperex 7062- Perform really well for the $$ compared to the 6072's. They do not mate well with HD800 because they seem to bring out the treble boost. With the HD600 you get better detail more up front sound and the best bass of the bunch. Adds slightly to the soundstage. The biggest detractor is the added treble energy, however it is much more tolerable on the 600's. I bet the 650's would do even better.

The pinched waist D getter version of these are spoken of very highly on the web but no much mention of the straight glass variant that I have found.

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Green print Conn 12au7 (Sylvania) - I felt like these got the job done but the red print 6072's were much better in all areas. These just stood in until I got the 6072's. I never really had any complaints but won't be going back.

Stock EH 12ax7 - Sorry to have to say it but the stock tubes are just not that great!

 

I have the white print GE 6072's in mine and have extremely similar impressions (no CCS mod yet though). I think one of the big things that makes the T3 synergize so well with the HD650 is that the stock tubes were fairly bright to begin with, which eliminated any sense of veil. The GE 6072 does seem to tame the brightness, but as you mentioned does seem to make the HD6X0 sound a bit more lifeless despite their strengths (though I still think it's an excellent pairing). That being said, I think the white plate GE 6072's are much more versatile than the stock tubes due to the improvements to the treble (mine seemed to tighten up the bass a bit as well).

 

Thanks for the notes! I've been itching to roll a bit more and can't decide where to go next. I actually recently got a green print triple mica Sylvania 12au7, and I think it does a pretty good job. Need to compare it to the ge 6072 five star (white print) I have.

I'm intrigued by e80cc, but I'm betting the current requirements for it may be a bit high for t3. Still looking at mazda 12au7 and various 12at7 variants. Too many options!

 

Ive got some RCA black plate (square getter) 12AT7s that ill be trying soon. Expensive at $40 a pair but in the scheme of audio not too bad. They're meant to be pretty incredible so we'll see what happens

 

1) My pinched waist 7062's came in, damn these guys are GOOD. Tonally very rich, I don't think these are for neutrality purists. Still slightly tipped in the treble though.
2) I messaged Tom about this previously but anyone notice the RCA's on the back of the t3 are reversed from standard conventional amps? The top RED jack is indeed the right channel where most amps I've known have left/white as that top jack. Just a small thing but still!