Oh Sh#7! Eddie Current Studio B

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by purr1n, Aug 15, 2020.

  1. Marvey

    Marvey Super Friend

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    Studio B has a warm tone. You cannot do anything about this. Part of it is the 300B. Part of it is the output transformers. I have a custom amp which uses the same output transformers but with x2 45 tubes in parallel per channel. It's only slightly less warm than the Studio B, but still bit slightly more warm than neutral. Still, the Studio B is less warm and rolled and rich than most other 300B amps because of the small amount of negative feedback from the tertiary windings.

    I would recommend the EML solid plates if you want a 300B that get a bit more "bite" from the Verite. I haven't heard any of the latest and greatest 300Bs that cost more than $1k. I'm done chasing the dragon.
     
    Last edited: Jul 17, 2021
  2. yotacowboy

    yotacowboy McRibs Kind of Guy

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    IME, the Linlai e300b does sound pretty neutral, and given your location you should be able to find them for roughly $650-$700USD/pair. Of course that's pricey, but it's not awful given the quality both of construction and the sound.
     
  3. poohlikehoney

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    Thanks for the feedback. I will be looking to source for a pair of eml solid plates though they seem out of stock in most places at the moment. Having heard other 300b tube amps in the past (Woo and Cayin), I do agree with your assessment that the studio b is the least warm out of them. I wouldn't pair the verite with any of them.

    Thanks for the recommendation. Might be a bit pricey but glad to know it at least fit the sound I'm looking for. Will be looking to get one if I can't source a pair of eml.
     
  4. Empyah

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    Your two comments are the best summary I have read so far on the Studio B's and Junior's tonality, even tho I own the 2A3 version I can agree 100% on your and Marvs assesments (especially with regards to the Verite pairing).

    And I have to mention that I also can confirm Marvs opinion on the Studio being the best pairing you can get for the Utopia, it is the most engaging, involving, visceral, thickest sounding(?!) and - at the same time smooth - headphone experience I have had so far.

    I am currently using it with a Hifiman HE1000SE with these leatherpads to tame the tonality:
    https://www.ebay.de/itm/255002079644?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&var=554925600975&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649
    I can wholeheartedly recommend this pairing too, if it has to be a high end planar.*
    (Am selling these to get back to an Utopia tho.)

    And for some unexplainable reason to me, the experience with my LCD2.2 pre fazor on this amp is up there with the aforementioned headphones.
    It just seems to fit them perfectly by playing to their strengths and mitigating their "weaknesses" - it manages to elevate them to a whole nother level (I suspect them to be unicorns tho).

    *plasticky timbre in the highs
     
    Last edited: Jul 18, 2021
  5. totlsota

    totlsota New

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    FWIW - notwithstanding a desire to not tube roll, I did significantly prefer the EML's to the JJs on the Studio B.
     
  6. poohlikehoney

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    Brief updates after > 1 week usage:
    - Most of my initial impressions still stands.
    - Absolutely slaps in terms of technicalities. Probably the most resolving amp I've ever heard. Incredibly nuanced especially in the lower register.
    - Mostly been using this with the verite. Despite it's warm nature I've been enjoying this combo immensely.
    - Not genre specific but worth mentioning this combo works very well with hip-hop. Loads of slam and it's tamed high presentation makes it rather pleasant and smooth even for poorly mastered records.

    This is a great amp. It may not be cheap but I can at least say it's well worth the price especially considering the cost of other equivalent high end amps at the moment. Those who've jumped on the 20% sale for the final run of Studio Jr has lucked out at that price it's practically a bargain. Hoping for a chance to hear the BA and Studio in the future.
     
  7. dncnexus

    dncnexus Friend

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    There is a 20% off sale? I bought mine about 3 weeks ago and had to pay the full price :eek:

    Have you other headphones that you have been trying with the Studio B? I am happy to hear the good things about the combo with the Verite, but was curious with other cans what you thought?
     
  8. Marvey

    Marvey Super Friend

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    It's cheap, a friggin' bargain, one of the best kept secrets in the headphone world, and not available in stores. All the while most at HF or http://orfas.org keep chasing and side-grading with overpriced garbage whenever the so-called latest and greatest is reviewed. I don't know if there will be another run. It looks like Craig's riding off into the sunset. If you like the DHT SET sound, the only one remaining is Donald North. I've heard plenty of $15k-$25k DHT SET amps. None compare to Craig and Donald's stuff.
     
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  9. poohlikehoney

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    The sale was only available for a short period early last year for the studio jr not the studio b. I've paired it with verite and hd800. In short, best amp I've heard for my sdr hd800. You get to enjoy the technicalities of the hd800 and then some but with much improved tonality. A smoother delivery and a fuller bass.

