Isn't it about time for a new EC amp?

Discussion in 'Eddie Current' started by zerodeefex, Dec 1, 2015.

  1. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    Marv, wtf is going on over there? Anything interesting in the pipeline? Maybe something solid state, single chassis, and a perfect match for the Gungnir Multibit? Something that sounds f'ing divine with CEE TEE's modded HD650, Paradox Slants, and HD800s in my system?

    I mean, Black Widow was only the best solid state amp I've ever heard, but I want more. What is there for us who are looking for something more resolving, removing that slight roll at the top, maybe leaning a tad more in the direction of the Studio? What if we want to trade a little bit of that full bodied sound for resolution?

    Hell, I'll come right out and say it: I REALLY wish we could get some Craig magic focused on making a "GSX MKII done right." You know, maybe a similar signature but without that awful treble grain, with gobs more resolution, and wayyyy better bass control and definition? Oh yeah, can you make sure it isn't ridiculously overpriced? It better stomp the V281 and MK2 but come in at a WAY lower price point.

    Oh f**k! I forgot, I have this awesome prototype that CEE TEE dropped off on Sunday night! And what, I have to ship it back tomorrow and so I'm still listening at 1:30 am despite having to wake up at 5:30 because it's THAT good?

    I'll have to post up some impressions tomorrow night I guess :)
     
  2. HitmanFluffy

    HitmanFluffy Hoping to see real genitals someday!

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    I remember back on CS he mentioned something codenamed the Copperhead that sounded like what you described. He even used the same way of describing it, and pulled out a ballpark price of $1000, which makes this dirty tease from you even more so.
     
  3. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    If he did I'd be pissed because he managed to poop in my cereal months before I posted this thread. MARV OF YESTERDAY! DON'T RUIN MY THREAD!
     
  4. SKiring

    SKiring Friend

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    http://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/black-widow-update.140/page-2#post-11903

    He totally beat you to it!

    In all seriousness I think this might make my decision very hard, my HDVA600 leans more towards BW which means I'm used to it, but more resolving power? I do have a HD650 + my modded HD800... It's gonna be tough, especially since it's coming from my Bifrost Multibit, which might just be a better match with CH?

    Anyway more impressions please! :eek::cool:
     
  5. HitmanFluffy

    HitmanFluffy Hoping to see real genitals someday!

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    [​IMG]
     
  6. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    Well i can say this amp ruined my week. Two nights of less than 3 hours of sleep due to needing to hear one more album doesn't work so well :)
     
  7. jowls

    jowls Never shitposts (please) - Friend

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    Holy shitballs. Copperhead. My Valhalla is slightly concerned right now...
     
  8. jowls

    jowls Never shitposts (please) - Friend

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    I think this can be determined by your own level of confidence in the person providing their support for the product.

    CS/SBAF advice is yet to let me down.
     
  9. drfindley

    drfindley Secretly lives in the Analog Room - Friend

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    It's like you've not heard multiple "trusted members" say how great Tay-Tay is.
     
  10. sfoclt

    sfoclt Friend

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  11. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    copperhead.png

    Thinking the dress plate could be anodized copper. The overall width is little bit more than 16". Put the Gungnir Multibit on top of it. We are waiting for the production qualifier boards back. Ravi has the prototype as he said.
     
  12. sfoclt

    sfoclt Friend

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    Is there a cup holder?
     
  13. ald0s

    ald0s Facebook Friend

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    Can you give us any more info at the moment Purrin? Balanced ins perhaps? same time frame as BW?

    EDIT: Damn i just read the BW post
     
  14. CEE TEE

    CEE TEE MOT: NITSCH

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    Some extremely quick thoughts here. Should probably continue all chat on Copperhead here since BW looks to be going DIY later...
     
  15. AustinValentine

    AustinValentine Friend

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    Otherwise, it's hypesturbation.
     
  16. M3NTAL

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    ZD - it would be interesting to hear your opinion of the C-Head vs K^3/KKK/Klone. It sounds like its tuning is more back in line with the Klone where there the BW departed more to the lusher side of things.
     
  17. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    For balanced inputs, I'd suggest an XLR to SE box like the Radial Twin ISO. The caveat is that if you are using Yggdrasil or Gungnir Multibit, the outputs are hot at 4V RMS, so there will be an increase in bass distortion. See this: http://www.superbestaudiofriends.or...s/20150925-gungnir-mb-xfmr-thd-thd-n-png.771/

    To get around this, there are bigger transformers for the job, but of course the trade-off is cost. There are no plans to provide a built-in balanced input for the Copperhead, but Craig and I discussed the possibility of maybe providing XLR to SE transformer box. We are talking about a $500 converter box after all is said and done with the chassis, connectors, etc. Good transformers cost a lot of money. If there is significant interest, we might be even able to make it a SuperBAF special at a slightly lower price; but all this sort of defeats the point of a decent sub $1k amp.
     
  18. Smitty

    Smitty Too good for bad vodka - Friend

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    I wouldn't mind the price, the markup above a DIY solution isn't really that large and you guys gotta eat. Besides, casework is a bastard for those of us that live in cheap apartments.
     
  19. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    Different class of amp, CH is a clear step above. The only three SS amps in this class in my opinion are the Ragnarok, the Black Widow, and the Copperhead. The Klone is in the same class as the GSX MKII with the ranking in terms of resolution and technicalities being:

    (Class B: Dynahi >= Klone > GSX MKII) >>>> (Class F: everything violectric) >>>>> (Class don't buy this: everything Burson)

    I would separate the three amps in the top tier as follows:

    Powering relatively efficient but super resolving speakers (oh and you might have some headphones too): Ragnarok
    Looking for a resolving amp with midrange sweetness and a hint of that wetness that makes tube amps awesome; won't be using it with IEMs/don't mind high output Z; will be using Orthos (or have a leaner DAC): Black Widow
    Looking for the most resolution and midrange clarity/own a MB Bifrost or Gungnir Multibit: Copperhead

    Personally with the Gungnir Multibit I'm going to try to get my hands on a Copperhead when they are available for sale if our family budget can make it work. I'd strongly recommend it for anyone with a MB Bifrost.

    Honestly, I think Marv and Craig have a tendency to underestimate the long term economics of their pricing model. Honestly, even coming from a low margin industry myself, I look at what they're doing and I'd instantly say the price targets are way too low. In their shoes I'd stuff the converter in a single chassis with the amp and say $2500 was the lowest I'd go for a balanced amp. If the larger chassis ends up requiring more custom work, I could see it easily edging to 3k. Obviously this is speculation; I don't have inner knowledge of BOMs, OCOGs, initial cost of R&D, if any NRE was required from anyone else, support/reverse expectations over the lifetime of the product, etc for EC.
     
    Last edited: Dec 1, 2015
  20. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    Marv,

    so would some "EC designed XLR to SE converter box (around $500)":

    a) be suitable for Yggdrasil/Gungnir Multibit into Black Widow or CopperH?
    b) kick ass sonically over a Jensen ISO-MAX PC-2XR ?
    c) be painted with unicorn sprinkles ?

    SBAF sign up list at mild price reduction (so yours and our families don't starve) would be speshul. please if possible.
     

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