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Author Topic: Project Ember  (Read 10135 times)

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Solderdude

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Re: Project Ember
« Reply #20 on: May 30, 2015, 06:03:51 AM »
The new features it has are the addition of the 'gain module' where the Ember only has a possibility to choose between lower and higher gain, In Ember 2 you can still select higher gain but the 'lower gain' can now be changed more easily to another level.
It's not really 'gain' but more attenuation.

The reason for this function is because A: gain is tube dependent and B: as the amp has no overall feedback the gain is on the high side for quite a few HP's so you would get to little travel (adjustment range) on the volpot.

Another added feature is the RCA out now disconnects when a HP is plugged in. In the Ember the RCA out is always 'on'.
Of course with 2 drops of solder on the bottom of the PCB you can turn this 'function' off again and the RCA is always on again.
The Ember can be modded to have this functionality as well.

The 'scratch' on the volpot is much lower in the Ember 2.

Sound did not change at all, they are otherwise exactly the same.
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kothganesh

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Re: Project Ember
« Reply #21 on: May 30, 2015, 07:20:42 AM »
SD, thanks. With tubes like the RCA Clear, I found I had to use the gain on high to get some more lower end extension. The Amperex takes care of that issue. Can Ember 2 accommodate larger tubes through an adaptor and is this possible on the Ember as well?
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Solderdude

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Re: Project Ember
« Reply #22 on: May 30, 2015, 07:56:56 AM »
Yes you can use larger tubes on the Ember using an adapter.
Garage1217 (not ME) makes nice '6SN7' adapters.

Hell... you can even use 2 tubes on it ...  :-00

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w295/dharris1_photo/20150520_105439.jpg
(photo taken by music man)

Forgot to mention an important change on Ember-2 over the Ember.
Ember-2 has the 'Supercharger' on the PCB which means you can run tubes with heater currents to 1.2A where the Ember (without added supercharger) can only handle heaters up to 600mA.

« Last Edit: May 30, 2015, 03:35:03 PM by Solderdude »
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Schopenhauer

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Re: Project Ember
« Reply #23 on: May 31, 2015, 05:56:35 AM »
That pair of 6SN7s looks sick. Anybody heard an HE-6 on this thing?
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kothganesh

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Re: Project Ember
« Reply #24 on: May 31, 2015, 07:14:08 AM »
Schop,

I did so for a couple of hours about 3-4 months ago before power amps caught my fancy. The sound was good but not great. However, I used the RCA cleartop and hence sounded a bit thin. I switched to Amperex and have used all my other orthos. I'll give it a shot next week.
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joch

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Re: Project Ember
« Reply #25 on: May 31, 2015, 07:23:33 AM »
Quote from: Schopenhauer on May 31, 2015, 05:56:35 AM
That pair of 6SN7s looks sick. Anybody heard an HE-6 on this thing?

I think putting 99% of headphone amps against the HE-6 is not going to bring out the best for the latter. The Ember looks to have more than enough power for 99% of the headphones, but the 6 is...really speakers with a headband.

I wonder how it would sound with the Ember as a pre-amp connected to speaker amps and then with speaker taps to the HE-6.

The 6SN7s do look cool on top. I'm tempted....

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Solderdude

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Re: Project Ember
« Reply #26 on: May 31, 2015, 07:40:46 AM »
The picture shows 2x 7193 on a 6C8P to 6SN7 adapter which sits on another adapter converting to 6SN7 to Noval base.



Below a S6N7 on Ember:



(pictures were taken by JGlatz, source: http://diyah.boards.net/thread/143/project-ember?page=77)
He also made the gold coloured knob and posts/top nut himself (not a stock option)





« Last Edit: May 31, 2015, 08:54:51 AM by Solderdude »
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Solrighal

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Re: Project Ember
« Reply #27 on: June 24, 2015, 01:09:14 AM »
Hi folks. I joined a while ago but haven't posted much.

I'm currently using an Ember MkII in combination with an ODAC as source & HD 650's. The combination is wonderful.

I use the 6SN7 adapter pretty much all the time. No matter what valve I've used the soundstage - compared to stock - is both wider & deeper. Some 6SN7's are better than others of course & while I've not been able to try out any of the really expensive ones yet I can say that my favourites thus far are my Sylvania 6SN7GTA 'Chrome Dome' and, even better, my GE 6SN7GT VT-231.

The Sylvania is so smooth. Nothing shouts out at you & so it's particularly good with some of the more modern edgy recordings.

The General Electric is different. It's balance nicely between lows, mids & highs but it goes deeper & higher. The mids are gorgeous.

If anyone has any questions I can answer just fire away. Here's a couple of pics..





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Ringingears

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Re: Project Ember
« Reply #28 on: June 24, 2015, 01:23:15 AM »
Great pictures. Great tubes too. That's one big knob you've got!  :)p8
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Skyline

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Re: Project Ember
« Reply #29 on: June 24, 2015, 01:37:26 AM »
Is that volume knob a standard option?
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