EC Aficionado (was: The Studio Jr.)

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

  1. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

    Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,999
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Tempe, Arizona
    There's a power light on the main chasis.
     
  2. Maxx134

    Maxx134 Dunning–Kruger effect poster boy

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    818
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    NYC
    After working on this unit,
    I have to say its like a breath of fresh air inside,
    compaired the internals of other amps when it comes to working on it.

    This is like a muscle car with alotta room to mod, compared to, lets say a compact car.

    The beauty is the there is so little to do or work on.

    In stock form it is already so well done.
    But with upgrading it so easy to adjust to your desire and is absolutely at a "top-of-the-heap" category.
    Realy a sweet & easy amp to have and mod for true "higher" than end game sonics. (Not talking fluff here, main comparison was a Cayin HA300 ).... IMO.

    Anyways, in last pic I moved the sockets 180 to show the fronts of those EML tubes..

    That tiny light was there.
    I did already upgade the internals(Jupiter, kaisie)
    But still waiting on some replacement cathode caps. (Not necessary, just a preference thing.)
     
    Last edited: Jul 18, 2018
  3. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

    Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,999
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Tempe, Arizona
    Oh yeah, I wished the tubes and transformers were 180 to show off.
     
  4. BillOhio

    BillOhio Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2017
    Likes Received:
    2,396
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Glendale CA
    Home Page:
    Agreed on the tubes being 180
     
  5. JoshMorr

    JoshMorr Friend

    Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,066
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Portland, ME
    Thats like putting your exhaust in front of the engine. Classic design cant be beat.

    Now - more sonic impressions, favorite tube combos, pairing with speakers, and people with a few loose screws who are pushing mods.
     
  6. Maxx134

    Maxx134 Dunning–Kruger effect poster boy

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    818
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    NYC
    Rephrasing that to "people who have ability to mod" sounds alot better...
    Or customize for that matter.
    I might just have been obliged to describe some differences of going from stock coupling caps to Jupiter.

    In fact I retained a use for stock caps elsewhere,
    to keep some of these stock sonic attributes.

    But saying naughty things like that sounds like biting the hand that feeds you.

    Anyways, stock form it is on par with other top of the heap amps,
    and just a different character when your at that level.

    Here is some of my simple breakdown comments of amps in STOCK FORM:

    Studio= a bit to clean large stage
    Woo33elite= a bit sterile, less stage
    Woo33= less sterile but not clean.
    Cayin HA300= a bit too lush/euphoric and less stage
    Aficionado= eclipse/match others above in resolve.
    Cleaner than woo33 and larger soundStage than all above except studio.
    Not sterile, but also not lush.

    Regardless if no one wants to hear it,
    But admittedly,
    the amp does scale noticably higher with Jupiter cap upgrade.

    Enough so to hit a level that is rather jaw dropping.
    EC should include it as an upgrade, IMO.
     
    Last edited: Jul 19, 2018
  7. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

    Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,999
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Tempe, Arizona
    Very nice comparison to some heavy hitters! What tubes were used? Any other mods?
     
  8. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,778
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    Let's make a Bay Area meet happen. I know a few itching up there and I need to visit my folks soon. Maybe mid August to Sept.
     
  9. Mark W

    Mark W New

    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2017
    Likes Received:
    12
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Novato, CA
    Count me in. I'm going to have Craig undo the tertiary/NFB mod, but I'll wait until after the meet (if we have one) so we can compare to the stock non-NFB set up, if anyone else is interested.
     
  10. Maxx134

    Maxx134 Dunning–Kruger effect poster boy

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    818
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    NYC
    The EMLs gave it larger & better sound over some old stock Sylvania, but they are expensive.
    The driver tube was Western Electric 396A.
    The owners choice on both.

    This not a "mod" thread so I do not want to litter it with mods of which I haven't seen anyone else do in this thread so it would be a bit much.
     
  11. Mark W

    Mark W New

    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2017
    Likes Received:
    12
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Novato, CA
    First impressions:

    Great sounding amp

    Did wonders for the 'missing' bottom on the HD800s's

    Low end further improved by rolling in a Mullard GZ 34 metal base on the power supply

    EML solids sound fantastic with good low end happening (still burning in)

    Sophia Princess Carbon 300b w/2.5 volt filament sound slightly drier and more forward with (slightly) less bottom

    This is with the tertiary/feedback mod and the Jupiter cap mod.

    Still want to compare with the no feedback set up, and will most likely have my unit taken back to no feedback.

