ECP Torpedo III [indexed in first post]

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by FlySweep, Nov 2, 2015.

  1. brencho

    brencho Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2015
    Likes Received:
    7,978
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    LA
    yeah we did a few tube comparisons, as did @HitmanFluffy a while back, just go back a dozen or so pages and look around. but off the top of my head, i really liked the brimar 6060 yellow T, probably the ones i used the most in my T3. i also remember liking the valvo 6201, and if you want you can pick up some RCA or GE 12AZ7 pretty cheaply to check that out.
     
  2. bazelio

    bazelio Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 16, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,417
    Trophy Points:
    113
    The thing did get aggressive after output CCS boards, and our tubefest with Philip et. al. was before those boards were even in existence. So YMMV heavily based on previous impressions. Sadly, I think I probably prefer the sound of my amp at the tubefest more than I do now. Back then it had the AMRG and no output CCS boards, and that has been my personal favorite config to date.

    Certainly with Utopia, the AZ and AT families became too much for me. I'd switched to 12AU7 for lower gain and just a less in your face presentation. Among the 12AU7s I've liked are Amperex Globe Logo and Westinghouse. But now my Utopias are gone, and I've not recalibrated since then with the Senns that I'll use going forward.
     
    Last edited: Aug 14, 2017
  3. bazelio

    bazelio Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 16, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,417
    Trophy Points:
    113
    There's no choke in there, but I do see the output CCS boards with heatsinks. The AMRG resistors, if in there, will stand out as obvious. They're so big, they almost look like caps. If you're a bass head, which I think you are, you might like the AMRG with output CCS. I don't recall ever trying the combo myself. But if you think the bass is too boomy, then removing those AMRG and replacing with some standard Vishay metal films will likely help.
     
  4. brencho

    brencho Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2015
    Likes Received:
    7,978
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    LA
    strongly doubt that @Greed's T3 had amrg resistors. i have extras from when i was f'ing around with the T3 if anyone wants them but they might be a pain in the ballz to squeeze in.
     
  5. JoshMorr

    JoshMorr Friend

    Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,066
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Portland, ME
    Luckbad history behind this amp. Gbeast bought this from furiousipaduser, who had this built by @Jh4db536 who has built a couple of these. No amrg resistors or choke, ccs boards and upgraded output caps. I had this unit on loan for a week or so, and really really liked it. Amazing detail, nice tight bass. Enjoy!
     
  6. brencho

    brencho Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2015
    Likes Received:
    7,978
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    LA
    agreed. depending on headphones, the ccs boards made the amp really f'ing fast and dynamic sounding. what others have said about soundstage is still true but man with hd6x0 the amp sounds pretty damn good (probably best synergy/ favorite pairing of what i heard with the t3-- hd800, utopia, elear forget what else...). what baz says about utopia makes sense, though i never got to hear the T3 with 12au7 tubes.
     
    Last edited: Aug 15, 2017
  7. Melvillian

    Melvillian Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2017
    Likes Received:
    1,345
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    I want to hear one without the Output CCS boards. If I were to get one I'd probably remove them. T3 can be a bit too aggressive
     
    Last edited: Aug 16, 2017
  8. Luckbad

    Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,408
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Holly Springs, NC
    I'm sure @Greed checked these things out already, but I want to double check when it arrives to ensure nothing changed in shipping:

    How do I accurately check the case for proper ground stray voltage with a multimeter? I know in the build instructions it says to check it, but I didn't see exactly how.
     
  9. 9suns

    9suns [insert unearned title here]

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 19, 2017
    Likes Received:
    1,754
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    EU
    Any news regarding the T4? Will it have balanced inputs and 4 pin XLR for balanced headphones?
    With all the recent "noise" issues and bans, I don't know if this qualifies as noise or not, so sorry if that is the case, I'm just extremely curious.
     
  10. HitmanFluffy

    HitmanFluffy Hoping to see real genitals someday!

    Anti-SBAF PSYOPS Banned
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,532
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Austin, Texas
    T4 is dead lol
     
  11. TomB

    TomB MOT: Beezar

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,753
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Atlanta
    Home Page:
    Just a quick note -

    I don't normally go in for expensive tubes. Instead, I prefer to find the undiscovered jewel among the rocks. A lot of the descriptions for exclusive audiophile tubes just smack me as so much BS, especially when considering price. Maybe that's why I like the 12AZ7 so well, because it closely qualifies as one of those jewels on a rocky road less-traveled.

