Eddie Current Super 7

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by Luckbad, Aug 19, 2017.

  1. 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
    The doubled-up wiring is legitimately much better. It's two of the same wires twisted together for double the pleasure and--apparently--double the fun. Bass in particular has more slam than it did last night. Maybe because bass is particularly demanding, the lower gauge wire couldn't handle the truth.

    This capacitor combo is really quite impressive. Outstanding detail without any harshness and excellent extension in both directions. I was surprised how much performance was left on the table since the amp was already incredible to begin with.

    Now this Super 7 differs from stock in the following ways:
    • 0.1μF Jantzen Superior Z-Cap capacitors x2
    • 10μF Mundorf MCap EVO Aluminum Oil capacitors x2
    • Vampire CM1FCB RCA connectors
    • A big knurled metal volume knob
    • 7x 7N7 tubes w/ adapters
     
  2. 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
    Update:
    • Haven't rolled tubes for almost a month. Still using all 7N7 tubes in the configuration from the linked image.
    • I love the capacitor complement. I'm going to open it back up in a week or so to strap the Mundorfs in properly (no electrical tape or zip ties sticking out of the top of the case).
     
  3. Walderstorn

    Walderstorn Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Mar 20, 2016
    Likes Received:
    1,904
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Europe
    Who are you and what did you do to Luckbad?
     
  4. 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
    Maybe I should ask this in the DIY forum, but I was wondering if anyone has experience with adhesive cable tie mounting bases on smooth metal.

    The Super 7 uses some kinda like the ones I bought for wire routing, but I'm hoping these bigger mounts will last pretty much forever.

    My Mundorfs are currently stuck to the top of the inside of the case with electrical tape and zip ties that go through the vents.

    I want to clean up the look and I'm hoping a couple of zip ties and corresponding adhesive mounts per capacitor will stand the test of time.
     
  5. Mr.Sneis

    Mr.Sneis Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,321
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Phoenix, AZ
    That's the way to do it, lots of different design choices.
     
  6. 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
    Finally got around to strapping the Mundorfs in correctly, so no more zip ties through the vents.

    I left a lot of the electrical tape there for extra security. Thought about hot glue on the edges like I did with the wiring but decided against it.

    IMG_20171122_200514~2.jpg
     
  7. Mr.Sneis

    Mr.Sneis Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,321
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Phoenix, AZ
    Why didn't you use one mount under the cap? The leads oriented too weird?
     
  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
    Felt less secure. I tried it briefly but it would have slowly swung the adhesive off every time I moved the amp. Or at least it seemed that way.
     
  9. 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 now have my second TOTL (in my mind) amplifier: the Cavalli Liquid Crimson. In comparing it and the Eddie Current Super 7, I am astonished out how good the S7 is. Completely stock, the Super 7 would be notably behind in a few areas (especially the @Marvey micro areas [plankton/microdetail and microdynamics]). With my modest modifications applied and a decent tube complement, it's still behind in certain areas, but it's ahead in others.

    The Liquid Crimson wins in overall clarity, blackness, microdynamics, transients, and most audiophile-centric terms.

    The Super 7 wins in musicality, liquidity, soundstage, slam, timbre, richness, and other terms that communicate "fun."

    The gaps in every category are much smaller than I expected. The Liquid Crimson retailed at more than 50% higher than the Super 7, if I recall correctly. That gap is not present in overall performance. We're not talking about "last 1% of" stuff here exclusively either, but different flavors of top of the line in my mind.

    I'll use greater-than (>) and less-than (<) signs to show which amp is technically superior in several categories (as well as some less technical subjective terms, the signs denoting which is more in that area).

    As I listen to both more (sitting at ~12 hours on the LC now) and swap tubes, some of these could change and I might add additional categories as they come to me.

    LC = Cavalli Audio Liquid Crimson (NOT Carbon)
    S7 = Eddie Current Super 7

    Aggressive: LC > S7
    Air: LC > S7
    Blackness: : LC > S7
    Body: LC < S7
    Clarity: LC > S7
    Dry: LC > S7
    Laid-Back: LC < S7
    Liquidity: LC < S7
    Macrodetail: LC = S7
    Microdynamics: LC > S7
    Musicality: LC < S7
    Neutral: LC > S7
    Plankton/Microdetail: LC = S7
    Resolution: LC ≥ S7
    Richess: LC < S7
    Slam: LC < S7
    Timbre: LC < S7
    Transient Response: LC > S7
    Warm: LC < S7
    Wet: LC < S7
     
  10. jowls

    jowls Never shitposts (please) - Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2015
    Likes Received:
    4,495
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    42°S
    Oh nice. It sounds like you should have every audio contingency pretty much covered by those two amps. Just keep both an get off the gear merry-go-round IMHO.
     
