Sold: Eddie Current Black Widow 2

Putting up for sale my Eddie Current Black Widow 2 solid state headphone amp. Recently purchased from @jexby here: https://superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/sold-eddie-current-black-widow-2-amp-mint.11797/




More images here: https://imgur.com/a/irvLKoO.

Looking to keep this within the SBAF community and sale is initially to U.S. Friends or contributors only. With FedEx shipping and insurance I ended up paying $1,200. Selling for $1,150 shipped/insured via FedEx, signature required to verified PayPal address.

WHY AM I SELLING?

1. I didn't love the pairing with my Utopia headphones and didn't have much play on the volume knob; and
2. I uncovered an odd behavior with the Utopia: a subtle, low-level static/crackle that may not be repairable.

I assume that the low-level static/crackle is only audible (among my headphones anyway) on Utopia because of its high sensitivity and low-ish nominal impedance. I also tried the amp with my HD600 that I never use anymore, and may have noticed the behavior once but could never replicate it again. I wouldn't be surprised if I just imagined it that one time on the HD600. Jexby never heard any static/crackle or fuzz with the amp, using ZMF Auteur and/or Verite Closed most recently.

I would not recommend pairing this amp with Utopia or any other sensitive / low impedance headphones/IEMs. Best pairings appear to be be high-impedance dynamics like the HD6xx, HD8xx, ZMFs, etc.

Spoiler: More information re: static/crackle

• The static/crackle appeared to be random at first, but eventually I narrowed it down to being caused by moving my head and/or the Utopia cable with the amp on. Sometimes the crackle got a bit louder when lightly tapping on the cable itself.
• After extensive troubleshooting, I determined the issue remained on a different circuit in my house, on a different power conditioner, with different power cords, and regardless of whether RCA interconnects were connected to the amp.
• I opened the amp and nothing was loose or disconnected, as Gaspasser found and described here: https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...-total-single-chassis.140/page-47#post-273184. All molex connectors were properly connected. See interior pics in Imgur album linked above.
• The Utopia cable I'm using is the stock 4m cable reterminated by Fraggler to 4-pin XLR. The headphones with this cable have not had any issue with any of the other 5-10 headphone amp I've tried in the last five years, nor does this behavior occur on my Ragnarok or Asgard 2 that I have in-house now.
• After coordinating with Craig, it seems the only "fix" (if there truly is one) would be to replace the boards, but there are no more boards available.

This amp sounded amazing with the HD600, I just don't use them much anymore, so my search for my "end game" Utopia solid state amp continues. If you have something you think would fit the bill on that front and are interested in a trade / partial trade, please let me know.

NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AND ALL SALES FINAL.

Happy to answer any questions. Thanks for looking!

 

There is nothing wrong with those Molex connectors or that power supply. Those boards are very robust...I've worked with them. The connectors are held on by a tight physical connection. @gaspasser's issue was pretty unique situation.

I have my speculations about your pops and clicking, but I have doubts about it coming from the amp or power supply. Black Widow is a solid amp for sure and one of the best all around SS amps I have heard to date. And these don't come up often for sale either.

 

It's time like this that I wish I lived in the US... I would have grabbed this in a flash. GLWS! I'm sure this will be gone any minute now.

 

Sale pending.

 

Sold. @jexby or @shotgunshane, please close when convenient. Thanks!