EC Aficionado (was: The Studio Jr.)

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

  1. Taverius

    Taverius Smells like sausages

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    One thing I suggest are the little tabletop arms with metal gators on the end.

    If your hands are anything but rock steady, or you're not very experienced, it sure helps when things aren't moving around with every twitch you do ... they were a lifesaver back when I used to solder my own RC car battery packs together.

    P.S. should be able to get a pure chinesium pair for a buck, just to hold the cap steady as your solder hand moves around like an excited chihuahua.
     
    Last edited: Apr 7, 2018
  2. kirayamato

    kirayamato Friend

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  3. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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  4. kirayamato

    kirayamato Friend

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  5. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    Yes, I was told by a trusted third party that it's a direct replacement.
     
  6. msommers

    msommers High on Epipens

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    And learn to discharge caps safely.
     
  7. bazelio

    bazelio Friend

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    ^^^

    Yes. Jumping in to a high voltage device after just having learned how to solder is an indicator that you probably have absolutely no idea what you're doing. In which case ... you really shouldn't be doing it. The plate voltages are in the 300V neighborhood most likely - very dangerous.
     
  8. Druid

    Druid Hyperactive Tree

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    Good to know. I'll put this on the back burner and find a simple soldering project to practice and build experience on.
     
  9. nachocheese70

    nachocheese70 Facebook Friend

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    Please note, being highly skilled at soldering and working on amps (or any device containing big capacitors) are two completely separate skills. I got to do tons of soldering (and desoldering) in college and my first job, and I’d say I’m very good at it, but they were sensor or control boards. No big caps, no high voltage/amps. I’ve yet to do any major work on an amp, and forget trying to build/mod where if something doesn’t work right away, the troubleshooting involves playing with a live/hot amp. Super high volts and massive current can mean a really really bad day.

    Please learn the key safety skills, at minimum such as using only one hand while discharging caps and poking around a potentially hot amp (other hand in pocket or someplace not touching ground), how to discharge caps, safety goggles (a bad short = exploding parts), ...etc.

    Please be safe.
     
  10. Druid

    Druid Hyperactive Tree

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    Don't worry guys. I'm by nature an insanely careful person, and won't undertake this until I'm absolutely ready, even if that's a year or more from now. Hell, this amp sounds insanely good already, so there's no need for me to rush.
     
  11. JoshMorr

    JoshMorr Friend

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    Damn it, wanted to ignore cap swapping and think that their wouldn't be a significant difference between stock and jupiter. Maybe just a small change. Nope it's a big change, bigger than I've heard with swapping rectifiers or drivers (as others have said).



    Still burning in and impressions to come.
     

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  12. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    Which microfarad version did you go with? I can't quite tell on the pic.
     
  13. bazelio

    bazelio Friend

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    [​IMG]
     
  14. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    Wow...I ummmm...just woke up. Sorry hahahahaha
     
  15. raif

    raif Man made lobster/plankton

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    Ughh this cap development has given me a major case of audiophile nervousa. Need some more impressions folks!

    For the Jupiter, it seems that the .22 uf will give a fuller sound and the .1 is more transparent. Of course when I reached out to Craig, it turns out he is not a big fan of the Jupiter caps and prefers the existing caps, claiming that they are more neutral.

    Ultimately I have a lot respect for both parties opinions and would likely be happy regardless of the final choice, but let’s be honest, half the fun of this hobby is obsessing over the minutiae like this.

    So bring on those impressions, people!
     
  16. Comzee

    Comzee Facebook Friend

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    Ya Craig said the same thing to me, the word he specifically used for the Jupiters are "muddy", but that's normal. The Jupiters take minimum 50hr burn in before they start sounding not shit, and 100hr+ before getting to 99%+ performance.

    I remember when I first put the Jupiters in one of my amps, I was going to immediately take them out, before another hifi'er told me just to let them burn in for a week. Did the trick.

    I'm not sure if Craig burned them in, but if he was just swapped in caps day to day for testing, I doubt they got burned in.


    I also want to mention, Craig told me stock caps were not his personal choice, he has recommended these to me multiple times for the Aficionado, if anybody cares to try https://www.parts-express.com/audiocap-ppt-theta-022uf-600v-film-foil-capacitor--027-714
     
  17. raif

    raif Man made lobster/plankton

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    Just want to update that my statement was false. Craig was referring to the cap Comzee mentions above (Parts Express 027-714). I assumed it was the cap that came with the amplifier.
     
  18. msommers

    msommers High on Epipens

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    Another amp maker is also a big fan of those caps for his preamps vs Jupiter's, bypassed by Russian Teflon if I recall. Both were marginally beat by the Duelands according to him.
     
  19. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Very transparent and "uncolored", but too lean, maybe even sterile. Differences of opinion. Personally, I didnt want this sound for the AF because there is the Studio, and I figured if you wanted THX AAA tonality, you wouldn't be going for an Af.

    The Jupiters have some haze that goes away rather quickly with normal use. And even then, that small downside is outweighed by the slightly better slam, slighter full body, and significant increase in microdynamics, air, and depth. Keep in mind that I use the 0.1uf.

    Really, just install them yourself. Super easy.
     
    Last edited: Apr 10, 2018
  20. raif

    raif Man made lobster/plankton

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    So what you are saying is I need to buy some burner toobz for this process. There is no way I am going to use the RCA's I just overpayed for...

    I am glad you jumped on and clarified. For whatever reason, I had assumed the opposite, that you were looking looking more for Studio-like presentation, most likely due to this project at one time being called the Studio Jr and doing dummy brain arithmetic.

    So, takeaways:
    1) My assumptions are crap. Zero for two in this thread alone.
    2) I am going to give the .1 Jupiters a go as they seem to match what I am looking for from this amp.
     

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