    Setup is AIFF files>>network>>Fiber Media Converters>>Sonore Signature Rendu SE>>Chord Mojo/Jolida GlassFX DAC's>>Aficionado>>HD800S
     
  12. BillOhio

    BillOhio Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2017
    Likes Received:
    2,396
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Glendale CA
    Home Page:
    If there is a Bay Area meet, JK or I might be able to bring ours if there isn't one up there already with swapped caps and no feedback. I'd like to hear the EMLs.
     
  13. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,778
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    Mod discussion is OK. As someone posted back, "for those who know WTF they want and WTF they are doing". The stock amp is good for most people who don't mod. If you want to mod, and know WTF you are actually doing, then mod away - warranty will be supported on case-by-case basis. If your mods or you break it, then no warranty. The internals and huge real estate inside the chassis are intentionally conducive to modding.
     
  14. Maxx134

    Maxx134 Dunning–Kruger effect poster boy

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    818
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    NYC
    Ok.

    I agree this area not easy to get "better" choice.

    I currently swapped out the stock cathode caps, wich was not an optimal descision to attempt,
    Because it is a more difficult and expensive route to keep a balanced signature, while trying to squeeze out even more.
    Before:
    20180717_134312.jpg
    After:
    20180726_194810.jpg

    So I got more low end authority and smoothness,
    but also a slightly darker sound, so
    Looks like it will need further tweaking.

    From my observations,
    I would have to agree here, and not recommend Deulunds unless you want a thicker/darker amp.
     
    Last edited: Aug 6, 2018
  15. BillOhio

    BillOhio Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2017
    Likes Received:
    2,396
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Glendale CA
    Home Page:
    Maybe JK and I will do a round 2 comparison sometime A/B'ing his with the Jupiters and mine with the Duelunds with headphones. On speakers I'm not sure any of the three of us could tell them apart.
     
  16. Maxx134

    Maxx134 Dunning–Kruger effect poster boy

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    818
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    NYC
    Well the difference from stock Im thinking is probably around 7% so its not that big a deal unless you are critical.

    I currently feel the Aficionado Im working on is about 5% darker than stock using the WE driver tube.

    So yeah, using JK47 baby speakers would probably not yield that difference.
    :p

    I'm currently tunning Afficionado to match the tonality of the neutral Benchmark HPA4 amp without needing special driver tubes...
    The cap swap did increase its bass though, but still well controlled so thats good as it is very satisfying.
    Absolutely not issues with low end at all.
    :)
     
  17. Maxx134

    Maxx134 Dunning–Kruger effect poster boy

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    818
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    NYC
    I had to clarify post with pics as it may have interpreted that stock lytics not optimal.

    I meant to say (after experimenting) that stock lyctics are very optimized,
    and changing them is a long expensive route to tuning as it increases variables exponentially.
     
  18. songmic

    songmic Gear cycler East Asia edition

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,102
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Seoul, South Korea
    I'm not sure if this has been discussed before, but it seems that an Eddie Current amp called Aficionado existed around 10 years ago. I wonder if the current Aficionado is a successor to this amp, or a completely new overhauled design.

    http://www.emissionlabs.com/images/amps/EDDIE-CURRENT/proto.jpg
    http://s55.photobucket.com/user/Asrale/media/SoCal 2008/socal08_11.jpg.html
    https://www.head-case.org/forums/topic/4684-socal-hilton-lax-101808/

    Boy, this was back when Eddie Current was actually warmly received at Head-Case, and before Mikhail of Singlepower went dark side. Who would've thought.
     
  19. BillOhio

    BillOhio Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2017
    Likes Received:
    2,396
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Glendale CA
    Home Page:
    Had the chance this weekend to swap out the JJ 2A3s for a pair of EML Mesh's. I thought the EML's added a little extra touch of 'richness' to the sound. Maybe just a little fuller, clearer(?) and with a little more separation. I only spent a few moments with the EMLs as I was hosting, and the impression is a casual one, but they did sound nice. I missed the chance to hear the Ken Rads but their owner lives nearby and we may do a more dedicated listening session some time in the near future.

    Still, listening to Under The Table and Dreaming on the JJs right now with my morning coffee and it's pretty wonderful.

    Edit: The EMLs may have brought the mids up towards the front a bit also.
     
    Last edited: Aug 14, 2018
  20. Mark W

    Mark W New

    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2017
    Likes Received:
    12
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Novato, CA
    Does anyone have any experience and/or thoughts on mercury vapor rectification ? Is it worth the trouble ?
     

Share This Page