    Not an exaggeration. There are plenty of amps that are priced close to the Starlett and Studio B and none compares with what I've heard from these 2. Some I find pretty mid at best and others that should frankly be sent to the gulag. I do hope we can get another run in future but it does seem unlikely at this point.

    As a side note I'm planning to do a brief comparison with my Starlett on a later date. Will post an update once I've finalized my thoughts.
     
  10. bobmysterious

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    Are you using the Verite Open or Closed?
     
  11. CharlesM

    CharlesM New

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    Many thanks for the feedback. You just made my waiting even harder
     
  12. Marvey

    Marvey Super Friend

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    After all this virus stuff subsides, go to an audio show and laugh at the Viva Egoista 845. Seriously, point at it and laugh!
     
  13. totlsota

    totlsota New

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    I received my Studio B a few months back now. I've had ample time to listen and compare/ contrast to other gear I have. A quick punchline; yeah - it is pretty great.

    Related amps I've have had in the past few years; Feliks Euforia, Glenn OTL, most recently 1101 Audio Blue Halo (which is a great OTL amp by the way and I use in my office rig). I'm using ZMF headphones, mostly the Verite Closed. The DACs I've got are Holo Spring 2 KTE and SW1X DAC2. Most of my listening has been with the StudioB, SW1X DAC and VC headphones. I listen to mostly electronic music of many sorts, but I do listen broadly a bit too.

    My tube selection may be a yield bit of a criticism ... I did opt for somewhat over the top tubes; Mullard GZ34 rectifier, WE 396A and Takatsuki 300Bs. As others have clearly stated - the amp absolutely does not require (let me nail this) sooper toobz. I've listened at length with the Emission Labs, JJs, the other stock tubes, etc. It would probably rock with light-bulbs in it. That said, I did what I did and I'm happy with these choices. These are the tubes that are in there and I've not shuffled them since landing on these, and I won't from here.

    I wanted this amp because I've long wanted an EC amp. This was the likely last shot to do so. Also, I wanted something that could power low impedance headphones (not an OTL, not just the ZMFs) and possibly efficient speakers.

    Here it is:
    [​IMG]

    I'm not going to add much more eloquent language/description here but I am loving this thing. The background is dead silent. In a quiet house with closed back headphones, this matters to me. It is not a given with tube gear. The soundstage is expansive. It is resolving, it slams when it needs to. it is not overly warm and tubey eve with the VCs, which can be warmer. It does what a great amp is supposed to do. I like it with both the Holo and the SW1X DAC.

    I think "managing the net warmth" is the tube-level nuance, i.e.; given that the amp can be warm and my headphones can be warm - a bit of nuance in tubes did make a difference between too warm and just right. With brighter headphones, I could see the opposite possibly (wanting some warmer 300Bs).

    The overall sound is most impacted, unsurprisingly, by the 300Bs. The JJs were the most warm/tooby. The Emission Labs were more solid-state sounding as reported. I preferred the Emission Labs tubes. I like the Taks even more, but there aren't a million miles in it. I think the JJs were a bit much with the Verites, rolling off a bit in the upper end. The Emission Labs and Taks I feel like I'm getting the right balance between 300b-warmth and keeping enough of the bite/airy bits up top.

    So, in summary, I've not said any new things. Sorry about that. I wanted to at least share some of my abstract enthusiasm and @poohlikehoney's posts spurred me on to participate and not be a rando lurker forever...

    -Cheers-
     
  14. Marvey

    Marvey Super Friend

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    FYI, spoke to Craig. He will do another run if enough folks are interested.
     
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  15. dasman66

    dasman66 Self proclaimed lazy ass - friend

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    Any idea on current pricing?
     
  16. atomicbob

    atomicbob dScope Yoda

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    Studio B is in the treasured category of my amp collection.
     
  17. dncnexus

    dncnexus Friend

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    Should be $3300 plus shipping.
     
  18. Mystic

    Mystic Mystique's Spiritual Advisor

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    If anyone’s on the fence just go for it. I haven’t really posted much over the last several months which is a combination of busy life stuff and just not caring about new gear after settling in with my Studio B. I feel like I cheated and there is nothing left for me to do with my audio chain.

    ETA is bringing my interest back though. Huzzah for the dynamic revolution.
     
  19. poohlikehoney

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    Open.
     
  20. dasman66

    dasman66 Self proclaimed lazy ass - friend

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    Ok... I guess I need to figure out if this thing will fit my space. It's 5" tall w/o tubes - how tall is it with and is there a recommendation for overhead clearance to a shelf?

    Am I reading the website correctly that it does not come with 300B tubes? Recommendations on cheap tubes?

    Last dumb question - any idea on the wait time?

    -------edit-------
    another dumb question - the order form is pretty spartan. Any recommended changes/upgrades/special requests?
     

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