EC Aficionado (was: The Studio Jr.)

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

  1. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Roll output transformers.
     
  2. Griffon

    Griffon 2nd biggest asshole on SBAF

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    One of the most evil advice on SBAF.
     
  3. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Muahahahahahaha!
     
  4. JK47

    JK47 Guest

    One of these things is not like the others, one of these things doesn't belong... Can you spot it?
    IMG_1530.jpg

    There's a toggle switch where the Right channel SE out was... Hmmmmmm

    It is a switch to go back and forth between Feedback and No Feedback !!!

    I've been poking around asking questions to @purr1n and others, playing with the idea of having the option of adjustable feedback in the AF (@purr1n advised against it and, suggested a simpler on/off switch). That's the route I took and it's nice to have the choice because the loss of gain hurts my semi efficient Fostex BLH speakers. It's quite the noticeable difference volume wise, but the tighteness of the bass and crisper presentation suit some styles of music more than others. I'm torn between the 2 settings, and will most likely go back and forth depending on mood and music selection.

    Some people were very helpful in my research and, others were as Borat would say NHAAAT !!! So I will not be publishing a guide, secretly telling people how to do this, or doing this mod for people. Ask a pro, I won't be held responsible for you blowing up your amp and gear. It took me a while to figure it out.

    IMG_1529.jpg

    EDIT: I didn't know EC offered an AF with the switch already, cool stuff.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 9, 2018
  5. Ash1412

    Ash1412 Friend

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    Awesome. I see the EC site's also been updated with a new AF "Plus" model with the NFB switch. How much feedback did you guys settle on? Is it gonna be the same for the Plus?
     
    Last edited: Nov 9, 2018
  6. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Haha. That's awesome. Makes sense to put the switch there since the SE outs are from the tertiary winding.

    Craig will do or undo the tertiary feedback mod for CUSTOMERS. That means means people who bought from him, not people who bought used.

    People who are not customers, that is who purchased used: I know Craig's builder who MAY need able to help. Just make sure you have original shipping boxes.

    The Af can easily be modified to run 300Bs too. Just a turn of a screw; but you will need to be able measure voltage at 40kHz+ because of the high frequency filament heaters.
     
  7. Mark W

    Mark W New

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    Does anyone know if it's ok to run a Bendix Red Bank 6385 as a driver with it's 500mA heater current ? Can the PS handle that ?
    thanks
     
  8. JoshMorr

    JoshMorr Friend

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    The bendix 6385 works, a friend here (former friend, his amp has pee in it) sent one around to a couple people. Don't trust my experience, it might still be on the edge of what works. Really nice driver, detailed, enhanced low end, but not bloomy. Saw the price tag and decided I could stick with we396a.
     
  9. Taverius

    Taverius Smells like sausages

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    Alright, my speakers are here, I'm undecided wrt going speaker-out to sub and from there to speakers, or make use of the RCA outs on my 0feedback and drive the sub from that.

    Speakers are Omega 6" alnico in a custom cabinet.

    @purr1n i know you have strong opinions about the matter, but driving the sub from the tertiary should achieve the same coherency as passing speaker signal through, right?
     
  10. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    Looking for a recommendation (or spare tube for sale) for a NOS Mullard GZ34/5AR4 that fits within the top case hole of the Af power supply, without the need for a socket saver / extender.

    are all NOS Mullard GZ34/5AR4 with earlier date codes like: f32 or f31,
    effectively "fat base" and won't fit in the case hole (too small)?
     
  11. famish99

    famish99 Friend

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    F31 for sure wouldn't fit, but @JoshMorr had a f32 mullard that he said fit in the Af. I'll know soon for sure since I bought it off him.
     
  12. EagleWings

    EagleWings Friend

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    I am very interested in getting the new Studio Jr.. But at $3200, the price of the amp alone will be a stretch to what I can comfortably afford. Based on some quick reading and a chat with famish99, I learnt that good 300B NOS tubes cost quite a lot. Even the new production WE 300B's that are going to be available soon, will cost $1300 a pair. Are there any other decent 300Bs that cost around $500 a pair?
     
    Last edited: Dec 12, 2018
  13. allegro

    allegro Friend

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    Brent Jessee sells JJ 300B for $150 each. Genalex Gold Lion are about the same price.
     
    Last edited: Dec 12, 2018
  14. Taverius

    Taverius Smells like sausages

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    EMLs are about 500 a pair? The cheaper psvane are like 350, Sophia around the same iirc?

    Not sure which will sound good on it though.

    2A3 EML Solid plates sound great on my no-feedback AF, but apparently they don't do well on the DNA amps. Maybe marv has heard some current-production stuff on the Jr.
     
  15. Don Miller

    Don Miller Banned from FS; never sell me anything

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    Any direct comparisons/impressions Studio Jr vis a vis a la Aficionado?
     
  16. penguins

    penguins Friend, formerly known as fp627

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    ^This.

    Heard EC Studio Jr during the demo day and liked it (don't want to post more detail about my likes yet, but in a few words I'd say clarity, dynamics, relative neutrality in characteristics). Was told by Craig and another visitor (who had an Af) that it has a lot in common with the Aficionado. However, both agreed that there are still some differences.

    Am also considering possibly looking for a ZDS to listen to or buy used, but based on feedback I've read/seen here and elsewhere, the Studio Jr and Af are closer to what I'm looking for right now.

    (Headphone + DAC lineup will also be changing a little, so partially disregard signature)
     
    Last edited: Jan 6, 2019
  17. khragon

    khragon Acquaintance

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    I think with tubes you get what you paid for, WE300Bs sound better than the Chinese/EML, verdict is still out for the newer upcoming release though, comes with 5 years warranty, and potentially last up to 40,000 hours. Can't get any of that with Chinese tubes.

    Also the newer pair is $1500 not $1300.
    http://www.westernelectric.com/products/300b.html
     
  18. EagleWings

    EagleWings Friend

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    Thanks for your input K. After buying a Studio Jr., I’d be broke and won’t be able to afford a WE300B immediately. So my plan is to start off with an affordable, but a decent 300B, and invest in a WE after a year or so.

    A few weeks back, the website said the price of a matched pair would be $1300. No idea why they increased it.
     
    Last edited: Jan 6, 2019
  19. allegro

    allegro Friend

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    Brent Jessee is asking $6200 for a matched pair of original 300Bs so the WE sales manager probably considers $1500 a bargain price even for a reissue. The Takatsukis are going for about $1800 on eBay when you can find them for sale.
     
  20. Ray

    Ray Friend

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    I believe I read somewhere or I recall Marv saying you didn’t need expensive tubes for this amp to sound good.
     

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