Eddie Current Balancing Act vs ZD Super

Could members who have heard both kindly provide some comparative comments on them? I wonder which one is overall superior, a used BA (with good 2a3 perhaps) or a new ZD Super?

I am saving towards a purchase of a mid-level or above amp to drive primarily HD800s and 650s (even better if it can drive HE-6s to a somewhat decent level).

I don't have experiences with decent tube amps except the entry-level LD MK3 with C3g drivers. My reference SS amp is Taurus MK2 and I like its precise imaging capability besides overall excellent performance. But it would be nice to have the options to get warmer/lusher mids and sweeter trebles with tube rolling.

Thanks.

 

Your input is greatly appreciated. It seems there is no loser between these two. I am slightly leaning towards the ZD Super as vocals are a big part of my listening. Working well with both HD800 and 650 seems also a strength of the ZD Super.

 

Thanks again. I recall some head-fi'er sold a BA with EML not long ago. Hope more units will be available before long. There are often round-up reports on vehicles in the same category on automobile magazines. Would not it be nice if there are detailed reviews that compare and rate a group of amps in one report? Yet I cannot recall I have read once such a report from audio magazines.

 

This is a question for those familiar with the BA circuit. How much of an influence on the sound do the Solen cap's have, and would it be
worthwhile to upgrade them? Thanks.

 

Not certain if this post belongs here vs elsewhere, but can someone tell me if the Eddie Current Balancing Act can use 6SL7 instead of 6SN7? The ECBA I have came with a 6sn7 (plus 300B). One of my friends recommended a 6sl7 instead, which is a better tube to drive the 300B. I want to be certain that's not going to damage the amp or the tube.

I am looking to drive planar headphones (LCD3) from the amp, along with the usual suspects HD650 / HD600 / HD580

 

I always used a 6SL7 (Mullard ECC35) in mine. I heard that it was supposed to be used; not the 6sn7.

 

I used it for both the PX4 and 300B.

 

Could someone recommend a 6sn7 tube for ECBA that has better bass and warmer sounding than Sylvania 6sn7GTA? Please PM me as I don't want resellers to scrub the thread.

 

I am using ECBA with 300B tubes. I rolled a bunch of 6sn7's in ecba including rca vt231 and mullard ones. I felt it was always under-driving the 300B tubes. The best match I found was with an ECC32 tube, which has better gain.

 

I apologize if this is off topic but I don't see a dedicated EC Balancing Act thread here so here we go.

I may have a chance to source an ECBA but is there a way to identify which output transformer it has from the outside?

I really love my friend unit but if I remember right his unit is quite an early version with Electraprint partial silver transformer and based on my research it seems there is another version with Cinemag OPT which some people say do not sound as good as the Electraprint version. The unit I am looking at seems to be the same PX4 / 300B version at least.

Thanks as always, friends.

 

i don't know how to tell but I have heard from knowledgable people how much better the electrapirint transformers are than Cinemags.

 

Man that is quite a complication - @JeremiahS can’t catch a break! Here’s hoping it’s the Electraprint trafos for you. If not, keep at it, one day your dream amp will be yours.