    Well, one of my friends with a T3 has a thing for Mullards. In my experience with Mullards, I share his preference but have still shied away from them, doubting that they would make that much of a difference - especially because of their price. Boy, was I ever wrong!

    I have never, ever heard a better tube in the T3, PERIOD. The Mullards I'm talking about are not even the brand-name Mullards, but the English-version of JAN - the CV4024. There are several sellers on ebay, but this link seems to be cheapest and where my friend and I ordered from:
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/12AT7WA-CV4024-ECC81-M8162-MULLARD-NOS-BOXED-MATCHED-QUAD/310158211752?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

    This guy is in the UK, so it will take a couple of weeks to get the tubes. That link is for quads, but he sells in pairs and singles, too. With shipping, it makes them about $20/tube, which is not really that expensive in the whole scheme of things. Note that he doesn't really "match." As good as the Mullards are, their outputs test as somewhat inconsistent. I bought two quads and the triodes test anywhere from 90 to 120 on a B&K 747. So, you may want the quad in order to get a good match.

    Anyway, just thought I'd let you know if you were interested. They push the T3 to another level: holographic, with silky-sweet highs, including some metal sheen trailing off with cymbals, and good bass, too. ;)

    P.S. There's still another T3 available. [shameless plug]
     
  12. HitmanFluffy

    HitmanFluffy Hoping to see real genitals someday!

    Anti-SBAF PSYOPS Banned
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,532
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Austin, Texas
    I have posted before about the CV4024s, and I liked them a lot, second only to the ultra rare Brimars. Langrex is legit, but as Tom says, the matching is sketchy, so buy more (I did).
     
  13. JeffYoung

    JeffYoung Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Apr 11, 2017
    Likes Received:
    714
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Ireland
    PartsConexion also has them, but for a bit more money ($28). Their matching service is another $5, but I've never ordered tubes from them so I can't say how rigorous/sketchy it is.
     
  14. SineDave

    SineDave Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Apr 18, 2016
    Likes Received:
    862
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Houston, TX
    Home Page:
    I've got some Brimar's from Langrex, so I placed an order for a quad. It will be interesting to compare in my T3. Thanks for letting us know about these!
     
  15. dsavitsk

    dsavitsk Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,616
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Home Page:
    Tom will get mad at me, but here's the current update ...

    The T4 is in the works. It is pretty similar to the T3 but with a larger case and with many of the limitations that the T3's small case brought addressed. While we do not know exactly where it will fall, in the scheme of (handmade, small batch) headphone amps I would consider its price point as "reasonable".

    The T5 is also in the works. It is much more complicated, is also a better circuit, and uses some very expensive parts. The 3rd prototype is up and running and seems to be performing as expected (which is to say that it sounds good to my ear). Its price point will be less reasonable. Indeed, we decided to pursue the T4 after it became clear that the T5 was going to be more expensive than we initially hoped.

    At the current rate, I think we should be able to demonstrate final prototypes of both by late September or early October. Oh, and both will use the same tubes as the T3 for those with an investment.
     
  16. Luckbad

    Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,408
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Holly Springs, NC
    That is outstanding news! I am more than happy to sacrifice space for improved performance.
     
  17. 9suns

    9suns [insert unearned title here]

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 19, 2017
    Likes Received:
    1,754
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    EU
    Wonderful news :)

    (T4) Will it have unbalanced inputs like the T3 or balanced xlr?

    PS: Thanks for the update!
     
  18. TomB

    TomB MOT: Beezar

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,753
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Atlanta
    Home Page:
    Oops! I wish I had remembered before posting.
     
  19. TomB

    TomB MOT: Beezar

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,753
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Atlanta
    Home Page:
    Nope. Not mad, just glad!
     
  20. dsavitsk

    dsavitsk Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,616
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Home Page:
    RCA in and (likely) TRS out in both cases. It is possible we'll use a 4-pin XLR out for one or both, but because it is a high voltage amp, the secondaries must be grounded, which means that it does not make any difference. It doesn't make any difference anyway, though I do think XLRs look nicer.
     

Share This Page