  11. 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
    Yes.

    I've asked my lovely wife for a PayPal Gift Card or like... an IOU $400 in PayPal moneys for Christmas. Next stop will be my parents. Don't buy me socks this year, just give me money toward PayPal. Then my birthday is in March and I could pull the "Hey make it a gift for both holidays!" bullcrap.

    They excel in different areas than one another.

    I now understand why @atomicbob has a Liquid Crimson and a Zana Deux SE (assuming the latter has similar qualities to the Super 7).
     
  12. 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
    @Hands or @Marvey have you heard another amp that does the timbre of acoustic guitars at the same level as the Super 7?

    Is that something that is part of the Eddie Current house sound?

    As I switch back and forth between the S7 and Liquid Crimson, that's one of the most obvious places that I prefer the Eddie Current amp 100% of the time. If an acoustic guitar starts strumming, I have to switch to the Super 7.
     
  13. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,779
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    Yes. The timbre of the EC stuff pretty much sounds the same across the board. If you want more clarity, replace interstage caps. I think the S7 you have uses Solens. They suck. It took me years to get Craig to ditch them. Feedback caps help a tiny bit too. Not just timbre, there is a certain crispness and presence of harmonics.

    P.S. Just noticed you changed caps. Might want to try other one boutique ones. Superiors are nice, but still budget, and kind of hazy and veiled compared the really good ones. The Superior's strength is tone and cohesiveness. I never liked the Mundorfs. Don't get me wrong. They good, and I would use them if I got them for free (instead of trashing them), but not the last word in clarity or resolution.
     
    Last edited: Nov 29, 2017
  14. 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
    Mundorfs were a clear improvement from stock and inexpensive. I should really find a way to get some of those motor run caps. I might have to order 10, wait a few months for the order, then sell 8.

    And Hands keeps pushing the Audyn True Copper in place of those Jantzens so I should probably try those as well.

    CineMag has transformers that would be almost drop-in replacements but I'd be out $300+ if I didn't prefer them.

    Given how much I listen to acoustic guitar and big classical music--both genres the Super 7 beats the Liquid In--if I do sell one, it'll probably be the Cavalli.
     
  15. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

    Staff Member Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    12,285
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Colorado
    Home Page:
    Those Audyn I liked cause they sounded good, clean, and powerful to me for cheap. I'm not saying they're the last word in anything, but they seem generally good. They also didn't melt like the wax Jupiters inside that oven of an amp...

    But it's really those motor run caps that sealed the deal.
     
  16. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,779
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    Aren't you running some sort of super fancy boutique discrete shunt regulated regulator that dissipates 33W for the driver tube filament? The side panels of the S7 don't have vents...
     
  17. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

    Staff Member Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    12,285
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Colorado
    Home Page:
    Ah, yeah, that too. :)

    I need to make custom side panels. And maybe just drill Swiss cheese hole all over the case. And put it in some of that 3M server rack cooling liquid.
     
  18. 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
    It should be pretty easy to make 3D printed side panels. Really not much more difficult to do aluminum since they're perfect rectangles.

    I have zero heat issues with mine (I've measured the inside heat level and it's pretty cool even in there).

    Since I'm leaning toward at least keeping the Super 7 maybe I'll look into that a bit.

    Not selling it also means I can be lazy about properly repairing a lifted trace. On one of the caps I tried to go too thick on the wiring and overheated the board, lifting one trace. My "fix" since I didn't have the right stuff on hand was electrical tape and hot glue. It'll stay fixed indefinitely that way but it looks shitty.
     
  19. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

    Staff Member Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    8,145
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Exit stage left....
    yes mine too! this custom panel mod drilling party needs to happen in @MisterRogers basement once he returns from overseas deportation.
     
  20. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

    Staff Member Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    12,285
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Colorado
    Home Page:
    I need @MisterRogers to see if he can't figure out some hum issues on mine.

    While he does that, we'll use his kitchen as a panel workshop.
     

Share This Page