FS: Eddie Current Aficionado w/ Jupiter Caps

You guys, the day that I thought would never come, has come. I am looking to move on from the best head amp I have ever used. my beloved Eddie Current Aficionado. It was lucky number 6 off the production line. 120V USA USA USA. I upgraded the caps to the Jupiter caps that improved many areas. Amp was loved like no other. I loved it more than my children. In lovely shape, might be better than a new one. Read the EC website, read the AF thread on SBAF, talk to people that have owned one. I loved that is had both balanced and single ended inputs (used dac and turntable), and 4 in XLR outs for headphones and speaker outs. Sounds really really good with efficient speakers.

So you may ask yourself, "Josh, you seem like a handsome, brilliant, well hung, man with clearly superior genetics - why would you want to sell the best headphone amp you have ever heard?" Well, I would answer to the observant questioner - Kids are older and I get more opportunity to listen to speakers than I used to. While AF is the best headphone amp I've used, and with 3.5W got these speakers quite loud, but I decided to try a different speaker amp with more power, and more of my listening time has shifted toward speakers. 15" woofers sound fuller with a little more power. This amp taught me I really love SET sound, how good hd800 can sound and will forever mentally compare all other audio gear to the detail, sound stage, and mid range this amp reproduces.

What does it come with? Original 2 box packaging, basic power cable, stock Electron Tube rectifier. I probably have the original manual too.

Now, lets talk turkey (thanksgiving isn't over until all the leftovers are gone). What am I looking for? Well I paid $2900 pre order price + taxes + s/h for this amp, another $100 or so on jupiter caps. I am looking for $2900 plus shipping, net to me. That means add paypal fees when using "for goods or products". Really just want to ship inside US, if I don't get bites I can open it up to other countries. Friends get priority, but where this is a pricey item - its probably open to all interested. If you are a random, I reserve to let a friend, contributor or even SBAF regular bump you out. So after all that - $2700 + S/H, ya hear?

But wait, there's more...

Have you ever wanted to be a tube roller but hate research, buying tubes from shady sellers, and talking about tubes? Here is a ready made care package of everything you would need to start your collection of glowing delights. Tube prices are listed as individual or pairs, but if you say you will buy a bunch or all of them it will be worth your while. I'm afraid if my wife ever finds out how much I've spent on tubes it will be used against me in divorce proceedings. Will be updating prices as I do a bit of research on what I paid for all of these.

AF tubes I collected in the past year:
RCA 5r4-GY Rectifier - very nice - $50 SOLD
Mullard Blackburn GE 5AR4 / GZ34 - also very nice improvement - sounds really really nice paid $120 new, asking $80 SOLD
Fivre Rectifier - Best of the bunch, but decide for yourself - forgot what I paid, imported from Italy (prego) - asking $45 SOLD
RCA 5670 - clean tube, ok detail - $25
Russian 6H3n-EB - no one does clean and lean like the Russians - $20 SOLD
Amprex Medical Grade 12ax7 - Expensive boy from Brent Jesse - paid $130 - asking $80
WE396A - The best driver tube I've used in terms of detail, Bendix 6385 right behind it and that costs $200+ - asking $35 SOLD
Electro Harmonix gold 2a3 - new production but amazing bang for the buck - 100% not warm, very detailed paid $125 new - asking $75 SOLD
Arcturus monoplate 2a3's - ridiculous hard to find, ridiculously expensive, ridiculously awesome sound - king of the RCA family style of 2a3s. Best I've tried, but I have not tried EML mesh's. They go on eBay for $1200 a pair, im willing to let go for $600. SOLD

All above tubes are fairly low hours - I would buy a tube, try it out for a couple months, and then try a different one. Nothing was used hard, left on for long periods of times. Same as above add paypal, free shipping within US, prefer to sell within US for now. Maybe Im off on used prices on tubes, I dont sell tubes, just looking at what I paid and knocking off 40-50%. feel free to tell me im charging too much

Feel free to ask a billion questions - will do my best to answer. Thanks!

 

Is biamping like Marv's rig not an option for you?

 

Yea, thought about biamping, certainly an option that was on the table and considered. Ultimately went simpler route with single amp. I find I enjoy music more with less components and simplicity.

That's actually one of main things that attracted me so much to the AF. It allowed me to combine headamp, speaker amp, and pre amp all into one device.

I used three different speakers on the more efficient side with AF, all with pros and cons. Biamping is certainly a tried and true method for getting the most out of the low end while getting all the benefits and sound of a SET amp. With Orca, I learned that small drivers cant reproduce bass as well as I like. With Omega, I learned single drivers tey to be good at everything but dont necessarily master anything. With Klipsch, big woofers like current.

 

Wish I could have heard this at the meet! What amp did you end up with?

 

Pass Labs XA-25. Heard it at RMAF in a couple systems and always had qualities I was looking for in an amp, in either tube or SS. Reno Hifi had Black Friday special on a "demo" unit. SET sound in solid state amp. Always thought I was a tube guy, but right when you think you have things all figured out, you find out you dont know jack.

 

Good Luck on the Pass Labs amp Josh. I've heard this amp and it sounds fantastic. Will make someone a very happy camper no doubt. Would make an excellent Black Friday acquisition!

 

PM sent for some toobz.

 

Pm sent too

 

Sorry, forgot to update / check pms for part of the day. Red highlighted stuff is gonzo. You AF tube hunters are thirsty.

 

Congrats, I totally get the attraction . dB

 

Bump before the weekend - $100 off to SBAFers. T-MINUS 4 days until listed on head-fi at old price.

 

Bump on this guy

But wait, there's more....

Willing to throw in speaker cables with speakon connectors to get your speakers up and running. Also willing to include some tubes to get you up and running, a WE396a driver and a pair of 2a3s. Also willing to strike a deal on the Arcturus 2a3s if someone is looking for the ultimate package from day one.

Lastly, feel free to ask questions if you are curious, I will do my best to answer about tubes, speakers, headphone pairings etc

 

Lowered price to $2,700 plus shipping + PP fee

Also put up price of $600 on the Arcturus 2a3's (now sold)

 

Amp is sold.